post sudan

I have been out of Africa for over a month now, but Africa has not come out of me.

When people ask me about my summer, about my experiences in Sudan and about how I have adjusted, I rarely know the right words to say.

Sometimes there aren't any. It is difficult for me to tell people how I feel back in America, knowing that so much of myself is somewhere else. I think about the children in the orphanage, about my neighbors in Wadupe, about Ena and Boy and Monday and Condition... I think about them all the time. I wonder if they are sleeping, I wonder if they are hungry, I wonder if they are sick. Sometimes I picture the kids running barefoot around the compound, laughing and screaming and picking on each other like kids do. My heart suddenly becomes incredibly full... and I miss them. I miss their faces, their laughter and the all the silly little ways they would make me laugh.

It is difficult for me to walk through Target or the Pitt or the grocery store. I think it is because I feel surrounded and trapped by materialism and wealth and people so consumed with their own agendas that they have forgotten that they are still people. I miss the simplicity of being, I miss being defined by who I am as a human being, not by how much I do.

It is a struggle for me to reconcile the world of America with the world of Sudan. As referendum approaches for Sudan, tension between north and south is increasing. Peace is coveted, but not expected. I beg you to become a voice for these people. Be aware of what is going on in the world around you. It is so easy... so incredibly easy for us to become comfortable here and forget that there are millions of our brothers and sisters suffering around the world. I beg you to pray for them. Cry out for justice for these people.

Because they are people, just like you and me.

Here's some interesting articles to read:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/30/sudan-poised-between-peace-and-civil-war-as-elections-loom.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8943745.stm

leaving africa

tonight ends my time on this incredible continent. I am so blessed to have been here and I have learned so much. My heart aches a little as I think of all of the beautiful people I have met. Africa is no longer a place to me it is faces and red dirt and brilliant skies.

I want to thank all of you for following my blog this summer! I have so many more stories I would love to tell so please ask :) Please continue to pray for peace in Sudan. Wednesday, Kenya votes on a new constitution so pray for peace here as well.

Love to you all you are in my thoughts and prayers :)

Abby

love sudan

Sorry it has been so long since an update! Rather limited internet access.

We have left Sudan and much of our hearts behind. It is too soon for me to really process my thoughts and feelings, and I want to tell so many stories, but I don't want this to become sentimental.

What I will say is God is very present in Sudan. He has been present in the war and the suffering and He is present in the current peace. But I beg you to pray for continued peace in Sudan. The people there are your brothers and sisters as well as mine, because God is a God of all people. I don't care how cliche that sounds because I haven't really understood it until now.

He loves Monday and Boy and Onestar and Condition and Wadupe so much more than I do. These people want peace and I ask that you join me in praying for Sudan over these next couple months as referendum approaches along with political unrest.

I will be back in the states very soon! Right now I am in Mombasa Kenya, and I fly out next Sunday. We are all doing well except Allie and I are feeling a little stomach sick from cheeseburgers. I am pretty positive I am lactose intolerant now. :) Love to all of you. I miss you and I can't wait to rejoin you so very soon!

Jesus came up from the ground so dirty

It is hard to write a blog for this week, and I think it is because this week has been so hard. It is difficult to write out what has been going on with all of us because it seems subtle and humongous at the same time.

We headed back to Wadupe last Friday. It was dark and rainy and the roads were terrible. We took bodas to the bus station (which is not a bus station, just a place off the side of the road where you can catch a ride out of town) and my boda got there before everyone else. The men there were being obnoxious and it was probably the most frightened I have been here in Sudan. There was no need to be, Billy, Allie and Ena got there a minute later and I could see them the whole time, but for me it set the mood for the rest of the week. While waiting for a ride, a woman approached Ena and started talking to her rapidly in Kakwa. Once or twice she tried to grab her arm and pull her away from us. We think the woman thought we were kidnapping her, but it really upset Ena and she didn't smile again until we got to Wadupe.

