Church of the Brethren Sudan Initiative

Well, this is a wrap-up entry. It was a very powerful trip; we gathered an incredible amount of information from all the conversations and explorations we managed to have; we are still amazed that we managed to cover as much ground as we did in that month, particularly given that it was rainy season! We give thanks to God for all these experiences, and for what we have to bring back to share with those making the decisions as to how this ministry will move forward, and where.

We all made it back safely to the States: I arrived on Aug 3, and Phil and Louie a few days later. As it turns out, I needed a second round of antibiotics to completely kick the aomebic dysentery that I'd been fighting for nearly 2 weeks, and those antibiotics must have also taken care of the unexplained fevers that I had started to spike at nights after the flights home, yet it took a few weeks to really be back on my feet again. Phil had contracted typhoid fever, but antibiotics that he obtained in Nairobi took care of that for him, too, so by the time he arrived in the States he was about back to his usual self.

We made our formal presentation, as an Assessment Team, to the General Board missions staff and those preparing to leave for Sudan as members of the Lead Team, on August 28 and 29, at the Church of the Brethren Offices in Elgin, IL, after first meeting in Harrisburg, PA for a day before flying to Chicago. Out of those meetings has come a consensus to direct the efforts of the Sudan Initiative first toward Torit, Sudan, as there are a number of possible mission points accessible from that area, including Katire.

With that, the work of the Assessment Team is complete. Thanks to all of you for your support and prayers; thanks to God for safety and blessings. We now ask for your throughts and prayers to support those who are preparing to move this outreach forward, as they make plans to go and live in Sudan, walking with the people in southern Sudan, and through their lives sharing their faith in Jesus Christ.

Peace be...
Enten