Improv - to create, to make from whatever materials are available

I was handed a foot long branch of this semi-arid thorn bush last week as I entered church in Werkok, South Sudan on Palm Sunday.  As the 6 month dry season is coming to a close green bushes are few and far between.  Palm trees - not so much.  This branch is clearly the next best thing to a palm frond in Werkok.  Good improv.  It seemed very fitting that my green branch reminded me not only of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the honor bestowed on King Jesus, but with inch long thorns my branch also reminded me of the sacrifice God made in sending His Son to die for my sins.  

In March the WGM South Sudan Executive Committee held a planning retreat.  It was great spending time together as a team.  There is no substitute to spending time together - we improv with phone calls and skype but face time is best.  We were able to clarify our vision and learned new ways to be more effective.  

Our vision . . . 

              . . . transformed Sudanese, transforming their communities and beyond.  

We will do that through Church Leader Empowerment.  through Community Empowerment.  and through Health Care Empowerment.  

And that is what my last trip was about.  Helping empower Memorial Christian Hospital (MCH) through surgical care. 

Our surgical team waiting to leave Nairobi for MCH in Werkok, South Sudan

Joy, Dr. Russ White, Andrew White, Dr. Arega Leta, and David Chelimo (L to R)

During our visit the team was able to do 15 major operations and 8 minor cases.  In resource limited settings (South Sudan qualifies!) it's always interesting to observe the art of improvisation.  No cautery - cut more carefully, no OR sheets - use a gown instead, no muscle relaxant - more ketamine!  The OR team, including MCH's Dr. Ajak on the right, did a great job of giving new life to the patients they ministered to. And for the record: the theater at MCH is a great asset.   Do you have any unique improv stories?  

I was able to talk with this 'young' man after his hernia surgery.  A former freedom fighter for South Sudan with the Sudan People's Liberation Army he had been troubled with his hernia for ten years!  He attempted to have it repaired five years ago at another hospital.  When the patient ahead of him who was also having a hernia operation was wheeled out of the theater on the way to the 'resting room' (aka morgue) he asked where the bathrooms were.  And just like during the war when he was avoiding rebel armies he escaped potential danger and fled the hospital.    He managed to get by for the next five years but his buldging hernia was slowing him down.  When he heard that there was a surgical team at Memorial Christian Hospital he felt this was a good chance to give surgery another try.  He is extremely happy and thankful for the good care he received.

When you're hot, you're hot!!  The team along with Dr. Ajak trying to catch a breeze in the shade.  With daytime temps reaching 120 degrees in the sun and 107 degrees on the veranda this team was HOT.  

A trip to the historic Nile River was very cool.  The water is flowing north from Lake Victoria to Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.   Most Kenyan's would not consider themselves short but in South Sudan they are definitely height challenged.  Our team's anesthetist, David, looks up to Deng, the Sudanese site-administrator at Memorial Christian Hospital.

Since it's the end of the dry season and tall grasses have been harvested and bundled for roofing. Andrew and I watched as one expert roofer went about his work.  Although grass roofs need to be replaced every three years or so it's much cooler than a corrugaged tin roof.

Our first evening in South Sudan found us in Werkok town.  We joined the local men under a tree watching a competitive game of dominoes.  Our own Dr. White, never one to be intimidated, entered the game after watching a few rounds and wound up a domino champion that evening!

My prayer this Easter is that you won't let the sun go down on God's plans for you . . . whether He's calling you to live a life of extreme abandon for Him right where you are or if He's calling you to be a light for Him in South Sudan.  There is no substitute, no winging it, no later when you've got it all figured out, no improv, when He calls you to follow Him.

I'm thankful to those of you who have followed Jesus by physically joining me in Africa, who pray, and give financially.  Your partnership means that God is at work, preparing men and women for their world's to be turned up-side down as they increasingly learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

If you're a medical doctor, surgeon, anesthetist, midwife, or nurse and would like to volunteer at a mission hospital to help empower health care ministries in South Sudan let me know.  I'd love to discuss opportunities with you.  And at the end of the day watch these beautiful sunsets over the new nation of South Sudan.

Theater anyone?

One of the things I had to get used to when I first came to Kenya was the use of British English.  We American's speak the same language as the British but at times the vocabulary is quite different.  Some examples of words I've had to introduce dual meanings to are:  the boot (trunk of a car), football (soccer), lorry (truck), chemists (drug store), crisps (potato chips), chips (french fries), pudding (dessert), mobile (cell phone).