In the village, the rain had washed away almost all of the huge boards that make up the bridge. This halted progress on the school. It has rained almost the entire week. At night we all started having nightmares, Allie's being the worst. In the middle of one night, a drunk man came by our house, and even though he was harmless it was still scary. Physically it is very hard for me to do the labor they do here, which this week made me irritated and frustrated. The women carry jerry cans full of water on their heads from the bore hole (well) every single day. Allie and I had to start carrying them for the workers who were fixing up the compound, and it was so exhausting, even though we are the closest compound to the bore hole. I found myself getting irritated at small things, especially my listlessness. We all felt very... oppressed.

 But what has been incredible is how God has worked in the midst of it all. It's not like He suddenly took away our nightmares, cured our sore muscles, stopped the rain or gave us super human strength to get the work done. It's like in the midst of the oppression and the hard work He has given us little tastes of heaven that remind us why we are here.

On Saturday, Allie and I had to walk to the market (a 3 mile walk) to pick up supplies for the group. On the way we ran into Monday, who had us stop at her compound and rest before we headed out. She sat us in the shade, and before we knew what she was doing, she had taken a scrubbie, soap, and a basin of her precious water and had started washing our very dirty feet. In that moment, beautiful orphan Monday who never stops smiling was being Jesus to me. There is no greater love than this.

I can not count how many times Allie and I carried our jerry cans to the bore hole and walked back empty handed because the school children or one of the girls have carried them for us. One morning we went to wash our clothes and ran into Monday. She sat with us for an hour and helped us wash our dirty underwear. Billy can't pick up a hoe to work in the garden without several of the village men coming to help him, even though they have already worked many hours in their own. The sunsets and sunrises are incredible. Sometimes they are big and loud with so many different colors, and sometimes they are just quiet and peaceful.

So even though I am mosquito bitten and sometimes too hot and sometimes too cold, I am constantly reminded of the God who is very present in the dirt and sweat and smiles of Southern Sudan. We have one week left and I know it will be very hard to say goodbye. Please be praying for peace in Sudan. The nightmares have pretty much stopped, but pray that we would sleep well through the nights. I am missing you all very much.

Abby

2 weeks left

Leaving Yei for Wadupe again! Ena is feeling much better I think, although she is completely full of sugar. It has been raining nonstop and I am not looking forward to the journey in the rain but that is ok! Please be praying for the next two weeks. It breaks my heart to think of leaving these kids but I am so very grateful for this experience. God has been showing me so much of Himself and sometimes I find myself overwhelmed with His goodness. We are still figuring out ways to provide the girls with some money for school. Please pray for this as well because giving is very tricky, and we want to do it the right way. Education and healthcare are the two most basic needs here, so pray that the school building process will go smoothly. You all are in my thoughts and prayers so very often!

Abby

Ena goes to Disneyland

This is a story, a very good one too, about the coolest nine year old in the world and her adventures with the three crazy khawajas (white people). I would let her tell it, but since she doesn't speak your language I will have to do my best to translate.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who lived in a village in Sudan. Her name was Ena, and she had the attitude of Rudy from the Cosby show and the dancing skills of Britney Spears. Except she was like a million times better. She walked around the village like she owned everyone in it, she schooled all the other kids at jump rope (which they made from the long African grass), and she could add and subtract like a machine, even though her family could only afford to send her to school for a limited time.

But one day, Ena started coughing. She did not feel like schooling all the other kids at jump rope or showing the three crazy khawajas her expert dancing skills. She didn't even want to go to school. The three crazy khawajas noticed this, and asked her grandfather (Ena did not have a father) if they could take her to Yei with them to a clinic. Her grandfather said yes, and Ena went to change into her best skirt. Because going to Yei, even if you are sick, is like going to Disneyland.

But first they had to walk 3 miles to the main road to catch a ride. And once they caught a ride, they had to drive for a long time. When they finally got to Yei, Ena was hot and tired and felt worse. So the three crazy khawajas took her to a place with huts that had cold floors and a toilet that you did not have to squat over. They showed her a big box that had cold things called ice, which she liked a lot. Afterward they took her to a clinic and got some medicine for her cough. Then they showed her water that came from a pipe in the ceiling and she danced and danced around in the water until she was completely soaked. When they tried to get her to wear a skirt for dinner, she was not happy, and pulled her shirt down low enough to cover the skirt. Obviously the khawajas don't know anything. But they gave her brown sweet stuff (chocolate) that made her smile very big. At night she slept on a bed that was high above the ground, and would not let the three crazy khawajas turn off the ball of fire above her head, even though it was dark outside.

