The emotions surrounding us have honestly been joy tied in with fear. We of course feel like we know what to expect, but there is still so much unknown to tag-teaming two children versus just one. Lillie has been so easy in many ways for us. She hardly was sick, slept through the night from an early age and ate almost everything we gave her. She is one healthy little girl.



With Andrew, we are gearing up for the unexpected. He could be the exact opposite of Lillie and test us in ways we have never experienced. All this to say that in moving to Dallas 2 1/2 years ago we have had many surprises. We have experienced support raising challenges, a new city and a brand new faith community at church, amongst the many changes. But in all those things, God never pushed us beyond our limits. Now certainly we have had tearful moments on the couch at times, but never have we been pushed beyond the limits of His grace. I am thankful that we will begin another year with Aid Sudan and have two children in the home. Shortly, we will walk into Sudanese church with a new baby Andrew whose Sudanese nickname has already been given as "Deng"!

“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

I really want to know what this looks like. Today. In America.

How does one do justice?

What, exactly, would it look like in my everyday existence to love kindness (mercy in some translations)?

And that last one just flat scares me to death. I’ve got the faintest idea of what humility might look like and I am not sure that I could find any of it in my day-to-day if I searched with both hands.

He has indeed told us what is good. We know. We know that we’ve gone off the rails somewhere. It does not ring true to us either when we say that we believe the whole of the gospel message, but find ourselves living in a world where there are more people in slavery than at any other point in human history- where tens of thousands of children die everyday from preventable causes like hunger.

And, according to Micah, it is armed with what we know to be good that we are required to act.

I don’t know what it will look like.
I may have given up by March.
But I want to spend 2012 with the verbs.
Do.
Love.
Walk.

Maybe it’s a silly analogy. I’m sure it’s one that has been made time and time again, but as a new “mother” to Sam, I can’t help but think about my relationship with God.  Sin seems so appealing at times, and at the time, it’s hard to see the consequences. I know He’s given me boundaries, and sometimes I just plain don’t like them. There have been plenty of times in my life when I have chosen to run from what would honor God and fight the direction I should be going, or when I just plain disobey because I feel like it’d be more fun. I can picture God in the heavens, just shaking his head at me saying, “My child, my child, listen to me.  I know what’s best for you.  Why are you fighting me? Trust me”.  How thankful I am that God doesn’t just release me when I sin against Him. How thankful I am that God gives me boundaries not to take the fun out of my life, but to give me life. When I was walking through a rough time a couple years back, a good friend shared Psalm 16:6 with me.  I realize it is taken a bit out of context but it has kept me from making many bad decisions since. It helped me change the way I see some of the “rules” God gives us. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…..”

I don’t want to step out of those boundary lines.
And I pray for my sanity, Sam will soon learn that too…

His face brightened up with a big Sudanese smile! He began to thank me for what Aid Sudan is doing through these radios.  He was telling me about all the people that he had talked to in the village of Nasir who are so thankful for the radio station. He said they are all very excited to have God’s Word in their own language, and they are learning a lot about God. He also said they are so thankful for the health and educational training they receive over the broadcasts. He said this is something they have never had before, and they are so excited to have it come to their village.

As I thought about this conversation during this Christmas season, I began to think about the way that we as Westerners sometimes take having God’s Word in our language for granted. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and don’t even think about the real meaning of what Christmas is about. It made me realize that I need to ask God to never let me take him or his Word for granted. There are so many people around the world that don’t have access to God’s Word in a language they can understand. This is why I am so thankful for our Radio Station Project and that God is allowing us to get His Word out to the South Sudanese! 

- Adoption requires the right qualifications - praise the Lord that one of the few things that is right with the system of adopting children in this world is that not just anyone is allowed to take a child into his or her home. In the same way, only Jesus is qualified to make a way for us to be part of God’s family.
(Galatians 4:4)
(1 Timothy 2:5)


- Adoption is costly – and it’s not just financial. Adoption costs families in a hundred other ways. Really, there is no comparison with what our adoptions cost. He literally took on our curse.
(Galatians 3:13)


- Adoption saves children from terrible situations - life on this planet without a family is something that is nearly impossible to overcome. Life on this planet without the saving grace of Jesus... it is actually no life at all.
 (Ephesians 2:1-5)


- Adoption transforms the child in every way - spend some time with an adopted child (which I highly recommend we all do occasionally), and you’ll see that in a relatively short time, adopted children begin to take on traits of their new families. One of my favorite personal examples is how my friend Jesse will greet you with the sweetest, most drawn North Carolinian “Hhheeeyyy”. Jesse sounds like the people who taught her to speak. There is no trace of a Ugandan accent. On a deeper level, she also shares the sense of humor that runs through her family of 6. She is a part of them. And here is where the best picture comes in. Spiritually, I am marked. As an adopted child of The King, my whole life is different. I think differently, I speak differently. It is all different.


Merida and Morton have much more to say on our spiritual adoptions and they go on to help us all see how we can love orphans in practical ways. And when we see loving orphans as God sees loving us, we are compelled to action.

Imagine my friends doing all the work, filling out every form, jumping through every hoop, writing every check and never flying over to actually get their children. Adopted and no one ever tells them. Tragic.

As I prepared to go back after almost 5 years, I reflected on my own journey.  Working for 3 years at a public accounting firm, then at the age of 26 walking away to move to Kenya.  Coming back after two years only to return to the same firm where I worked for another 4.5 years before leaving to work at Aid Sudan.  Two risky decisions. I’ve been told I’m crazy. I’ve been told I’m still searching for who I am. I often get asked “how could you walk away from what you had?”  It seems like people can only see what I left behind, but I see what I’ve been given.   I’ve been able to stand on the top of Kilimanjaro, hear the thunderous roars of Victoria Falls, watch lions go out in search of a kill.  All God’s creation screaming out “how beautiful is the One who created me!” But it’s more than that. I’ve been able to break bread in mud huts, love on children in orphanages, grieve with people who are hurting and pray and worship with believers who speak a different language. A glimpse of how heaven will be.  I’ve been given the true perspective that really all one needs to be a joyful, grateful person is to wholly trust in Christ.

I don’t believe God meant for us to be bored, humdrum people. Nor do I believe He’s called us to be merely talking heads. I think He’s called us to be a people of action; to be His hands and feet. I think He’s called us to join Him on an exciting journey. To take great risks for Him. For me, the greater risk was not in leaving my job, it was in not leaving.  Oh what I would have missed out on!

I don’t believe you have to go overseas to join in on the exciting journey God has for us.  It’s just that for me in my life, that’s how it’s played out thus far. For some it might be bringing children into your home who biologically aren’t yours. Maybe it’s pouring your love into the lives of crazy high school kids. Maybe it’s going on a two week mission trip to somewhere completely out of your comfort zone. For some it might be taking care of the sick and needy knowing your heart will feel their pain. Whatever this journey looks like for you, be willing to open up your hearts and lives and take the risk. It’s worth it.

Here in Uganda, I don't know if they have a word for despachante, but at Aid Sudan we do have a person that very much fits this description. His name is Mark Paddy. In Africa, it takes much more time to accomplish things than it does in the States. The systems are, from a Western perspective, extremely inefficient. Yet they work here in Africa, and Mark is our go-to guy for navigating through the bureaucracy here.

Mark began working as a night guard for the Henderson family four years ago and has proven himself to be trustworthy and honest. Over time, we began to give Mark errands to run during the day. Then we started giving him supply lists for teams, and he started helping us get visas from the South Sudan office. He excelled at all of these things so much so that he has now been given a full-time day position with our Aid Sudan office here. He's our very own despachante, and we would be lost without him!



Last week, I was able to take Mark on a short plane ride from Kajjansi airstrip down to the big airport in Entebbe. I've never seen a grown man as excited as Mark was for his first flight. The whole time he stared out the window, blown away by this new perspective of his world. It was a good reward for a man that has been such a critical part of our Uganda office over the last few years. He's already asking me when he can fly again, but this time he wants to go all the way to South Sudan!



Mark's wife is named Joy, and they have two children, Precious and Loving. Precious has sickle cell, and this is a constant struggle in a country like Uganda where good treatment is hard to find. I know Mark would appreciate your prayers for Precious and for his family. And thanks, Mark, for all you do for our Aid Sudan family!

The most powerful experience of the training has been the discussions, as they are addressing cultural issues by talking about sensitive subjects, such as the role of witchdoctors. Usually church leaders don't like to have these discussions, but they are becoming more open to it in Mvolo as Aid Sudan continues to build a reputation in the area.

Over the last three days, the team has shared almost 50 stories with the pastors. We ask that you pray for the church leaders as they process both the stories and the discussions. Pray that they will live out what they learned and the Lord will work through them.