And last but not least is the theater.  Operating Room. A place where surgery is done.  In Kenya, Tenwek Hospital's theater department has mushroomed and is an incredibly busy place.  I can remember helping out in the OR at Tenwek in 1981 when I was a Nursing Student having a summer missions experience.

Tenwek Hospital has come a long way since then!  People come from all over the country to receive excellent physical and spiritual care.  They even come from other countries.  My friend, Dr. Carol Spears, one of the surgeons at Tenwek Hospital, recently told me about a young girl named Achu from Sudan who was sent for care for a one year old leg injury.  

Dr. Carol Spears, Achu's sister, Achu and Dr. Dan Galat

Tenwek Hospital, Kenya

Through a series of miracles Achu was able to travel to Kenya and receive surgical care and is on her way to recovery.  But this is not the case for thousands of others. . . .

Unfortunately there are very few, if any, well staffed and equipped theatre's (operating rooms) in South Sudan.   Memorial Christian Hospital does have a theater.  But without a full time surgeon it doesn't get used as often as there is need.  That is why two weeks from now a surgical team from Tenwek Hospital, led by Dr. Russ White, plans to travel to Werkok.

Tenwek Hospital's theater

There have been no fresh outbreaks of violence in the area and the local community have moved back to their homes.  Please pray for this outreach!  Pray for peace between the rival ethnic groups, for safe travel, good health,  stamina despite the heat, wisdom in addressing challenging cases,  and the opportunity to show and tell people about God's love for them.

Pray that the acts that unfold on the stage at Memorial Christian Hospital will be living proof that God is good, God is in control, and God wants to transform the community of Werkok through changed hearts and lives.

Thank you for setting the stage for the surgical clinic in Werkok with your prayers!

joy

WANTED!

If you've been blessed with skills in maintenance, building, mechanics, hostessing, or in a health related field and you feel God leading you out of your comfort zone to serve Him . . . this just might be the opportunity for you!

World Gospel Mission's Mango Ministries in conjunction with Partners in Compassionate Care is looking for a couple to serve at Memorial Christian Hospital for up to six months at a go.  This is NOT an adventure for the faint hearted.  If you are adaptable, innovative, love people, love God more, are excited about learning new cultures and feel God calling you to live on the edge while helping build the new nation of South Sudan ~ email me!

After reading my last blog where I mentioned needing help with logistics a friend felt convicted that God wants him to volunteer with Mango Ministries.  Making the leap to living and ministering in Africa isn't easy, but I have found that God always meets my needs.  Here's what my friend shared as he begins his journey to South Sudan.

"So after we talked on skype I am incredibly excited and feel God is leading. But I was worried because I had just signed for a lease on an apartment and didn't know how much it would cost to break it. That night when I got home from work my land lord called and said she had bad news for me. They are going to tear down that apartment in June so I don't have to move in if I don't want to because I would have to move out. That was an incredible sign I believe that God gave me. That was my only obligation and he broke it and saved my money to serve."

How cool is that?!  Please pray for my friend Tim as he applies to join our team and help with logistics.

Also pray for the right staff to assist at Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok.  Does God WANT you to join our team too?  We have other opportunities for doctors and nurses too!  Contact me if you're interested.

I will be taking a surgical team from Tenwek Hospital to Werkok from March 26th to April 3rd.  I will appreciate your prayers for the security situation to remain calm and for lots of opportunities for our team to glorify God through successful surgeries as well as sharing with the community and resident staff.

Do you have a God-story after answering God's WANTED call in your life?
I'd love to hear it.

joy

Weight matters, waiting matters

A question I frequently ask people is how much they weigh, which in American culture is rather rude!  But when you're booking small mission charter airplanes weight matters.  Body weight, personal luggage weight, excess cargo weight.  Even that small backpack with your computer in it weight!  Getting around South Sudan takes a bit more work than traveling from say, Philadelphia to the Jersey shore.  One of my jobs is to help arrange travel for our staff and short term volunteers.

[If you're a detail person looking for some adventure in Africa, boy, do I have the job for you.  We need a logistician.  Contact me if you're interested!]

Speaking of weight.  I'm not only perfecting the activities of a logistician but I'm also coming face to face with the art of waiting.

I'm currently reading a book called, "Sacred Waiting" by David Timms. So far the author has talked about Noah, Abraham, and Moses and how they waited on the Lord, often for many years.  David Timms explains that sacred waiting is about remaining in His presence and our service to Him.

As I read I was thinking, yeah, yeah. . . .  until Friday.

This week I'd been planning to take a surgical team from Tenwek Hospital to one of our partner's hospitals in South Sudan.  Because of several very recent incidences of insecurity (ie - deaths from local tribal fighting) the local population around the hospital have temporarily moved to a larger city for safety and there are practically no patients coming to the hospital.

