Saturday

Rachelle has had a good day. Tonight they are having movie night with the kids and it sounded like fun. Robert was going to stay with them, but Moses is going to his mother's funeral this weekend.

Today the she spent the day helping paint a medical clinic there. She asked that we pray for her because she has broken out with a rash on her neck.

If would like to call her, you can reach her at 432-614-0300. This is Mike's (one of the team members) cell phone, where you can leave a message for Rachelle. She will be unable to call me for the next several days, but I (Marilyn) will try to call her and update again soon.

Continue to pray for her health and strength during the last 2 weeks of her stay and for clear vision. She is really appreciating all the prayers and post on the blog!

Circle of Life

Friday's update from Rachelle (this is Marilyn again)....Today Rachelle's niece was born and her name is Mia Lucia, named after Rachelle's mom. She is 7lb. 7oz. This is exciting news as a new life has entered the world.

Oceans away in Africa today, Robert & Moses' mother died this morning. This is obviously hard news,especially for Rachelle. The Lord has orchestrated a relationship with Rachelle and these boys so that she can minister and relate to them as they grieve the death of their mother. She met them within the first hour she arrived there and just learned last week that their mother was sick. The father is not present, however, there are some others there to help take care of the boys. Please pray for Rachelle as she grieves with them and ministers to them. Pray for Robert & Moses especially the next few days. Rachelle said she won't be able to attend the funeral in the village this weekend because the streets will be unsafe, once again, due to drunkeness because of the holiday.

I will update as I hear more. Pray for Rachelle...she sounded very tired.

Hello to all of Rachelle's family & friends! This is Marilyn. I am typing this message for Rachelle as their modem is not currently working there. I will update this for her as I hear from her or until it is fixed and she is able to do so. Rachelle says life in the village is great and is staying healthy. She asked that we pray for Moses (12 years old) & Robert (13 years old). Their mother has liver cancer and they moved her from the hospital back to her village today, which is about an hour away. The doctors have told her there is nothing left they can do for her. Robert has also been sick with headache & fever, so he can also use prayers for his health.

Beatrice is healing and is thankful for everyone praying for her.

And some exciting news, Rachelle got to spend the day with Ms. Ruth's mom and sister today! They traveled from Uganda, which is difficult because of the roads there, but finally made it. Ms. Ruth's mom was so excited to see Rachelle and kept hugging her over & over. They made a video for Ms. Ruth to see. She said it was awesome to meet them.

Please continue to check wwww.sudankids.blogspot.com for updates on the team in Sudan with Rachelle. They are preparing for the new year and Rachelle & Megan are going to the orphanage from January 4-7. Then she leaves for Uganda on January 9th and will leave Uganda January 12th to head back to the states.

Continue to pray for Rachelle, Robert, Moses, Beatrice and Ms. Ruth's family.

Thoughts

Hey you all....
Please go to www.sudanskids.blogspot.com for update, video and pictures...

Also, read the previous posts to catch up on life here in Yei....

Thanks....

Much love...

Pray for me to sleep during the night....I am very tired during the day....which is at night for you all....

Christmas in Sudan

(Robert and Moses) (Isro and I....Mrs. Ruth's sister)

Wow, I think we have missed it in America. Well, most of us....
Today was so amazing. Today the only thing we celebrated was the birth of Jesus Christ. We didn't exchange gifts...we danced, sang, ate, and fellowshipped....the people praised God all day today. The youth sang so beautiful...Vernon did an amazing job preaching...the day was beautiful!

We couldn't leave the compound today because Bishop Taban said there would be many people getting drunk and the streets would be filled...it wouldn't be safe. He prayed for those people today. It breaks my heart. We had a long talk on the way back from Morobo the other day. He has seen so much persecution. His church is one of the biggest in Sudan, if not, in the world. He has been through much, which is why he helps his people.

Moses and Robert...my two friends who live in the compound. (Pictured above) They live with Brother Jackson, who is their half brother...he takes care of them because their mom, (Brother Jackson's step-mother) is dying of cancer. I will be visiting her tomorrow with the children. She is in Yei Hospital, the same one where Megan, Mike and Vernon were that we spoke about earlier in the week....Pray for me as I am with them. If you knew this family, you would never think they were dealing with anything...they have so much joy and continue to give thanks to God for EVERYTHING He has done...I have learned so much from this family. Each night, we go to visit with them and they tell us thank you...they tell us we bring them so much joy. If they only knew the joy they have blessed us with.

