The day has come...

About six months ago I made one of the craziest decisions of my life – I resigned from my job and commenced making plans to move to South Sudan. What was even crazier was that no-one except me seemed surprised! But my head was spinning as I came to terms with such a radical re-definition of my life.

Now, the day has come. In a few hours I will land in Juba and, if things go according to plan, will remain in the country for the next six months.

I admit to feeling a bit nervous about entering a country that has been on the verge of war. And in addition to security concerns the challenge of being away from family and friends for so long is daunting. Somehow this vulnerability makes me more dependent upon God and the community of supporters who vicariously share the journey.

A few days ago a friend shared this poem…

To Risk (By William Arthur Ward)

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out to another is to risk involvement,

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return,

To live is to risk dying,

To hope is to risk despair,

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

He may avoid suffering and sorrow,

But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.

Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.

Only a person who risks is free.

So here we go…