Over the past few months, I have been remaining in the words that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I believe that His message was not simply a memorized sermon; but rather, He was speaking the very heart of God. He was teaching about a Kingdom that belongs to the poor in spirit, to those who know they need Him. He was telling us to seek this Kingdom and His righteousness first and revealing to His friends that all of the law could be summed up in this: love God and love your neighbors. He did not want us to worry about our lives; but rather, he desired for us to grow in trust of our Father who gives good gifts to His children.
I do not pretend to understand all that Jesus was trying to say, but I have come to realize and truly believe that the condition of our heart is what matters to God. Our words and actions, no matter how good, are only of value if they are said and done with love. As man, we see the outward appearance of things, but God sees the heart. Amazingly, the blessing promised to those with a pure heart is to see God. What a promise.
I am often reminded that God is seen in unlikely places. Recently, I was stopped along the side of the road, and a young boy who was selling peanuts came to the car window. In Kenya, when people are not interested in buying what is being sold, we say: “Si leo, labda kesho,” which means “not today, maybe tomorrow.” I was not prepared for the wisdom that proceeded from the child’s mouth when he said, “tomorrow is just a dream. Today is life.” This child understood something that Jesus once taught when he said, “do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own troubles.” God used that small boy to allow me to see His Kingdom more clearly as he reminded me- today is life. Needless to say, I bought the peanuts.
Lost Boys of Sudan…
Over the past year, the people of Southern Sudan have landed within my mind and grabbed my heart in a powerful way. As I’ve listened to their stories and read about their experience of survival through twenty plus years of civil war; my mind has been filled with many unanswered questions, my heart has been moved with compassion and broken over injustice, and I have learned to pray for peace in a way that I had neglected before.
One of the tragedies and remarkable aspects of the war lies within the telling stories of a group who have come to be known as the Lost Boys of Sudan. Between 1987 and 1989, it is estimated that 20,000 little boys from across Southern Sudan, after watching their villages being burned and their families being massacred, began a fierce journey of survival. Alephonosion Deng, one of the Lost Boys, explains: “The name Lost Boys came to be when our village was attacked by fierce Arab horsemen. We, little boys, spewed out of the blazing village like a colony of ants disturbed in their nest. We ran in different directions not knowing where we are going. We gathered some fruits for our breakfast and lunch. We, little boys, were so messy, all chaos and cries filling the dark, fiercely lightless night.”
Barefoot, they walked a thousand miles through the hot deserts often defending themselves from wild animals such as lions and crocodiles. Without food and water, they ate mud and leaves to avoid starvation. Often, they grew gravely sick but would keep going in order to survive. In the nearly impossible walk, half of the boys died along the way before the others were able to find shelter in refugee camps in Uganda and Kenya.
In They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, Benson Deng writes of his experiences as a Lost Boy. In one account, he tells of the day he was reunited with his brother after five years of separation:
Then my heart began pounding deeply and I knew at once this was my younger brother, Alepho, whom I’d left back home five years earlier. He was ten years old now and nearly as tall as me. He knew me too. We hugged each other in tears. Seeing my own brother again was the greatest moment of joy in my life… After wandering for so long, I finally had a home and family. The war that had flung us to the wind had set us back down together.
In 1987, Abraham, one of my dear friends who works with Empowering Lives Sudan, was nine years old when he was forced to leave Sudan. In his story, Abraham was separated from his mother and watched his father die as they journeyed across Sudan. After walking for three months through the Sudanese bush and desert, he arrived at a refugee camp on the border of Ethiopia; but in 1991, guerrillas destroyed the camp. Once again, he was faced with the treacherous journey across volatile Sudan. In the return, the group he was travelling with were attacked by Arabs from the north, and Abraham watched many of his friends being killed. Abraham continued walking until he reached a refugee camp in Northern Uganda. Eventually, he was relocated to another refugee camp in Kenya.
When I asked Abraham about his experience as a Lost Boy, without bitterness, he humbly replied: “As a refugee, I was faced with a question. I left my family in Sudan, but who is my guide? When I was travelling all of those months, I was sick. I did not have medicine. I asked myself: who is my healer?” These questions eventually led Abraham to know his God in a deep and personal way.
In August of 2005, 8 months after the peace treaty was signed between Northern & Southern Sudan and 18 years after a nine year old boy fled from his homeland, Abraham returned to his village of Kolmarek. He returned as a 26 year old man with a vision to rebuild what war had destroyed: his home. Please join me in praying for Abraham and the other Lost Boys who are now young men. Pray that they will find peace and their home. Pray for the rebuilding of Sudan.
A Season to Celebrate…
If there were a theme for this past month of life in Kipkaren, it would best be described as a season of remembering and celebrating God’s faithfulness.
- 10.28.06. Thousands came to celebrate the 10th anniversary of ELI Kenya as well as the grand opening of the ELI Children’s Home in Kipkaren & Brook of Faith Academy (the elementary school for the children in our children’s home & community). It was wonderful to hear members of the community share their stories of how the various ministries of ELI have transformed their lives and this community.
- 11.4.06. The village of Kipkaren as well as friends from throughout Kenya joined together for the purpose of raising funds for ELI’s UPEC Chebaiywa Clinic. As the health ministry continues to expand, ongoing development at the clinic is needed. We thank God for his provision as we were able to raise $5900.
- 11.17.06. An HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign was held within the village of Sambut. Nearly a thousand people attended the activity and 455 people were tested and counseled regarding their HIV status
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Go and Do Likewise.
As I press on to follow Christ’s example of living out compassion, I am confronted with a question: who is my neighbor? I wonder: who are the ones that I live life alongside of and, by encountering them, have the opportunity to learn what it means to “love my neighbor as myself”? When Jesus was asked this very question, he refused to limit neighbors by geographical residence, race, family or religious affiliation. Instead, as he often did, Jesus chose to tell a story. It’s the familiar parable where a man was beaten by thieves and left to die. Two men separately noticed the man suffering alongside the road but simply passed by. But when the Samaritan, an outcast of the day, came to where the man was lying, he was moved with compassion. The Samaritan bandaged the injured man’s wounds and made arrangements for his continued care. As Jesus concluded his story, he asked the question: “Which of the three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he replied, “He who showed mercy on him.” Jesus told the man: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:29-37).
As I reflect upon this story, I recognize myself in each of the characters. I regret that, far too many times, I have been availed the opportunity to show mercy but, with great excuses, have simply passed by. Other times, I have been the one sick and in need. In those times, I have received the gracious touch from a Good Samaritan and been restored. And, ever increasingly, there are moments when my heart is moved with compassion; and as I hear the words of Jesus to “go and do likewise”, I love. More than ever, I am convinced that, as Brennan Manning stated: “the success of [my] life will be measured by how delicately and sensitively I have loved… For the meaning of our religion is love. Christianity is all about loving, and we either take it or leave it. It’s not about worship and morality, except insofar as these things are expressions of the love that causes them both.”
As I continue to discover who my neighbor is and, more importantly, ways that I can show mercy to them; I wanted to share, in brief, about what is happening in the community of Kipkaren and in the lives of several of my neighbors…
Children’s Home.
There are now 96 little ones living in the Kipkaren Children’s Home. In caring for their health, I am privileged with the opportunity to spend a lot of time amongst these children. It never ceases to amaze me how God shows up in unexpected places. He took me by surprise tonight as I walked into a room filled with 18 children seated with their new mom. Their faces were aglow by the light of a small lantern, and their exuberant greetings overwhelmed me with joy.
But it was one child’s face in particular that caught my attention. His face is familiar to me as he is one of the orphans that moved to the children’s home from our community. His name is Omari; and being his neighbor, I am used to seeing this child dirty, wearing his tattered clothing and always somehow seeming to be lost. I don’t mean “lost” in a directionally challenged sort of way; but rather, he was in search for a place where he could belong. Shelter, daily bread, love, and the list goes on were not consistent in his life.
I have greeted him countless times walking our dirt paths, but I have never seen him smile like he smiled at me tonight. As he looked into my eyes, he was speaking to me in a way that goes deeper than words. It was as if he were saying: “thank you” and that he has been found in this refuge. It was only a moment, but that is all it took to touch my heart. So after a long day and a full week, I am grateful to God for the gift given to me through the smile of a little boy who was once an orphan.
HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign.
On September 1, our Home-Based Care team gathered together in a village called Kaptebee with several thousand people for the purpose of increasing awareness and hope concerning HIV/AIDS and to offer HIV testing and counseling. In a single day, 721 people were tested and those who were HIV positive were referred for treatment at a nearby clinic. It was a day of victory in this long battle that must be fought against HIV/AIDS.