In the morning, after taking more of her medicine, she felt much better and taught the three crazy khawajas how to dance. Then she found the thing that music came out of (ipod), and she danced some more. When the khawajas gave her Fanta (orange soda) she drank it in little sips to savor the flavor. When they were at the market, some men said something to her in kakwa that made her very angry. So she picked up a big stick of wood and would have beaten the crap out of them if the khawajas hadn't stopped her, even though they secretly wanted her to do it. 

Unfortunately I can not finish the rest of this story because Ena keeps trying to steal the computer so she can look at pictures. We are currently waiting for Billy and Allie to get back from the market with food. She is impatient and hungry and keeps trying to eat my vitamins, even though they aren't chewable. She almost ate from the tub of butter before I stopped her. I've decided I love Ena like Billy loves the monkey. She could do anything wrong and I would still love her. Well, Billy lets the monkey pee on him sometimes, I don't know if I would be cool with that. We got stuck in Yei an extra day because Billy has a lot of writing to catch up on. All I can say is that there are too many stories to tell, and I wish I could tell them all. But I am in love with the children of Wadupe and with Africa and I am having a marvelously spoiled time. I miss you all so incredibly much and wish you could be experiencing these things with me.

Wadupe

I am never completely clean but I do not really care. I am sure my mother is cringing while reading this. I do the best I can.

In Wadupe, we live in a hut down a path from the SP church. The roof is metal which makes it different from the tukuls in the village. The village is surrounded by long green blades of grass that reach my chest. Pathways snake throughout the village and every once in awhile you can see a dark head bobbing above the green. Monday we slashed the grass around the hut and replanted flowers by the acacia tree. When I tried to use the hoe around one of the trees, the school children laughed at me. Inside the hut we have dark blue curtains and neon green mosquito nets. I love it. The dirt floor keeps my feet permanently red.

Wadupe is not an easy place to live, but it is such a good place. We have it nice because we have cooks who make us rice and beans and do our laundry. The people are hardworking, tough, but incredibly loving. The children come by our house everyday to play with Monkey (yezekay) and watch us do silly white people things.

There are three girls specifically who have won my heart. Monday (10), Enestar (12), and Viola (14) are our neighbors, which means they live down the path maybe a quarter of a mile. The laugh all the time, play with my hair, teach us kakwa, give us little treats and help us with our yard work without us asking them to. Their story is complicated and sad, and although they speak English pretty well, I still haven't been able to figure out all of it. I think they are all cousins, and they live with their grandmother. Monday's father is dead and her mother is either dead too or absent. I think Viola's mother is still around but I am not sure. Anyway they cannot go to school because they do not have money to pay the school fee. The school fee is about 45 U.S.D per year. At least this is what they told us, but today they told me they were going to school. Anyway Allie and I plan on teaching them for about an hour in the afternoon everyday when they come over. We decided we would trade off, they teach us kakwa and we teach them English.

There is so much more I want to tell and do not have the words to write. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and do not believe I am actually here. But then there these incredible beautiful moments when my heart swells up inside of me and I am overwhelmed by the beauty of God in this wild, strange place. Like at night when the elders let me sit by the fire with them, test my kakwa and ask me about America. Last night Rufus asked me how Americans stayed warm in the winter time, and I had such a difficult time explaining to him what a heater was. I love to watch the stars as they pop out of the African sky and listen to the men as they speak, even though I do not understand. Or the other night, I took monkey to the edge of the SP compound to watch the sun set. There I was, sitting on an abandoned sink with African tea in my hand and a monkey on my shoulder, staring at the great expanse of sky in front of me. It looked like God had taken the red dirt from the ground and wiped it across the light of the sky.

I look at these people and this land, and I see the suffering that it has endured. Something in my heart breaks when I think of the possibility of another civil war in January. All that these people want is peace. But when I look at them, I also see their faith in a God who has kept them safe through incredible trials. I am humbled by these people, and for the first time in my life I think I have begun to reconcile God and suffering.