This morning, the team traveled the three hours to Mundri to meet their plane. All team members are healthy, well rested and energized from their time in Mvolo. Stay tuned for the last update from Aid Sudan’s office in Uganda.

On Saturday, the team gave health & hygiene lessons to the community around two different wells in Mvolo and met with local officials to work out some details. (Meetings with officials tend to last for at least a couple of hours.) Sunday, the team worshipped with the village at the local church and sat amazed as church members shared about how God’s Word has spread throughout the tribe with Chronological Bible Storying.

On Sunday afternoon, all of the main church leaders in the Jur tribe (one of the 10 largest tribes in South Sudan) met for pastor training.  A great honor was the presence of Samueli – the first Jur man to bring Christianity to the Jur people. He prayed over the training and for the mission team. Peter said it was one of the most powerful prayers he has ever heard.

Thank you for your prayers for the team – everyone is sleeping well now. Pray for continued good health, pastor training that takes place each morning and prayer times in the afternoon. For the big picture, we ask for your prayers as Peter and the team discuss long-term work with local church leaders and what that will look like over the next several years.

While the Deceiver jockeys to dupe us into thinking otherwise, we who are made in the image of God, being formed into Christ’s likeness, our happiness comes, too, not in the having but in the handing over…there is always enough God… It is by the very function of our being, not our doing, that we are the beloved of God. And so we become the love of God, blessing those He loves.
(p. 197, 199)

It is a good story, the one this Ann, full of grace, tells.
It begins in redemption with thanksgiving.
It ends in intimacy with a Savior.
And in the middle, grace overflows to all.


This move has been a little different as I’ve found my whole life in a bit of transition. I’ve spent the last 8 years in public accounting. My life revolved around tax deadlines and client meetings. I woke up stressed, went to bed stressed, dreamt of tax returns and the fact that I could wear shorts to work on Saturday brought me much joy. In all seriousness, I loved my job, and am grateful for where I was, but as the pace of my life has slowed, and the amount of my paycheck has decreased, I’ve realized how much “stuff” I have that isn’t necessary. I’ve realized how much “stuff” I think I need, that in all reality, I don’t. In this excessive American culture, I’ve allowed my wants to be mistaken for needs. So here I am, not only having to downsize my lifestyle, but also downsizing my concept of need and wrestle with the idea of being content. I pray I can do this with a joyful and grateful heart.

I can not compare myself to imprisoned, beaten, Paul, nor can I even say that I know what it feels like to be in need, but I hope and pray that this season of transition is not lost on me. Phillipians 4:10 tells us that contentment is a learned discipline. I want to learn. My prayer for myself as I walk this next journey is that God will teach me to be dependent on him to meet my every need and that through that I can learn true contentment.  

Phillipians 4: 10-13: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

So, to say the least, I have a lot of drive time on my hands these days. It's not every day that I go very far, but it happens pretty often. This gives me options as I go from one meeting to the next to meet with our Dallas partners. I have a choice about how to spend my driving time. I haven't been much of a radio listener, so I generally choose to pray.



There is not a shortage of prayers to lift up and often I feel like I'm behind in my time with the Lord. As I begin my prayer conversation, I think of one thing after another to pray about. Sometimes I catch up on the day before and the needs and praises it brought. I often feel like I haven't presented enough things to the Lord, but driving gives me the time to have a clear conscience of prayer to the Father.



I love praying and the feeling of God's presence in our work. The meeting I am driving to is usually just a small part of that prayer time. Often I am reminded in Scripture that the Father wants us to call out to Him more and more and bring all things into His presence.  What a powerful God we serve and there is no one like Him.

As months passed, I began to realize that God had not just chosen to bless me with a job that didn’t have a contracted end date, but with an entirely new family. Despite the part-time schedule, I began to know and become known by people that became some of my dearest friends. And the work day didn’t just consist of work, but of brainstorming sessions turned to laughing fits, the “fun zone,” plenty of creative birthday celebrations, as well as deep and life-altering prayer coupled with authentic concern for one another.


This was no ordinary job with ordinary people, but a place that breathed deeply the goodness of God with an unrelenting hope in His promises. Over time, I began to pray differently, approach relationships differently and walk more closely with God than I had in any other time in life.

As I’m approaching my four-year mark with Aid Sudan, I’m also approaching my last day on the team. God has changed the season in our lives to one that has me home raising our 15-month-old son. And despite the twinge in my heart, we’re trusting God’s guidance as he leads our family in a very new and different path. I’m so grateful for the blessing of having been a part of the Aid Sudan team and working alongside such lovers of God and of the southern Sudanese. My heart and spirit reflect the changes of sharing in their company.

Right now I’m thinking about September. Every September, the Aid Sudan staff takes time away from the office in the form of our annual retreat. We usually go somewhere a couple of hours outside of Houston, escaping to the woods and nature. We turn off our computers and our phones to disconnect from our everyday tasks in order to connect with each other and refocus on our mission to reach the people of South Sudan. For me, it’s a special treat because it’s the only time of year where I get to spend time in-person with the other members of the team. And to brag on my co-workers, they’re the best kind of people.

At the retreat, we discuss the different projects and talk about how to better help each person’s position. But mostly we pray. We pray for Aid Sudan’s greatest needs. We pray for each person individually, both personally and professionally. We pray for our board of directors. We pray over our challenges. We thank God for our successes. We stop running around and we think about the real priorities. I am so grateful that Aid Sudan considers this time to be valuable, if not more valuable than the time we spend immersed in our daily tasks. Not only do I get to spend time connecting and praying with the team, but more importantly, I get to spend time with God … being still in the quiet of the outdoors. And I feel like a burden has lifted each time I step in IAH and board the flight back home.

If this time of refocus and prioritizing is invaluable to my personal and professional life, what am I waiting for? I can have a “getaway with God” anytime, whether it’s an hour or a day or a weekend. This quiet time should be just as consistent as my dedication to my daily work and obligations. So why wait until September?

Without even traveling over there, the people of southern Sudan are close to the hearts of all of the Aid Sudan staff and supporters. We pray; we labor; and we hope for this nation, for this people. And so there are few things more encouraging than glimpses of these two lines intersecting. Almost as if two rails of a train track converge in the distant horizon to become one line, so it is our vision to see our world slowly converge with their world as we together move toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

I had the privilege of seeing a few of my own lines converging on the trip I took to Tonj in May. As I am transitioning to lead the Moses Project, I find myself in a season of a lot of reflection – remembering the past and looking toward the future. We have seen some incredible impact during the first three years of the Moses Project. We have also learned many valuable lessons along the way. With these experiences under our belt, I am extremely excited about the future of our work.

It was with these thoughts in my mind that I arrived in Tonj for the first time. While on the trip, I was able to spend significant time with Sabet Kuj who, along with his wife Suzy, leads an organization called In Deed and Truth there in Tonj. For the last three years, Sabet has also been leading a Bible school and discipling church leaders in the area. As I talked with him about his experiences, there were so many lessons he had learned that sounded so familiar to our own work with the Moses Project. He too has seen some wonderful life-impact as a result of the school, but like us, he desires to see that impact grow in even greater ways. What a great encouragement it was to have this brother, half a world away, who is walking down a similar path.

Here the two of us were - I'm an American in America leading a program to equip Sudanese to lead their own people and Sabet is a Sudanese in Sudan leading a program to equip Sudanese to lead their own people. Two organizations with different implementations but two organizations with the same heart. These two lines so far apart, and yet so close. As we both long for the transformation of southern Sudan, I see our two lines in the distant horizon converging to become one line pointing directly toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

It has been such a joy to spend time with our Dinka and Nuer translators Daniel and Kang. These guys are committed to the cause and you can see it in their diligence in getting things just right. Daniel came to me today to say that he needed to go back and re-record a lesson that we had done last month because he said that he was afraid people would not understand the way he translated it. I have also seen these guys want to take the lessons home with them so they could study them and get the translations just right so that it would be perfect. These guys want to get things right and why should they, you ask?  Because for most of the people in southern Sudan, these stories will be the only Bible they will have and if we give them an incorrect Bible, then they will not have a correct view of God. So attention to detail is a must.

We also want to give them songs about God in their own language. When I look at these two guys, I see another kind of dedication. Today I had two grown Sudanese men in a three-foot by three-foot sound booth with a set of African drums, singing and playing the songs of God they love. As I watched these guys with sweat coming down their faces, I could see that they were dedicated to the cause - a cause that will bring their friends and family to Christ through the stories and songs from the Word of God. Please continue to pray for Daniel and Kang as they faithfully translate God’s Word into their heart languages so that thousands of their countrymen can hear the Good News of Christ in their own language.

