Attack of the SIM-Sudan Atar Base 31 Dec 2009

From Jimmy & RoxAnne Cox:

TESTIMONY OF GETACHEW & KELEMWA,
Ethiopian missionaries at Atar. Kelemwa, the wife, was one of Jimmy & RoxAnne’s students years ago when they taught in a Bible school in rural Ethiopia.

It is a great privilege for us to serve as missionaries in the Kingdom of God.

But in the past 44 years of my life – I have never experienced the kind of difficulty that we passed through in the last few days. During our trial we experienced God’s miraculous deliverance from two life threatening dangers.

At 4:30 am last Thursday morning a band of Shilluk tribesmen attacked our SIM compound and the nearby village of Atar. They first lit fire to the dry grass on our roof. When the fire was burning they began shooting into our house. I counted six bullet holes right in the area of our house where we were sleeping. With the burning grass falling in on top of us (it has fallen off the roof and was blocking our doorway as well) and the shooting all around us – both our lives and the lives of our two daughters were in grave danger. But somehow God protected us and brought miraculous deliverance.

We saw two amazing miracles during that night. First, our enemies were watching & waiting for us to try & escape the fire. Somehow God blinded their eyes. They could not see us as we ran through the fire toward the only building that was not burning – our nearby toilet. All four of us escaped without being burned or being hit by bullets. But when the flames came into the toilet area we had to flee the second time to a nearby tent. Again no one saw us. We were able to lie flat on the floor of the tent – unseen to our enemy. By this time our enemies were now looking to see what had happened to us. As they searched all around us, we lay very quietly on the floor of the tent. Here again we saw God performing another miracle. If one our children (or the other three small children from another missionary family) had made the slightest noise, even coughing or crying, we would have been found & killed. But God kept them silent until the enemy went away.

The verse that God had given me this past week was from Gen. 15:1 "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." During all this trial, God was our shield. He shielded us from both the fire and the bullets. He blinded our enemies so they could not see us, and covered the mouths of our children so they did not cry. He delivered not only us but the other two missionary families who were with us even though we were all marked for death. Just like the children of Israel who were thrown into the furnace of fire, not even the hair of our head was burned. Glory to His Name!

TESTIMONY OF YACOB & TIBAREK,
Ethiopian missionaries at Atar. Yacob & Tibarek have had two previous near-death experiences in South Sudan but continue serving faithfully.

First I would like to praise the Lord for His protection & guidance in the past 39 years of my life.

At midnight on Dec. 31, I needed to go out of our house to the nearby toilet shed. When I stepped outside, I could hear strangers moving about our compound. Sensing danger, I came back inside & immediately my wife & I began praying.

At 4:30 am we were suddenly awakened by gun shots being fired into our house. The bullets seemed to be aimed at the closed window, very near the place where we slept. At the same time our thatched roofed house was ablaze. So my wife & I immediately crawled under our bed and began praying, “Jesus, save us.” As the fire burned our roof, the embers began falling in on us we knew we had to get out of our house. But the enemy was outside with their guns! We prayed again. “Lord, make our enemies blind so they cannot see us.”

When we reached our door we could look across our compound & saw the two other (missionary) families standing in their doorway as well. The only place to flee was to the toilet shed. It was built from zinc roofing material & should not burn. We motioned to them & all ran for the toilet at the same time. The mighty hand of our God protected us & we reached safely.

By now the fire had spread to the fence around our compound. Our fence was made of sticks & grass so it was not long before the fire spread to where the toilet shed was. We could feel the heat coming. The only place to go now was into one of the tents that had not burned. All of us rushed from the toilet shed into the tent together. Miraculously, no one saw us.
As we lay on the tent floor, my wife looked up & saw two enemy soldiers coming back to see whether we were dead or alive. If we were alive, they would have killed us. But we claimed the promises of God. “When you pass through the waters I will be with you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned.” The Lord protected us again and we are still alive to tell the story.

After things settled just a little, the Pastor of our local Sudanese church came to see if we were dead or alive. When he found us, we were without clothes or shoes. He & others from the community stood there crying for us & our loss. That day, the Sudanese people of Atar showed us their great love by giving us their own slippers so our feet so we would not be burned or step on thorns. They led us into the center of the village where we sat on the ground. They gathered around us & cried almost the whole day for our loss & theirs – for the enemy had burned many of their huts also.

Even though I have passed through many challenges in my life and ministry, this present experience was by far the most dangerous. As we look back now, we can see that through all this, God was teaching us that in times of trial, we must depend on Him alone.

TESTIMONY OF UBANDOMA & RUTH, Nigerian missionaries at Atar. Among the first missionaries to set up the base at Atar, the local people love them dearly & have given Ubandoma the name “Thon Deng” (from the Dinka language) which refers to a special bull known for its untiring, hard labor.