A Broken Heart.
Upon moving to Kipkaren in 2004, I met a little boy named Edwin. His story and life touched my heart deeply. I met Edwin while he was in a local hospital in the town of Eldoret. Although his smile would tell otherwise, his grossly distended abdomen revealed that he was gravely sick. After medical evaluation, it was reported that his heart was failing with no treatment options available. It seemed that life would end quickly for this child; but as I visited Edwin and his family over the past two years, he continued to survive. A few weeks ago, I took Edwin to another physician that I respect greatly to see if there could be any possible treatment options. Edwin was admitted to the hospital and, as suspected, was diagnosed with Constrictive Pericarditis which means that the extra fluid that was in between the outer lining of his heart and the heart muscle was not allowing the heart muscle the room it needs to beat adequately. This condition was causing fluid to build up within his abdomen as well as many other complications. Since being admitted to the hospital, Edwin has had two surgeries and the prognosis is not clear. I am asking God to heal Edwin’s heart and to bring hope again to his family. I ask you to join me in praying on behalf of a little boy who needs a new heart.
As I reflect upon this story, I recognize myself in each of the characters. I regret that, far too many times, I have been availed the opportunity to show mercy but, with great excuses, have simply passed by. Other times, I have been the one sick and in need. In those times, I have received the gracious touch from a Good Samaritan and been restored. And, ever increasingly, there are moments when my heart is moved with compassion; and as I hear the words of Jesus to “go and do likewise”, I love. More than ever, I am convinced that, as Brennan Manning stated: “the success of [my] life will be measured by how delicately and sensitively I have loved… For the meaning of our religion is love. Christianity is all about loving, and we either take it or leave it. It’s not about worship and morality, except insofar as these things are expressions of the love that causes them both.”
As I continue to discover who my neighbor is and, more importantly, ways that I can show mercy to them; I wanted to share, in brief, about what is happening in the community of Kipkaren and in the lives of several of my neighbors…
Children’s Home.
There are now 96 little ones living in the Kipkaren Children’s Home. In caring for their health, I am privileged with the opportunity to spend a lot of time amongst these children. It never ceases to amaze me how God shows up in unexpected places. He took me by surprise tonight as I walked into a room filled with 18 children seated with their new mom. Their faces were aglow by the light of a small lantern, and their exuberant greetings overwhelmed me with joy.
But it was one child’s face in particular that caught my attention. His face is familiar to me as he is one of the orphans that moved to the children’s home from our community. His name is Omari; and being his neighbor, I am used to seeing this child dirty, wearing his tattered clothing and always somehow seeming to be lost. I don’t mean “lost” in a directionally challenged sort of way; but rather, he was in search for a place where he could belong. Shelter, daily bread, love, and the list goes on were not consistent in his life.
I have greeted him countless times walking our dirt paths, but I have never seen him smile like he smiled at me tonight. As he looked into my eyes, he was speaking to me in a way that goes deeper than words. It was as if he were saying: “thank you” and that he has been found in this refuge. It was only a moment, but that is all it took to touch my heart. So after a long day and a full week, I am grateful to God for the gift given to me through the smile of a little boy who was once an orphan.
HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign.
On September 1, our Home-Based Care team gathered together in a village called Kaptebee with several thousand people for the purpose of increasing awareness and hope concerning HIV/AIDS and to offer HIV testing and counseling. In a single day, 721 people were tested and those who were HIV positive were referred for treatment at a nearby clinic. It was a day of victory in this long battle that must be fought against HIV/AIDS.
A Broken Heart.
Upon moving to Kipkaren in 2004, I met a little boy named Edwin. His story and life touched my heart deeply. I met Edwin while he was in a local hospital in the town of Eldoret. Although his smile would tell otherwise, his grossly distended abdomen revealed that he was gravely sick. After medical evaluation, it was reported that his heart was failing with no treatment options available. It seemed that life would end quickly for this child; but as I visited Edwin and his family over the past two years, he continued to survive. A few weeks ago, I took Edwin to another physician that I respect greatly to see if there could be any possible treatment options. Edwin was admitted to the hospital and, as suspected, was diagnosed with Constrictive Pericarditis which means that the extra fluid that was in between the outer lining of his heart and the heart muscle was not allowing the heart muscle the room it needs to beat adequately. This condition was causing fluid to build up within his abdomen as well as many other complications. Since being admitted to the hospital, Edwin has had two surgeries and the prognosis is not clear. I am asking God to heal Edwin’s heart and to bring hope again to his family. I ask you to join me in praying on behalf of a little boy who needs a new heart.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Patrick's Story
Over the past two years, the compassion of Jesus Christ has led me far deeper than my mind knew to comprehend. I have experienced that His love has no limits and is powerful enough to cast out fear and transform lives. I want to share the story of one little boy, who represents so many others, whose lives are being restored with hope and purpose…
Patrick’s contagious smile fails to tell the abuse he has endured, the challenges he has overcome, and the battle he continues to face. As a 9-year old boy, Patrick’s story is one that breaks the heart. He was born to a single mother who died of AIDS related complications. He was rejected and abandoned by the rest of his family because he is also infected with the HIV virus. After a Good Samaritan found Patrick very sick, living in the bush without shelter; he was admitted to a local hospital where he continued to live for six months.
Upon learning of Patrick’s story, I had the privilege to bring him from the hospital to his new home at ELI’s Kipkaren Children’s Home. When the social worker from the hospital explained to Patrick that he would be coming to Kipkaren to live and would attend school for the first time in his life, Patrick smiled brightly and threw his arms around me tightly. In that moment, I realized that through this child I was going to learn not only about loving but also about being loved.
Upon arriving to the children’s home, he leaned against my chest as he was welcomed by the singing of his 25 new brothers and sisters. In Swahili, I whispered in his ear, “Patrick, God loves you, he loves you so much!” Although Patrick has lived so much of his life rejected, there is a Father who has caught the tears from his silent cries. In that moment, I was reminded of the words of Proverbs 31:8-9, words that have been so often haunting and challenging me throughout this year: “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously. And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” The love of Christ is what has brought Patrick to this refuge where he is accepted and cared for. As I learn what it is to serve God by loving His children, I am truly humbled and amazed at His provision. As the body of Christ joins together to live out His mission of “preaching the good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the
blind, and setting free those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18); I have witnessed His Kingdom come, one life at a time.
I am committed to live in Kipkaren and to serve with ELI as long as God leads. I invite you to continue to join me in this journey. Your prayers and financial gifts are gratefully received. The cost for living and continuing the work in Kipkaren will be around $50,000 for this next one year (the increased expenses are due to the expansion of our HIV/AIDS program). Please consider making a one-time gift or a monthly commitment to partner with me as I minister to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the people affected by HIV/AIDS.
This year, with your help . . .
-Mobile HIV testing and counseling services were offered in 20 villages with nearly 2,500 people being tested. Those who tested positive have been referred to
a comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment program.
- HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaigns were held in six villages with the goal of promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and offering HIV testing. Various games—including football tournaments, volleyball, bicycle races, and running— as well as a professional band from
Nairobi were utilized to draw crowds which have ranged from 700 to 3,000 people. HIV+ individuals from the project willingly shared about their HIV status and encouraged others within the community to be tested.
- HIV/AIDS Caregiver Trainings were offered and completed by 204 individuals from 60 villages. After the three-day trainings, individuals were encouraged to return to their villages to
increase awareness within their community, to promote HIV testing and referral, and to be caregivers to the sick. Follow-up is conducted at three, six, and nine month intervals.
- Traditional Birth Attendant Training was given to 132 women from 10 villages over 18 weeks. Special emphasis was placed upon the topics of HIV awareness and the prevention of mother to child transmission.
- Basics of HIV/AIDS trainings were conducted to approximately 3,400 students at 17 primary and secondary schools.
- An outreach program was started for seven local prostitutes to help them realize their value as children of God and to train them to find other ways to provide for their families.
- A mission trip was taken to Southern Sudan where 1,046 patients were offered general medical and dental services.
- ELI Kipkaren Children’s Home has been constructed and serves as a refuge and a home for a total of 96 orphaned children.
- The Home-Based Care team continues to visit 25 HIV+ individuals to follow up on their medication adherence, their nutritional status and overall physical and emotional health.