One of Henry’s favorite activities is playing fetch. He is a chewer and only has a couple of toys he can play with that he won’t destroy in less than three minutes. But he has a ball that he adores and seems to have no desire to consume.  For a dog who has eaten the collar off of his own neck and had part of his intestine removed from eating a towel, his little orange and blue ball that remains only a ball is like a treasure to my husband and me.

So this little ball gets thrown all over our house and yard. We throw it for him, and he bounces off to fetch it and proudly brings it back, only to drop it somewhere in the vicinity of our feet so we can throw it again.

We throw and throw and throw. And Henry brings it back again and again and again, never tiring of chasing down his most prized possession. He’s consumed by this game. We, on the other hand, lose enthusiasm for the game a lot sooner than he does.
Henry and I were playing ball recently and I got to the stage where I throw it in some obscure location in the hopes that the game will fizzle out. But he brings it back and just looks at me with anticipation, fully expecting me to send the ball flying down the front hall. As he looked at me and waited, Henry’s favorite game reminded me of the way I often approach God.

While the things I bring to God aren’t exactly the same, I have my own set of ‘favorites’ that I am relentlessly laying before the Father. These are things I pick up again and again and again, and I have trouble fully releasing them. Worries. Sins. Regrets. I can get consumed with them. And as I bring them before God over and over again, I think surely He must grow tired of this. Surely the Creator of the Universe has more important things to do than listen to my concerns yet again. How could He possibly care to pick up my burdens for the millionth time?

But then I hear the verse in my head from 1 Peter that says we can cast ALL our cares on Him, because He cares for us. He wants to bear our burdens. Whoa. If we fully grasp that, it’ll change things. And the more we realize how capable He is of handling our worries and how completely he removes our sin, we are less likely to go back to those same things that keep weighing us down.

We can bring whatever is troubling us to His feet and leave it there. I’m thankful that unlike Henry, I don’t have to go back and pick it up again.

It was really great for me to know this Saturday fundraiser event was coming because you normally can't find Sudanese food. There are no Sudanese grocery stores or restaurants in Dallas, so we wait a long time between Sudanese meals in the States. I was thinking the food would consist of many varieties, including a type of soupy dip that you dip flat bread into and eat. At first try, I had no idea of what the dip was made of or called, but have since come to know it is made of peanut butter and a green leafy spinach plant. I know, I know, doesn't sound good, but it really is. At least to me.

So the day comes closer and Mary Margaret and I rearrange our schedule to fit with the fundraiser day and realize we're going to make it near the end. Events typically go all day in the Sudanese community. The starting time was noon, but food would be going strong until five o'clock. This was not just a typical fundraiser as Americans do, but an all day event filled with every church member, singing and lots of food.

The day arrived and we finished up some errand running so we could come just in time for the fundraiser event. I called Najat and let her know we would need two plates and were very excited. She assured us there was plenty of food, as to be expected, and they were delighted for us to join them. Mary Margaret, Lillie and I pulled into the church parking lot and upon opening the church door, various strong smells filled the air.

A couple people stood in line and we got behind them as three tables were lined with numerous foods, salads, breads and meats. I quickly began to chat with all the ladies as Mary Margaret filled up our two to-go plates. She began with salad and bread and soon came to the meats, while I'm still chatting and asking about the different foods. But, my chatting was soon interrupted as Mary Margaret motioned about a question from Najat. "Do you eat fish?”, Najat said. To be more exact Mary Margaret was pointing out that it was not fish, but fish heads in front of us. I responded that we like everything, and please fill up our plates.

Sometimes in ministering in Dallas we get what we don't expect and end up with an unaccustomed meal of fish head. To the Sudanese, a fish head is regarded as the best part of a meal. God has used this and many unusual experiences to teach us about Sudanese culture and that ministry is not always what we expect. Sometimes you eat fish heads.

From the airport, we loaded onto a bus and went to a guesthouse near the airport to take showers and lie down for about an hour before we got up again to catch our flight to Sudan. After two more stops on the way to Tonj, we finally arrived about 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, welcomed by the In Deed and Truth team (Aid Sudan’s ministry partner in the area). We are all healthy but are exhausted from the long travels.

We spent the afternoon relaxing and taking naps and then in the evening, Suzy Kuj gave us a tour of the In Deed and Truth compound and explained more about their work. We are thrilled to be here the Kui family! Tomorrow, we are going to begin confirming all of our plans for the week, as there are many exciting things in store for this team.

Please pray that the team will get some much-needed deep sleep tonight and will continue to adjust to the time difference. Please also pray that God would direct our steps as we look to accomplish several goals on this trip. Finally, please pray that our team might be an encouragement to the In Deed and Truth team.

Along with learning about different food items and their availability and substitutions, I am learning a lot about living life here. I have been here almost one month. In some ways it seems like I have been here a long time, and in other respects I realise I am still very much a “newbie” on the mission field of Uganda.

One of my greatest challenges is learning to drive on the local roads. I’m not sure I’ll ever master it but I am trying. You see, many of the roads aren’t paved and have huge potholes. It happens to be rainy season and at times, some of the roads are almost washed away. And then there is the challenge of the road rules or lack thereof. Here, cutting someone off is not an offence, but is more or less expected. If you sit politely waiting to move out into traffic from an intersection, you’ll be waiting forever. It’s not unusual to make 4-5 lanes out of what is supposed to be space for 2 lanes. You just do what works for you. The alternative to driving yourself is taking local transportation. First, there is the motorcycle, otherwise known as a boda boda. I have heard that the death and accident rate for these vehicles is very high and I can see why! I have decided walking is a much better option. Of course there is the local “taxi”. This is actually a mini van. Somewhere, clearly marked on these taxis is a sign that says they are limited to carrying 14 passengers. Maybe I have lost my ability to count well since arriving her,e but I could have sworn I counted 19 on board one day. The price of the ride is very inexpensive. To ride around the city and its neighbourhoods is usually 500-800 shillings (that’s roughly 25-40 cents) for a short ride and 1000 shillings for a longer ride. I haven’t figured out yet why it costs me 1000 shillings to ride into the city and 1200 coming back. Someone suggested that you have to come up the hill on the way back, so maybe it’s more 

The weather is wonderful. Yes, it is rainy season but practically every day, the sun comes out despite a shower or two. The temperature is mostly in the mid-high 60s overnight and low 80s during the day. The rain makes for some very enjoyable plants and gardens that can be seen all over the hills that make up the area of Kampala. I have also seen some very interesting looking birds but haven’t a clue what they are. There are many new things all around me, so I just have to take it all a day at a time. I am looking forward to this next part of my journey as I become more involved in living life here in Kampala.

We next go to their kids Bible, now ragged and torn. I’m so stirred by that Bible because it looks like three other Bibles on my shelf – my grandfather’s, my dad’s, and thankfully, my own. I so desperately long to pass on the legacy of faith received from those before me. A worn Bible is one sure sign of that legacy.

We close with prayer. After “flying” Timothy to bed, I lay my hands on him and go to war in prayer over him. What a humbling and huge moment it is every day. I then “fly” Allison to bed and do the same – begging God to draw them to Himself, work in power through them, save the lost through them, keep them faithful to Him, and above all, greatly glorify Himself in them. We also spend time praying for the Sudanese, pleading with God nightly for salvation, power, and glory among the southern Sudanese.

After prayer, I give our kids strong hugs. Allison in particular is into her hugs, pulling me back four or five times for extra ones. Yet recently, she’s been bothered by the scratchy day-old stubble on my face. She keeps reminding me to shave my beard so that I won’t “be like Jesus” with his beard. It’s the first time in my life someone has appropriately encouraged me not to be like Jesus.

This nightly routine is cherished in our household. Anthropologists say that the way kids view the world is primarily shaped in the first seven years. If that’s the case, we’re in a race against time. And in our case, we’re half-way there. That’s scary, and that’s big. If there’s one thing we want our kids to get, it’s that life revolves around Jesus and our relationship with Him. That’s it. There’s nothing else on that level. I desperately pray they see that in the priority we give to our time with Him every night.

In Sudan three weeks ago, I sat down with our Bible school students in Nasir. They are about to have their formal graduation and, as their final requirement, are continuing storying groups in their communities. I told them about this nightly routine. Because while we set storying as a requirement for the students in order to nurture the spread of the gospel, this really should be innate to us. We share because we are transformed. We share because the gospel is central to us. We share because we can’t help but share. We start at home, day after day, and let the gospel radiate out from us.

That’s one way we most definitely should be like Jesus.

One of my personal prayers for each gala I’ve planned (in addition to praying that I don’t forget anything!) is that people would clearly see the heart of our organization and that God would receive all honor from the evening.  Our team earnestly wants the people of southern Sudan to be radically transformed by the power of the Gospel. We’re so eager to share about how God has chosen to work through our organization in southern Sudan and how you can become involved.  