The Scripture God gave us when we came to Sudan is Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd.

On Dec 30, about 2:30; my wife started vomiting from some unknown sickness. I gave her medicine but we could not sleep well. Then at about 4: 00 am, we wakened & heard some strangers behind our house. It sounded like they were cocking their guns. Not long after, the shooting started.

When the bullets started flying we don’t even remember how we found ourselves under our bed. Our three children were crying in a nearby room, “Dad! Mom! What is happening?” We called out to them to get under their bed.

It was only then that we realized that the thatched roof above us was on fire. Our roof had plastic under the thatch to keep out rain & bugs. This plastic was suddenly ablaze & the fire spread to all the rooms of our house in seconds. The house filled with smoke. My wife & I crawled to the next room where our children were. Bullets continued flying through our house. By God’s grace, none of us were hit.

I took my wife & children into the kitchen but we could not reach the front door because of the smoke. My computer and our (satellite) phone were lying on the kitchen table. I took the computer & put it on top of my head to protect me from melting plastic that was raining down on us. My wife got to our water supply & tried to spray the water onto the burning grass above us. She was trying to reduce the smoke so we could find the way to our door. Already she had picked up our passports in her hand.

I went to the door with my computer on my head. The melted plastic dripped down on my left hand & arm burning into my skin. I grabbed our youngest daughter, Kezya, & was holding her close to my chest with my right hand. Shielding my little girl I unlocked the door. My wife was right behind me pushing the children out the door. When they were all out, I came out last. The whole house was ablaze by now – even the door. As I closed the door & started to move away, it fell on me, burning my back.

We moved out into the open compound & ducked into a tent. In just a moment or two, that tent caught fire as well. We came out & saw our fellow missionaries rushing toward the zinc toilet so we followed them. I was the last one to reach the toilet as I was protecting them and wanted to make sure they had reached safety.

Long before this attack, I had talked with the local Sudanese people about what to do in times of attack. They told me that in their culture, enemies will never kill women and children – only men. So I realized that once they had finished burning everything, they would come back to look for the men. If I stayed with my wife & children, they could kill us all. So for that reason, I left them. The fence surrounding our compound was not burning yet so I put my head down and plowed through the fence. The river was not far away so I ran there. Two men from our village were already hiding in the tall grass & so I joined them. They assured me that I had done the right thing & that my wife & children would be safe.

After about one hour, when the fighting had died down, I heard people crying (because they thought I had been killed in the attack). I came out of the river grass & met with my children & my wife who were all OK. She was crying because she had not seen me for some time. The local people were comforting her telling her that I must be alive. I had been embarrassed to show myself because I was only wearing the underwear in which I had been sleeping. Getachew, one of the other missionaries, lent me his pants. So everyone was Ok. The Lord had truly been our Shepherd.

I see that what happened to us is not our power but is a miracle of God. We lost everything in the fire. But even though we lost all these things, God gave us our lives. Their guns (they used large caliber shells) were aimed right at my bed where I had been sleeping. It is a miracle of God that we were not all killed. I believe this is because God has something for me to do before calling me home. I have this belief.

SOUTH SUDAN BASE BURNED DOWN DURING ETHNIC UNREST

On New Year's Eve an emergency message was sent out from the Sudanese compound manager at ATAR, one of our SIM bases in South Sudan:

“Enemies attacked at about 4:30 am & fire consumed the compound destroying the housing. All the personal belongings (of SIM missionaries living there) and the satellite phone were destroyed."

ATAR is one of the first SIM-Sudan bases that Jimmy helped set up four years ago. He is pictured below with two of the SIM missionary families (from Nigeria & Ethiopia) & the Sudanese compound manager when the base was first established.

The attack was by another tribe (the Shilluk), not the people of Atar. SIM has had very good relationships in the Atar community. Not long ago the first group of Sudanese adults graduated from our education program there. A permanent Education Center (below) had been constructed last year & a new Teacher's Training Program had just been launched a few months ago.

Three SIM missionary families were living at Atar at the time of the attack along with their 5 young children. They have been evacuated & are receiving counseling & medical attention in Kenya. We praise God their lives were spared & the burns suffered were not severe. As you can imagine, they are all traumatized.

Many of you have "been to" Atar as it is the footage shown in our personal ministry video that we've been using at our speaking engagments. You have "met" the wonderful SIM missionaries through this video & will recall their joyful spirits despite living in extremely challenging conditions. Please pray for these dear ones & do not forget the five precious Nigerian & Ethiopian missionary kids.

