I have not written about the current situation in South Sudan as I really have no words to describe my feelings but I need to let you all know what we know.
First of all, Leisa, our mission co-worker, is still in Juba during all of this fighting. We have had contact with her several times a day and while scared, she is doing okay. There are not many at the apartment building and those that are there are keeping each other company, sharing Bible verses and news and helping each other cope with all the uncertainty. They have not been able to leave the building since Friday (or maybe Saturday) of last week.
We have also heard from some of our South Sudanese co - workers and have been so glad to know that they are still able to communicate with us. We don't know how long communication will last with anyone but as of today, Monday the 11th we have heard from the Moderator. I cannot begin to imagine the trauma these good people are going through yet again.
Leisa has expressed that the not knowing what is, or going to, happen is what is so hard so please pray for all those there that they will have communications with each other and be able to know how their families are doing.
We have read that both the President and Vice President have ordered a ceasefire. I don't have a lot of hope for that order and yet am praying that it will be listened to. As all this fighting shows, there is a long way to go for peace in South Sudan but the people are tired of all the fighting and wish those that are doing it would just STOP!
Monday, July 11, 2016
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Time
Well, it has again been a month since I wrote anything.
It is amazing how at first the time seemed to be going slowly but now I find that time is flying by and we only have a month left in the States.
We have been having really good visits with so many different churches and Presbyteries! It is interesting to me how it is a little hard to walk in the door of a new church but then it is hard to leave because we have made new friends. I love how people know where South Sudan is and know what is happening there and still want to know more and are willing to commit to prayer for the people there.
We have been hearing from our friends in South Sudan and know that things are getting worse, economically but we also hear that the Project continues to move along with Rev. Stephen and Leisa keeping up with things.
The one thing I hope we have been able to explain to people is just how slow things move in South Sudan and how we rejoice over every small accomplishment. It takes days, and sometimes weeks, to do something there that we could do in hours here in the States. While on one hand this is frustrating to us it is also teaching us to slow down and look at the relationships we are building and know that in the long run we need those relationships if we hope for things to change and move forward. Lucky for us, we love building those relationships and find that is one of the perks of living in South Sudan.
We will be at New Wilmington Missionary Conference in Western Pa the end of August and hope to see many of you there. If we have not already met you, please come up an introduce yourself to us.
It is amazing how at first the time seemed to be going slowly but now I find that time is flying by and we only have a month left in the States.
We have been having really good visits with so many different churches and Presbyteries! It is interesting to me how it is a little hard to walk in the door of a new church but then it is hard to leave because we have made new friends. I love how people know where South Sudan is and know what is happening there and still want to know more and are willing to commit to prayer for the people there.
We have been hearing from our friends in South Sudan and know that things are getting worse, economically but we also hear that the Project continues to move along with Rev. Stephen and Leisa keeping up with things.
The one thing I hope we have been able to explain to people is just how slow things move in South Sudan and how we rejoice over every small accomplishment. It takes days, and sometimes weeks, to do something there that we could do in hours here in the States. While on one hand this is frustrating to us it is also teaching us to slow down and look at the relationships we are building and know that in the long run we need those relationships if we hope for things to change and move forward. Lucky for us, we love building those relationships and find that is one of the perks of living in South Sudan.
We will be at New Wilmington Missionary Conference in Western Pa the end of August and hope to see many of you there. If we have not already met you, please come up an introduce yourself to us.
Monday, June 6, 2016
more about roads
It is funny how when in Juba I don't think so much about how little green there is around but now that we are in the States at such a green time of year I realize how much I miss the green grass and beautiful spring flowers.
One of the perks of having to do all this driving around the US is that we get to see a lot of beautiful countryside and quaint little towns. We have been to Cauldwell, Sharon and Lancaster Ohio and have had such wonderfully warm receptions at each place! The more we visit these churches in small town America and realize how important they are to the world wide church and how in even a small way they make a big impact on the world, the more hope I have for our world. It was heart warming at the one church to hear a new high school graduate thank her church for all they had done for her through her high school years. There just is something really special about the church family and I think sometimes we forget the impact we can have on our young people at church.
The news we are getting from South Sudan is both encouraging and discouraging but I guess that is not anything new. The economic situation has gotten worse which means more people going hungry. There is still a sense of hope that the government will be able to do what it should to help bring this country up out of the mess that it is in.
It is funny how when I am here in the State it is so easy to forget how long it takes to get things done in South Sudan, that is until I get a letter from our co worker and I am quickly reminded of how slow things happen. In South Sudan you measure your successes in inches or moments. I like the slow pace of life but get frustrated when I feel the need to produce results that we can then show people.