I am in Yei only until Thursday morning, when we head back to Wadupe. Thank you for your prayers they are much appreciated. Please pray for the people of Sudan, that God will grant peace to a nation who has seen so much pain.

The Children

There is no way I can write down the events of the past two days in a way that describes them fully. I am amazed, humbled and inspired by Sudan and the beautiful people here.

The last two days we have spent at Iris, which is one of the orphanages in Yei. Except they don't refer to it as an orphanage, they call it a children's village. Michelle, who is the mama of the village, says that the kids have a heavenly Father, and they are all His sons and daughters. It is amazing how over 90 children function together as one big family.

The kids are beautiful beyond description. They giggle and laugh and love being held. I've spent most of my time with the smaller ones as the older ones are in school for most of the day. Jambe is my little helper. She has big eyes, rich dark skin and comes running when she sees me. Today she played with my hands for a long time, I don't think she could get over the whiteness of my skin and how if she pressed on my fingers they turn red. I want to say she is four or five, but most of them don't know how old they are. But she can count to ten in English and snap her fingers when she sings Jesus Loves Me. I love her.

Most of the kids have cuts on their arms and knees and feet that don't get treated. Their clothing is literally rags. Today we tried to sew some of their clothing but it is just so beat up that there's not a lot we can do. A toddler came up to me when we arrived and grabbed my ankles. He wasn't wearing anything and had snot all over his nose and mouth. He cried until I picked him up, and as soon as I did he fell asleep in my arms. He was so congested and would wake up every once in awhile and cry. It broke my heart that the only thing I could do for this poor baby was wipe off his face and let him sleep on me. If he was an American baby, his mother would not have waited a second before taking him to the doctor.

But honestly, good clothing and medical attention are the only main things these kids are lacking. They are so full of God's joy. The atmosphere at Iris is incredible and I don't know how to adequately explain it. Their favorite things to do are to sing and pray. They take care of each other so well, and genuinely love each other as brothers and sisters. There is something beautiful here in this big family village that is rarely found in families in America. I feel God's presence working in these children and that is so much better than food and clothing. I keep thinking of the verses in Matthew that talk about how we shouldn't be anxious about things because our heavenly Father feeds the sparrows and clothes the grass, so how much more will He take care of His children. I know He will provide for the children of Iris, because He has already provided for them in so many ways.

I have been so blessed by these children. We started handing out cards today and I can not wait for you all to see pictures! They are so grateful. We only have two more days with them, which makes me sad. I have so many other stories to tell you, but I have been hogging the computer for a long time. On a much funnier note, Billy drives us around on this red motorbike with a cart in the back. It is hilarious. I am sure the town of Yei thinks Billy puts his women in a cart trucks them around like his goats. The boda boda (taxi) drivers shout out and make offers for us, so I think Billy should put price tags on us.

Ok I love you all! Thank you for making cards and praying for me! Pray for the children of Iris that God would provide for them!

Abby

here

I am finally here. It seems so surreal. I keep wanting to pinch myself or something because I honestly think I am dreaming.

Right now I am in Yei, which is in southern Sudan. We flew in this afternoon on a very small plane, but it was so cool because we could see a lot of the African bush. I kept expecting to see a herd of elephants or something. Billy picked us up at the airport, which was a dirt runway and a small building. I have a much greater appreciation for Jaars pilots.It really does look like something you would see on the missionary videos at Jaars or in National Geographic, except MUCH more tangible.

I think I am already falling in love with it. The trees are full of big green leaves and the sky is clear and huge. The sunset tonight was incredible. We are staying in the Samaritan's Purse compound, although it is empty because SP finished their project and have moved farther North. It's still pretty nice considering I am in the African bush. I have a bed (hopefully without bed bugs) and a mosquito net, and the bathroom has toilet paper although you have to put water in it to make it flush. There is a physicians assistant who lives down the road, and we can walk into town to watch the World Cup.

So far I have not spent time with any of the Sudanese people. They speak Kokwa (I don't think that is spelled right) and are very dark with beautiful white teeth. Tomorrow we are going to one of the orphanages. I am so excited! I have waited so long to be here and working with these kids, and now I only have to wait for tomorrow!

