40 years, 40 days, 40 hours...

The number 40 in our Bible has implications of testing and transition. Not that our 40 hours travelling to Sudan will go down in history with the Israelites 40 years in the desert or Jesus' 40 days of trial. Never-the-less, it has been a test, and we are on a journey. We were up before the sparrows yesterday, only to spend 9 hours at Perth airport. Ros worked her charm with the staff at Malaysia Airlines and we were upgraded to business class for the flight to KL. Here we are in Dubai, enjoying yum cha breakfast and watching a spectacular sunrise - which would be all the more enjoyable if we werent meant to be on a flight to Addis Ababa and then on to Juba! Customs took a while to clear all our medical equipment and we missed the flight. We plan to spend the night here and fly tomorrow, getting to Juba on Thursday and Aweil on Friday. We've had a few hours sleep between us in the last 2 days, so a comfortable Dubai hotel will be welcome - in spite of not being where we wanted.
Despite this change of plans, everything has been shaping up well for the work we hope to accomplish in Sudan. We will keep you updated.

Some very supportive businesses...

A few businesses have been exceptionally helpful and supportive of our coming trip to Sudan, and I want to publically express my appreciation to them here...

Firstly, Annabelle from Fulham Gardens Flight Centre is, in my opinion, the best travel consultant in the world! Arranging a trip to Aweil is quite complex, and not something many consultants have done before. Last year four travel agents I tried found my trip too difficult and simply gave up. Annabelle seemed to enjoy the challenge and after many hours worked out an itinerary which not only saved us thousands of dollars, but also has much better airport connections. When it was all finally done, and I apologised for how time consuming it had been, she presented me with gifts for myself, Joseph and Ros and wished us well for our work in Sudan. So thanks Annabelle. You're a champ!

Malaysia Airlines have also been generous to us by granting 60 Kg of free excess luggage. This will allow us to take birthing kits and a small amount of medical equipment to provide to primary health providers in the Aweil region. Thanks to Caroline and Steve in the Adelaide office for arranging this.

Virgin Blue have done the same for our domestic connection flight. Apparently they receive hundreds of requests for sponsorship each week, so I feel fortunate to have my request approved. So thanks Ashley and the sponsorship team at Virgin Blue. I appreciate your support.

I commend these companies to you and ask you to consider showing your support in return.

Going back...

The tickets are booked and preparations are being made. In January we will be back in Sudan. This time there will be three of us as Ros Stafford-Green joins myself and Joseph. We will have about three weeks in Aweil and then some time in Juba. It isnt very much time for the amount of work we have to do.

We will take with us birthing kits and medical equipment as requested by the midwives based at Aweil Civic Hospital. We also hope to visit camps where Darfuri refugees have settled and to establish a stronger channel of support through the Aweil churches. There have been requests to support the development of new churches in regions surrounding Aweil through a partnership programme with Australian churches, and so we hope to gather the necessary information and meet prospective partners in this ministry. In additon we plan to register an NGO, employ a project coordinator, open bank accounts and negotiate with leaders in government about other projects where they have invited our assistance.

The development of friendships is fundamental to all we do, and so of course there will be many hours sitting and chatting under mango trees drinking chai and swatting mosquitos. The way of getting things done is very different in Sudan - scheduled appointments and strategic planning may as well be left at the departure lounge. But we have a shared vision with local Christian leaders, and as my "brother from another mother" Pastor Ronald Ruay wrote in an email this morning "our faith will move mountains".

Photo: Aweil Town from the air. Catholic church is at the front right. Mother Adut Dit's home is on the main road just behind the open school ground in the centre.

Rapid Development...

Recently Deng Deng Akon was in Adelaide to spend time with his wife and family. Deng is Secretary to the Vice President of Southern Sudan and has been very helpful and supportive of our partnership with communities in Sudan. I met with Deng on several occasions and he provided advice on issues such as registration of NGOs, channelling finance, employment of a Project Manager, transport, freight and much more. Deng also has good insight into the needs of the community and the most effective way to work with local leaders.

Change is taking place at a rapid pace in Southern Sudan, and this will only increase as connections with the outside world develop. Tasks which seemed virtually impossible even a year ago, are now much simpler according to Deng. The President recently opened 18 bridges in Northern Bahr Al Ghazal and this will provide access all year to regions which were previously quite isolated. Freight through Mombasa has now been streamlined, avoiding the complications of the Kenyan customs system. And banks in Juba can now facilitate money transfer, and apparently an ATM has recently been added.

Of course long term development will be dependant on political stability in the region. The world will be watching with some anxiety as the referendum scheduled for 2011 approaches, as this will determine whether Southern Sudan remains in a unified Sudan or has independence from the North. Either option has the potential to spark renewed conflict and this remains the greatest threat to aid and development and also to our church partnerships. But for now there is relative peace and increasing opportunities for us to provide assistance to communities who have suffered so much.

Photo: With Deng Deng Akon at our hotel in Juba, June 2008

Pray for peace...

My friend Adub is the Director of Peace based in Aweil. He has asked that we pray for a Peaceful Co-existence Conference he is involved in next month. The conference will bring together people from two tribes which have a long history of conflict – the African Malual Dinka of Northern Bahr Al Ghazal and the Arabic Rezeigat from Darfur.

In the past the Rezeigat have been frontline soldiers for the northern forces against the Southern rebels, but even when not at war have formed raiding parties which have captured thousands of Dinka women and children to be enslaved. While in Aweil last year Joseph and I saw numerous fuzzy haired children whose mothers had escaped from their Arab captors. While the raids have decreased since the signing of the Certified Peace Agreement, it is still a source of conflict between these rival tribes. And as the Sahara steadily grows southward, competition for pasture and water increases the need for peaceful co-existence.

I remember Adub’s words of wisdom to me last year – that people first need to find peace within themselves before they can offer it to others. Please join together in praying for peace in this troubled region.

The Graduate From Sudan...

A documentary has been made on Dr Victoria Anip Achut and will be shown in Adelaide this Saturday afternoon. It tells the story of her life in Sudan and then settling in Australia as a medical professional. Victoria is a member of my medical advisory group. She works tirelessly for her community, both here in Adelaide and at home in Sudan. She is a strong advocate for women's health and education, and speaks out strongly against the practice of female genital mutilation. I encourage you to come along and be inspired.

The film will be shown at Mercury Theatre, 13 Morphett St Adelaide, at 2 PM. Entry is free, but over half the seats are already allocated. Contact me to obtain RSVP details - use the email link in my profile section. If you cant make it, it is scheduled to be broadcast on SBS on Wednesday 28th October at 8.30 PM.

A Spaceship to Sudan...

Spell-checkers on computer programmes are very handy - but they dont always get it quite right!

I have written to several airlines asking if they will provide assistance with freight of medical equipment on our next visit to Sudan. One airline executive wrote a very gracious letter of reply, commenting how inspired he was by our projects, but regrettfully couldnt assist with "spaceship". Obviously he meant to write "sponsorship", but with the aid of our innovative software it was changed into something quite different.

I resisted the temptation to reply that we werent going to Mars, and that a 747 would do the job just fine. (And I will continue to see what help we can get with transporting this vital equipment).