One of the perks of having to do all this driving around the US is that we get to see a lot of beautiful countryside and quaint little towns. We have been to Cauldwell, Sharon and Lancaster Ohio and have had such wonderfully warm receptions at each place! The more we visit these churches in small town America and realize how important they are to the world wide church and how in even a small way they make a big impact on the world, the more hope I have for our world. It was heart warming at the one church to hear a new high school graduate thank her church for all they had done for her through her high school years. There just is something really special about the church family and I think sometimes we forget the impact we can have on our young people at church.
The news we are getting from South Sudan is both encouraging and discouraging but I guess that is not anything new. The economic situation has gotten worse which means more people going hungry. There is still a sense of hope that the government will be able to do what it should to help bring this country up out of the mess that it is in.
It is funny how when I am here in the State it is so easy to forget how long it takes to get things done in South Sudan, that is until I get a letter from our co worker and I am quickly reminded of how slow things happen. In South Sudan you measure your successes in inches or moments. I like the slow pace of life but get frustrated when I feel the need to produce results that we can then show people.
Monday, May 23, 2016
better roads
Ok, I said I would let you know what our bump in the road did for us and I will try to do that over the next couple of posts.
For now I would say that we have learned to be thankful for our health and disappearing bruises. Lynn's neck seems to be back to normal and while the rib still doesn't like it when he sneezes or coughs, it is getting better. Me? I am fine.
We had one day in Louisville where people were wonderfully kind and understanding about our being kind of slow in movement and a little distracted. It was good to see a few people again but we were sorry to miss so many that were out doing other things.
On to Missouri to visit with my brother and family and to speak at the very friendly First Presb. in Warrensburg! Thank you for laughing at our lame jokes and for the interest in what we are doing. It was also fun to meet a couple who had lived in Kenya - what a great connection!
Then on to Florida where we have been able to catch a breather with another brother and then also go to Inverness and visit with the folks there at First Presbyterian. A big thank you to our host and hostess and, yes to the dogs and calf who did not wake us up! If you want a quiet get away in the boonies of Fla., call me and I will tell you about a wonderful place to visit! :) I think we met a dozen transplants from Ohio at this church and it was fun to make that kind of connection!
We will be heading back to Ohio later this week and are looking forward to meeting more folks and seeing more of Ohio as we travel all around the State.
Our time in the States is definitely not a vacation but it is a chance to meet so many people who support us in many different ways. It can be tiring but everyone is so nice and we get fed so well everywhere that we cannot complain. Besides, we can talk for hours about South Sudan - just ask our children!
We keep hearing discouraging things from South Sudan in the news but when I hear from our partners there they have hope. There is so much hope for the future and for peace. I ask for prayers as the people of South Sudan find their way forward. There is much work to be done and things are still unsettled and yet I find myself thinking that maybe this time there will really be peace.
Even here in Florida Lynn and I have found that we are not warm all the way through:) When given the choice of eating outside we take it just so that we can warm up! My poor brother has had to suffer through meals outside when he probably would rather have been in the cool air conditioning!
One other thing about time in the States - it makes you realize how connected you feel to the country you are serving in and I think sometimes we need to be reminded of that.
Look out Ohio, here we come!
For now I would say that we have learned to be thankful for our health and disappearing bruises. Lynn's neck seems to be back to normal and while the rib still doesn't like it when he sneezes or coughs, it is getting better. Me? I am fine.
We had one day in Louisville where people were wonderfully kind and understanding about our being kind of slow in movement and a little distracted. It was good to see a few people again but we were sorry to miss so many that were out doing other things.
On to Missouri to visit with my brother and family and to speak at the very friendly First Presb. in Warrensburg! Thank you for laughing at our lame jokes and for the interest in what we are doing. It was also fun to meet a couple who had lived in Kenya - what a great connection!
Then on to Florida where we have been able to catch a breather with another brother and then also go to Inverness and visit with the folks there at First Presbyterian. A big thank you to our host and hostess and, yes to the dogs and calf who did not wake us up! If you want a quiet get away in the boonies of Fla., call me and I will tell you about a wonderful place to visit! :) I think we met a dozen transplants from Ohio at this church and it was fun to make that kind of connection!
We will be heading back to Ohio later this week and are looking forward to meeting more folks and seeing more of Ohio as we travel all around the State.
Our time in the States is definitely not a vacation but it is a chance to meet so many people who support us in many different ways. It can be tiring but everyone is so nice and we get fed so well everywhere that we cannot complain. Besides, we can talk for hours about South Sudan - just ask our children!
