8 days and counting . . . .

It's almost here!  

The 2nd Annual Mango Ministries Cataract Clinic.

Months of planning are coming together.  

248kg of equipment, meds and supplies were flown up to Tonj today.

Tenwek Eye Department staff have received their yellow fever vaccinations.

Paperwork for South Sudan travel passes has been accumulated and sent for processing. 

The doctor and clinical officer at Tonj have scheduled over 100 blind patients to come.  

Radio announcements are on the air.

The missionary team at In Deed and Truth is ready to receive our team of 9.

Chartered flights are booked to get the team to and from Tonj - it's a little bit in the middle of nowhere.

The Tenwek team leaves Tenwek on Friday, September 2.  After spending the night in Nairobi we fly to Tonj on Saturday, September 3 and will begin operating that very afternoon.  The team will leave Tonj on Friday, September 9th and return to Tenwek the following day.  

None of these details will matter if God is not in it.  The Eye staff at Tenwek are mobilizing their colleagues at Tenwek Hospital to pray for this outreach that will offer both physical and spiritual sight.  This is the sign-up sheet where over 150 staff have committed to pray for this outreach.  

Will you join the staff from Tenwek in praying for God to work miracles in the eyes and hearts of the many Sudanese who will come looking for help?  Join our virtual prayer4eyes2see team by leaving your name in the comment section at the bottom of this blog entry.

Mr. Geoffrey Langat, the CEO of Tenwek Hospital, one day said to me, "it's payback time," when talking about Tenwek Hospital sending volunteers to help in South Sudan.  If you've been blessed with sight and want to bless a Sudanese with 20/20 vision and the opportunity to hear the Gospel message click here.  A gift of $150 will bless one Sudanese.  

Rev. Emmy Mugisha accompanied the eye supplies that flew up to Tonj today.  Mugisha is a pastor with the Africa Gospel Church in Uganda.  This is his second trip to Tonj this year.  He will be working with a group of pastors who are in training.  They are learning how to use stories from the Bible to teach and apply Biblical truths to our lives.  They might be working on how to tell Mark 10:46-52 this week.  

I love what the disciples tell blind Bartimaeus.  "Cheer up!  On your feet!  He's calling you."  Whatever burden we are calling out to Jesus with today let's cheer up, throw aside our wrap, and run to Jesus.  Jesus wants to hear from us!

Thank you for taking our concerns and praises to Jesus!  A prayer praise is the addition to the Mango Ministry team of Adhanom Hidug. Pray for a good transition as Adhanom joins us next month.   I'll be sharing Adhanom's testimony and how he fits into the Mango Ministries strategy in an upcoming blog.  A few weeks ago Pastor Simon and I were warmly welcomed to the home of Adhanom and his family.

Good to Great Governance

The WGM Sudan Board took advantage of Dr. David Stevens being in Kenya this summer to lead a team from the Christian Medical and Dental Associations.  David, a former WGM missionary and colleague at Tenwek, taught us about Board Governance.  Several other WGM colleagues and the two largest Africa Gospel Church institutions in Kenya joined us.   Implementation will be the challenge for the Boards present.  Pray for us!

Tenwek Community Health and Development Directors (in order of service from L to R: David Stevens, Susan Carter, Joy, and Jonathan Bii) enjoyed a meal together at Jonathan's home.

Some of you met Jonathan when he visited the US with me in the fall of 2003.  Here is his family!  He is married to Joyce, who is a teacher, and their children are (clockwise from L rear) Amaris, Alan, Angela and Aileen.  Jonathan stays very busy leading the Tenwek Community Health and Development project.  The staff have "adopted" one of our project sites in Sudan so it's been fun to reconnect with everyone there.  

Hope in action

Hope 4 Sudan 

is really 

Hope in Jesus

Here's a glimpse of hope. . . .

Thoughts from Roger Sharland, a friend, who returned to South Sudan for the Independence Day celebrations.  