A new event on the horizon this spring is a concert with Bebo Norman! I love Bebo. One of his songs was actually sung at my wedding. He’s such a smart lyricist and heartfelt musician. The event is free but donations received that night will fund hand-held radios, which allow the people of southern Sudan to receive the Gospel in their heart languages.  It takes place May 15 at Tallowood Baptist Church. We’ve posted more info on the event page and hope you’ll make plans to attend!

These past weeks and months have been chocked full of plans and preparations for these two events. And I know they’ll come and go in what feels like an instant. But I hope that during the few short hours of each event our hearts would be inspired toward tireless work for those in need in southern Sudan and that in the end, we would just be found faithful to that which God has called us to.

After a windy Wednesday night, Thursday morning was calm and beautiful. The team awoke to a packed morning, with much to accomplish before our noon departure from Nasir. We held meetings, shot videos and packed up. The highlight of the morning was a visit with the Nasir Bible School students. They shared about all the storying groups in their community and their upcoming graduation. What a time of celebration it will be, with their completion of 118 Bible stories and storying groups throughout the community. The visit with them was, as always, an exciting time.

After a hot mile walk to the plane, carrying all our luggage, the team made a quick jaunt into town. The commissioner was away on a trip, but we met with his deputy and left a gift for the commissioner -- a belt with a Texas star belt buckle. It is sure to be quite a memorable gift for the Nasir commissioner!

The team enjoyed some cold (well, relatively speaking) water on the walk back to the plane, and then quickly departed for Uganda. After two refueling stops and a few hours of flight time, we arrived back in beautiful Entebbe. The team is still healthy and well and now settling into bed for the night, deeply grateful for all we have all experienced.

God has blessed this trip in innumerable ways. The team has worked hard and moved fast, and the impact of their work will have great bearing on Aid Sudan's ministry. It is a deep honor for all of us with Aid Sudan to have had this group of individuals bless us in this way.

This is our final update, as tomorrow we will wrap up with our last debriefing before enjoying some souvenir shopping. The team will then head to the airport and head for home, with fond memories and deep thanks for all God is doing and will do in southern Sudan.

Last Day in Sudan ...

Wednesday morning was beautiful in Nasir. After breakfast, we visited Aid Sudan's Village to Village project (school, clinic, water well) in the village of Kierwan. The 12-mile drive took about an hour over quite a bumpy road. Foreigners only first visited this village when Aid Sudan personnel entered a couple years ago, so the team got to see a typical southern Sudanese village. We all visited with local Sudanese, heard the gravity of the need and considered the impact of the project. It was a great visit.

After the hour drive back, the team had a quick lunch of rice and beans before leaving for the village of Torpuot. The team viewed an identical Village to Village project there, this one completed one and a half years ago. The team studied each aspect of the project and heard local villagers talk about the impact on their village.

Once back at our Nasir home, the team had the opportunity to visit together as part of a review process on Aid Sudan's ministry. It was a valued discussion as we met in our mud hut together. Once the spiking temperature cooled, we took a walk out to Aid Sudan's radio tower. As with Aweil, the potential impact of the tower is clear.

In the evening, the team again had a beans and rice meal before what could be our final devotion time in Sudan. Tomorrow we will potentially wrap up our work here and fly on back to Uganda. Much depends on our efficiency in the morning, but God has richly blessed our time and we have accomplished everything more quickly than expected. All team members are healthy and well and full of thanks for all God has done in and through us on this trip!

Tonj/Nasir ...

Tuesday in Tonj began with another amazing meal with In Deed and Truth. After the morning devotion, we visited the proposed radio tower site on their compound. It was a great location, just next to their new medical clinic. There is such spiritual hunger all over southern Sudan and great anticipation of the potential impact of Aid Sudan's broadcasting in the Tonj area.

After our site survey, we crammed into a Toyota Landcruiser for a bumpy hour drive to the village of Mapel – the area where Aid Sudan is considering working. We met with pastors there and heard about the growth of the church, which is facing continued opposition from witchdoctors in the area. The team was burdened to really pray for our Lord to work in great power there, revealing His supremacy to the witchdoctors and the people.

After the rough drive back on the dirt road, we quickly packed and jumped in the plane headed for Nasir. The two-hour flight to Nasir took us over the Nile River and gave us more of southern Sudan's beautiful scenery.

Upon arriving, we immediately met with the local commissioner, who graciously welcomed the team. He immediately offered his vehicles to host the team, a great answer to prayer. After a drive to Aid Sudan's Nasir compound, team members settled in to tents or mud huts for the night. Our evening devotion was under a stunning, star-filled night sky. We marveled at the majesty and glory of our Lord as we reflected on the privilege and responsibility of each of us in being on this trip.

Tomorrow, the team will visit two of Aid Sudan's project sites. It will be a full day but a great opportunity to see the schools, clinics, and water wells which Aid Sudan has implemented here in Nasir. The team will review the projects and offer recommendations toward Aid Sudan's strategy.

Deep thanks goes to all who continue to support the team in prayer. All team members are healthy and well and although our schedule has been packed, a lot has been accomplished. We are so grateful. What a blessing it is to be a part of what our great God is doing in southern Sudan.

On to Tonj ...

We got an early start today as some of the team walked around Aweil to visit homes where people were listening to the radio programming. It was powerful. Nothing was prearranged, so we knew the people truly were listening. We simply walked around, heard the broadcast and headed into the home. Once again, it was a deeply moving time. The radio broadcasts truly have penetrated the heart of the Aweil area, and the gospel along with it. There were repeated requests for more radios in this area of more than one million people, but the stories of transformation were a deep blessing and source of thanksgiving.

After an encouragement time with the staff at the radio station, the team loaded up and headed to the airstrip. By noon, we were safely in Tonj.  Once again, we were hosted by a fellow organization, and this time the organization was In Deed and Truth. The missionaries met us at the airstrip and brought us to their beautiful home, receiving us with a delicious meal. The accommodations here are nicer than any other stay, so the team has been relishing what we are jokingly calling "five star" lodging.

In the afternoon, the team received a tour of In Deed and Truth's ministry. Seeing a pastor training school and a medical clinic, the team was once again touched. The team was invited to train pastors in the Bible school, so after a brief rest, we spent a couple hours in the afternoon walking the pastors through the eight stories of Aid Sudan's Chronological Bible Storying track. What a joy it was to share in the gospel together! Each team member told a story as the team journeyed from creation through the crucifixion. It was a rich time together with our southern Sudanese brothers.

Before debriefing time in the evening, we enjoyed a meal of goat meat and chocolate cake. The team is now resting for the night, and our hearts are filled with praise. While still in need of more rest, the team is a bit more refreshed and everyone is healthy and well. We cherish prayers for good rest tonight before flying on tomorrow.

The original plan was to travel to Mvolo tomorrow, but instead, we are first heading to Nasir.  So after viewing potential project sites around Tonj tomorrow, the team will travel on to Nasir. Thanks to all who are graciously supporting the team in prayer!

Arrival in Sudan ...

On the morning of our flight into Sudan, the ground was wet, due to a thunderstorm the previous night. Team members enjoyed a classic Ugandan breakfast and the beauty of the "Pearl of Africa" before leaving for the airport. As only thirteen of fourteen bags arrived safely on Friday, our first major prayer was answered as the fourteenth bag arrived before our departure. We climbed onto our single prop Cessna Caravan all healthy and well, eager to see what God had in store.

Our five-hour flight included two refueling stops as we flew from lush Uganda to barren Sudan. When we arrived, we were greeted by 110 degree weather and a crowd of villagers. Our hosts with Cush4Christ, our local missionary partner, escorted us back to their place. Yet before even leaving the dirt airstrip, we began hearing stories of the impact of the broadcasting from Aid Sudan's radio tower. It was to be a theme of the rest of our day.

After arriving at our new home, we quickly settled in. The Cush4Christ radio station building hosts their studio, but also provides two rooms for lodging. With mattresses on cement floors, the accommodations are excellent by Sudanese standards.

Staying in the building allows the team to see the Aid Sudan and Cush4Christ partnership up close. As Cush4Christ records and broadcasts locally on Aid Sudan's tower, more than a million people in the surrounding area are within the coverage area. Our first night, we walked with the missionaries to the market. As the team walked up on the first home, we found the local chief listening to the broadcast on his Aid Sudan hand-held radio. He warmly welcomed us as some of us fought back the tears. It was an overwhelming moment as we saw for ourselves how the gospel is going into homes through the radio.