Serving In Mission,

Jimmy & RoxAnne

David & Steven Cox

Atar Village and SIM Base Burnt in Southern Sudan (3)

THIRD NEWS RELEASE:
January 1, 2009, 9 p.m. Nairobi, Kenya

Our three SIM Sudan missionary families are now in Nairobi and resting at the guesthouse. Two from the Ubandoma family are being seen by doctors for burns. Everyone is praising the Lord for their lives.

The Lord will show us what blessings and meanings will come from this trouble. Continue to pray!

Chris Crowder, SIM Sudan Director

Atar Village and SIM Base Burnt in Southern Sudan (2)

Second News Release
January 1, 2010

As of 10:25 a.m. the evacuation of the SIM base missionaries is underway. Our partner, AIMAIR, is at the Atar village and is extracting six adults and five children from the SIM base that was burnt the morning of December 31, 2009. The government of South Sudan military deployed reinforcements and the landing strip has been declared safe.

The three families lost everything. Donations can be received at SD # 82490.

Please continue to pray for their safe arrival to Nairobi, Kenya.

Sincerely,
Chris Crowder
SIM Sudan Director

Atar Village and SIM Base Burnt in Southern Sudan

At 11:35 on December 31, 2009 our SIM Sudan leadership team was notified that the SIM Sudan Atar station was burnt as well as the Sudan Interior Church and half the village of Atar during ethnic unrest. All our missionaries are coming out as soon as possible. A contingent of Sudan People’s Liberation Army soldiers and the county commissioner are with them.

Abraham, the Sudanese Atar compound manager, phoned to report that “enemies attacked and at about 4:30 am and that fire consumed the compound destroying the housing. All the personal belongings and the satellite phone were destroyed. The brick school building has not been burnt.

Nigerian SIM missionary, Ubandoma, had what sounds like second degree burns on his back and hand. His wife, Ruth, Antoro and Liskebe have small blisters. The County Commissioner immediately came, lent his satellite phone and is waiting at the airstrip with the SIM Sudan team of missionaries.”

The crisis management team has organized an AIMAIR Caravan to fly to Lokichoggio in northwest Kenya. At dawn tomorrow the plane is expected to leave Loki and arrive at Atar around 8 am. The people being evacuated are Yacob Aga and Tibarkek Wondimu, Ubandoma and Ruth Nadab and their children (Antoro, 8, Keshiya 5, Liskebe 3), Getachew Abo and Kelemwa Tihahu Debieneh and their two girls (Kalkidan, 7 and Wongel, 8). Burn care – if needed--will be referred to Kijabe, outside of Nairobi in Kenya and Nancy Congdon (Member Care Manager) can offer care.

Atar Chewi, in Jonglei State, is the site of the SIM Sudan Basic Education Learning Center. It was started four years ago and we have good relationships with the community. The Primary School teacher training was initiated in September of 2009 but all students were away from the school for the Christmas holidays. The BELC building was not damaged in the attack but more than half the village was burned. We have no news on the suffering or problems in the wider area at this time.

Sincerely,
Chris Crowder
SIM Sudan Director

Stories from Sudan

Team leaders and Friends,

I would be remiss if I did not send you these four fantastic stories recorded by Thomas Simon. I hope that you will be blessed by them – I was transported from the café where I sit back to Sudan as I read. I pray that God will energize us for the task and convince us of the spiritual reality that Jesus brings Redemption and Education (to Francis), Healing (to Simon), Protection from the Evil One (to Yabus missionaries), and Open Hearts for the Gospel (in Bil village).

I cannot get out of my mind the photo of a French water engineer holding hands in friendship with a Sudanese man named Simon.

Chris
SIM Sudan Director
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(CLICK ON IMAGES BELOW TO VIEW)

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Rebuilding Southern Sudan: Church and Nation

Here an update from Jimmy Cox, Rebuilding Southern Sudan: Church and Nation

REJOICE WITH US as we commemorate God's faithfulness
one year after the plane accident of April 26, 2008

Below, our team members who experienced the trauma of a plane crash in South Sudan last year share their reflections of God's goodness through this experience. Take time to read the attachment & rejoice with us.


REFLECTIONS by Barb Hartwig – ministering in Doro, South Sudan
April 26th, 2008, I was anxious to be on my way home for furlough. On takeoff, the plane got up to tree top height, but went into an aerodynamic stall. The plane flipped over in a gully at the end of the airstrip. Miracles: we just missed a big baobab tree on the ground; the way the plane flipped nose to tail meant no fuel leakage and no fire; an unknown Sudanese man appearing soon afterwards to cut Sandy’s seatbelt and carry her out of the plane; a UN helicopter came to evacuate us out of Doro to Malakal that evening; a retired SIM hand surgeon temporarily in Kenya operated on my hand; etc.