This and the insecurity have caused us to postpone our trip.  So we wait for the right time, God's time.  It's much easier to accept the fact that God sometimes asks us to wait on Him when things are moving along according to our plans.  I'm praying God will continue to use this time to prepare me, and all those who volunteer with Mango Ministries, to be prepared for the work He has for us, when it's time!  In the meantime I can continue serving those who God leads me to.

Please pray for Dr. Ajak and the staff at Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok during these insecure and challenging days.

Dr. Ajak examing a patient at Memorial Christian Hospital, Werkok

Also keep the medical staff at the In Deed and Truth Clinic in Tonj in prayer as they have been stretched in caring for a busy out-patient clinic and treating many trauma emergencies due to tribal fighting and vehicle accidents.

These are some of the folks Mango Ministries partners with who also work in South Sudan at a get-together Lindy, my sister, and I hosted over the holiday season. 

Adhanom, Joy, Lucy, Elsie, Joanna, Billy, Sophie and Chloe (counterclockwise)

Last month Adhanom and I were able to travel to Arua, northern Uganda to greet our team-mates (Billy & Joanna Coppedge and family) who just returned from the US.  We were able to meet the newest members of Mango Ministries, Chloe and Sophie (in matching blue outfits!).  We had a great time and enjoyed time to plan and pray together.

Train, train, train
We believe in equipping others for transformational ministry.  That's why Billy Coppedge is on his way to Tenwek.  The Tenwek Eye Team believes it's not enough to give people physical sight.  They want to effectively introduce people to the One who gives sight.  Billy is going to give the staff a refresher course on telling Bible stories as an evangelistic tool.  Please pray that the staff will wise and effective storytellers.

Richard and Leah (Tenwek Eye Team) rejoice with a woman from Akot after her surgery in 2010

Adhanom continues to prepare himself for transformational ministry. He recently completed Community Health Evangelism session 3 and is preparing to help facilitate our first South Sudan CHE training in April.

Pray for Adhanom as he continues to get to know the community in East Rumbek County and models the Kingdom.  There are many challenges!

Adhanom preparing tea for the pastors and Bishop Isaac (on left) before church, with a little help from Joy!

I'm praying I will not see this period of waiting and the disappointment of postponing our surgical clinic as Henri Nouwen writes about the popular concept of waiting.  

"For many people, waiting is an awful desert between where they are and where they want to go."  

Embracing the present!

joy

home sweet home

I can remember the way the sky looked on that cold November day when my brother and I stepped off the train in Dachau.  This was part of our "once in a lifetime" backpacking trip across Europe back in our twenties.  Our visit to Dachau was one of the more sobering stops on that trip.  Walking through the former concentration camp where tens of thousands of Jews were exterminated brought history to life.  I remember standing in front of a huge plaque that said 'plus jamais, never again.'  Don't we wish!


I found this quote online.


Dachau: plus jamais (except for Rwanda and Kosovo and Darfur and . . . )


I wonder if Sudan and South Sudan will be added to that list?  You'd think that the atrocities committed in Darfur would be enough for one country but the killing goes on.  Are you aware of the devastating consequences of tribal conflicts in Jonglei or the assault upon the people of the Nuba Mountains, the escalating violence in Blue Nile, the displacement of thousands in Abyei, or the unremitting fighting in Darfur. 

Nubans on the move again!  

While Syria, Lybia, and Egypt gather media attention, the suffering of several million Sudanese receive meager attention. Can we allow a crisis of such proportions to be invisible?


Pray! Pray for leaders to make wise decisions.  Pray for the hearts and minds of Sudanese and South Sudanese.  Without Jesus the killing and violence will continue.  


Learn more about what you can do:
Sudan Advocacy Action Forum
Satellite Sentinal Project


Pray for Mango Ministries as we utilize these tools for transformation:
STS - Simply the Story - Biblical storytelling
CHE ~ Community Health Empowerment 


Pray for upcoming trainings and clinics:
Simply the Story training in Werkok/Bor, the end of February
Surgical clinic in Werkok, March 21 - 30
Simply the Story training in Tonj, March 23 - 31
Cataract Clinic in Akot, April 27 - May 3
CHE training in Tonj, hopefully in May






Adhanom needs a place to live!
For the last several months he's been blessed to be able to stay with a family in Rumbek.   Our desire is for him to move out into the village and be a part of the community.  One of our goals is to provide a place for him to stay in the heart of East Rumbek County.  That means starting from scratch.