Patrick’s contagious smile fails to tell the abuse he has endured, the challenges he has overcome, and the battle he continues to face. As a 9-year old boy, Patrick’s story is one that breaks the heart. He was born to a single mother who died of AIDS related complications. He was rejected and abandoned by the rest of his family because he is also infected with the HIV virus. After a Good Samaritan found Patrick very sick, living in the bush without shelter; he was admitted to a local hospital where he continued to live for six months.
Upon learning of Patrick’s story, I had the privilege to bring him from the hospital to his new home at ELI’s Kipkaren Children’s Home. When the social worker from the hospital explained to Patrick that he would be coming to Kipkaren to live and would attend school for the first time in his life, Patrick smiled brightly and threw his arms around me tightly. In that moment, I realized that through this child I was going to learn not only about loving but also about being loved.
Upon arriving to the children’s home, he leaned against my chest as he was welcomed by the singing of his 25 new brothers and sisters. In Swahili, I whispered in his ear, “Patrick, God loves you, he loves you so much!” Although Patrick has lived so much of his life rejected, there is a Father who has caught the tears from his silent cries. In that moment, I was reminded of the words of Proverbs 31:8-9, words that have been so often haunting and challenging me throughout this year: “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously. And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” The love of Christ is what has brought Patrick to this refuge where he is accepted and cared for. As I learn what it is to serve God by loving His children, I am truly humbled and amazed at His provision. As the body of Christ joins together to live out His mission of “preaching the good news to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the
blind, and setting free those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18); I have witnessed His Kingdom come, one life at a time.
I am committed to live in Kipkaren and to serve with ELI as long as God leads. I invite you to continue to join me in this journey. Your prayers and financial gifts are gratefully received. The cost for living and continuing the work in Kipkaren will be around $50,000 for this next one year (the increased expenses are due to the expansion of our HIV/AIDS program). Please consider making a one-time gift or a monthly commitment to partner with me as I minister to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the people affected by HIV/AIDS.
This year, with your help . . .
-Mobile HIV testing and counseling services were offered in 20 villages with nearly 2,500 people being tested. Those who tested positive have been referred to
a comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment program.
- HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaigns were held in six villages with the goal of promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and offering HIV testing. Various games—including football tournaments, volleyball, bicycle races, and running— as well as a professional band from
Nairobi were utilized to draw crowds which have ranged from 700 to 3,000 people. HIV+ individuals from the project willingly shared about their HIV status and encouraged others within the community to be tested.
- HIV/AIDS Caregiver Trainings were offered and completed by 204 individuals from 60 villages. After the three-day trainings, individuals were encouraged to return to their villages to
increase awareness within their community, to promote HIV testing and referral, and to be caregivers to the sick. Follow-up is conducted at three, six, and nine month intervals.
- Traditional Birth Attendant Training was given to 132 women from 10 villages over 18 weeks. Special emphasis was placed upon the topics of HIV awareness and the prevention of mother to child transmission.
- Basics of HIV/AIDS trainings were conducted to approximately 3,400 students at 17 primary and secondary schools.
- An outreach program was started for seven local prostitutes to help them realize their value as children of God and to train them to find other ways to provide for their families.
- A mission trip was taken to Southern Sudan where 1,046 patients were offered general medical and dental services.
- ELI Kipkaren Children’s Home has been constructed and serves as a refuge and a home for a total of 96 orphaned children.
- The Home-Based Care team continues to visit 25 HIV+ individuals to follow up on their medication adherence, their nutritional status and overall physical and emotional health.
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Pure Religion
Much like an expectant mother prepares and waits for her unborn child, we in Kipkaren are preparing and waiting for 96 orphaned children to come and find a
refuge of hope and a place to call home. As a follower of Christ, I have been challenged that pure and undefiled religion before God is simply this: to care for orphans and widows in their trouble (James 1:27).
In Sub-Saharan Africa— where there are literally millions of orphans—the need for a response is overwhelming. And the reality of living in this community is to be confronted daily with these statistics in the form of children who are struggling to survive. They each have a name and a story of how life has left them without parents.
Nine-year-old Patrick was born to a single mother who died of AIDS-related complications. Because he, too, had been infected by the HIV virus,
his family rejected and abandoned him. About 4 months ago, a Good Samaritan found Patrick sleeping amongst bushes. He was very sick. Patrick was admitted to a local hospital where he continues to live, because there is no other place that is willing to accept him. I am anxiously awaiting the day when he gets to come to a home where he will be accepted and loved
as he is!
Recently, I was shocked by another story I read about in an article in a Kenyan newspaper. In a
town about an hour away from Kipkaren lives a grandmother whose 8 children and their spouses all died of AIDS, leaving this grandmother to care for her 37 grandchildren. The article explained that she owned very little land; therefore, she has been farming on the top of her children’s graves in order to feed the orphaned children. The grandmother was pleading for help. I thank God that in a few days her burden will be lightened as we’ll be able to take in some of her grandchildren.
There are also 2 little boys whose mother was a patient of our home-based care ministry when she
died last July. I remember the day I watched those kids bury their mother. I went home that night and journaled these words:
What did your little eyes see?
There were no tears today.
What did your little eyes see?
As your mama went away.
What did your broken hearts feel?
Were you just too scared to say?
What did your broken hearts feel?
As your mama went away.
Little eyes—I’ll cry for you;
Though I don’t know what to say.
Broken hearts—I’ll fight for you.
Because your mama went away.
I thank God that these two brothers will soon have an opportunity to go to school, to eat a balanced diet, and to grow up within a safe environment. These stories represent countless others that could be told; but for now, I ask you join me in praying for the Kipkaren Children’s Home. In the upcoming weeks, we will be receiving 96 children between the ages of 3-10 who are total orphans. There are big adjustments ahead for the entire staff as well as the children who will be coming. Please pray that in every single detail, God’s Spirit will lead in this journey of faith.
Sudan Update
This week, I received an email from Stephen Reech, director of Empowering Lives Sudan. “After your team’s visit to Sudan, the community came to share testimonies. Within 17 families, people were healed,” Stephen reported. “Abiei [a girl with cholera whom we took to the compound to treat] thanked God for what He had done for her. She said that the devil had a plan to kill her, and God’s plan was to send His people to rescue her from the devil. Abiei said that she had no faith in God before, but now she believes in God.” Praise be to God!
Stephen concluded his email by requesting continued prayer for peace in all of Sudan. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this ministry in Southern Sudan.
Loving Much
It amazes me the number of times in the Bible, outcasts and people who were considered failures
were the ones to become the children of God. In fact, Jesus taught the religious leaders that the harlots and tax collectors would enter His Kingdom before they would.
On another occasion, when Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee for dinner, a prostitute lady came, and Jesus allowed her to come near to him. She was broken and weeping, but she came and worshipped at the feet of Jesus with her tears and a costly bottle of fragrant oil. After much criticism, Jesus replied to the accusers: “You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in . . . Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Then
he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (Luke 7:45-48). And then he sent her away in peace.
I have often read that story but never with a face in mind of someone who is like this woman.
Right now, that is changing.
In April of 2005, while hosting an AIDS awareness campaign in Kipkaren, our home-based
care (HBC) team was sharing about the importance of HIV testing as well as making wise choices to prevent the further spread of HIV. A known prostitute from our community had come to the campaign and approached David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya. She grabbed his arm and, in Swahili, said these words, “I know that I am HIV+, and I don’t want to pass the virus to others. You are telling me to change, but this is the way I feed my children. Can you help me find another way?”
Over the past year, her plea for help has continued to be heard deep within our HBC team. We
have prayed for God to give us wisdom to know how to minister to this woman as well as to six other prostitutes from the Kipkaren area with whom we have been meeting. It has been a challenging journey, but God is leading us in the way to go. We meet together every Wednesday morning to encourage the women, to ask them what their dreams are, and to teach simple business skills and other life skills. This past Saturday, the women came for a Bible study and
then there was a time for their feet to be washed and their nails to be painted. One of the goals behind this ministry is that each of these women will begin to see that they are of value to God. As one of the women was having her feet washed, I walked into the room. She grabbed my
hand and said, “Juli, I will never forget this day!” Please join me in praying for these women.
Along with their children, they live very vulnerable lives. Please pray that God will show us practical ways to train and empower these women. It is only God that can deliver them, but I know that Jesus is waiting to receive them into His Kingdom.://
refuge of hope and a place to call home. As a follower of Christ, I have been challenged that pure and undefiled religion before God is simply this: to care for orphans and widows in their trouble (James 1:27).
