the land of opportunity.

We danced because we could.

We jumped because we could.



We laughed because we could.


We played because we could.


and we loved...and still love so much...because we could.

they provided the laughter.

I can't help but think of Pastor Jackson's and Baraka's kids and family on a daily basis. WIth no proper goodbye, things do not seem complete, and i anticipate my return (whenever that may be) even more because of it.
Their daughters were full of joy and love. So smart and obedient. It makes me think if they were placed in a different culture, say more westernized, if they would still be smiling every second.

Being with the kids at the Americana Center all day today contributed to thought after thought of the kids in Yei...to here in America. Don't get me wrong, i love the kids at Americana deeply, but there are so many behavioral and anger issues, and many times, the kids just close up. Of couse, this is expected, and these are some of the main reasons for the center and why the workers and the volunteers are there: to alleviate and help them. I know they have these reactions because of such a change in environment, as it is a TOTALLY different world over here. So many adjustments are needed to be made with the move, that are very difficult. Not to mention many of these kids have seen and experienced more violence, death and hardness of hearts than we will and can ever imagine.

I am very thankful i have been given the opportunity to work with these kids, and have a heart for spending time with them. Which is why it is pretty amazing and awesome that i have been placed in Clarkston to do Mission Year. Clarkston is right outside the city limits of Atlanta and has a very large East African Population...mostly Sudanese. I will be able to continue working with such beautiful people as they learn to transition here in the States. ...In the meantime i will share some photos taken one of the many afternoons being completely silly for a good few hours...with the kids.

speak.

it was interesting to be in Sudan at the same time the International Crimianl Court put out a warrant against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. It made it all the more real. This world really does exist.

emmanuel jal

I came across Emmanuel Jal while reading Paste Magazine yesterday. I realized i had read about a small part of his story in the Dave Eggers novel 'What is the What' a few years ago. This man is full of passion and is all about spreading awareness for Southern Sudan. You can listen to previews of his music on his website:

http://www.emmanueljal.org/

do it...you'll get hooked...

red dirt to grey rock.

'Culture shock is already setting in. To be in a place where the roads are paved with concrete...not red dirt. where there are more cars than bicycles. where stores are actual buildings-not open huts and semi-small clay rooms. To be in a place where there are more 'cawaagas' (white people) than black people....' --taken from my journal as we were waiting in the airport in Entebbee, Uganda, on our way home.

The culture shock is settling a bit, but i still fee so unsettled. Just opening my drawer to pick out a shirt yesterday morning, was overwhelming. So many choices, that even i had been so disconnected from for 16 days straight. Just to see how developed our country is, how rich we all are in the states is a shock to me. We have full buildings that we live in! I can turn a knob and retrieve water to drink, or to start a machine to clean my clothes...and yet i still complain! These people spend hours doing these 'chores' i constantly complain about. I am blind to these blessings.
I also became blind to the poverty of the people in South Sudan. I seemed to forget these people aren't even a third world country yet. There was no one to compare them to...everyone is in the same poverty state. But it was their JOY, unity and community that was so strong. that made them seem far more wealthy than many of us! And they really are!

"Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity." -2 Corinthians 8:2

One Love

I became pretty attached to all these ones. Especially four of the gals.

There was joy everywhere, especially around the EPC Compound.

The laughter never seemed to fade.

ita calas?

we are catching on to the arabic tongue here in Yei. My spelling is unsure, so i've been spelling as the words sound. So here is a brief update to what we have done and experienced here so far in Southern Sudan...ita calas? (are you ready?)

-we set up two water filtration systems in the orphanage in Lora, right outside Yei, a few days ago. 94 kids, 30 workers. I will put up videos and pictures of these amazing people upon my arrival, since the internet here is pretty slow... but this orphanage has clean water now!!

-Two systems were set up in Goli, a city in Yei, to a school of about 200 kids. This is where i got to ride a bicycle from the hospital in Goli to the school, so there would be enough room in the van. so yes, i rode a bicycle on the red dirt road here in Sudan. They say once the red dirt gets in you, you won't want to leave it...

-we are 'quadas' here...white people in arabic. the kids love yelling this while running up to us or as we are driving by. it has become quite humerous now.

-the game 'spoons' have become our nightly ritual with many of the locals. One of the first things some say when they see us in the mornings is "i'm the winner! we play tonight?" something we all look forward to.

obviously there is tons more to share but no time. Updates will be caught up with 'published' journal entries on here when i return back to the states. Our journey to the orphanage in Morobo is tomorrow! Please pray for a safe trip. Also...$5,000 was stolen from us last night. We know this will all be taken care of, but please pray for the person who stole from us and that the Lord will weigh heavy on his conscience and heart. The people here have been amazing to us. We are thankful and blessed for the joy that is spread around here.

until....soon...
steph

***edit:
so we found out the day before we left, after using this phrase for atleast a week now, that 'ita calas' really means 'are you finished?'. 'Are you ready?' is 'Ita jais?'. Zachariah especially had a good laugh out of this, spreading around the laughter...and story.

Yei day 3

hello from Yei!
beautiful weather.
beautiful people.
so welcoming.
after two days of traveling we are here.
and what a beautiful place it is.

the time is nigh.

Changes. Transitions. I'm in the midst. It's affecting my speech, my thoughts, my reactions. Not bad. Just different. And sometimes embarrassing, especially today. This is a great shot of how i've been feeling these past few days. a bit out of my head. realizing everything is out of my control, and learning to just accept it. realizing i leave home Tuesday with a destination of a very unfamiliar place halfway across the world.
This photo was taken Saturday evening at our last minute send off/fundraising party. That's mary ellen beside me. she's one wonderful wise woman. i'm eager to learn from her in these few weeks that we will be spending together in Sudan. $300 were donated to us by everyone that attended the party, finances that are much needed. Thank you all.
I am so thankful...and blessed. Blessed by my brothers and sisters that are all full of love...laughter...and encouragement. Such an overwhelming feeling, but full of peace.
I shall leave you with something i had read this past week from Jean Vanier's Community and Growth. It stuck out:

"Love is not something sentimental; it is much deeper than that. It is a power that brings people to greater inner freedom and growth."