What Adhanom and I envision is . . . .  a place where Adhanom can stay comfortably in our target community.  A place where visitiors (including me!) can stay when visiting.  A place where a kitchen garden can be planted. Vegetables to eat and modelling a nutricious diet.  Maybe some fruit trees too! A place where simple technologies can be put into practice to show the local residents options that don't cost much and can be made with local resources.  

A colleague sent me an email recently about soda bottle light bulbs - how cool is that?!


On my trip to South Sudan last month Adhanom showed me a shallow hand dug well that he would love to try and replicate at his new home.  

I know many of you reading this have spent time in less developed countries.  And some of you are research nuts.  If you have any suggestions for appropriate technologies that could be used at Adhanom's new home please let me know.  If your idea is used we'll showcase it here for all to see.  


A few other neat ideas from Tenwek's Greenhouse Training Center.  

 Shower buckets 

 BioSand water filters - OK, this one takes a little more than locally available products but it's still do-able!

Tire garden for herbs and vegetables

Whether we're talking about appropriate technologies to make homes across South Sudan healthier and simply more comfortable or whether we're talking about the displacement of thousands of people from their homelands please pray with us that homes across South Sudan will know and love Jesus and cling to the hope that only He can give.


Home interprets heaven. Home is heaven for beginners.
Charles Henry Parkhurst
Shalom,


joy

a word from my sister

Unexpected Journey

In mid-November I got an unexpected e-mail from Joy inviting me to accompany her on a trip to South Sudan in December.  In just four weeks I was able to get all the necessary arrangements made and was off for my unexpected journey to South Sudan.

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."  John Dewey

I knew a lot going into this journey.  However, experiencing things gave a whole new meaning.

I knew it was the dry season and there were no paved roads.

I experienced dust billowing, almost blinding us, as a truck passed our vehicle on the road.  I also had the dust, dirt, and grim on the inside of my shirt to prove how dry and dusty it was.

I knew it was hot and clean water would be scarce.

I experienced walking back to the compound at 3 pm, draining the last of my water bottle and thinking, "How much water do we have left? Where will we be able to get more?  Will we have enough?  I'm really thirsty!"

I knew the Dinka people were friendly.

I experienced seeing a lady just hand her baby to Joy to hold.


I knew that the church is not a building, but the people.

I experienced church with the Aduel Episcopal Church of Sudan congregation.  All 400 of us worshipping together under a tree.

I knew that the night sky and the stars were brighter when there was no electrical lights around.

I experienced the brilliant night sky that was just amazing.  I had no idea the milky way was so was bright, clear and beautiful.  It was better than any planitarium I've ever been to!

I knew that the instability in South Sudan had taken a toll on the educational system.

I experienced seeing a school with walls riddled with bullet holes, with classrooms that were empty - no books, no chairs, no tables, no desks, no pencils, no posters . . . nothing but a chalk board (children walk to school with their chairs and use their laps for a desk - also students are grouped by grade level not by age so you can have a 20 year old in 3rd grade).

I knew that things don't always go as planned . . . . 
I experienced the stress and uncertainty of "will we make it out?"  We had a driver set to pick us up from Aduel at 1:30pm and take us back to Rumbek so we could fly back to Nairobi the next day (on the last flight out before Christmas),  1:30 no driver, 2:30 no driver but word that he'd be there at 3pm to get us.  3:45 and still no driver.  It's now time for plan B!  We had to find boda boda's (small motor bikes) to take us and our luggage to the main road (about a 45 minute walk) to wait for public transportation to get us back to Rumbek (about 1 1/2 hours away).  All the while the clock was ticking... we knew it would be dark by 7 and travel would be too dangerous after that.  

5pm and we're finally loaded in public transportation to begin the journey back to Rumbek - only 7 stops later and we safely arrived at 7:15pm.

I knew that South Sudan has incredible needs.
As we departed Adol, the compound manager said to me, "We don't need people to just send money, for true development in South Sudan we need them to come and see with their eyes." 

I experienced, with my eyes, the vast needs (clean water, health care, education, food, and infrastructure).  I also experienced how Mango Ministries is working with the people and churches of South Sudan to help bring development and transformation through Jesus.


by Linda Phillips


It was great getting to take my sister into South Sudan with me as we visited Adhanom before Christmas.  It's fun to see something that has become everyday to me through someone else's eyes and I trust you have enjoyed seeing South Sudan through her eyes.  

As we begin a new year will you prayerfully ask God if He is calling you to 'come see with your own eyes' the needs in South Sudan?  On this trip we were made aware of so many opportunities for serving Jesus in South Sudan.  Some of the needs are:  tutoring elementary level students, teaching basic computer skills, teaching English as a second language, sports ministry, working with women and youth, discipling pastors, and the ongoing needs for short term and long term medical personnel.  Email me if you'd like to discuss the needs and possibilities for serving with WGM's Mango Ministries in South Sudan.  