In Sub-Saharan Africa— where there are literally millions of orphans—the need for a response is overwhelming. And the reality of living in this community is to be confronted daily with these statistics in the form of children who are struggling to survive. They each have a name and a story of how life has left them without parents.
Nine-year-old Patrick was born to a single mother who died of AIDS-related complications. Because he, too, had been infected by the HIV virus,
his family rejected and abandoned him. About 4 months ago, a Good Samaritan found Patrick sleeping amongst bushes. He was very sick. Patrick was admitted to a local hospital where he continues to live, because there is no other place that is willing to accept him. I am anxiously awaiting the day when he gets to come to a home where he will be accepted and loved
as he is!
Recently, I was shocked by another story I read about in an article in a Kenyan newspaper. In a
town about an hour away from Kipkaren lives a grandmother whose 8 children and their spouses all died of AIDS, leaving this grandmother to care for her 37 grandchildren. The article explained that she owned very little land; therefore, she has been farming on the top of her children’s graves in order to feed the orphaned children. The grandmother was pleading for help. I thank God that in a few days her burden will be lightened as we’ll be able to take in some of her grandchildren.
There are also 2 little boys whose mother was a patient of our home-based care ministry when she
died last July. I remember the day I watched those kids bury their mother. I went home that night and journaled these words:
What did your little eyes see?
There were no tears today.
What did your little eyes see?
As your mama went away.
What did your broken hearts feel?
Were you just too scared to say?
What did your broken hearts feel?
As your mama went away.
Little eyes—I’ll cry for you;
Though I don’t know what to say.
Broken hearts—I’ll fight for you.
Because your mama went away.
I thank God that these two brothers will soon have an opportunity to go to school, to eat a balanced diet, and to grow up within a safe environment. These stories represent countless others that could be told; but for now, I ask you join me in praying for the Kipkaren Children’s Home. In the upcoming weeks, we will be receiving 96 children between the ages of 3-10 who are total orphans. There are big adjustments ahead for the entire staff as well as the children who will be coming. Please pray that in every single detail, God’s Spirit will lead in this journey of faith.
Sudan Update
This week, I received an email from Stephen Reech, director of Empowering Lives Sudan. “After your team’s visit to Sudan, the community came to share testimonies. Within 17 families, people were healed,” Stephen reported. “Abiei [a girl with cholera whom we took to the compound to treat] thanked God for what He had done for her. She said that the devil had a plan to kill her, and God’s plan was to send His people to rescue her from the devil. Abiei said that she had no faith in God before, but now she believes in God.” Praise be to God!
Stephen concluded his email by requesting continued prayer for peace in all of Sudan. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this ministry in Southern Sudan.
Loving Much
It amazes me the number of times in the Bible, outcasts and people who were considered failures
were the ones to become the children of God. In fact, Jesus taught the religious leaders that the harlots and tax collectors would enter His Kingdom before they would.
On another occasion, when Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee for dinner, a prostitute lady came, and Jesus allowed her to come near to him. She was broken and weeping, but she came and worshipped at the feet of Jesus with her tears and a costly bottle of fragrant oil. After much criticism, Jesus replied to the accusers: “You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in . . . Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Then
he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (Luke 7:45-48). And then he sent her away in peace.
I have often read that story but never with a face in mind of someone who is like this woman.
Right now, that is changing.
In April of 2005, while hosting an AIDS awareness campaign in Kipkaren, our home-based
care (HBC) team was sharing about the importance of HIV testing as well as making wise choices to prevent the further spread of HIV. A known prostitute from our community had come to the campaign and approached David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya. She grabbed his arm and, in Swahili, said these words, “I know that I am HIV+, and I don’t want to pass the virus to others. You are telling me to change, but this is the way I feed my children. Can you help me find another way?”
Over the past year, her plea for help has continued to be heard deep within our HBC team. We
have prayed for God to give us wisdom to know how to minister to this woman as well as to six other prostitutes from the Kipkaren area with whom we have been meeting. It has been a challenging journey, but God is leading us in the way to go. We meet together every Wednesday morning to encourage the women, to ask them what their dreams are, and to teach simple business skills and other life skills. This past Saturday, the women came for a Bible study and
then there was a time for their feet to be washed and their nails to be painted. One of the goals behind this ministry is that each of these women will begin to see that they are of value to God. As one of the women was having her feet washed, I walked into the room. She grabbed my
hand and said, “Juli, I will never forget this day!” Please join me in praying for these women.
Along with their children, they live very vulnerable lives. Please pray that God will show us practical ways to train and empower these women. It is only God that can deliver them, but I know that Jesus is waiting to receive them into His Kingdom.://
Monday, May 15, 2006
A Future & A Hope...
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations…” (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
These verses are so often quoted, but as I listened to them within the setting of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan, I was struck again by the reality that these hope-filled promises were written to the Israelites as they entered 70 years of exile. And as I looked into the faces of my Sudanese friends, I saw that the promises of these verses have been clung to, waited upon, and are now being lived out. For 2 decades, they were in exile crying out to God for peace and justice to fill Sudan. They were praying that they might return home. Because of the war, many had been separated from their families, and they have been praying that they might be reunited. Over and over again, stories have been told of children being lost from their parents. For many, they are still waiting, still hoping to be reunited.
As these verses were being read, I could also see out the window of the church as 900 Southern Sudanese refugees were returning home. Men, women, children and animals were loaded into the back of open beded trucks. At the end of their journey lies a land they know as home. For years they have waited to return, but 20 years of war has left the land different than they remember. 20 years of war has left them different. Still they long to return.
So many of the struggles of life are impossible to understand and may not change within this life; but this past week, I witnessed again that God is close to the brokenhearted. He is faithful to His promise: if we will search for Him, He will be found. He is gathering these Sudanese from many lands and bringing them home, but I thank God that His ultimate promise is nothing more, nothing less than Himself. He alone is the future and the hope of Sudan.
The return to Sudan…
I am at a loss for words as I try to write about our team’s 6 days in Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. There are so many stories to be told, and there are no words to adequately describe the intensity of the journey or the emotions that were felt along the way. For sure, God’s favor and grace were experienced, and His provision led our way. He prepared the hearts of us who were going as well as the hearts of those we were going to serve. He granted us health and protection in all that we did. He allowed us to live amongst a community of survivors and to see glimpses of what life, within the Dinka culture, is like. Personally, He allowed my heart for the Dinka people and the ministry within Southern Sudan to grow larger than before.
It was an incredible blessing to be a part of this united team of 9 who traveled from Kenya to Sudan to serve the sick within the village of Kolmarek. Resources were limited and the climate was extremely harsh (120 degree days intermixed with torrential rain & wind); but with God as our strength, the mission remained clear. The partnership that developed with the Sudanese nationals who hosted us was equally wonderful. Without their assistance with translation and the countless other ways they served us, the mission would have been impossible. We held a mobile clinic in a local school for 4 days and treated 1046 patients with general medical and dental services. A majority of the patients were treated for preventable diseases related to food and water borne illnesses, worms, malaria, malnutrition, and an eye disease which leads to blindness known as trachoma.
I want to share the story of one of the patients we had the opportunity to care for. Her name is Abiei, and she is a 16 year old who was carried to the clinic on a mat. Like so many of the people in the community, Abiei and her family live as pastoralists in a cattle camp amongst thousands of cows. During the day, the cows range to get food; but in the evening, the cows and people gather together and sleep in the open air. The people survive by drinking the milk of their cattle. For generations, cattle camps have been a way of life for the Dinka people.
Due to contaminated water, there has recently been a cholera outbreak in different areas of Southern Sudan. Without intervention, cholera causes severe dysentery and eventually death. Upon arriving, it was reported that Abiei had been suffering from severe diarrhea and vomiting for several hours. Upon physical examination, it was clear that she was going into shock. Her extremities were ice cold and her blood pressure was no longer audible. We began to give her IV fluids to rehydrate her and monitored her very closely. At moments, it seemed that she was not going to make it. There was no place to refer her for more extensive treatment; and if our mobile clinic had not been there, there would have been no treatment for her. We, along with her family, cried out to God on her behalf and asked that He would spare her life and bring healing to her broken body. He did; and for the next four days, Abiei and her father lived with us as we continued treating her.
One of the first nights, she was critically sick and continued to have severe diarrhea and vomiting. Throughout the night, I was getting up every 2 hours to give her medication; and I had the privilege of watching Abiei’s father lovingly care for her. He cleaned her and comforted her in a way that I have rarely seen before. I thank God for sparing Abiei’s life and for allowing me to be a part of caring for her. I also thank God for the example of selfless love I witnessed through this father- it has touched my heart in a deep way.