I have had three other close calls in Africa over these years, but this was the first time I was injured. If this was some kind of test of endurance or commitment to work in South Sudan, then I conclude that I am even deeper committed to do just that.

This miraculous survival gains more perspective for me because just 25 days earlier at Doro, we had the sudden tragic event of (missionary) Dr. David Masters’ death. There was no evacuation or survival that dark night in a hot tent. God’s sovereignty in whether we live or die has been brought home to me this past year anew as I have reflected often on both of these events. We must be ready to live or die, and count it God’s will for some purpose when things go wrong. The devil would try to thwart us from serving God. But in the end, victory and glory belong to our heavenly Father when we carry on no matter what.

REFLECTIONS by Claire Meckler – ministering in Malakal, South Sudan
As I reflect on the events of April 26/08 I continue to be very, very grateful(!) and amazed(!) that I had NO serious head or spinal injury. By the Lord's mercy I can still move, walk, talk, think, live, and serve Him. Because my life was spared, I am now able to continue to seek to help people of Southern Sudan learn to love the God who watches over and cares for them as well.
I am re-reading the book by Rick Warren, "The Purpose Driven Life." Because God has granted me an extension of my life, I feel He certainly has purposes for me to fulfill-- and I am driven by grace to maximize whatever gift of days are remaining. I've personally re-titled this chapter of my life with the prayer for it to be "Grace Driven, Purpose Filled" to capture more vividly the attitude of gratitude that motivates me--
"...Be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart, for consider what great things He has done for you." (I Samuel 12:26) I can be whole hearted, not simply because I am whole bodied, but because I serve an awesome God worthy of all my heart and soul, mind and strength.

REFLECTIONS by Debbie Sardo – currently in the U.S. for physiotherapy treatment

The plane took off for my return to Thiangrial. Who would have ever thought several hours later, I would be wondering if I was going to live, or if I was ever going to be able to walk again. As I realized that the plane was going to crash, there were two immediate thoughts that came to mind: “I am probably never going to see my family again on this earth” and “this is really going to hurt”. Then God’s peace that passes all understanding covered me. His mighty hand was upon us. We were on Holy ground.

There have been giants I have had to face: being able to fly again & the healing of my body. But I do not face them alone; I face them with God. Was this a test of faith or endurance? I can’t answer that question but I have committed my life to my Lord and Savior, and said to Him “whatever, wherever and whenever, Lord.”

My commitment to serve God in Sudan (or wherever He leads) is even stronger than it was before. Satan will try anything to stop the advancement of God’s Kingdom, but he can’t win. In Jesus name I will press on until the day He takes me home. I have been able to join Jesus in His suffering and I would not ask for anything in the last year to be different, As I continue to heal, I embrace the pain and thank God. I have seen more of Jesus and grown closer to Him. Even when things in my world rock, my foundation (Jesus) never waivers. His Word sustains me and His grace is sufficient!

Accelerated Learning Program Graduation

from: Tohru Inoue


As we flew over the arid section stretching along the border with Ethiopia one could really appreciate the vastness of the country. Land would stretch on for miles in either direction with no signs of people. As we made our way over to our destination, the mighty river Nile started to appear. In the distance, one could see the belt of green bordering either side and firmly in the middle of the river. The caravan plane circled over the village. As it banked to its left, I was able to peer down into the waters of the river. Birds could be seen flying below. As the plane banked some more, the glitter of the sun off the river made it sparkle. There is so much life and vegetation along this Nile corridor. However, as you move several meters away from the river the land is but a flat and seemingly desolate place. Green turns to brown.

We landed on the long airstrip constructed by the oil company during their surveys: now completely abandoned. It’s roughly a 40 minute walk from the airstrip to the compound where we have set up. We walk along the Nile where we are told there are hippos and crocodiles. As you walk away from the banks of the river the dry cracked ground stretches on forever. Bones of dead cattle that succumbed to the elements are strewn on the ground: a section of the skull here and the ribs there. The trees do not offer much shade there. They are acacia trees, primarily good for making charcoal which have thorny branches.

The main event we went in to witness was the graduation of the first set of students from the accelerated learning program. This community living along the Nile had really embraced the project and the teachers that had spent up to three years of their lives there. A bull was slaughtered the day before the celebration and would become the feast for the following graduation day. The students worked hard setting the stage for the celebration. Guests of honour would include representatives from the county commissioner's office, the education minister and others from the government and civil society associations.