Our final stop of the night, in the local market, led us to a man who has a local medicine store. As we came up, he was sitting and listening to the radio station broadcast. He began to share how he was totally closed to Christ before the broadcasting began, but now he hungers for Jesus. What a powerful moment it was; the very type of moment happening time and again all over this area.

We went to sleep with tired bodies but very full hearts. Tomorrow, we will witness even more of what God is doing in Aweil, Sudan.

A Day in Aweil ...

As the team arose Sunday morning, a bowl of oatmeal awaited us all.  We traveled with our missionary partners with Cush4Christ to their newest church, a congregation just formally meeting for the first time today. What an experience it was! A couple hundred Sudanese gathered under a large tree for a service that lasted almost four hours.

Church was followed by another gracious meal from our missionary hosts. While eating, the team was updated on the successes and trials of the radio work. The stories of impact were incredible.

While some team members rested, others traveled into a local village to hear more reports of the impact of the radio tower and hand-held radios. The stories were much the same, with seemingly endless accounts of salvations and life changes and requests for new churches.  Once again, it was deeply moving and tears filled some of our eyes. You don’t get over seeing people transformed by the gospel.

This afternoon, the team gathered with Cush4Christ missionaries for a time of worship. The team was deeply impacted by our stay with the missionaries. Two couples have five children collectively and are joined by a single man. Their model of faithfulness was a powerful inspiration for the team.

During team devotions tonight, one team member after another gave witness to how they were touched today. Already the team has impacted Aid Sudan's ministry, with priceless feedback on projects and ministry, yet the team also is being impacted, as God continues to stir in all of us.

Tonight, we ask for prayer for sleep, as there has been little rest thus far. This night should hold much more sleep, following by a slower day tomorrow with a transition to our second location of Tonj.

All team members are healthy and well and eager to see what tomorrow holds. Thanks to all who are praying for the team and this trip!

Of the 6.4 billion people on the planet today...
1 in 7 do not have adequate food.
1 in 6 do not have access to clean water.
1 in 6 do not have access to adequate health care.*

A few weeks ago, these numbers were given a face. Her name was Zahara.

The place where Zahara is raising her three children looks like a land that time forgot. Neighborhood is an interesting word, since even the Ugandans I was tagging along with called it a slum. Except for a few vehicles from the outside, the most advanced mode of transportation are small scooters that serve as taxis. The roads and passageways are not paved. There is no plumbing. Not much electricity. Piles of garbage smolder at periodic intervals. 

Zahara invited us into her home - a 10-foot-by-10 foot room with one doorway leading to the outside. The brick walls allowed for little ventilation as we sat on the two beds that nearly filled the room. We started with small talk - children, the children’s ages and education … but the conversation soon turned to more important things. We were there that day to enroll Zahara's family in a food program. Over the course of the conversation, I learned a lot about her. Muslim from birth, she sells french fries to earn the 15 dollars a month she pays in rent. Her husband left the family when she was diagnosed with HIV. The ARVs are free from the clinic, but they don't work against the virus if there is not enough food - and there is never enough food. The health status of the rest of her family is unclear, probably unknown.

Each month for the next six months, Zahara and 49 other families in her neighborhood will receive more food -- rice, beans, grain, cooking oil -- all contributions provided by American Believers. But the conversation kept moving, because my Ugandan friend Joseph is concerned for more than just Zahara's health. 

"Zahara, you say that you are a Muslim from birth, but I want you to know that Jesus cares for you in a way that cannot be described. You are deeply loved."

That statement caused Joseph to hold Zahara's gaze longer than anything else - more than bragging on her children, more than the promise of food - Zahara needed to hear that she was loved.

She has been given a book to read about Jesus. She has been invited to a weekly Bible study being held in her area. Joseph will go back sometime this week to check in on her, and I'm sure that they will talk more about Jesus.

It was my great privilege to get to share the hope I find in Jesus with Zahara. She let me pray with her, and I've continued to ask God to spare her life long enough for her to come to know Him. 

Christians will continue to be welcomed into her home, because they first showed that they cared that she was hungry, and then they showed her that she was loved.

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

"The King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.' (Matthew 25:35-40)

*statistics from World Vision (www.theholeinourgospel.com)

Suffering. None of us want it. In fact, we avoid it at all costs. Headaches get medicine, hunger gets food, and fatigue gets sleep. Whatever the symptom, we have a remedy. Few times are we unable to repair our issue. We have an aversion to suffering, and for the most part, an ability to meet it.

The Sudanese have no such mindset. For them it’s not if they’ll suffer, it’s how much.  Suffering is guaranteed. There is no medicine for headaches, not enough food for hunger, and sleep – that’s tough on hard ground. Some Sudanese have more these days, with medicine or food or a bed. But they are the blessed ones. What we take for granted here is a cherished blessing there.

Coming to grips with the differences between America and Sudan is one of the hardest parts of my job. I grew up in Africa. I know their suffering full well. But half my life has been in America. I know what it means to have much. Constantly, I battle these two sides to my life. Constantly, I try to reconcile the two.

It doesn’t stop there. The ones who suffer the most simply want for survival. The Sudanese don’t know a surplus. They just want life. For us, we simply want to want.  There is never enough. Hollywood has taught us well, and it shows. We simply want to want.  

Yet there is hope. There is truth. There is transformation. It’s seen in Scripture, where Jesus models suffering. He wants not, He suffers well. He longs not for comfort, nor for possessions. He longs for souls. His passion is the Father’s passion. His heart is pure; his motives are clean. And all around Him are changed.

Aid Sudan reflects that to me. It’s seen in our team members, and in our board members.  It’s evident in our supporters – of all ages, from all walks of life. Life for them is not about possessions, not about stuff. It’s not about alleviating suffering by getting just one more thing. It’s about using suffering to be reminded of suffering in others. It’s about giving up stuff in thinking of those who don’t have stuff. It’s about valuing purpose rather than comfort so others may have comfort in Him.

In the process, the Sudanese have been changed. In the process, the Aid Sudan family has probably been changed. In the process, I’ve certainly been changed. I’ve seen the Aid Sudan family’s passion; I’ve seen their heart and I’ve seen their longing. It reflects the Father, for it mirrors His heart. It’s for Sudanese souls.  

Suffering. None of us want it. But it’s all worth it for the sake of our King. It’s all worth it for the sake of His glory.  It’s all worth it for the sake of those He loves.

Where do we go? How far do we go? How do we make disciples?

It is the answers to these questions that drive so many of us to do what we do. As the mission trip director for Aid Sudan, I have been contemplating this commission a lot in recent days. I never want to get to the point where we just do mission trips for the sake of doing trips. If our teams are not actively involved in fulfilling the Great Commission, then we have missed the mark. With this in mind, I have been actively reviewing our mission trip strategy for some time. More than anything else, I keep asking the Lord that we will just be faithful to go and make disciples.

During this review process, God has kindly reminded me of one important truth – He has always been and will always be the sender. He has been sending from the very beginning in order to draw creation to Himself. In the Old Testament, God kept sending to prepare the world for His Son. During Abraham's time God sent the Promise; in Moses' day God sent the Law. For the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, God sent the Prophets. All of these things sent by God – the promise, the law, the prophets – were fulfilled in one Man alone.

Then in the New Testament, God kept sending to save the world by this one man, His only Son. And so to all humanity God sent His Son; to His followers God sent His Spirit. But to the rest of the world God sent His followers. Just as the old was sent to prepare for the new, so the new has been sent to bring us all back to the One who begin it all. 

Before sending us out to the world, God sent Himself. God the Son came down in flesh to save the world. Then God the Spirit came down in power to draw the world to Himself. And so God the Father has sent us to share Him with the world. But it is in the name of Jesus and through the power of the Spirit that we go and make disciples. And what a difference that makes!

When college ended, I remember being sad that my time of living with my friends had come to an end. That was definitely memorable community. And then I got married, and all of a sudden I got to live with my best friend Austin – talk about fun! Now, a couple of years into our marriage, the term “living in community” has taken on a whole new meaning. 

Several months ago, Austin and I found out that a friend of mine was moving from Dallas to Houston, and we were elated. When we heard that he and his wife needed a place to stay for a few months, we gladly offered our house. How fun - it would be just like college again! 

Never mind the fact that only two of us were good friends and we barely knew each other’s spouses (who also barely knew each other). Never mind the fact that we have 3 large dogs. Never mind the fact that they have 2 cats that have never been around dogs. Never mind the fact that our parents worried we’d ruin our friendship. It would be so much fun!

And it has been. A 3 or 4 month stay has turned into 7, but it’s been an awesome 7 months. Sure, it helps that our roommates are some of the nicest, most conscientious people ever. And it’s also really nice that they hired maids to clean our house. But it’s safe to say that we’ve defied the odds of couples who live together. Or at least we defied our parents’ predictions. Rather than straining our relationship with the Voss’, living together has strengthened it. Rather than damaging our friendship, it’s deepened it. And it’s been a lot more than just “fun.”