Pray....I am getting anxious, but I don't know why....

The women's dance was beautiful...I will try to have Mike post it, so we will see...we are about a day behind, so be patient....internet is VERY slow here!

Merry Christmas....

Please keep leaving comments, they really encourage me.

-Rachelle

Morobo

Go here for video and pictures of Morobo.

Morobo is about 27 miles from Yei, but in reality, it took about 2 1/2 hours because of the conditions of the roads. When we arrived, the widows and children greeted us all the way down the road with dance and songs. I got out of the car and was surrounded by songs of Jesus. Their smiles were priceless and their joy was boundless. The widows singing at the top of their lungs and the orphans just singing and singing and dancing....tears were filled my eyes...I couldn't stop them. All I could do was praise God for the privilege of being in this village.

We greeted the people and they welcomed us and treated us like royalty. When we got settled, we joined the children for a time of singing and dancing. We had a drum in the middle of a circle and danced forever....and ever....I loved it!!! The children's joy and love was so contagious! The widows just loved and loved us...what did we deserve to receive such love?

They showed the Jesus film in Bari, their main language, and people were coming out of the bush to see it. It was so amazing...the children went to bed and we proceeded to our huts. Oh, and I peed in a hole for the first time!!! Yeah!

I also met my friend Santos. He has a speech problem because he has a hearing problem. They can't get a doctor out there to see if how bad his hearing is and if he will be completely deaf. When Megan and I go back there on January 4th, I will have lessons prepared for them to teach him everyday how to pronounce letters, speak and also sign-language. Who would have thought I would use my sign-language here?! If he does go deaf, he will need to learn it now when he has some hearing. They will have an arrangement made so someone, one of the older boys, will work with him everyday. Santos is 4 years old and doesn't interact with anyone because he doesn't have the confidence to speak and not many kids have the patience to speak to him loud enough for him to hear. It breaks my heart. I look forward to going back.

Tomorrow is Christmas. I really miss my family. I miss the dinner we will be having at my brother's house. I miss the family talks. It's not the same. I miss my mom. The holidays are always hard, but they are harder this year because of the distance. I hope you all know, family, that I love you and I will be thinking of you all during these days...Rodger, no Fancy Feasts parties without me and Raeann...Billie, I am praying for Mia as she arrives....I love you all so much! Don't have too much fun without me!!!

Be praying for our team....pray for the women as we will dance for the church tomorrow and we will be able to show these people the love of Christ.

Pray for peace for Sudan.

No more spiders and cockroaches in our room....seriously. It's getting old, okay?

Yei Hospital

go HERE for our update.

my heart is burdened.

pray for peace for Sudan.

Another Hot One Here (And no, it's not me!)

Today was another day…a hot one! Megan and I spent time with the ladies doing the dance. It was fun!

Remember to go HERE for continued updates on the orphanage and the team!

For those of you who know Mrs. Ruth, her sister, Isro visited me today!!! I will post our picture soon…Isro and her mother will visit me on December 27th for a couple days!!!! I WAS SO HAPPY TO SEE HER!!!! I hope you will let her know if you see her before I do! She looks just like Mrs. Ruth! That was the HIGHLIGHT of my day!!! I wasn’t expecting her until the 27th. Mrs. Ruth hasn't seen her mother in 13 years! She will be so happy when I return with video of her. She doesn't remember what she looks like....what a blessing to be here.

Also, I talked to Pete today and he is doing well. He is working his tale off, as always, and his class is doing great! I am so proud of him. Please pray for him as he is serving in Northern Sudan.

We had some orphans come today and Vernon spoke with the families. We won’t take them to Morobo. They will go to a different orphanage. It was hard to watch them all sit together and to see the innocence on their faces…just the plain innocence of not knowing what was next for them. I had to get up and walk away so they wouldn’t see me cry. There were seven of them from ages 3 to 12. The oldest cannot take care of them. Pray for them as they will head to a different orphanage in January.