The day began slowly and reaching noon, we were underway. Guests started pouring into the building that was constructed for the school. A choir started with song and I opened our time in prayer. Speeches were given and encouragements flowed both from the community members and the dignitaries to keep each child in school. As the diplomas were passed out, the women would yell their distinct Sudanese cry of joy! The student with the highest score was given a gift. To our great joy, it was a woman who had taken top marks. In a country that has seen so much discrimination against women, it was a great achievement. As the name was announced, the father jumped to his feet with pride and pumped his right fist in the air. It was a touching moment for all!

As we closed up the ceremony, it was a bitter sweet moment for the teachers there. As we all walked to the airstrip, many cried the whole way there. As we sat and waited for the plane to arrive, some slumped on the dry cracked earth, I could appreciate how much the people loved our teachers and how much the teachers loved the students. As a visitor in there for a total of five days, the scene was touching and also made tears well up.

There are some amazing things going on here and we are grateful for the opportunity to witness these historic moments.

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Please pray for:

· Safe journeys as we travel;
· More workers in the field: need water technicians, agriculturalists, veterinarians, educators, HIV/AIDS ministry people, builders, administrators, etc.
· Good relations with community leaders and the churches where we work;
· Our support of the missionaries in the field!

Cush Vision

Here's SIM Sudan's March 2009 Newsletter.

Click on images to view

Cush Vision

Here's SIM Sudan's December 2008 Newsletter.

Click on images to view

East Africa Praise & Prayer

From Jimmy & Roxanne Cox

WHY OUR AFRICAN & INDIAN MISSIONARIES RAISE THEIR OWN FINANCIAL SUPPORT
There are hundreds of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) working Kenya & Sudan. They pay salaries to their African employees & provide useful relief & development services in Africa. But SIM is not an NGO. We are a mission & therefore committed to partnering with the African church. All of our SIM-SUDAN team members are required to raise their own monthly financial support from their home churches, whether they be from India or Nigeria or Ethiopia. By this their churches show their commitment & responsibility to fulfilling The Great Commission.

HOW AFRICAN MISSIONARIES CAN IMPACT THE CHURCHES HERE IN A WAY THAT MISSIONARIES FROM THE WEST CANNOT - -
Here is just one of many examples of how important our African & Indian missionaries are:
We received a ministry newsletter from an Ethiopian friend who is a missionary in Pakistan. Speaking to a group of Pakistani church leaders, he challenged them, saying, "If my church (in Ethiopia) is able to send me here (to Pakistan) as a missionary, what is the reason for you not sending a single missionary at least within Pakistan?" He continues in his newsletter to say, "In front of westerners their excuse has been poverty... money. They could not say that in front of me. Indeed they were ashamed for not doing anything significant for decades but only relying on western missionaries."

The missionaries from our team who are serving in South Sudan have a credibility in some ways that western missionaries do not. Jimmy, by virtue of the fact that he is seen as a "rich westerner", cannot stand before Sudanese or Kenyan church leaders & challenge them in such a way as our Ethiopian friend could do. And yet western missionaries have credibility before Africans in other ways. HOW WONDERFUL THAT TOGETHER, AS A MULTI-CULTURAL TEAM, WE CAN REPRESENT THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN A BROADER SENSE THAN WE WOULD AS A MONO-CULTURAL TEAM.


SIM-Sudan team members from different countries praying together

• Pray for Sam, the first Kenyan to join the Rebuilding Southern Sudan team. Pray for Sam as he tries to raise his monthly financial support from Kenyan churches.
• Praise God for the Nigerian, Indian & Ethiopian churches that are financially supporting missionaries from their own countries who are serving at our bases in Sudan.
  

VILLAGE OF HOPE

Here is an update from Jimmy and RoxAnne Cox:

photo credit: Debbie Sardo

Since opening our clinic in Doro, South Sudan, this March, SIM has been able to assist 53 malnourished children! We've set up a "nutrition village" called Village of Hope which provides housing for mothers to stay with their malnourished children for several weeks while their children are treated. During that time, mothers receive teaching on nutrition, cooking & basic health care. The housing is necessary for parents who have to walk many hours (even several days walk) to the clinic.

PRAISE GOD with us for our terrific medical team at Doro & PRAY for the physical, emotional & spiritual stamina they need to continue their crucial ministries.

Cush Vision

Here's SIM Sudan's Newsletter

Click on image to view

Sudan progress at Doro

A newsletter from Dr. Rob and Nancy Congdon...

August, 2008

Dear Friends!

Little Daud stands by the path every day: Same dirty shirt, same bare bottom and toes curling in the mud, same snotty nose, same bright eyes and blazing smile. We pass his humble little village along our path to the clinic, and he lifts our spirits. Robert’s camera captured Daud in action one morning. The images are priceless. ‘Allow the little children to come to Me… for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ It’s no mistake that these words of Jesus were noted by each of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark and Luke.