Thank you for choosing to partner with me in this mission. Your prayers, your financial support helped to make this trip possible. There is no way to measure your investment’s worth; but by God’s grace, I watched the life of a 16 year old girl be spared and 1045 others helped. The need for ongoing community health work as well as basic medical services was deeply impressed within my heart. As ELI’s vision for ministry in Sudan continues to take shape, I am praying that God will raise up Sudanese nationals who speak Dinka to continue in this work. Please join me in praying for God’s will to be done in the health of these dear people and for peace to continue in the land of Sudan.
These verses are so often quoted, but as I listened to them within the setting of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan, I was struck again by the reality that these hope-filled promises were written to the Israelites as they entered 70 years of exile. And as I looked into the faces of my Sudanese friends, I saw that the promises of these verses have been clung to, waited upon, and are now being lived out. For 2 decades, they were in exile crying out to God for peace and justice to fill Sudan. They were praying that they might return home. Because of the war, many had been separated from their families, and they have been praying that they might be reunited. Over and over again, stories have been told of children being lost from their parents. For many, they are still waiting, still hoping to be reunited.
As these verses were being read, I could also see out the window of the church as 900 Southern Sudanese refugees were returning home. Men, women, children and animals were loaded into the back of open beded trucks. At the end of their journey lies a land they know as home. For years they have waited to return, but 20 years of war has left the land different than they remember. 20 years of war has left them different. Still they long to return.
So many of the struggles of life are impossible to understand and may not change within this life; but this past week, I witnessed again that God is close to the brokenhearted. He is faithful to His promise: if we will search for Him, He will be found. He is gathering these Sudanese from many lands and bringing them home, but I thank God that His ultimate promise is nothing more, nothing less than Himself. He alone is the future and the hope of Sudan.
The return to Sudan…
I am at a loss for words as I try to write about our team’s 6 days in Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. There are so many stories to be told, and there are no words to adequately describe the intensity of the journey or the emotions that were felt along the way. For sure, God’s favor and grace were experienced, and His provision led our way. He prepared the hearts of us who were going as well as the hearts of those we were going to serve. He granted us health and protection in all that we did. He allowed us to live amongst a community of survivors and to see glimpses of what life, within the Dinka culture, is like. Personally, He allowed my heart for the Dinka people and the ministry within Southern Sudan to grow larger than before.
It was an incredible blessing to be a part of this united team of 9 who traveled from Kenya to Sudan to serve the sick within the village of Kolmarek. Resources were limited and the climate was extremely harsh (120 degree days intermixed with torrential rain & wind); but with God as our strength, the mission remained clear. The partnership that developed with the Sudanese nationals who hosted us was equally wonderful. Without their assistance with translation and the countless other ways they served us, the mission would have been impossible. We held a mobile clinic in a local school for 4 days and treated 1046 patients with general medical and dental services. A majority of the patients were treated for preventable diseases related to food and water borne illnesses, worms, malaria, malnutrition, and an eye disease which leads to blindness known as trachoma.
I want to share the story of one of the patients we had the opportunity to care for. Her name is Abiei, and she is a 16 year old who was carried to the clinic on a mat. Like so many of the people in the community, Abiei and her family live as pastoralists in a cattle camp amongst thousands of cows. During the day, the cows range to get food; but in the evening, the cows and people gather together and sleep in the open air. The people survive by drinking the milk of their cattle. For generations, cattle camps have been a way of life for the Dinka people.
Due to contaminated water, there has recently been a cholera outbreak in different areas of Southern Sudan. Without intervention, cholera causes severe dysentery and eventually death. Upon arriving, it was reported that Abiei had been suffering from severe diarrhea and vomiting for several hours. Upon physical examination, it was clear that she was going into shock. Her extremities were ice cold and her blood pressure was no longer audible. We began to give her IV fluids to rehydrate her and monitored her very closely. At moments, it seemed that she was not going to make it. There was no place to refer her for more extensive treatment; and if our mobile clinic had not been there, there would have been no treatment for her. We, along with her family, cried out to God on her behalf and asked that He would spare her life and bring healing to her broken body. He did; and for the next four days, Abiei and her father lived with us as we continued treating her.
One of the first nights, she was critically sick and continued to have severe diarrhea and vomiting. Throughout the night, I was getting up every 2 hours to give her medication; and I had the privilege of watching Abiei’s father lovingly care for her. He cleaned her and comforted her in a way that I have rarely seen before. I thank God for sparing Abiei’s life and for allowing me to be a part of caring for her. I also thank God for the example of selfless love I witnessed through this father- it has touched my heart in a deep way.
Thank you for choosing to partner with me in this mission. Your prayers, your financial support helped to make this trip possible. There is no way to measure your investment’s worth; but by God’s grace, I watched the life of a 16 year old girl be spared and 1045 others helped. The need for ongoing community health work as well as basic medical services was deeply impressed within my heart. As ELI’s vision for ministry in Sudan continues to take shape, I am praying that God will raise up Sudanese nationals who speak Dinka to continue in this work. Please join me in praying for God’s will to be done in the health of these dear people and for peace to continue in the land of Sudan.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Stories of Empowered Lives
This past week, I sat in a staff meeting with a group of 20 Kenyans who work in the training center in Kipkaren as we were asked this question: “When you think of a life that has been empowered by ELI, who comes to your mind?” One by one, we began to share the names and stories of people whose lives we have witnessed being changed. Many began by saying that they themselves & their families were the ones empowered with vision and hope for their lives.
Mwei, one of the gardeners at the training center, retold the story of one of our Home-Based Care (HBC) clients named Kibet. He said that he used to hopelessly push him on the back of his bicycle to try and get treatment. Through HBC, he has witnessed Kibet receive quality care and regain his strength to the point that he is now working on the construction team at the ELI Children’s Home.
Pastor Peter shared about a lady named Dinah. She is 26 years old, a single mother of 3, who has been blind since childhood. She recently tested positive for HIV, along with her 2½ year old son named Daniel. Her situation is full of challenges, but there is also hope. Dinah and Daniel have started taking HIV medication, and her family is receiving food support. For the first time in his 2½ years of life, Daniel is not crying from pain when he is held, his chronic diarrhea has stopped, and he has the energy to play with his brother & sister.
Ezekiel, one of the caregivers we have trained from a neighboring village of Laboret, shared about a time his wife was recently sick. Because of the loving care he & his wife have extended to HIV+ clients in his community, one came to his home to also help care for his wife.
Maru, who works as a driver for ELI, explained that he recently overheard a conversation by some of the HBC clients while returning from the HIV clinic. A man named Joseph said, “If it were not for this car, for these people, many would have died.” Another lady named Esther then remarked, “I would have died.” Maru also told the story of a day he parked the car near a lady who was sleeping along the side of the road. When she woke up, he heard her say: “Wow-it’s our car! This takes care of us with ukimwi (AIDS).”
For me, the name that came to mind was Betty. She is a lady whose trust in God challenges and encourages me in my own faith. I write about her often but truly, Betty allows God’s strength to be lived so beautifully in her weakness. The other day we were walking together after a church service and I asked her this question: “Betty, what is your dream?” She quickly responded that when she was so sick, she had lost hope. Her only dream was for her children to be educated and taken care of. She went on to say that after accepting her HIV status and finding acceptance within the Home Based Care program, she found hope again. Now, her dream is this: “I dream that I will make more room for God to fit in me. I do not need riches or the things of this world. I need more of God. Juli, I was so dirty, but God lifted me out of my mess. I do not want to be the same Betty today as I was yesterday… I am being transformed.” Currently, Betty is in Nairobi attending a training to become certified to counsel and test others for HIV. I am blessed as I watch God expand His kingdom through the life of this dear friend.
David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya, concluded our staff meeting by saying this: “Because of this ministry, our lives have been changed. We get up in the morning with a plan for the day. Now that our lives have been changed, we want to be a part of changing the lives of others.” For sure, as Jesus said, the poor will always be with us; and because of it, we have been instructed to open our hands wide to the poor and to the needy in our land (Deuteronomy 15:11).
Upcoming Trip to Sudan…
In my last update, I shared about my experiences in Southern Sudan and about preparations to return in May with a medical team. It has been amazing to watch God bring together a compassionate and skilled health-care team made up of Kenyans & Americans who desire to assist people within the village of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. I have been equally blessed and humbled by those who have chosen to partner financially and in prayer with this mission.