"The overall impression we bring home is one of great hope and potential in the new nation of South Sudan.  It has been so uplifting to return to a land of peace and to see the way things are moving forward.  There are many challenges but in many ways the experience of returning to Mundri and Juba after a time of peace is of a country that must be developing faster than any other, given that the material development was so far behind.  In conclusion I would like to share the image from Job 14:7 that I shared at the independence day celebrations in Mundri.  In the 1980s I planted a number of teak trees behind our home.  These were harvested by someone during the war, but they have sprouted from the roots, and I spent time pruning and sorting them out.  The new shoots from the stumps grow much faster than new seedlings and I believe this is a marvellous image for South Sudan.  Although a new nation, it is not starting from nothing.  There are many years of experience and a heritage to sprout from and this means a very different scenario from starting from scratch."

Isn't that a great word picture for Sudan!  Although I don't have teak trees growing in my backyard this blue gum tree exhibits the concept Roger Sharland was explaining.  

I'm thankful for the chance we've recently had to bless one of our partners at In Deed and Truth as they see growth in their ministry that includes a clinic and a pastors training school in Tonj.  

Hillary Langat (holding syringe below) and Emily Serem, both Clinical Officers, are each spending a month in Tonj this summer.  Pray that the burden for the Sudanese that was on Hillary's heart when he returned to Kenya will ignite a 'missions' awareness & involvement among the staff at Tenwek.  

Pray for Emily who is there now as she sees many patients with severe malaria.  

This is an incredibly neat story!  Recently the staff at In Deed and Truth felt the need to be more intentional about sharing the gospel message with their patients.  They see a minimum of 100 patients daily ~ what an opportunity, although also a challenge with so many sick patients and few staff.  This week as the message of Jesus' love was shared with this woman, who had brought her 2 children to the clinic to be treated for pneumonia, she felt led to ask Jesus into her life!  She was convicted to get rid of the charms that hung around her children's necks and personally cut the charms loose.

 A charm is something carried or worn because it is believed to bring good luck or ward off evil.

This is why we want to help people know what the Bible teaches.   James 1:17 says that, "every good and perfect gift is from above."  Amen.

Suzy Kuj, Emily, and the rest of the staff need our prayers as they share about Jesus' love in both word and deed.  Spiritual battles are being fought - let's do our part on our knees.  Also consider giving towards the expenses of sending Hillary and Emily to Tonj.  


Read more about how WGM and Tenwek Hospital have blessed the ministries of In Deed and Truth. 



You may have caught the international news about the drought in Africa.  My colleague Billy Coppedge preached a sermon entitled, "Bring on the rain," last Sunday at Loudanville Community Church in NY.   It's well worth your time.  Where is your umbrella?




The hope of a free nation was realized on July 9th.
Now let's pray that the hope we have of transformation through Jesus Christ will be a reality to all men, women, and children in the Republic of South Sudan.  


Shalom,


joy

Hope 4 Sudan

When I look into these eyes I see hope.  Lots of it.  Hope for a future. I see the Kingdom of God in Sudan.  

I see young boys and girls, mom's, dad's and grandparents all living lives at the fullest of their potential with access to preventive and curative health care.  

I see a church that really knows God, is able to study his Word - even if they don't know how to read, and as a church body they are in the process of figuring out how they are to bless and transform their communities.  

I see communities with thriving markets, full of useful things to people's lives - like fruits and vegetables and healthy food.  People who are able to earn a living in order to meet the needs of their families. 

I see families growing enough food to have strong families that don't need to rely on relief food.  Farmers who innovate and try drought resistent crops and can weather the variable rainy season successfully.  

I see communities with functioning boreholes and pumps.  Where water is near home and never runs out with responsible usage for bathing, cleaning, irrigation of kitchen gardens, and of course drinking.  

And I see schools with well trained teachers who are challenging students to learn more and more to be prepared for life.  I see adults who never had the opportnitity to attend school learning to read their own language for the first time.  