The busy, wet months of June and July came and went like a Sudan-style rainstorm: Tremendous blowing gusts of activity and challenging circumstances, bringing all activity to a sudden stand-still and surrounding our efforts with tenacious mud. Fortunately, the Doro mud dries fairly quickly. Robert and Stephen, who have been to Doro, tell me that driving the 4-wheelers is a lot more fun in the mud! The verdant green of Doro, the thriving fields of corn and millet, the utterly-transformed look of southern Sudan from what those of you who’ve visited us during the brown, barren months of the year might envision – this is the wonderful benefit of the storms over southern Sudan. As I think over the difficult storms we’ve faced this year, I have no doubt God is in the process of using these to bring glory to Himself in Sudan. He’s doing the same in our lives, as well.

Robert’s visit to Doro was one adventure after another. We cared for the sick, nailed a corrugated tin roof in place, squashed the occasional scorpion into oblivion, shared meals and fellowship with our team, and visited the distant Mabaan village of Khortoumbak. Along the way we encouraged fathers and mothers to follow Jesus, to trust Him, to cast their burdens on Him. “He cares for you, and so do we.” It was great to see the Lord raise up desperately-ill children, as we prayed and provided medical treatment. There were sad moments. At dusk one memorable evening we followed a critically-ill child out to the home village where her family had taken her, crying out in desperation as they watched the small, unconscious body struggle against cerebral malaria. All they have known in such situations is the inevitability of death. We found them wailing over her lifeless body there in the gloom. It was a tragic, moving sight. On another day we cleaned bat droppings from one end of the old ruined hospital building and fashioned a crude operating table. We used 50-gallon drums for foot rests, ketamine for anesthesia, and managed to surgically debride an awful infected wound of which I will spare you further description. Robert’s pictures show that behind me, in military graffiti on the rough plaster wall, is an old drawing of an Antonov bomber coming overhead and an SPLA soldier taking aim from the ground with a shoulder-mounted missile launcher!



July’s adventures were closer to home. Timothy completed his high school years in style, graduated from Rift Valley Academy, and begins his college career at Wheaton this month. He will join Robert who is now in his final year. By the way, thank you for your encouragement and support of Robert this summer, as he went on from Sudan to Togo and had a wonderful pre-med and missions experience there as well. (Please ask, if you’d like us to send a copy of his excellent pdf newsletter). We’re excited to see how the Lord will lead and use him as he completes the medical school application process.

Then two storms blew over us, back to back. Nancy became quite ill and we discovered she was ‘thyro-toxic’ with Grave’s disease, a fairly-common malady of the thyroid gland. She received excellent care in the States where she was already headed with Timothy, and we thank the Lord for her steady progress toward recovery to full health. Then tragedy struck a missionary family close to us – dad’s a doctor, Wheaton grad, kids same ages as ours, and so on. Their son had graduated with Thomas two years ago. Returning to RVA for the alumni celebration in July, he scored the winning goal in the alumni soccer game then within days fell ill and to our disbelief died from an overwhelming cardiac infection. The final weeks of July were as painful a time as we can remember. Ben’s home-going was a jolting reminder that Christ Himself is our anchor in life here, and in the Life to come. He felt the pain of human suffering and loss, and His promise to the disciples in John 16 was, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

After Nancy’s much-anticipated return to Kenya this weekend, I will return to Doro 8 September. The clinic is busy these days; pray for strength and encouragement for Angelina, Sarah, and doctor Shermeen from Canada helping this month. We have partnered with a Christian group called Medair to help build our nutrition center, and Grace is our nurse heading up the ministry to families of children affected by severe malnutrition. This is a tremendous work, with great rewards as the physical and spiritual ministry to these mothers and children go hand in hand. Grace is a special person, brought to Sudan by the Lord when others her age are relaxing in retirement. She will be returning to the US for two months, come November, and at this point I believe we will have to close the ‘nutrition village’ during that time. Pray the Lord may touch the heart of someone to take her place and continue this wonderful ministry. Required skill? Teachability, and a heart of compassion.

The Community Health Worker training school program is making great progress. We’ll have our first graduation ceremony the last week of November. And the Adult Literacy Program with 30 students is looking to complete the full course of education and discipleship in December. The commitment to evangelistic outreach by Sebsibe and Abebe, our Ethiopian missionary partners, continues to bear fruit. On two village visits last month, 21 men and women heard the Good News and trusted Christ. Pray for Ray and Anne Lee, our team members at Doro who are working with church leaders to encourage spiritual growth and leadership in the Church and development of an effective Sunday School ministry.

