A year ago today, in the very early hours of the morning, I met Joseph at Bangkok airport where we boarded a plane for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), touched down briefly at Entebbe (Uganda) and then arrived at Juba, the capital of South Sudan. I clearly remember stepping out of the plane and taking my first steps on Sudanese soil.
In some ways it was the natural development following several years of ministry, engagement, and friendship with Sudanese new arrivals in Adelaide. In another way it was a naive exploration of a ministry relationship with one of the most oppressed and neglected communities on our planet.
As a result of that first visit we have been able to channel support to victims of the genocide in Darfur who have fled to Aweil, children in my church’s Sunday School have sent clothes, cards and a banner to a Sunday School at an Episcopal Church in Aweil, a medical task group is preparing medical equipment and training to support midwives at Aweil Civic Hospital, and the leaders of the United Sudanese Fellowship have prepared a proposal to develop a Church of Christ centre in Aweil Town.
In a few months time we plan to return and lay the foundation for the next stage of our work together.
Joseph at Juba markets
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