We keep hearing discouraging things from South Sudan in the news but when I hear from our partners there they have hope. There is so much hope for the future and for peace. I ask for prayers as the people of South Sudan find their way forward. There is much work to be done and things are still unsettled and yet I find myself thinking that maybe this time there will really be peace.
Even here in Florida Lynn and I have found that we are not warm all the way through:) When given the choice of eating outside we take it just so that we can warm up! My poor brother has had to suffer through meals outside when he probably would rather have been in the cool air conditioning!
One other thing about time in the States - it makes you realize how connected you feel to the country you are serving in and I think sometimes we need to be reminded of that.
Look out Ohio, here we come!
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
"Bumps" in the road
Well, things never go as planned.
We arrived in the USA with no problems other than a 1 1/2 hour delay so I would say things went really well!!
It has been great to have time with family and to get some Dr. appointments out of the way. We have had 2 wonderful Sundays with our home church and reconnected with many friends.
We rented a car on Monday(May 9) to head to Louisville for 3 days of time with the head office folks. An hour out of Millersburg our car was rear ended and totaled! We are very sore from whip lash, and seat belts catching us but we are ok and for that I am extremely thankful. We were at a complete stop and the man who hit us never touched the brakes and was going 50 -55 mph.
Now we are dealing with how to get another rental (Enterprise will not rent to us again until OUR insurance pays the deductible) which means someone taking us to Canton/Akron to see if we can rent from someone else.
Bumps in the road. It has thrown us for a loop as we had finances all figured out for a rental and not flying so now we are trying to figure out the best way forward from here. We are alive, more or less unhurt, and have a warm place to stay so we are very blessed.
As we were sitting at the Fire Station waiting for Brandon to pick us up Lynn looked at me and said " lets go back to Juba where it is safe" LOL my how a persons perspective can change!!
Some bumps in the road send you in another direction and some just make you slow down and see what is around you while others just make you stop for a spell. I will let you know what this bump in the road does for us.
We arrived in the USA with no problems other than a 1 1/2 hour delay so I would say things went really well!!
It has been great to have time with family and to get some Dr. appointments out of the way. We have had 2 wonderful Sundays with our home church and reconnected with many friends.
We rented a car on Monday(May 9) to head to Louisville for 3 days of time with the head office folks. An hour out of Millersburg our car was rear ended and totaled! We are very sore from whip lash, and seat belts catching us but we are ok and for that I am extremely thankful. We were at a complete stop and the man who hit us never touched the brakes and was going 50 -55 mph.
Now we are dealing with how to get another rental (Enterprise will not rent to us again until OUR insurance pays the deductible) which means someone taking us to Canton/Akron to see if we can rent from someone else.
Bumps in the road. It has thrown us for a loop as we had finances all figured out for a rental and not flying so now we are trying to figure out the best way forward from here. We are alive, more or less unhurt, and have a warm place to stay so we are very blessed.
As we were sitting at the Fire Station waiting for Brandon to pick us up Lynn looked at me and said " lets go back to Juba where it is safe" LOL my how a persons perspective can change!!
Some bumps in the road send you in another direction and some just make you slow down and see what is around you while others just make you stop for a spell. I will let you know what this bump in the road does for us.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Anticipation
We have been and still are anticipating many things in the next 2 weeks.
We had been anticipating the return of the Deputy Chairman of the IO forces on Monday. No one was sure what the reception would be like for him and as it turned out it was both good and bad.
We are anticipating the return of the Vice President on the 18th - or at least that is what the media is telling us. No one is sure if he will come back to Juba or not and if he does come what that might mean for the country. Overall people are hopeful that his return will be a good thing and that this country may finally be able to take a real step forward. We shall see.
We are anticipating returning to the States for 3 months. a time to reconnect with grandchildren and meet new grandchildren in person rather than just on Skype. A time to eat foods we have been craving, having long talks with people we have missed and of course a chance to shop for things to bring back.
We are anticipating meeting many new friends that we have gotten to know through email. A chance to put faces to names and tell about South Sudan in a more in depth way.
An update on Pochalla. We have not sent the builder back to Pochalla and now that the rains have started we may opt to try and find someone in Pochalla that can finish the work. We have been told that some materials were stolen (and the thieves caught so maybe the stuff will be returned) and that people are trying to rebuild their burned homes. The people of Pochalla want to move forward but need much prayer to overcome the anger that burns just under the surface.
