Church of the Brethren Sudan Initiative

We are still safe here in Nairobi tonight, at the "Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ecumenical Centre" Guest House on the All Africa Conference of Churches compound.

Yet we are tired (WAIT!  No, NOT TIRED, just a little, umm, bleary (remember our blog entry from Juba?).  We are realizing that we have been moving through pretty intense experiences, and traveling quite a lot (we're counting 17 flight segments all told in our four weeks abroad, if our return flights go as planned, and the public land transportation was far worse!), all without a break... and so we are finding ourselves decompressing somewhat.  We've done some hand-laundry, are starting to re-pack for leaving (especially Enten, as I leave tomorrow), checked in at the Sudan Council of Churches offices, and did some shopping--including locating a few better maps of Sudan.

We will finish our wrap-ups tomorrow, before Enten flies out.  But for now... we miss Sudan, and while we are enjoying the respite, we have been thinking and praying for those who are planning to come after us.

This will likely be the last blog entry, except for a wrap-up after Enten returns to the States on Friday, and then Phil and Louie return the following Tuesday.

Thanks to all of you who have followed us with your interest... thanks to all of you who kept us close to God's heart with your prayers... and thanks to those who have supported the Sudan Initiative with your gifts and offerings, making this outreach of the Church of the Brethren possible, for we are keenly aware that our journey has been costly, and that others are preparing to follow soon.  We continue to be humbled by the numerous faith expressions of hope and expectation for a brighter future in southern Sudan.  The people have impressed us with their resilience, tenacity, and deep trust in God.  We ask for your on-going prayers and increased support for the discernment process, for God to lead the decision-makers to choose where God would have this ministry located in southern Sudan, and for those families that have committed to live in Sudan and begin this phase of this outreach ministry... and for the Sudanese with whom we go to serve and be served by, to share with as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Blessings and peace!
Enten and Phil and Louie