Join with me in praying for a smooth transition as South Sudan becomes the world's newest country this Saturday, July 9th.  There will be hurdles . . . there are hurdles, and fighting continues along the border with North Sudan.  We can claim the promises of His Word in Jeremiah 29:11.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

May God have his hand on this new nation.  

Check out what my colleague, Whitney Smith, a new missionary on her Homeland Ministry Assignment, has written about South Sudan's first Independence Day.  

On June 11th the first Hope4Sudan Walkathon was held.  A BIG thank you to the walkers and sponsors.   We'll do this again next time I am in the U.S.

Early arrivals in Cape May Court House:  My Mother - Carol Phillips, Anne Sudol, Harriet Reardon-Bailey, my No. 1 Champion and sister - Linda Phillips, and my Father - Bruce Phillips.  

We also had a satellite walkathon in Florida.  Thanks Cindy!

My colleages in Uganda, Billy Coppedge and Scott Rambo (far left and right) were able to attend the Bishop's enthronement in Lui last month.  Please be in prayer for Bishop Stephen Dokolo and his family (pictured center). 

Last month I joined other WGM field leaders for two weeks of meetings.  Pictured below are the leaders in Africa.  

Alice and Jim Vanderhoof, Karen and Terry Duncan, Lisa and Jon Mayo, and me - Joy Phillips

While in Marion, Indiana at WGM's Headquarters for these meetings I was able to connect with my brother and his family.  I was even able to witness my nephew's baptism where this family picture was taken.  Since they are missionaries in Bolivia, South America family get-togethers like this don't happen very often.  

Anna, Betsy, Luke, Len and Abby Phillips - missionaries in Bolivia with WGM

More news on the world's newest nation soon.

Shalom,

joy

between

Between north Sudan and South Sudan lies a region called Abyei.  Both sides lay claim to this small parcel of land.   In recent weeks the people of Abyei have been forced out of their homeland and they are on the run from air and land assaults.  (for more detail check out the Satellite Sentinal Project)  Those words sound so sterile, so. . . not my problem.  Imagine though, leaving everything behind, not sure where your family is, and running into the bush in order to survive.  What to eat, what to drink, where to sleep.  Imagine. . .  and pray.   

Sudan finds itself between the referendum vote held in January 2011 and July 9th when the South officially becomes an independent nation.  These are difficult times.  Supplies that come from north Sudan are not coming through.  No diesel, food prices skyrocketing, supplies in short supply. 

You might even say that many people in South Sudan are between a rock and a hard place.  This picture shows one of my favorite places in Lui.  The trees are literally growing out of the rocks!  And seeing life springing forth from rock reminds me of Luke 19:40 that tells us that if man fails to praise God, even the rocks will cry out!  I praise God for his plan for the Sudanese.  I praise God for allowing me to be a part of his work in this land.  I praise God for your participation in what God is doing in Sudan!

You've prayed for the selection of a Bishop for the Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese of Lui.  On May 14th Rev. Stephen Dokolo (pictured above) was selected as the new Bishop.  Between the election and the Enthronement being held on June 26th let's continue praying that God will have His way in this Diocese.  With a strong foundation laid back in the 1920's by Dr. Kenneth Frasier I believe God wants to continue growing His Church as Jesus meets people's spiritual and physical needs.   

The Kuj family who minister with In Deed and Truth in Tonj, South Sudan are taking some much needed R & R in Kenya.  Last week I had the pleasure of linking them to some of my friends at Tenwek.  It was great that they could meet the Tenwek Eye Team who will be traveling to Tonj in September to perform cataract surgeries.    

In between various meetings Sebit had the opportunity to share a devotional with the medical staff.  God spoke to several Clinical Officers who have expressed an interest in serving in Tonj to cover for staff on leave.  