Thank you for your partnership during 2011!  God is answering prayer as we demonstrate compassion and facilitate the building up of God's Kingdom in this new nation.  


Peace ~


joy


PS - if you're looking for an end of year gift that will help bring transformation to the South Sudanese check out the bottom of my December 2nd blog for several giving opportunities!

. . . . not again!!

It's been one of those weeks.  I wanted to get a blog update out last week but life got in the way.  Then this week it was number one on my priority list but again. . . . life got in the way. 

Here are a few of the 'divine' interruptions I had:

• A painful farewell to a really good friend of 25 years who is retiring
• An unexpected opportunity to visit with a Nuban pastor learning more about the suffering in Sudan and hardships in Kakuma refugee camp
• I wrote an article for wgm's magazine The Call - look for it next spring
• I wrote a ton of emails, despite the internet's on and off again temperament
• Phone network bouncing all over the place creating many dropped calls
• Failure to reboot my computer, a little hum but a black screen!!!!!
• Thankful to be able to use an unused computer in a nearby office
• Frustrating not to have my documents, pictures, or email addresses on this computer
• What seems like constant power outages - it's not, it just seems that way
• Issues with our back-up generator
• Rain, rain and more rain

Unlike the uncertainty of my days and my sometimes whining attitide I have to smile when I remember how faithful God is.  Again, he is here, even in the midst of a seemingly bad day. 

Despite the fact that I've just spent a good amount of time complaining I hate to complain because I am smart enough to realize that I have nothing to complain about in the bigger scheme of things.  I see real suffering, hardship, and pain around me all the time.  These minor inconveniences are just that - minor inconveniences. 

As the Christmas holiday approaches the question I know I need to focus on is "What can I give Jesus for Christmas this year?"  I have been blessed in so many ways:  a supportive family, great friends, committed colleagues, a challenging ministry, a super support team, a great place to live and plenty of food when so many in East Africa are hungry and without shelter.  I am blessed!!

My plan for advent is to find ways to give gifts to Jesus through creative giving to others.  I'll let you know how that goes.  How are you celebrating Advent?  I'd love to hear from you.

If you're looking for ways to give creative gifts to Jesus this Christmas season read on for some exciting giving opportunities.

1. Community Health Empowerment training ~ What is CHE? 
"It is a church initiated, wholistic development ministry that trains and equips local volunteers called CHEs (Community Health Educators) to share God's love in their communities by bringing physical and spiritual teaching to the homes around them."

A group of CHE trainees learns how to build a safe stove

After sending 6 South Sudanese and our new staff Adhanom to Uganda this fall for session one of CHE training we think many more will benefit if we can take the training to South Sudan in 2012.  A gift of $500 will train one Community Health Educator by enabling us to fly a team of trainers to South Sudan and cover expenses for them and the trainees for 3 separate weeks of training.  Click here to give a gift of education and empowerment. 

2.  Help the Nuban Episcopal Church of Sudan in Kakuma Refugee Camp reroof their church

I mentioned all the rain we're having in Kenya this fall and you can imagine what it's like in this church when it does rain.  Would you like to assist these Sudanese refugees living in Kenya to reroof their church?  Give a gift for the roof online today! Pray for the many people who cannot go 'home' this holiday season!

3.  The gift of sight


The Tenwek Eye Team and Mango Ministries are gearing up for 2012.  Our goal is to hold two cataract clinics next year.  It breaks our heart when blind people get the message too late and miss receiving sight restoring surgery.  The need is overwhelming!

A gift of $150 will enable a man or woman to receive sight restoring cataract surgery, including the opportunity to hear about Jesus who loves them. 


4.  Joy's ministry needs

I've been blessed with a generous support team.  Thank you to all of you who make it possible for me to be a part of God's Kingdom building activity in South Sudan through your financial giving.  Gifts to my ministry account will go towards my support needs and various other ministry activities. 


If you'd like to give a gift through check here's how:
Send a check made out to World Gospel Mission to WGM, PO Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948.  Indicate which project(s) your gift is for.
1.  Community Health Empowerment (130-25790)
2.  Church Development (Kakuma roof project, 130-21790)
3.  Cataract Clinic (130-25791)
4.  Joy Phillips support & many other ministry needs (130-07338)

Let's pray that Jesus will show us some very creative ways to show His love to others this Christmas season.

O come let us adore Him,

joy