I am still very tired, although I got to take a nap today. Billy got Allie a monkey, except it doesn't like her yet and smacks her when she gets too close. It's really funny. I think the moment I saw the monkey I finally realized I was in Africa. :)

SP has wireless so I should be able to get on a lot until we got to Wadupe. Thank you for all of your prayers. I miss you so much!

Abby

Kamal's Children

Just a quick hello from Kamal's children.

Barkat (7) and Naina (5) are teaching me more Swahili and they are making me laugh so hard that I'm about to wet my pants. Right now Naina is teasing Barkat about his girlfriend called Matiti... He is VERY upset. Allie is trying to calm him by saying she has an embarrassing boyfriend too so its ok. I don't think it's working. Now Naina is being pinched.

Their laughter is so beautiful. Now Naina is pretending to cry... and Brazil just scored so Issa, Kama's second oldest, is shouting with joy. I am sure our driver, Faraji, is jumping up and down somewhere too. Personally, I like Drogba so I hope Ivory Coast catches up. Murad is also cheering for Ivory Coast but he wants Spain to win the whole thing so I feel sorry for him. :)

Ok I have to go!!

goodbye kenya

This is my last post before I leave for Sudan in the morning. We fly out very early and we are not sure if we can take all of our luggage. Mr. Scott is trying to see if we can send in the school supplies on a later AIM flight.

I have been absolutely spoiled here in Nairobi. Today this beautiful Kenyan woman spent 7 hours doing my hair. I wish I could upload a picture, Allie says I look like a cave woman. Anyway this woman told me all about the Kenyan church and what it meant to be a Christian here. It was so encouraging to me to hear her story, and how God has been faithful to her throughout the years. It was an incredible blessing, Praise God for the work He is doing here!

She also tried to teach me some swahili but I'm pathetically limited to asante (thank you) habari (how are you) mzuri (fine) karibu (you're welcome) and sa sa (what's up). I wish I had time to learn more and spend more time with the beautiful Kenyan people!

Pray for safety as we fly tomorrow. The planes will be much smaller than British Airways. I am so excited! God bless you all :)

arriving

Right now I am in Nairobi, Kenya. I wish I could write everything down but I have limited time, so here is a quick update.

It is beautiful. We got in safely last night around 10ish, and the host family we are staying with are some of the most generous people I have ever met. Margaret is a wonderful cook, this morning she made us eggs and sausage. Also, African tea is so wonderful.

Right now I am at Mayfield Guesthouse which is AIM's station in Nairobi. Allie's dad is staying here, and I have been trying to stay awake while Allie has been getting her hair done. I  have not really slept since leaving Charlotte on the 17th so I have been struggling today!

If we have time today we are going to try to see some friends working with IV's Global Project here. According to our driver (whose second choice for the World Cup is the U.S.... his first is Brazil, which I completely understand) anyway, he said the worst thing about Nairobi is traffic. We aren't supposed to be out after dark so hopefully we will be able to make it.

Everyone I have met in the last 16 hours has been gracious, kindhearted, and full of joy. I am so blessed to be here! Tomorrow I am getting my hairbraided and we fly out very early monday morning. So far we are all healthy, although I am absolutely exhausted. Connie and Allie will not stop picking on me.

Thank you for your prayers. Asante!

Final Words

This will be my final post before I fly out tomorrow. I should be able to get internet access when I arrive in Nairobi on Friday, June 18 and I will also have it off and on the first week I am in Sudan. After that I am not sure how frequently I can update.

BUT... I wanted to say a few things to all of you before I go.

First: I love you all. I am so appreciative of your support and your prayers mean so much more than you know. Praying for me for the next 6 weeks is the best gift you can ever give me. Thank you.

Second: My brother will have my phone while I am away. Hopefully he will not prank call anyone, but I wouldn't put it past him. If you want to creep him out start sending me really strange text messages. :) The best way to contact me is to send me an email to my gmail : abbyemoore@gmail.com. I can't guarantee a response but please let me know how your summers are going. I will be missing you all so very much.