In May WGM sent a team to Tonj to train pastors about Biblical Storytelling.  This is what Suzy Kuj had to say about that:

"We have never before witnessed our pastors involved in such lively discussions and interested in every part of the story, asking questions and eager for their turn to share.  They could easily talk and discuss for more than two hours about a ten verse story.  Some of the discussions just blessed my heart to see the depth of understanding they have reached, making observations and comments that everybody in the group was blessed to hear and sometimes tearing from laughter.

In the last two years we have spent discipling these pastors it was always clear to us we are desiring them to increase in knowledge of the Word for their own growth and spiritual maturity.  Some of the churches they pastor have as many as 500 people and as high as 99% are illiterate, so this has been a challenge.  We have now brought an effective tool that the pastors can use and is suitable for their congregations.   They have bible stories in their pockets that can be pulled out and used at any given moment.  It’s brilliant!"

Thanks for praying!

To the naked eye it would appear that our work in Akot has come to a standstill since we haven't had any staff there for a year now.  We have been praying and strategizing about the way forward.  My prayer is that during this time between prayer and implementation God will be at work preparing the way forward.  Preparing the right people to respond to His call on their lives.  Preparing the hearts of the community, the leaders, and even smoothing over the logistical aspects of working in a challenging place.

Bishop Isaac is the Bishop of the Diocese of Akot and is very exited about partnering with World Gospel Mission. 

Join me for the Hope4Sudan Walkathon at the Cape May County Park on Saturday, June 11th at 10am.  If you don't care to walk, bring a picnic lunch at noon and I'll be sharing an update about Mango Ministries.  Funds raised from the Walkathon will help different aspects of the ministry.  See my previous blog for more details and how to give.

I hope to see you there!
Between now and my next update keep praying for the the Prince of Peace to reign in Sudan.

Shalom,

joy 

Hope 4 Sudan ~ Walk-A-Thon

hope

Offering hope through sharing God's Word

Offering hope through training pastors to tell the stories of the Bible

Training team departing Nairobi as they traveled to Tonj this week to

train Sudanese pastors in the art of Biblical storytelling

Offering hope by cracking open the darkness, offering light to the blind

Offering hope through compassionate health care

Offering hope through building relationships and offering encouragement

Offering hope through transformation of communities

Will you help us bring hope to Sudan? Join our Walkathon to raise funds for ministry in this needy country.

Hope 4 Sudan Walk-A-Thon

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Cape May County Park (Pavillion 2)

Cape May Court House, NJ

Start time 10 am

Join Joy Phillips and friends in this 1.5 mile walk-a-thon to raise funds and awareness for Sudan and Mango Ministries. Find sponsors and select a project(s) to support.

Whether you walk or not, at noon, join us with a picnic lunch and a lawn chair and get up-to-date news on what God is doing in Sudan as Joy shares. FAQ sheets on Sudan and updated prayer and praise requests will be available.

Projects to support:

1. Transport to and in Sudan. South Sudan is as big as Texas and Oklahoma with no paved roads. Staff travel by air to get to Sudan and then the muddy roads beat up vehicles. Help our team get around this big country by helping with airfare and vehicle maintenance.
2. 
   Lui Hospital is providing health care to many. Patient fees in such a poverty stricken country cannot cover the cost of staff, especially nurses. Your contribution will ensure the hospital can pay their nursing staff each month. Click here to give towards salary support for Lui Hospital now!
   
3. Transformational Development – contribute towards hiring dedicated Christian professionals from East Africa to mobilize and mentor communities as they facilitate bringing the Kingdom of Heaven here to earth. Click here to give towards transformation in Sudan now!

4. With a gift of $150 you can help a blind Sudanese see when the Tenwek Eye Team visit Sudan this fall. Physical and spiritual sight will be offered to all. Click here to give towards Sudan's Caratart Clinics now!

1. 