Thank you to those who prayed for Beatrice. She wanted me to tell you thank you because she looked so much better today and felt so much better. She biked today to the compound just to practice the dance! It blows my mind! Please continue to pray for her as she is healing from malaria. She told me that she feels the prayers coming from our friends. Thank you so much.

Prayer Requests:
Megan: she is our nurse here (she doesn’t have a blog), so we are her prayer partners. Pray for discernment for her. She will be heading back in January and isn’t clear as far as the next step for her-here or the states. She is very familiar being overseas and is very good and HUMBLE at what she does, but needs clarification on where God wants her. She is definitely needed here, but wants to be where God wants her. We will be in Morobo tomorrow and then again the 4th-9th attending to the needs of kids and I will be her shadow!!! Pray for wisdom as she examines the children and that she would be able to access their needs and help them as she is here.

Please continue to pray for sleep through the night. Also, Christmas is coming up and the women will perform their dance….exciting. My health is improving and I am so thankful!!!

Oh, I found my toothbrush! Thanks!! I guess the cockroaches had a meeting and decided the joke was getting old…man, I am happy!!!

Today we went to Harvesters orphanage…it was so awesome!!! They have over 100 kids and it’s in a different part of Yei. It is American run, but have a lot of locals employed and running it also. It’s amazing to see how they are serving the children and teaching them at the school. There are over 400 kids at this school! We were able to play and just love on these kids!!! Amazing.

This morning Vernon, Mike, Megan and I discussed what it means to serve. I think we think it’s actually ‘doing’ something….but, it’s not. It doesn’t have to be. For us, here, at least Megan, Amber and I, it’s laughing with the women in the kitchen, or walking down the compound and dancing with a family or teaching them how to dance…it’s just simply relationship. Isn’t that how Christ did it? The absolute joy of laughter and relationship is so amazing and I have learned a new way to serve since I have been here.

Please continue to pray for Bishop Taban, Anna Grace, Mike, Amber, Vernon, Titus, Megan, Asunta, Fastena, Dennis and Brian...They are our main team here. Thank you.


I will try to update daily, but power here is on and off….so, please continue to post. They are VERY encouraging to me…
Good night (for me), good day to you!!

New Day

Okay, it was a hot one!!! For sure!!! But, it was a good day!

Remember, we are 9 hours ahead of everyone, so it’s 9pm right now. We only have power from 7pm to about 10ish at night.

Please go HERE to see a video and an update on everything!!!! Turn up the speakers because it’s not that loud!!

Beatrice came back to work today. I didn’t see her yesterday and I was a bit worried. She told me that she has malaria and feels very weak. Please pray for her because she rides an hour and a half to the program everyday.

I have been having some good time talking with the women here at the Empowerment Program. I feel like I am really getting some good time with them and we are having some good laughs!!! I am learning Arabic and trying to teach them English as well. It’s worth it for me to see them smiling!

Also, Brian, Dennis and Fastena help get us through the days! They are our friends from Kenya who are here short term! They are loads of fun and always have a story for us! I can always get a good laugh from Brian…Just hearts of servants.

Megan and I taught the women a dance today that they will perform on Christmas Day. We are doing “Knees to the Earth” by Cristy Nockels and it’s been very encouraging to the women. I think they feel so free and are super excited! To see the smiles on their faces was so encouraging today!

Amber, Megan and I went to visit Moses’ family today, the boy we met yesterday. It was so amazing! We sang, danced and just visited! Humbling. Very humbling. Joyful. We sang songs in Swahili and Arabic and at first, some of the kids didn’t want to dance, but then they really enjoyed it. As we were getting ready to leave, they prayed for us-yes, they prayed for US. Amazing.

Mike and Vernon returned from Maorsak where Vernon preached and met with the village leader, and tried to see if they were going to build a church and an orphanage. They had a good journey.

Tomorrow we will be going to Harvesters. It’s an orphanage where we will be visiting with the children and talking about how things are run with our orphanage. I look forward to it.

Oh, I keep losing my toothbrush. I bought my third one since I have been here. I think the HUGE spiders and cockroaches are taking them…anyone else know?

I will have pictures soon….I will…..okay?

Thanks to those who prayed for me….I slept well last night. Please keep praying that would continue….

Oh, I am learning how to make socks….by hand on this cool machine…!!!!

Oh, the kids here are awesome….they just run up to you and love on you!