Yeah, we’ve had to give and take. We’ve had to share. We’ve chased the dogs through the house that were chasing the cats through the house. We’ve had to make dinners without cheese because Chip hates it. But any sacrifice any of us has made has well been worth the growth of our friendship. And what has developed is now more than just friendship. These are people we now trust with our lives. We address each other as “Fam” and we even have nicknames. We’ve shared laughter, burdens, groceries, prayers, and tears (well, maybe just me and Christy on that last one). We’ve “broken bread in our home and eaten together with glad and sincere hearts...” just as we see in Acts 2. 

This is one place where everyone was wrong. Our lives have actually been enriched by having our friends live with us.

I can see why the idea of “doing life together” has reemerged, and I whole heartedly support it. It might not mean co-habiting necessarily, but we all live among people in whom we could probably invest a little more. From now on, I’m determined to love on my neighbors more and be more engaged in the lives of those around me. Maybe I can have an impact in a way similar to how my roomies have impacted me.

So, lets think about this. Clothing is easy. The year round climate is high 50s - low 60s at night and low 80s during the day. Jealous? Maybe you should come visit! Let’s move on to kitchen goods. Small appliances while available, are sometimes not the same quality as I am used to and may require frequent replacement. That means I have to take power strips and adapters to accommodate different outlets. I also need to think about a really good water filtration system for my drinking water, as I will not even be able to brush my teeth with the water from the faucet in fear of ingesting some nasty parasites that can make me really sick. As I began to pack up Christmas decorations I agonized over which items I want to have with me to remember Christmases in the past and to keep some favorite traditions. Speaking of traditions, what about my cookbooks? Oh my, they are heavy. While on the subject of food, I’m sure you aren’t aware that in Kampala you can’t buy chocolate chips to bake cookies. Let’s see, it requires 2 cups of chocolate chips for a batch… so that’s how many bags to last how many months? It’s all so complicated!

Weight is another big issue to be considered. All my belongings will travel via air in Contico trunks. According to airline regulations, the maximum for each piece is 50 pounds. And now for the next problem, if I can only send a few trunks at a time with mission teams, then I will need to prioritize trunk order. Since I have never lived in Africa before, it’s hard to know what I will consider a necessity and what is frivolous and a waste of good packing space.

Thankfully, I do have the advice and experience of two Aid Sudan families who currently live in Uganda, and they have offered to help me navigate this new territory. Watch for my next blog from the other side of the ocean to see how it all turns out!

On Monday, the week continues as I am in the office following up from a serve night at a Sudanese church or following new leads on how to support the local Sudanese in new ways. I often get ask for all types of resources and hear needs that are innumerable. Most Sudanese are looking for work in Dallas. Just yesterday I spoke to one father whom has had his full time hours to part time and then to on call hours. This means that his once promising job only provides eight hours of work some weeks. The answer to his dilemma and many others is to have two or three jobs in Dallas. 

I work with these families and the community leaders during the week to find solutions and support. There is an even decreasing number of jobs for an ever increasing community of Sudanese here in Dallas. Most families desire to have six or more children and support them in their homes and in their educations. This can be very difficult. The flip side of this coin is that I meet with community partners during the week like churches and business leaders to answer these needs. We have seen so many new partners come in the last year-and-a-half. God is continuing to raise up American leaders who have a heart for Sudanese families. Since we've moved I have learned more about God's heart for the lowly and poor. I think that He has given Mary Margaret and I new eyes to see how we are part in His plan to transform the Sudanese community both here in Dallas and in Sudan.

Over the holidays, I went on a mission trip to Haiti. Our work did not take place in Port-au-Prince, but instead in Bohoc – a small village about four hours outside of the capital, or eight hours depending on the road conditions. I could tell you in detail about the work that we did, but the real heart of our work and the moments that really touched us were in the relationships that we formed with the Haitian people.

There was Tompy – a Haitian who told us how his own life was miraculously spared during the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010, but at the same time, he also watched the house collapse on one of his best friends, Fabno. Now, Tompy is determined to serve his people and follow the God who rescued him.

There was Fabno’s family, who welcomed us into their home and let us pray for them as they wrestle with the untimely death of their son and brother. 

There was Ronald, our translator, who shared with us his story of how he is taking care of his mother, father and siblings by working to build them a house. At the same time, he is anticipating the moment where he has a family of his own. 

There were the soccer games that brought the whole town together to cheer for the local team.

There was the community in Bohoc – a group of men, women and children we worked alongside to widen the fence to the sugarcane field. They laughed with us while we honed our machete and pickaxe skills and sang while we worked. And in some rare moments, we were able to connect with a few words in our limited French and Creole. 

And then there were the kids who were so excited to see us every day.  We watched the way the older kids took care of the younger ones. We loved the way they held our hands and offered us hugs. They found excitement in everything they did – running, teaching us how to dance and even helping us clean up after an activity. They had big smiles, tender hearts and giving spirits. We were inspired and loved by this special group of 2-16 year-olds.

While we were in Bohoc, we did more than work. And no matter what our reasons were for going, we were all part of their community for a short time. However, the impact of being part of the community will last much longer. I went because I wanted to serve, but I walked away having been served.

We first met this wonderful family several months back. Suzy teaches English as a second language at a refugee center and Beza was in one of her classes. Suzy always looks forward to visiting Beza because Suzy is a serious coffee drinker, and she says Beza makes the best coffee in the world. So we were very eager to get to their home for this holiday, looking forward to some great coffee and great fellowship. When we arrived, we were shocked to find that not only were they going to prepare coffee for us, but also a full meal! On Christmas day, Ethiopians do not exchange gifts of any kind. They simply attend church in the morning and then share a meal together in the afternoon. We got to be there for the meal, which included salad, a flat sour bread called injera, and two different sauces to eat with the injera. One sauce was spicy with beef, and the other had only spinach (they knew Suzy was a vegetarian!). Ethiopian food has quickly become one of my favorites, and this meal was absolutely delicious!  

After the meal came the coffee. Suzy calls coffee with Beza a “coffee ceremony” and it was just that. First, Beza roasted the beans over hot coals. Then, she ground up the beans and placed them into a clay pot. She added water to the pot and boiled the water and coffee grounds for several minutes. Then, she served up some of the best coffee you have ever tasted (sorry Starbucks!). We certainly had a great time celebrating Christmas a second time with some very special people!

We have the education and the resources to understand the concept of cultural bias, so how could we actually be stuck in one? I came face-to-face with some of my own last Sunday.

I’ve given money to relief work in Haiti, prayed for the church there and its leaders and teared up at hearing some of the stories of survival and sacrifice; but what I was reminded of by Pastor Luc is that, with all my wisdom and resources, I am inherently in need. This video of a Haitian pastor talking about great loss and great faith was enough to bring the tears to the surface. He talks about being so thankful for the work to bring clean water to the thirsty people. 

Then, he reached right out of the screen and grabbed my heart. The Haitians don’t have the money to help us in return, but the “much more important” thing is that he is praying for us. Because it is only God who can bless, Pastor Luc knows – from his now enviable position – that our money, that our education and resources, that even our acts of kindness toward the people of Haiti, are not really the kinds of blessings that sustain. Pastor Luc knows that without the blessings of God, we are a hurting people.

Amen and amen.

AC: A Haitian Pastor's Prayers from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

The Lord continues to surprise us with new families connecting to Aid Sudan each month. Usually they see a video or hear a story about radios going to Sudan and then the connection takes off from there. We love it!  Kristin is an excellent example of how people are falling in love with the Sudanese and wanting to go deeper in understanding their needs. Soon, Kristin’s family will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Sudanese families in a Dallas Sudanese church. The Aid Sudan Radio Project has inspired her family to learn, understand and pray for the Sudanese in deeper ways.

We sense the prayers of so many each week over our ministry in Dallas and God is responding. So often I reflect on these words that come from God’s Word, "... for it is... not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord!" We cannot believe all that God is doing and allowing us to be a part of in Dallas. It is truly only by His Spirit that we are seeing such great and mighty things!  

I wish I could do a poll of your clinic experiences here in the U.S.A. I know you can find a 24-hour clinic just about anywhere. When you go inside, it’s either heated or cooled depending on the season. You have to sign in and then wait your turn, which seems like an incredible amount of time. But, you can chat with a friend on your cell phone or watch whatever TV program is offered from your chair. A drink of water from the fountain helps pass the time as well, if you’re really bored. Finally, it’s your turn and the doctor listens as you relate symptoms and problems. They might take an X-ray or run some blood work. More than likely, you will get a prescription, pick it up at the nearest drugstore and return to the comfort of your home.