May 3-9, we will be in Sudan. The goal of the trip is to set up a mobile clinic to treat patients: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the process, we hope to get a better assessment of the immediate as well as long term health related needs of the community. Also, part of the team will be doing some community health related teachings in ELI's elementary school to both teachers and children. I also see this trip as a time to continue to seek after God, to wait upon Him, for what is next for the health ministry of ELI in Southern Sudan. Thank you again for your much needed prayers and support.
Home-Based Care…
Over the past few months, God has placed a great desire and burden within my heart and the hearts of our Home Based Care team to reach out to people who are alcoholics within our community. As we continue in AIDS ministry, it is evident that the widespread addiction to alcohol feeds the cycle of poverty and is a contributing factor in the spread of HIV. Recently, David Tarus, the director of ELI in Kipkaren and a man who searches after God’s heart, wrote letters to the local drunkards and their families inviting them to be the special guests of our church service on a Sunday. It was an incredible day as, one by one, they came. Some were sober, all were wondering why they were invited. David shared about the parable of the prodigal son. He explained that there is a loving Father who longs to forgive and waits for us to return home. David’s humble heart, so connected to this community, pleaded with these men and women, calling them by name, to something more. He explained that, as the body of Christ, we would stand together. After the service, nearly 50 families stayed for lunch. HIV testing was also offered and 38 were tested. It was a remarkable beginning, and we are asking God to continue to lead us step by step.
Please join me in praying for this ongoing ministry of extending compassion and acceptance to alcoholics whose lives are entangled in addiction and brokenness. It is only God that can bring change; but I believe He longs to redeem what is lost.
Mwei, one of the gardeners at the training center, retold the story of one of our Home-Based Care (HBC) clients named Kibet. He said that he used to hopelessly push him on the back of his bicycle to try and get treatment. Through HBC, he has witnessed Kibet receive quality care and regain his strength to the point that he is now working on the construction team at the ELI Children’s Home.
Pastor Peter shared about a lady named Dinah. She is 26 years old, a single mother of 3, who has been blind since childhood. She recently tested positive for HIV, along with her 2½ year old son named Daniel. Her situation is full of challenges, but there is also hope. Dinah and Daniel have started taking HIV medication, and her family is receiving food support. For the first time in his 2½ years of life, Daniel is not crying from pain when he is held, his chronic diarrhea has stopped, and he has the energy to play with his brother & sister.
Ezekiel, one of the caregivers we have trained from a neighboring village of Laboret, shared about a time his wife was recently sick. Because of the loving care he & his wife have extended to HIV+ clients in his community, one came to his home to also help care for his wife.
Maru, who works as a driver for ELI, explained that he recently overheard a conversation by some of the HBC clients while returning from the HIV clinic. A man named Joseph said, “If it were not for this car, for these people, many would have died.” Another lady named Esther then remarked, “I would have died.” Maru also told the story of a day he parked the car near a lady who was sleeping along the side of the road. When she woke up, he heard her say: “Wow-it’s our car! This takes care of us with ukimwi (AIDS).”
For me, the name that came to mind was Betty. She is a lady whose trust in God challenges and encourages me in my own faith. I write about her often but truly, Betty allows God’s strength to be lived so beautifully in her weakness. The other day we were walking together after a church service and I asked her this question: “Betty, what is your dream?” She quickly responded that when she was so sick, she had lost hope. Her only dream was for her children to be educated and taken care of. She went on to say that after accepting her HIV status and finding acceptance within the Home Based Care program, she found hope again. Now, her dream is this: “I dream that I will make more room for God to fit in me. I do not need riches or the things of this world. I need more of God. Juli, I was so dirty, but God lifted me out of my mess. I do not want to be the same Betty today as I was yesterday… I am being transformed.” Currently, Betty is in Nairobi attending a training to become certified to counsel and test others for HIV. I am blessed as I watch God expand His kingdom through the life of this dear friend.
David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya, concluded our staff meeting by saying this: “Because of this ministry, our lives have been changed. We get up in the morning with a plan for the day. Now that our lives have been changed, we want to be a part of changing the lives of others.” For sure, as Jesus said, the poor will always be with us; and because of it, we have been instructed to open our hands wide to the poor and to the needy in our land (Deuteronomy 15:11).
Upcoming Trip to Sudan…
In my last update, I shared about my experiences in Southern Sudan and about preparations to return in May with a medical team. It has been amazing to watch God bring together a compassionate and skilled health-care team made up of Kenyans & Americans who desire to assist people within the village of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. I have been equally blessed and humbled by those who have chosen to partner financially and in prayer with this mission.
May 3-9, we will be in Sudan. The goal of the trip is to set up a mobile clinic to treat patients: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the process, we hope to get a better assessment of the immediate as well as long term health related needs of the community. Also, part of the team will be doing some community health related teachings in ELI's elementary school to both teachers and children. I also see this trip as a time to continue to seek after God, to wait upon Him, for what is next for the health ministry of ELI in Southern Sudan. Thank you again for your much needed prayers and support.
Home-Based Care…
Over the past few months, God has placed a great desire and burden within my heart and the hearts of our Home Based Care team to reach out to people who are alcoholics within our community. As we continue in AIDS ministry, it is evident that the widespread addiction to alcohol feeds the cycle of poverty and is a contributing factor in the spread of HIV. Recently, David Tarus, the director of ELI in Kipkaren and a man who searches after God’s heart, wrote letters to the local drunkards and their families inviting them to be the special guests of our church service on a Sunday. It was an incredible day as, one by one, they came. Some were sober, all were wondering why they were invited. David shared about the parable of the prodigal son. He explained that there is a loving Father who longs to forgive and waits for us to return home. David’s humble heart, so connected to this community, pleaded with these men and women, calling them by name, to something more. He explained that, as the body of Christ, we would stand together. After the service, nearly 50 families stayed for lunch. HIV testing was also offered and 38 were tested. It was a remarkable beginning, and we are asking God to continue to lead us step by step.
Please join me in praying for this ongoing ministry of extending compassion and acceptance to alcoholics whose lives are entangled in addiction and brokenness. It is only God that can bring change; but I believe He longs to redeem what is lost.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Update From Sudan
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously. And plead the cause of the poor & the needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
These are the words that resonate in my mind & my heart as I consider my journey to Southern Sudan.
Over the past 1 1/2 years, through the vision & life of my friend, a Sudanese refugee named Stephen Reech, God has allowed my eyes to be opened and my heart to be softened towards the brokenness within the land of Sudan.
Stephen’s Story
I remember the day I first heard Stephen share the story of his life and the struggles of his people. He told of a civil war that had spanned over two decades, a war fought between the Northern Islamic Sudan and rebels in the South. In the genocide, approximately 2 million people were killed and an estimated 5 million people were displaced. In 1991, in order to survive, Stephen & his wife walked for 11/2months to the border of Uganda. Along the way, their only sources of food were leaves and wild fruits. Upon reaching Uganda, they lived in a refugee camp amongst thousands of other Sudanese who had also fled Sudan to save their lives. Because of the harsh conditions of the camp, 2 of Stephen’s children grew very
sick and eventually died.
In the midst of exile, Stephen & his wife refused to give up. They prayed night & day for peace to return to their land. Despite being offered several opportunities to go & live in the U.S. & Canada, Stephen refused, saying that his dream was to one day return home to
help rebuild Sudan. In January of 2005, the peace treaty was signed declaring peace between the North & the South, and for the first time in 13 years, Stephen went home. He explained that everywhere he went, he would become so overwhelmed with emotion that he would be
unable to speak. He witnessed the continued suffering of his people. He explained that the children were naked, hungry & many were sick. As I listened to Stephen, I wondered how it was possible that I could know nothing of this war that had lasted for almost as long as I have
lived. My spirit grieved that the world stood by as a modern day holocaust took place once again. A desire grew within me to go to Sudan to assist in whatever waysGod might lead. After Stephen shared, I told him that, God willing, I would one day go to visit his homeland
and to meet his people. Last Thursday, I—along with a team of six others—landed on a dirt airstrip in the desolate village of Padak, Southern Sudan. Stephen was waiting for us
as we arrived and greeted me by saying, “Thank you, Juli. You have fulfilled your promise.”