Third: Schedule: I will be in Sudan from June 21 until July 24ish. I know God has incredible things in store for me there, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. The first week we will be working in the orphanages in Yei (SO EXCITED!!!) and from then on we will most probably be in Wadupe (the village). We fly back in Nairobi at the end of July and we'll spend several days in Mombasa (the beach). Allie and I will not get back to Charlotte until August 2.

PRAYER

1. Honestly, I have felt spiritually attacked the past 24 hours. I feel that my nervousness has been twisted into fear that is not from God. It is a frightening thing to step out into the unknown. However God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self control. Please pray that Jesus would wash Allie, Connie, Billy, me and all of our families with his sweet sweet peace. Pray that I would not be crippled by anxiety, but instead that his joy would be my strength.

2. Safety. That our travels from the U.S. to Nairobi and from Nairobi to Sudan and back would go smoothly, and that we would be protected from all harm and diseases.

3. Baggage. From Kenya to Sudan we can only carry 44 lbs each. And despite the fact I am only bringing 5 skirts/shirts, a towel, sheet, medicine and 3 things max to wear in Nairobi/Mombasa, my luggage is pretty heavy. If you can understand the gravity of how serious this is, I do NOT have room to bring Oswald with me. Yeah I know Oswald deserves to be in bold, he is that important. That should almost be its on separate prayer request because I honestly do not know if I can sleep without him. I haven't actually ever tried. Anyway, we are trying to bring school supplies for the school in Wadupe, so pray that we will be able to bring as much as possible.

4. That God would work in us, in spite of us, and through us. I am so blessed to be going!

Again, I love you all so very very much. My heart is not big enough and my words are not strong enough to truly convey this crazy pounding going on inside of me. God is so good, and I am so blessed.

Love love love you. I am going to go spend my final night with Oswald. :)

This is so crazy.

63 hours and counting

I am sitting in the Paulson's kitchen trying so hard to get things done, but my brain is not cooperating. I am going last minute shopping tomorrow and as of right now I have three different shopping lists. Every time I start concentrating on one thing, I think of something else and therefore nothing ever gets done. So it will be a miracle if I finish this blog post before I leave.

I am so close! I feel like I have constant butterflies fluttering around in the pit of my stomach. Being in Waxhaw is great, especially at the Paulsons, because they know what they are doing, and it makes me less nervous. Here is the run down for the next couple days.

June 15, 2010
I am getting all of the last minute stuff I need. If you are around I'd love to see you, but my driving is dependent on my parents. So the closer to Waxhaw you are, the better!

June 16, 2010
Allie flies in from California in the morning and we pack and repack until all of our baggage weighs exactly 44 lbs. 

June 17, 2010
Allie, Mr. Scott. Connie, and I fly out of Charlotte airport around 1. I think we fly to New York and then to London I am not quite sure.

June 18, 2010 
We arrive in Nairobi, Kenya! We will be there for several days staying at a guest house and getting adjusted. Mr. Scott will leave us here.

June 21, 2010
We fly out of Wilson airport to Lokichoggio, Kenya. From there we will catch a plan to Yei, Sudan.   

From here on our schedule is tentative. There will be internet access and Yei so I will be able to keep you updated as much as possible. I am so grateful to be going! I have waited and prayed for so long. God is faithful. Here is what I have been praying for the past several days.

1. Safety as we travel.
2. All of my funding has not come in yet. It would be a blessing to leave completely covered for the trip.
3. Psalm 37. That I would not worry, that I would trust Him, delight myself in Him, and be still before Him.

almost there!

 

quick update

6 days!

Here is just a quick update. I am on my way to Franklin, NC for a weekend with my family in the mountains. There will be no internet so call me if you need anything. I am still short funding for my trip, so please pray that the money comes in before I leave. God is good and I know He will provide.

The rattlesnake we killed on Saturday. I eventually found the head. It was really sad.

we're all home at last

As of 9:33pm all members of the Moore family are not only on the same continent, but actually in the same country, state, city, and house. I know, it's somewhat of a miracle.

I am so very thankful that God has brought us all safely to the same place. I have missed them so much. Mitchell has not stopped being entertaining. He is such a smart... butt. As of right now he is rolling around grandma's living room in her scooter with Natalie's yellow rayban's saying, "You know you are a redneck if..." Honestly I do not know how we are related sometimes.