This last Sunday we visited the Pochalla people who were brought to Juba for medical care. One was a little boy of about 6 who had been shot just over the hip bone on the side and the bullet was in his bladder. To see this young child with bandages all over his abdomen just broke my heart. His mother was killed in the same fighting. So much senseless killing and hurting. I also found it interesting that this little boy was being entertained by playing games on a phone:)
There is also the anticipation of having 7 new students going to Yei Teacher Training College in May! This is really wonderful as we were late getting the applications out and then Yei had to agree to a late start for these students. I admit to being grateful that these students are all from the Juba area so I won't have to try and arrange flights for them!:)
There is one thing I am anticipating that is not so much fun - jet lag. I already have trouble sleeping so who knows what that will do to me. I will be using jet lag as an excuse for anything silly I MIGHT do and I will use it the whole 3 months!! Stop rolling your eyes, family!
We had been anticipating the return of the Deputy Chairman of the IO forces on Monday. No one was sure what the reception would be like for him and as it turned out it was both good and bad.
We are anticipating the return of the Vice President on the 18th - or at least that is what the media is telling us. No one is sure if he will come back to Juba or not and if he does come what that might mean for the country. Overall people are hopeful that his return will be a good thing and that this country may finally be able to take a real step forward. We shall see.
We are anticipating returning to the States for 3 months. a time to reconnect with grandchildren and meet new grandchildren in person rather than just on Skype. A time to eat foods we have been craving, having long talks with people we have missed and of course a chance to shop for things to bring back.
We are anticipating meeting many new friends that we have gotten to know through email. A chance to put faces to names and tell about South Sudan in a more in depth way.
An update on Pochalla. We have not sent the builder back to Pochalla and now that the rains have started we may opt to try and find someone in Pochalla that can finish the work. We have been told that some materials were stolen (and the thieves caught so maybe the stuff will be returned) and that people are trying to rebuild their burned homes. The people of Pochalla want to move forward but need much prayer to overcome the anger that burns just under the surface.
This last Sunday we visited the Pochalla people who were brought to Juba for medical care. One was a little boy of about 6 who had been shot just over the hip bone on the side and the bullet was in his bladder. To see this young child with bandages all over his abdomen just broke my heart. His mother was killed in the same fighting. So much senseless killing and hurting. I also found it interesting that this little boy was being entertained by playing games on a phone:)
There is also the anticipation of having 7 new students going to Yei Teacher Training College in May! This is really wonderful as we were late getting the applications out and then Yei had to agree to a late start for these students. I admit to being grateful that these students are all from the Juba area so I won't have to try and arrange flights for them!:)
There is one thing I am anticipating that is not so much fun - jet lag. I already have trouble sleeping so who knows what that will do to me. I will be using jet lag as an excuse for anything silly I MIGHT do and I will use it the whole 3 months!! Stop rolling your eyes, family!
Friday, April 1, 2016
2 steps forward.........
Pochalla. What can I say? Lynn arrived back from Pochalla on the Tuesday the 15 and on Monday the 21st fighting broke out in Pochalla. The contractor and mason were there as well as many other people that we know. We had communication for about 2 days and then the one place that has internet the folks were evacuated. We have been told that in the first 2 days 7 people were killed and since then we have heard that more have been killed. Some people have fled to Ethiopia and others to the bush. Homes have been burned and the rains have started which means people are sleeping out in the open in the rain.
Today we received a letter saying that things are now calm and the people are pleading for aide groups to come back in to help them. We are not sure if the situation is actually safe for our people to go back in. It hurts to know that so many people are hurting and there is not much we can do.
We have been getting caught up on all kinds of paper work this past week. Lynn has things he needs to get done before leaving here so he has been at home on the computer - not the most exciting thing to talk about but it is a big part of his job.
For me, the Treasurer is gone again for about 2 weeks so I don't have a lot to do. I am taking this time to redo my program for keeping the project accounts and playing with the excel program and realizing that I have only scratched the surface on what it can do. Maybe I can find some time in the States to take a class on excel, or find some high school person who would be willing to work with me:) Or maybe I will just go with what I know!
This is a short post but I wanted to let you all know about Pochalla.
Today we received a letter saying that things are now calm and the people are pleading for aide groups to come back in to help them. We are not sure if the situation is actually safe for our people to go back in. It hurts to know that so many people are hurting and there is not much we can do.
We have been getting caught up on all kinds of paper work this past week. Lynn has things he needs to get done before leaving here so he has been at home on the computer - not the most exciting thing to talk about but it is a big part of his job.
For me, the Treasurer is gone again for about 2 weeks so I don't have a lot to do. I am taking this time to redo my program for keeping the project accounts and playing with the excel program and realizing that I have only scratched the surface on what it can do. Maybe I can find some time in the States to take a class on excel, or find some high school person who would be willing to work with me:) Or maybe I will just go with what I know!
This is a short post but I wanted to let you all know about Pochalla.
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