Now, let’s compare this to the Sudanese clinic experience. My mind goes back to the early morning outside the stick fence that separated me from the slowly growing crowd gathering for “clinic.” Even though the sun is not that high yet, it still generates some heat. The waiting room is simply the ground outside and there are no shady trees. In the distance, I see a well where water can be pumped if I care to stand in line with my jerry can. As the day wears on, the sun beats down and causes temperatures to rise past 110; the frail, young and elderly become faint and dehydrated. Where is that TV show for the malnourished, feverish child to watch while they wait? At last, a mother with four or five children in tow will see the doctor. Their swollen bellies and skinny legs tell the doctor a lot, but no testing is done because none is available. Thankfully, they do get some medicine, but it doesn’t fix the situation. 

The biggest difference between a medical clinic in Sudan and a medical clinic in the US is that in Sudan, they will not have access to high tech tests, but they will have seen the love of Jesus expressed in a smile, a hug and a prayer. Next time I have to wait for medical care, I will spend the time thinking of my Sudanese brothers and sisters and pray for their needs.

Although I am not exactly sure of the exact ages of the boys, I am pretty sure that Peter is the youngest of the three. He has a huge scar on his stomach from a land mine that went off during the war. He had major surgery and his scar is a reminder of the war. Even though he has been through a lot, Peter is carefree and laid back with the most endearing personality. Everyone wants to be around him. He is always doing something to make people laugh like climbing a tree, doing cartwheels through the grass or taking his goat on walks. I would love to know what is going on in his mind. 

David is probably Peter’s age or just a little bit older.  Put together determination and a drive to succeed with a sweet and playful heart and you have David.  David had a hand grenade explode near him during the war, and as a result, he only has three fingers on one hand and some of his other arm is missing. But this does not slow him down or inhibit him in the least bit! When I was there in 2008, we brought strings to make bracelets and David didn’t want any help, but he did sit and watch how we made them. Then, he took his string and went and sat under a tree by himself.  After a little bit of time, we walked over to see how he was doing. He had figured out how to use his mouth, hand and other arm to make his friendship bracelet. This is a hard task for someone with two hands, but David made it look as if it wasn’t even a challenge. He has risen to the challenges that have been placed in his way and is making the best of his circumstances. 

And then there is John Deng - quite possibly one of the most special kids I have ever met.  Most of the kids in Aweil couldn’t speak English at all, give or take maybe a few words, but John Deng could fully communicate with us. He loved to read his Bible and had such a thirst for knowledge. God is going to do huge things in his life and use him in powerful ways.  I am blessed beyond words to describe to you how thankful I am for meeting this boy. Currently, he is in Aweil going to school and working very hard. He actually searched for Aid Sudan the other day and contacted Christi, asking her to connect us over email.  What a blessing and surprise it was to receive an email from John Deng all the way from Sudan! 

All of these boys have been faced with extreme obstacles, but they are making the best of their situation and rising above their circumstances.  I am proud to call each one of them a friend, and I cannot wait until I can return to Aweil to see them again! 

If you’ve ever been on a trip like this, you know the feeling of needing to talk about it, to let it out and to try to give voice to what is completely indescribable. For my husband and I, our voice came out through songwriting and music. We felt called to share this music in a way that delved deeper than any of our former projects. Deep enough to reach back to our new friends in Sudan with those infectious smiles, curious eyes and a hunger for the freedom that comes with the Gospel. 

So we prayed; we wrote; we demoed our new songs. Then we waited.

Now, two years later, we stand awestruck at how God has decidedly opened the doors for a new project. We’re calling it Music for the Radio, which includes songs written directly from our experiences in southern Sudan. With the help of friends and encouragement from our Aid Sudan family, we’ll share it next May with all receipts benefiting hand-held radios.  

Now who knows if people will like it, listen to it, let alone actually buy it? But for us, it’s our response. Our way of letting out all God has been teaching us since we first set foot in Sudan. We pray it will inspire, educate and cause people to look closer at a country half a world away. Above all else, we pray it compels us to sing the song that God has placed in our hearts - the hope of the Gospel - to those who’ve never heard it sung before.  

I’m wondering why this is, as I am just as guilty as the next person. And I realize that I am not living in the moment because I’m too busy thinking about what’s next. Am I unaware of the adventure that God has in store for me that day because I’m not paying attention to anyone around me? Am I too busy worrying about what I’m missing? Do I look “cooler” when I have better things to do than talk to those people I’m with?  Do we live in a virtual reality?

I lost my phone a couple of weeks ago and was without my beloved companion for two whole days! I admit, at first, it was a huge pain. But then, I felt huge relief. I could actually concentrate on the tasks at hand and when I stepped away from my computer, I truly stepped away. My work didn’t follow me to my social activities and I could actually … think.  

I know this all might sound funny coming from someone who is in the marketing/public relations profession. I communicate for a living and keep up-to-date with the latest forms of “talk”. However, I think it also makes me think more often about how we need to have boundaries in our use of technology. 

One thing I love about Aid Sudan, and what truly makes it a unique organization, is that every morning we stop to talk and pray for an hour. And every year, we go off into the woods to connect with God and one another, attempting to use our computers as little as possible. Even though I work out of Charleston, I KNOW the Aid Sudan team. 

After giving it much thought over the past few weeks, I am vowing to lock my phone inside my purse when I’m having dinner with a friend and really listen. Take time to smile at the person giving me coffee in the morning. And pick up my Bible before I pick up my Blackberry in the morning. Maybe then, I’ll be more apt to hear how God is speaking to me and how he wants to use me in the “little things” each day.

Here’s a little bit of the back story:  My wife, Danyel, and I served as missionaries to Brazil for almost three years before some health issues brought us back to the US unexpectedly.  A year and half later, God led us to Aid Sudan so I could train southern Sudanese men to return to their homeland as missionaries through the Moses Project.  During the past three years at Aid Sudan, we’ve also been praying and working on our adoption in Brazil. I can remember lying in my mud hut in Nasir, Sudan this time last year praying for my wife in America, and my kids in Brazil, just longing for us all to finally be together.  Then, on November 6, 2009, the day after I returned, we got “the call” that culminated in the adoption of our 8-year-old daughter, Kaweny, her 6-year-old brother, Javre, and their 4-year-old sister, Jady, this past August.

To say that our lives have changed dramatically would definitely be an understatement.  After 15 amazing years of serving Christ alongside my bride Danyel, we’ve suddenly jumped into parenthood with both feet and it’s all in our second language, Portuguese. While we had grown quite accustomed to quiet nights at home, cooking together for fun and even traveling to Sudan together to serve, our lives are now characterized by loading and unloading the dishwasher, two hours of baths and getting kids into bed, one more frozen pizza, endless laundry, and three little hearts that are soaking in stories from God’s Word for all it’s worth, even if they have to listen to it in their parents Portuguese with the funny accents. 

We wouldn’t trade our lives for anything as we get to see the glory of God awakened in the precious little ones He has entrusted us with.  As we’ve been teaching them what it means to be a member of the Humphrey family, prayer at all times has been a big part of that.  Just last night, little Kaweny’s bedtime prayers included the people in Africa who don’t have enough food to eat.  My wife and I are honored to be raising three more little intercessors for the work that God has called us to in Sudan, which brings me back to where this whole entry began. As we learn how to juggle raising our little Brazilian children with ministry to the people of southern Sudan, we do so from right here in the USA and at the end of the day, this new Dad is humbled that God would choose me to make His glory known in three nations.

For two years now, the students in the Nasir Bible School have committed themselves to learning 115 Bible stories. Think about that for a minute – 115 stories! Remember that most of these men have virtually no education, with only a few able to read a little bit and some not at all. In our society, these men would be the have-nots. And yet they know more of the Bible than most of us who have five Bibles lying around our house collecting dust. It reminds me of those that Jesus called to be his followers – "unschooled ordinary men." But every time I am with these men I see the voracious appetite they have for God's Word.

Two of the students, Jacob and Peter, exemplified this so powerfully on my latest trip. Keep in mind that it was the end of the rainy season in Nasir so rivers are overflowing leaving the surrounding areas covered in marshy waters. When these two men heard that our team had arrived in town, they both walked entire days, wading through water up to their chests, just to come see us. In the States, often we won't even get in the car for an hour drive because something is too far away. But these men, knowing full well how the walk would be, went without food or drink trudging for hours through heavy waters to come share how their Bible groups are going. That is a powerful hunger that cannot be quenched with mere food and drink. It can only be satisfied by God Himself. How can God's Word not spread like wildfire with a hunger like that?