I hope you can see that despite the rain in Sudan, there is much cause for excitement in Doro! You can be involved…

• Pray for health workers. Already, we are critically short of staff to meet the pressing needs. Pray the Lord would mobilize a short-term medical team from your church. A dentist has offered to come for a couple of weeks in November. Pray for me as I travel to the largest medical mission conference in the world, held in Louisville this November. We’re trusting for many contacts with men and women prepared to serve in Sudan.
• Pray for a PARTNER to assist Grace at the Nutrition Village, and to continue the work while she visits with children and grandchildren in Texas at year-end.
• Pray for our Community Health Worker trainees, who will become key health workers throughout the region. Pray for Vicki as she directs their training.
• Also you may remember that Vicki is a TB/leprosy expert who worked with us in Zambia. Her desire is to see this important and very-needed ministry take shape at Doro, despite many administrative hurdles with South Sudan’s Ministry of Health. Pray for her as she seeks the way forward, making the necessary contacts and gaining approval for the medications required to treat tuberculosis and leprosy.
• Pray for peace in Upper Nile State, where we work. Because of our proximity to Northern Sudan and to the Adar Oil Field, we are well aware of the challenges which face South Sudan as the Peace Agreement enters its final two years. Pray for our commissioner, John Ibo, who continues to be a strong encouragement.
• Pray for a BUILDER! Yes, we still need a builder to take up the clinic development project. A Christian engineering firm has agreed to visit mid-2009 and develop plans for development of the site, but we believe the time is now to move forward with our first building: A maternity ward and delivery facility to care for this critical need. Work teams will certainly be a significant part of this effort, and we’re praying for more excellent teams like those who came to Doro last year.
• Speaking of maternity needs: The Lord has sent Vivian Henderson, a nurse midwife, to be with us until May of next year. After the Training School course is completed in November, her primary task will be development of maternity services for the health center. Let’s pray that she has a building to work from!
• Communications. This is an area of great concern not only because of the isolation of Doro, but because it is now apparent that our satellite and cell phone conversations are monitored. We have purchased a VSAT system this week, and I will be in Doro with the technician next month at the installation. We may have a US telephone number!
• Finally, pray for a pastor named John Maya whom I’ve mentioned in the past, and for the thousands of people who live in his area 20 miles from Doro. We are praying about the possibility of supporting a small health clinic in Khortoumbak, placing one of our CHW health workers there, and finding ways to strengthen the churches and Christian leaders in this critical border area. John and four village elders met me at Doro recently, pleading for our help to organize a church leaders’ conference in that place later this year.

Your encouragement and support and prayer make all the difference to Nancy and me, the family, and to our Sudan team. If you feel that the Lord might have you come for 3-4 weeks or even longer, to join a building team or a medical team at Doro, please write and I’ll do my best to make it happen. If you want to be involved in any other way, please let us know.

This final thought. Sudan’s torrential rains and violent thunderstorms are not without their purpose. What of the storms which seem to shake our world with such regularity? What is God doing? In the words of a favorite pastor, speaking from Hebrews 12:26-29: “God is in the process of removing those things which can be shaken, in order that the things that can not be shaken may remain.” No matter the uncertainty in society, in the economy, in the political realm, God is in the process of shaking our world in order that the things which are permanent may remain. What will remain, when He shakes your world?

Be encouraged today, abiding in His faithful, unshakeable Presence.

In Christ’s love, Rob and Nancy

Dr. Rob and Nancy Congdon
SIM Sudan Medical Director

Rebuilding Southern Sudan: Church and Nation Program (RSS: C&N)

Project # 98012

Storytime
In October, after a few weeks of evangelism training, the students at the BELC in Atar were divided into two groups, each under the leadership of one of the Ethiopian missionaries serving there. During a weekend evangelism thrust, these two teams shared the Gospel with over 145 people. They reported that 74 individuals responded positively to the invitation to accept Christ as Savior! Pray for these new converts to be successfully incorporated into a local church and discipled in their spiritual lives.

Photos:
1. Clean drinking water in Thiangrial
2. BELC students in Atar

VICKI’S VENTURES -September 2007

My laptop died in Sudan and I just purchased a new one. Thank you for patiently waiting for news! I am in cold and wet Nairobi for a couple of weeks, so be assured I’d enjoy your warm greetings.

It is hard to believe that I have lived in Doro, South Sudan for 5 months now. This transition has had its challenges to adjust to village life but the blessings have been tremendous. I am now living in my tukul-house with mud and stick walls with a grass roof. The inside roof is lined with plastic to protect from scorpions. A cement floor and screened windows makes things more comfortable. It has been the rainy season for the last few months and there is not a lack of snakes. Just the other night I left my tukul at night because I heard cats fighting and when I returned there was a black snake over 2 feet long to welcome me by my door. I called for help and my co-worker Grace was the first one there to kill it before the watchman came. Mosquitoes are quite bad too now and we often are covered with bites. Cooking on a charcoal brazier is better now. Pray for protection from snakes and good health.