A Time to Return, A Time to Rebuild
As I traveled along dirt paths through the desolate countryside of Sudan, I wondered what the place was like before the war. I also considered what it will be like after the masses return from their time in exile. There is a generation of children and adolescents who have lived
their entire lives as refugees. As a ministry, ELI’s vision is to empower the poor and oppressed that they may be able to know, worship, & serve God without hindrance.
As the Sudanese return to their homeland, remnants of the war remain, and the Sudanese vulnerably fight to survive: physically, emotionally, & spiritually. After much prayer and consideration, it has been more than evident to the leadership of ELI that God
is expanding the ministry and leading us to be a part of bringing His hope into the rebuilding & development of Southern Sudan.
On Sunday, our team had the privilege to attend one of the churches that Stephen had helped
start before the war. As I listened to the Sudanese sing their songs of worship, I did not hear the sounds of celebration that I am accustomed to hearing in Kenya. Although I could not understand the words they were saying, I deeply felt the cry of a people who were intensely and desperately—from the depths of their lives—calling out to God. As I was confronted with the beauty & the brokenness of this people, I was moved with compassion.
In a country where the governmental infrastructure is, at best, weak, there are many
challenges to be faced.
Within the area of health, resources are scarce and disease is rampant. There are major public health crises because of the mass number of returnees living in overpopulated camps as
they await relocation. Refugees are returning from Ethiopia, Uganda, & Kenya as well as areas of hiding throughout Southern Sudan. Cholera and yellow fever outbreaks as well as
severe malnutrition amongst children are prevalent throughout the area. I visited several cattle camps where children are raised outdoors amongst thousands of cows. The children survive only off of the milk of their cattle. The eyes & faces of the children were covered with dirt and flies. One of the major health problems throughout Southern Sudan is blindness caused by an easily preventable bacterial infection known as Trachoma.
Throughout my time in Sudan, it was clear there is an abundant need for the implementation of health programs, both preventative and curative.
In May, I am planning to return to Sudan with a team of healthcare workers from Kenya. As I have shared about the experiences I had in Sudan with my co-workers in Kenya, they have expressed the desire to go and share their knowledge and services with the people of Sudan. It is exciting to see those who have been empowered in Kenya desiring to be a part of empowering people in other parts of the world.
In order for this trip & ministry to be possible, we need to raise nearly $10,000. If God would lead you to join us financially in ministering to the sick in Sudan, please write your check to ELI & note that it is for “Health in Sudan”. In advance, I thank you for your partnership. Praying for Peace
As I have left Sudan and returned to my home in Kenya, there are many images and experiences that fill my mind. I cannot forget the 18-month-old, severelymalnourished
baby that sat naked on my lap as I visited a refugee camp. Although his life has started with
so many odds against him, he is a part of the generation that is the future of the new Sudan.
I will also remember the words of 26-year-old Abraham who found God in the midst of exile. He explained, “I had lost my family when I left Sudan, and I kept asking myself, ‘Who is my guide?’ When I was sick and did not have medicine, I asked myself, ‘Who is my
healer?’” Surely it was God.
And I still hear the fervor in the voices of the Sudanese as they chanted, “Exile is over. Exile is over. Exile is over.”
In a way that I’ve never understood to pray before, I pray that the Lord will make His face to shine upon Sudan. There is much forgiveness needed for healing to take place.
Oh, I pray for peace.
These are the words that resonate in my mind & my heart as I consider my journey to Southern Sudan.
Over the past 1 1/2 years, through the vision & life of my friend, a Sudanese refugee named Stephen Reech, God has allowed my eyes to be opened and my heart to be softened towards the brokenness within the land of Sudan.
Stephen’s Story
I remember the day I first heard Stephen share the story of his life and the struggles of his people. He told of a civil war that had spanned over two decades, a war fought between the Northern Islamic Sudan and rebels in the South. In the genocide, approximately 2 million people were killed and an estimated 5 million people were displaced. In 1991, in order to survive, Stephen & his wife walked for 11/2months to the border of Uganda. Along the way, their only sources of food were leaves and wild fruits. Upon reaching Uganda, they lived in a refugee camp amongst thousands of other Sudanese who had also fled Sudan to save their lives. Because of the harsh conditions of the camp, 2 of Stephen’s children grew very
sick and eventually died.
In the midst of exile, Stephen & his wife refused to give up. They prayed night & day for peace to return to their land. Despite being offered several opportunities to go & live in the U.S. & Canada, Stephen refused, saying that his dream was to one day return home to
help rebuild Sudan. In January of 2005, the peace treaty was signed declaring peace between the North & the South, and for the first time in 13 years, Stephen went home. He explained that everywhere he went, he would become so overwhelmed with emotion that he would be
unable to speak. He witnessed the continued suffering of his people. He explained that the children were naked, hungry & many were sick. As I listened to Stephen, I wondered how it was possible that I could know nothing of this war that had lasted for almost as long as I have
lived. My spirit grieved that the world stood by as a modern day holocaust took place once again. A desire grew within me to go to Sudan to assist in whatever waysGod might lead. After Stephen shared, I told him that, God willing, I would one day go to visit his homeland
and to meet his people. Last Thursday, I—along with a team of six others—landed on a dirt airstrip in the desolate village of Padak, Southern Sudan. Stephen was waiting for us
as we arrived and greeted me by saying, “Thank you, Juli. You have fulfilled your promise.”
A Time to Return, A Time to Rebuild
As I traveled along dirt paths through the desolate countryside of Sudan, I wondered what the place was like before the war. I also considered what it will be like after the masses return from their time in exile. There is a generation of children and adolescents who have lived
their entire lives as refugees. As a ministry, ELI’s vision is to empower the poor and oppressed that they may be able to know, worship, & serve God without hindrance.
As the Sudanese return to their homeland, remnants of the war remain, and the Sudanese vulnerably fight to survive: physically, emotionally, & spiritually. After much prayer and consideration, it has been more than evident to the leadership of ELI that God
is expanding the ministry and leading us to be a part of bringing His hope into the rebuilding & development of Southern Sudan.
On Sunday, our team had the privilege to attend one of the churches that Stephen had helped
start before the war. As I listened to the Sudanese sing their songs of worship, I did not hear the sounds of celebration that I am accustomed to hearing in Kenya. Although I could not understand the words they were saying, I deeply felt the cry of a people who were intensely and desperately—from the depths of their lives—calling out to God. As I was confronted with the beauty & the brokenness of this people, I was moved with compassion.
In a country where the governmental infrastructure is, at best, weak, there are many
challenges to be faced.
Within the area of health, resources are scarce and disease is rampant. There are major public health crises because of the mass number of returnees living in overpopulated camps as
they await relocation. Refugees are returning from Ethiopia, Uganda, & Kenya as well as areas of hiding throughout Southern Sudan. Cholera and yellow fever outbreaks as well as
severe malnutrition amongst children are prevalent throughout the area. I visited several cattle camps where children are raised outdoors amongst thousands of cows. The children survive only off of the milk of their cattle. The eyes & faces of the children were covered with dirt and flies. One of the major health problems throughout Southern Sudan is blindness caused by an easily preventable bacterial infection known as Trachoma.
Throughout my time in Sudan, it was clear there is an abundant need for the implementation of health programs, both preventative and curative.
In May, I am planning to return to Sudan with a team of healthcare workers from Kenya. As I have shared about the experiences I had in Sudan with my co-workers in Kenya, they have expressed the desire to go and share their knowledge and services with the people of Sudan. It is exciting to see those who have been empowered in Kenya desiring to be a part of empowering people in other parts of the world.
In order for this trip & ministry to be possible, we need to raise nearly $10,000. If God would lead you to join us financially in ministering to the sick in Sudan, please write your check to ELI & note that it is for “Health in Sudan”. In advance, I thank you for your partnership. Praying for Peace
As I have left Sudan and returned to my home in Kenya, there are many images and experiences that fill my mind. I cannot forget the 18-month-old, severelymalnourished
baby that sat naked on my lap as I visited a refugee camp. Although his life has started with
so many odds against him, he is a part of the generation that is the future of the new Sudan.
I will also remember the words of 26-year-old Abraham who found God in the midst of exile. He explained, “I had lost my family when I left Sudan, and I kept asking myself, ‘Who is my guide?’ When I was sick and did not have medicine, I asked myself, ‘Who is my
healer?’” Surely it was God.
And I still hear the fervor in the voices of the Sudanese as they chanted, “Exile is over. Exile is over. Exile is over.”
In a way that I’ve never understood to pray before, I pray that the Lord will make His face to shine upon Sudan. There is much forgiveness needed for healing to take place.