And so there are eight Bible storying groups happening right now in Nasir. These men have been filled with the Bread of Life and now they are going out and sharing the loaves. May God multiply these loaves and feed the thousands. 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6

During the trip, it has been amazing for the team to have the Nasir Bible School students share the Bible stories. To have Sudanese telling other Sudanese about Christ is exactly why the Bible School was established. At one point, as one of the students told the stories, about 60 people were hanging on every word.

The time at the medical clinic is not only about curative care but also about preventative care. Aid Sudan’s Director of Health Kerrie Snow took time at the clinic to go over basic health and hygiene rules with the attentive crowd, hoping to instill healthy habits in everyday living. 

On Saturday, the clinic ran in the morning while the afternoon was spent at the Bible School with the students. The students have already learned 118 stories, so the team is now furthering that training with a course on spiritual dynamics.

All team members are doing well and are in good health. Pray for the team as they continue to see patients at the clinic and work with the Nasir Bible School students.

On their first official day in Nasir, the medical team waved goodbye to the first team and set to work! They set up a medical clinic on the Aid Sudan compound and began seeing patients. While people waited to see the doctor and nurse, the Nasir Bible School students told Bible stories and team members gave lessons on health and hygiene. Tomorrow, the team is planning to extend the Bible training to the Bible school. Stay tuned for another update over the weekend!

Please pray for team in the following areas:

• Work at the clinic as they continue to see patients
• Bible school training
• Continued health of the team

On Friday, the team traveled by boat to the village of Chincho. Once they arrived, they had to walk 30 yards in the mud. The purpose was to visit a storying group started by the Bible School students, but the women of the village first wanted to honor the team by washing everyone’s feet and then serving a nice lunch of fish, tea and hot milk. It was great for the team to meet with the storying group made up of mostly women who were eager to learn the stories and very skilled at reciting them back to the team. 

Monday’s adventure was arranged by the commissioner of Nasir – a man who has become a very good friend and advocate for Aid Sudan. First on the agenda was a traditional Ethiopian meal served in the marketplace. According to the team, it was delicious! Afterwards, the team climbed on a boat headed to Torpout – a small village nearby to Nasir and the site for one of Aid Sudan’s Village-to-Village projects. (Aid Sudan’s Village-to-Village project provides a water well, school and medical clinic for those villages most in need.) 

During their stay in Torpout, they visited two storying groups and were greatly encouraged by the leadership and students’ commitment to learning the Word of God. The team encouraged and prayed for both of these groups. Before the team headed back to Nasir, one of the villagers gave them a goat – a great honor in southern Sudan!

As I write this to you, the team is preparing to leave Nasir but not before they enjoy a little overlap with the medical team that landed in Nasir today. They will sit together around the campfire tonight sharing stories and encouraging each other, whether that encouragement is directed at the journey home or the upcoming work in Nasir.

 Here are their prayer requests:

• Safe travel back to Uganda and back home
• Great encouragement time tonight with the Aid Sudan medical team
• God would continue to transform lives through the spread of the Gospel via these storying groups 

Traveling a few miles is easy in the United States, but in southern Sudan, it can be a day’s journey just to do one errand! And sometimes, the road conditions impair any kind of traveling except those done on foot. To get to the second group, the team walked for about an hour. When they arrived, there were a handful of people eager to hear Bible stories, but by the time the group finished, the whole village was present.   

One of the Bible school students visited the team to give a report about his group. Normally, the trip is about a three hour walk, but this particular day, it was an all day adventure given the waist high water. The team was encouraged by his persistence and listened eagerly as he told them about several in his group learning the stories. 

The team requested to have prayer for health and travel.

• Health for the team. It’s hot!
• The team will be traveling by boat this weekend to visit three nearby villages. 

Tuesday, the jetlagged Nasir mission team arrived on the dirt airstrip in the village of Nasir and settled into their compound. (A compound in Nasir refers to a collection of mud huts, a shower and outhouses protected by a fence.) The team met the compound workers - a group of Sudanese men and women who will be living and working among them during the stay in Nasir. 

Yesterday, the team met with the Nasir Bible School students to hear about the storying groups that have been started in the area and discuss plans for the week. The students who are now the teachers have started seven individual groups and all expressed that those involved in the groups couldn’t wait to hear more and more from God’s Word. As the team heard the Bible School students talk about their groups, they were sure God brought them there to encourage the students that are on the frontlines for the Gospel.

The bush of southern Sudan is not without its beauty or hospitality! At night, the team feasts on beans and rice under the beautiful, star-filled sky and during the day, they venture into the town’s market – meeting and greeting the people who have welcomed them into their village. 

Stay tuned for the next update later in the week as the update from the satellite phone in the bush makes its way to us. In the meantime, here are the team’s prayer requests:

Tomorrow, the team will go with the Bible School students to visit one of the storying groups that numbers around 25 people. Pray that they would have a passion to continue to share God’s Word!

Rest for the team – they are still a little jet-lagged and the heat can make them even more tired!

Yes, we are excited for the second annual Radio10 Campaign on 10-10-10! Last year, we saw the Lord do amazing things during the month of October, and we have heard incredible stories of how the Gospel is impacting lives in southern Sudan. But there are still millions without a Bible, millions who have no way of hearing of Christ’s love, millions who need a radio. So that’s why we’re so excited for the Radio10 Campaign to begin again this year.

I found myself asking, have we done a good job preparing? Do we have a quality fundraising and marketing strategy? Do our promotional materials look good enough? Have we maximized our efforts so we can maximize donations? And then I remembered. Or maybe it was that still, small voice that reminded me. 

This Campaign isn’t about our effort. It’s not about our strategy. It doesn’t really matter how relevant, catchy, or cool it looks. It’s not about us. 

When Jesus said to “go and make disciples of all nations,” He didn’t mention that we need clever tactics or trendy graphics. We weren’t instructed to develop the plan that will yield the highest numbers possible. Impressing those we’re trying to lead to Him wasn’t part of the criteria at all. 

He just told us to share His love and Word with them, and He takes it from there. I love that about the Holy Spirit!! He moves. He captivates. He brings people to Himself. 

Do I hope our strategy is a good one? Of course. Do I pray we raise money for lots of radios so more people in Sudan can know Christ? Of course. But if even one radio is purchased and sent to southern Sudan, that’s 10-15 more people who can learn about Jesus, and whose lives can be changed. And that’s amazing. It’s not about the numbers and it’s not about our strategy, but it’s about the Lord transforming lives. 

Will you join us this month to pray for the Radio10 Campaign? We’re praying for the Lord to move powerfully, in the lives of both the senders and the receivers of the radios. We’re giving this promotion fully over to him and are just excited to see Him at work! 

A by-product of our fast-paced, decision-riddled adult world is that we are constantly bombarded with choices.  Most of them are good choices.  And we’ve placed a high value on saying “yes” to as many of those good choices as possible.  In the end, we’ve become production-driven, speed-oriented people.  Life is busy.  We are tired.  And while we do a lot, sometimes we don’t feel like we do any of it really well.

A challenge to all this is that it smacks into a Biblical perspective.  One could easily argue that Jesus was the most strategic and intentional person who ever lived.  He kept the main thing central and never deviated from that.  He knew who He was, what He was called to, and how He was going to do it.  Then He went out and did it.

At Aid Sudan, we’re constantly faced with these two worlds.  We live in the one, yet long for the other.  The western non-profit world pressures us to produce, to show results, to appear viable.  Yet Jesus calls us to strategy, intentionality, and dependence on Him.  One world tells us to be busy and show as many results as possible.  The other tells us to be faithful and trust the results, whatever they may be, to God.

For our Aid Sudan family, we’ve chosen the latter.  We’ve put our stake in the ground.  We long for deep, wide-spread transformation in southern Sudan.  We pray for that, plan for that, and strive toward that end.  We work through strategy at a very deep level.  We can talk extensively through southern Sudan’s history, the cultural context, and our comprehensive strategy for transformation.  Yet ultimately, transformation is God’s work (1 Cor. 3:6).  We’ll just be faithful.  We’ll be strategic and intentional, but above all else, we’ll be faithful.  We’ll keep the main thing the main thing.  God will then do all He wants to do.  If that’s reflected in us, what’s better than that? 

So there’s much I hope blesses you with Aid Sudan’s ministry.  Our hearts are deeply imbedded in this.  God has called us and we are filled with a profound and driving love for Him and the southern Sudanese.  Yet above all else – whether on this blog, at an event in the States, or in the bush of southern Sudan – my greatest desire is that you see faithfulness in us.  It’s our constant, fervent prayer.  That we’ll be faithful, our Lord will be most glorified, and the southern Sudanese will be best impacted.  That’s keeping the main thing the main thing.