The army is still occupying the old SIM hospital but this is part of God’s timing. We are learning we’re not ready yet to run a busy clinic. Our team will grow next year and we will be better prepared for curative care. But we still need lab tech to join our team. This is necessary for us to better diagnose many diseases but especially TB. Pray for a lab technician to join our team.

We three nurses on site ( Amy Winger, Grace Womack, and I) cycle 2 miles to Boin where there is a small clinic to volunteer a couple mornings a week. This way at least we can contribute in a small way to the health needs of the community. We have found some malnourished children. Amy is a pediatric nurse and I had experience with malnourished children in Zambia so we make a good team. In Sudan goats’ milk is readily available so we don’t have to provide food supplements. We treated the children for worms and other diseases as well as gave nutritional advice to the families. The results were remarkable with amazing opportunities for relationship building and helping the families to trust God for healing of their children. Pray for wisdom as we plan for the future.

The community health worker training school will open January 28^th 2008 and I will be one of the teachers. Students will come from areas in Upper Nile, South Sudan where SIM is working. The course runs for 9 months and will be taught in English. Pray for selection of the students, we hope to start with 10 including a few women.

Meanwhile I am having fun learning Mabaan and building relationships in the community. Language learning is self directed but we have a language helper, Butros, an elderly church leader with a servant heart. This is supplemented with language notes from Betty Miller, a retired SIM missionary, who lived at Doro years ago. My progress is slow but I’m grateful for the encouragement from the Mabaan to learn their language. There have been opportunities for health and bible teaching in the Guelwin community where I go to church. We went to Piekaji, a community about 10 miles away; to do health education but there was not enough interest to continue. Pray that I will be God’s vessel to share His Love with the Mabaan people.

Thank you for your faithful support and prayers. For this next year, I’ll need $170/month increase to cover my Nairobi housing costs. The Lord has used many of you to help me in ministry for many years.

Vicki Beattie

Sudan Water Project

Rebuilding Southern Sudan: Safe Drinking Water

Project No. SD98021

September 2007 SIM Sudan Water Project

Dear

What joy your gift brought to our hearts. Your gift along with others from Australia, USA and the UK has allowed us to move ahead with plans to introduce simple water treatment systems in four villages in South Sudan. Thank you for choosing to partner with the Safe Drinking Water project.

Early this month we squeezed two water tanks and other supplies into an AIMAIR plane and flew to Thiangrial in Upper Nile State to begin the process of community discussion and preparation for installing their water treatment system. Whilst Thiangrial is on the banks of the White Nile, women collect water and use it untreated for all household needs including drinking. The black cotton clay soil precludes wells and the sediment and bacteria in the river water cause much sickness and death.

We were joined by 3 representatives of SIM Australia (SIMaid). We called a general meeting of the people of Thiangrial to introduce the treatment system and how it could help them purify the river water. I invited the women to a separate meeting the following day for teaching. And the men came for the same the next day. At these meetings and with the help of a microscope I explained how the water the women carry from the river has many germs and tiny creatures harmful to the health of their families. The women in particular were quick to look down the microscope and shocked by what they saw moving in the water. One asked, “What would we see in clean water?” After comparing the river water to clean bottle water they unanimously agreed Thiangrial needed the water treatment system. One even asked, “How can we clean our water now?” I could only reply by boiling the water or sunlight. I also explained how the moringa tree can be used to clean water and gave them seeds to plant.

In October Jimmy Cox, Daniel Yhor and I will return with the water pump, 3^rd tank, solar panels, and McQuire purification parts to set up the system on the riverbank. A solar powered submersible pump will pump water into the 1st tank for sedimentation overnight. A 2nd tank will receive the water and have the simple solar powered equipment needed to convert common salt to chlorine gas which will kill all germs. After some hours for the chlorine to disperse, the water will be pumped into the 3^rd tank as water ready to drink.

During the 23 years of civil war in South Sudan, Thiangrial was burned four times and their cattle stolen. The last raid was as recent as 2002. The peace accord between South and North Sudan signed in 2005 provide the South with a 6 year window of peace to rebuild. People are slowly returning to areas like Thiangrial, but it is a return to a very basic way of life. Like the Basic Education Learning Centre already in place at Thiangrial for men and women who never finished primary school, the provision of safe-clean drinking water will play a major role in rebuilding South Sudan.

Please join us in praying for God’s guidance and blessing on the establishment and evaluation of this first water purification system.

Barb Hartwig Project Manager