I will most definitely have more stories as the week progresses. There is definitely regret in my heart that I will be leaving them all so soon. 11 days... AH! But I guess that is just how my family rolls. We can't be on the same continent for very long, that would be very un-Moore-like.

Thank you Jesus we are together now :)

thirteen days

I cannot believe I am leaving in less than two weeks. I get this funny feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about it. So many months of praying and waiting and finally I am only two weeks away.

Of course there is so much to be done before I go, and I have been rather lazy. Here is my tentative schedule for the next two weeks.


June 5 - June 9
I will be in Georgia, doing some last minute shopping and going to physical therapy. On June 6 my dad and my brother fly into Savannah! I have not seen my brother in 10 months so I am very very excited for this :)


June 9 - June 11
I will be in Waxhaw going to several doctors appointments. If you are there I would LOVE to see you before I go!


June 11 - June 13
Hopefully I will be going to Myrtle Beach with awesome Grace people!


June 13 - 16
Back in Waxhaw for a couple of appointments and more preparation. Allie gets back from California on the 15... I think... and will only have a day before...

June 17 
FLY OUT FROM THE CHARLOTTE AIRPORT!!!

I was hoping to make it back up to Chapel Hill to see some wonderful people but I don't think I will be able to. But I appreciate everyone for making cards and keeping me in your prayers. You have no idea how much that means. A couple things to be praying for...

1. My back has been hurting the last couple weeks. I am going to physical therapy and it is getting much better, but it would be wonderful to go into this trip without any pain.

2. Apparently, my family thinks I am malnourished. They will not stop making jokes about it. Which is NOT the case, but it would be great if I could go into the trip 100% healthy.

3. Safety for Allie and me as we travel. I know God has everything under control, but it does make me a little nervous to be traveling to a country I've never been to before. So imagine how my parents feel :)

Thank you all so much for supporting me! I know I could not have gotten this far without your prayers and support.

As an endnote... here are a couple awesome things that God has done.

Annika Johansson arrived in Uganda safely and has started working in the Sanyu Daycare with the kids. I am so excited for her!

Also... my friends Abby and Kelcie just got safely back from their trip to Uganda and have amazing stories to tell. I can not wait to hear all of them. God is doing a good work in Africa this summer!

the news

http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/africa/horn-of-africa/sudan/159-sudan-regional-perspectives-on-the-prospect-of-southern-independence.aspx

Check this article out for information on what's going on politically in Sudan. :)

oh my

I know this blog is about my trip to Sudan, but since I'm not quite there yet I thought I'd give you an update on what I'll be doing until I leave. Currently I am in Nevils, Georgia, which is 15 minutes south of Statesboro and 45 minutes north of Savannah. It's not the most happening of places, but it is beautiful in its own way. I am on a farm... hence the cows... and spent most of today trying to find ways to entertain myself.

So my grandma has a pool, but she hasn't uncovered it from the winter. So I tried to uncover it but unfortunately somehow it drained, therefore, no swimming. So instead I decided to tan and read. But I didn't want to burn so I put sunscreen on, but it was like SPF 1 zillion, therefore, no tan. FAIL

So I decided to drive the truck and take pictures of the farm, and that was actually successful. But that didn't take very long. So I played guitar until my fingers hurt. And then walked about aimlessly for awhile. And ate some. And tried to read some more...

In all honesty I was really bored. But the cool thing about the quietness is it has given me a lot of time to think. At school, it gets crazy, and I don't have time to stop and just listen. Here I am forced to listen. It's good just to be silent.

This passage of Scripture in Lamentations has been going through my head like crazy the last couple days. The first part is about how the writer is pretty much in the depths of despair... it's pretty graphic he talks about how arrows are being driven into his kidneys. But the part I really like is when he does a complete shift and talks about how it is good to wait quietly for the Lord, to seek Him and sit alone in silence.

It is a struggle for me to sit still, to wait, and to be quiet. But I must miss out on so much. I want to learn how to be still and seek Him. I'm going to have a good bit of down time in Sudan, as well as here. I really hope I can learn how to be still.