Oh, I pray for peace.
Monday, February 06, 2006
My Homecoming
As we drove into Kipkaren, I could hear the familiar sound of my dear friends singing to welcome me home. It was already dark, and they were waiting in the pouring rain. As I walked down the line to greet my friends, I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving because of the opportunity I have to serve God in this place. Even though I have lived within this culture for some time and frequently experienced their “welcomes”, it was still remarkable. I continue to be amazed by, and learn from, the hospitality that is so generously given.
I have jumped back into village life with a great sense of peace and joy. It has been encouraging to see the ways in which the health ministry has not only continued while I was away- it has flourished. The staff of ELI’s health clinic had a vision to begin a mobile clinic in a neighboring village called Labuywet. Over the past 3 months, we have been partnering with this village through our Traditional Birth Attendant training program. The lack of health care within the community prompted our staff to respond. This past Wednesday we held our first mobile clinic and treated 70 patients & tested 40 for HIV with 3 being positive. Please pray for us as we embark on this exciting new aspect of ministry.
This past weekend, we held an HIV/AIDS Campaign in a town called Moi’s Bridge. Approximately 6 months ago, we trained members from a local church there in our 3-Day Home-Based Care training. Needless to say, the church caught the vision & have begun a great work in their community. On Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered in the town center and marched to the site of the HIV/AIDS Campaign as the Salvation Army band played on. We held a soccer tournament, bicycle race & concert which created a platform to speak truth concerning HIV/AIDS. We counseled and tested 127 people for HIV with 6 being positive. Those who tested positive are being connected with quality treatment for HIV. It was truly an amazing day to experience.
Marching, that morning, in the middle of the crowd felt something like I imagine marching into a battle field might feel. There was the rush of adrenaline but also the realization of the very present danger. In this case, AIDS. The strategies to battle against it are not clear cut; but for the sake of Africa, the battles must be fought and won. God continues to speak to my heart that this is not a battle I’m called to fight on my own. Rather, it is His battle, and I simply get to a play a part. I recently was reading in 2 Kings 6 and was both encouraged & challenged by the story I read. It says, “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to Elisha, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So Elisha answered, ‘Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (15-17). It is humbling to consider all that goes unseen; but like Elisha, I am asking God to open my eyes that I, too, might see. He is with me. He has surrounded me and is fighting the battle that is so much bigger than myself.
Journey to Sudan…
I ask you to join me in praying… I am going to travel to Southern Sudan with a team of 6 others February 16-21. Over the past year, God has been opening doors and confirming opportunities for ELI to move into Southern Sudan. A peace treaty was signed last January ending 21 years of civil war in Sudan. There is much brokenness in the land. The poverty is extreme. There is great need for healthcare. As I consider this journey, there is no doubt it will be stretching. I also know that God will be with us.
Please pray for:
- Safety & protection throughout our travels & stay in Sudan.
- Vision for the ways God is wanting to work through ELI to empower the people of Sudan & wisdom in how to do it best.
- Health & strength as the climate is extremely hot.
- God’s compassion for the people of Sudan to be experienced & put into action.
Thank you for your prayers & support. I look forward to sharing more in the days ahead. Blessings & love, Juli
I have jumped back into village life with a great sense of peace and joy. It has been encouraging to see the ways in which the health ministry has not only continued while I was away- it has flourished. The staff of ELI’s health clinic had a vision to begin a mobile clinic in a neighboring village called Labuywet. Over the past 3 months, we have been partnering with this village through our Traditional Birth Attendant training program. The lack of health care within the community prompted our staff to respond. This past Wednesday we held our first mobile clinic and treated 70 patients & tested 40 for HIV with 3 being positive. Please pray for us as we embark on this exciting new aspect of ministry.
This past weekend, we held an HIV/AIDS Campaign in a town called Moi’s Bridge. Approximately 6 months ago, we trained members from a local church there in our 3-Day Home-Based Care training. Needless to say, the church caught the vision & have begun a great work in their community. On Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered in the town center and marched to the site of the HIV/AIDS Campaign as the Salvation Army band played on. We held a soccer tournament, bicycle race & concert which created a platform to speak truth concerning HIV/AIDS. We counseled and tested 127 people for HIV with 6 being positive. Those who tested positive are being connected with quality treatment for HIV. It was truly an amazing day to experience.
Marching, that morning, in the middle of the crowd felt something like I imagine marching into a battle field might feel. There was the rush of adrenaline but also the realization of the very present danger. In this case, AIDS. The strategies to battle against it are not clear cut; but for the sake of Africa, the battles must be fought and won. God continues to speak to my heart that this is not a battle I’m called to fight on my own. Rather, it is His battle, and I simply get to a play a part. I recently was reading in 2 Kings 6 and was both encouraged & challenged by the story I read. It says, “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to Elisha, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So Elisha answered, ‘Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (15-17). It is humbling to consider all that goes unseen; but like Elisha, I am asking God to open my eyes that I, too, might see. He is with me. He has surrounded me and is fighting the battle that is so much bigger than myself.
Journey to Sudan…
I ask you to join me in praying… I am going to travel to Southern Sudan with a team of 6 others February 16-21. Over the past year, God has been opening doors and confirming opportunities for ELI to move into Southern Sudan. A peace treaty was signed last January ending 21 years of civil war in Sudan. There is much brokenness in the land. The poverty is extreme. There is great need for healthcare. As I consider this journey, there is no doubt it will be stretching. I also know that God will be with us.
Please pray for:
- Safety & protection throughout our travels & stay in Sudan.
- Vision for the ways God is wanting to work through ELI to empower the people of Sudan & wisdom in how to do it best.
- Health & strength as the climate is extremely hot.
- God’s compassion for the people of Sudan to be experienced & put into action.
Thank you for your prayers & support. I look forward to sharing more in the days ahead. Blessings & love, Juli
Tax-exempt donations may be sent to Empowering Lives International
PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785 Phone 909.476.6822
email: julimcgowan@empoweringlives.org web: www.empoweringlives.org
PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785 Phone 909.476.6822
email: julimcgowan@empoweringlives.org web: www.empoweringlives.org
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
I Must Remember
For the past eight weeks, I have been in California reconnecting with family & friends and sharing stories, with anyone willing to listen, of what is taking place in the health ministry in Kipkaren. I have been speaking on behalf of those who do not often have a voice: widows, orphans, the sick & poor. Over the past 5 ½ years, God has been confronting my tendencies towards complacency and reshaping my worldview so that these are the voices and cries I do hear. I want to say thank you to the many of you who were willing to listen and compelled to respond. Thank you for your compassionate actions. Personally, I was humbled & truly encouraged by the ways I was genuinely received and embraced by my family & friends as well as the many I have come to meet along the way.
I must remember...
I don't often admit it, but I have a memory problem. In the busyness of life, I can be quick to forget that God has been faithful. As I dream about where God is leading and prepare to return to Kenya, I have also felt the need to be still & simply remember the things He has already done. 1 Samuel 7 documents a time when Samuel did just this. The army of Israel had just been granted a miraculous victory over the Philistines as God had used thunder to confuse their army. The story goes on to say: "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer (Stone of Help), saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us'" (1 Samuel 7:12). As I look back upon this past year of ministry in Kipkaren; I, too, must say: "Thus far the Lord has helped us". There are faces that come to my mind of people who did not expect to live to see 2005 and are still alive today to speak the praises of God. There is HIV testing accessible at the village level and HIV medications available to those already infected. There is a community of individuals who are willing to extend compassionate care to the sick, to orphans & widows. Where once there was only fear, a deep sense of hope has been born.
On Monday, I will return to Kenya knowing that there is much work to be done. There are challenges to face and dreams to dream. However, as I reflect upon what God has already done, I am filled with thanksgiving. I have come to know the Lord as My Helper and am learning to trust Him with what lies ahead.
CD release...
Over the past year, I had an opportunity to record an album of songs I wrote. The lyrics are reflections from my journey of following Christ. Traditional Kalenjiin chants were recorded in Kipkaren and are interwoven throughout the project. If you are interested in purchasing a CD, please make checks payable to ELI ($15/CD). All proceeds of this album will go towards the Empowering Lives International's Health Ministry. Please be sure to include your mailing information and mail to PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785.
Thank you again for your continued partnership and support in ministry & life. Juli
Thank you again for your continued partnership and support in ministry & life. Juli
Tax-exempt donations may be sent to Empowering Lives International
PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785 Phone 909.476.6822
Monday, January 02, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