Registration: Send Name, Address, E-mail, and Home Church to mangoministries@gmail.com. A sponsorship form will be emailed to you. Bring it to the walkathon with the funds you’ve raised. Checks can be made out to World Gospel Mission and tax deductible receipts will be issued for all contributions.

Not from South Jersey and want to be involved?

Host your own “Hope 4 Sudan Walk-A-Thon”

Choose a route to walk, find friends to walk with you, and sign up sponsors.

Send the details and your ‘Satellite Site’ info will be posted on Joy’s blog.

Sponsor Joy to walk if you can’t make it to Cape May Court House.

Send all correspondence and questions to mangoministries@gmail.com.

Thank you for joining with me to bring hope to families, churches, and communities of South Sudan.

I hope to see you in Cape May Court House next month!

joy

the dawn of hope

Prayer Tour

From April 4th through 6th a group of 5 of us took part in a prayer tour in South Sudan. What an incredible experience to listen to people's stories of how God is working in their lives and ministries and then have the priviledge of praying for them.

At Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok Rev. and Mrs. Harriman met Jacob Gai, the Hospital Administrator and Dr. Ajak. What do you think Rev. Harriman and Dr. Ajak have in common? Other than both being tall? It was fun hearing them converse in Spanish! Rev. Harriman grew up in Bolivia as an MK and Dr. Ajak attended medical school in Cuba.

In Tonj we visited Sabet and Suzy Kuj and family at the In Deed and Truth compound. They run a bustling clinic and a pastoral training school where we were blessed as we listened to their stories of God at work.

At the Akot Medical Mission we reconnected with many pastors. Below Billy Coppedge greets Pastor Gabriel Amat.
In Lui the team got to hear about Dr. Fraser's faithful testimony as he served in the early 1900's. Fruit continues to be harvested today through the ministry of the Church and church run hospital and school. One key rule of missions came in handy - as seen in this early morning hair washing exercise for Sarah Harriman.

Adaptability is the key!

Tradition!

There are only a few things in missionary life that you can set your watch on but one of those is the WGM Kenya Annual Retreat. Every April the WGM missionaries from Kenya (Sudan and Zambia were invited too!) get together for fellowship, spiritual renewal, and fun. I had the priviledge to lead a session on Transformational Development. The book When Helping Hurts guided our discussion. If you haven't read it I highly recommend it.

High School graduations and retirements in the year ahead are recognized with special parties. This year Chris Stanfield was honored as he will graduate in July. And my good friend Mary Hermiz was honored before her retirement later this year for her 25 years of service as Principal of the Tenwek School of Nursing.
We were hysterically entertained as Barbara Walters (aka Carol Spears - on left) interviewed Mary (aka Robyn Moore - on right). Since Mary was 4 years old all she ever wanted to be was a missionary nurse.

I believe God is still in the business of calling missionary nurses! (doctors and other health professionals too, and farmers, teachers. . . . . )

Who will be next?

In the links at the top of this blog entry you can read about several Christian health facilities that we work with. They all need help. Let me know if you'd like to talk about how God might want to use you.

As Rev. Harriman reflected on our prayer tour earlier in the month he described South Sudan as a dry and thirsty land. Visiting at the end of the 6 month dry season you could say it was hot, dry, dusty, and thirsty! Literally of course, but also politically, socially and relationally. The good news is a new dawn is coming to South Sudan. On July 9th South Sudan will become Africa's newest nation.
There is still much to do as the country prepares to divide. There are reports of increasing signs of destabilizing forces. Rebel groups are growing. Pray for the leaders, army, and police. Pray for reconciliation between tribal groups. Pray for peace to prevail in the hearts of all.
On May 2 WGM is sending a team to Tonj to train pastors in Biblical storytelling. Join us in praying for the trainers and the pastors that this method of sharing the Word will show many more of Jesus and his love.

As the dawn of Easter brings new life in our hearts a new dawn is coming to Sudan.

Join me in praying Isaiah 58:8 for Sudan:

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Shalom,

joy