Oh, and um, I love it here!

Okay, I am done!

For real.

Until tomorrow!!!!

I have arrived!!!!

Thank you so much for those who were praying for a safe arrival....It was a long journey, but we have made it to Yei, Sudan. We were in Brussels, Belguim, then to Nairobi, Kenya, to Entebbe, Uganda, to Juba Sudan then finally to Yei, Sudan. It took almost 2 days....

Yesterday and today was absolutely amazing...meeting women, children and walking through the streets. We went to the market today and the children crowded around us. I am getting to use my arabic and it's been so beneficial.

Yesterday I spent most of the day with my friend Beatrice. She is a tailor here at the Women's Empowerment Program. She is disabled and lost her leg when she hit a landmine about 7 yrs. ago during the war. She is a mother of two chidren and has one of the biggest hearts I have ever known. She has restored hope in me. I look forward to getting to know her more.

I met some amazing children today who cut our grass in front of our house. They actually used these tools and manually stroked the grass back and forth and it took them the whole day. I later learned they lived on the compound and we went and met their family. Moses, he is 12 yrs. old, lives with his uncle, because of terrible conditions at his house, and works because he knows he has to...even if he doesn't get paid, he has to work (he says). They are off school now for 2 months and looks forword to working everyday.

The work ethic of these people is amazing. The strength these people have is encouraging. The love life. In the midst of hurt, they have hope. I am humbled to be here.

I look forward to teaching the women a dance for Christmas day to show everyone. It will be so powerful for them to show everyone the talents they have...

Pray for our team....the men went to the bush to preach. They will return tomorrow. Pray that I would get sleep. I have not slept one night through since Saturday night. It's been difficult.

Continue to pray for the people of Yei. That hope would be restored to this village of hurt.

God Bless.

Tomorrow

I leave tomorrow....can you believe it? I am ready....

I have been sick the last few weeks, and went to the doctor and I have bronchitis...please continue to pray for healing as I get on the plane tomorrow....

We leave tomorrow at 1pm and head to Brussels, then to Uganda and then to Sudan. We will be in Yei, Sudan on Tuesday morning. The rest of our team is already there doing check-ups and have already shown the Passion of the Christ. We are so excited to be able to be there to serve the people.

Please pray for our team, health, safe flights and for everything....I want to be sensitive to the culture and to the people.

I want to just serve and give them hope....I want to love unconditionally. I never want to complain. I never want to argue. I never want to grumble. Let every word that comes out of my mouth be pleasing to God.

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts....go here to view updates and videos on the orphanage.....

Peace.

Good night.

5 Days and Counting!!!!

Can you believe it? The time has come....Sudan is calling my name....(This is a pic of my sister Raeann who came to visit me this week and help me before I leave)

I have many prayer requests as the time is quickly approaching for our journey to Sudan. Please pass this sight around to all you know who will pray.... I love hearing from you. I and am so thankful for your love and support.

Please Pray for :

I am very sick right now. I have an infection that is causing me to cough, and now I am throwing up and can't fight it. I have been sick for about 3 weeks and will see the doctor again this week. I am also taking my typhoid medicine and malaria along with my normal prescriptions. Please pray for healing.

• Amber: She is not sick, but needs her prescription (thyroid) refilled early this month so she has enough to make it through our trip. Blood work will prob. have to be done so pray she is willing to go ahead and get her get a refill before the blood work comes back.
• Pray for Megan, Mike and Dr. Kelly. They are out of Liberia and headed to Uganda. There they will be seeing widowed Sudanese Refugees and medically attending to them until we arrive on Monday.
  
• Pray for Titus (Amber and Vernon's son) He is getting very anxious about the journey. Pray for him to SLEEP on the plane as much as possible. Pray for him to not be scared of the Sudanese people but to take to them quickly.
• Pray for Amber because she has a lot on her plate between now and Sunday. She is dealing with all the money, logistics and packing. And all of you mothers/wives know that just because you are busy doesnt mean your other responsibilites go away. Pray for balance and joy.
• You may go HERE to check out videos and pictures and the latest on our entire team and more specifically about the orphanage and what is going on in Yei. (This blog here will be more on how I am doing personally.)
• Thank you for all of your prayers....I am a little anxious at this point...getting everything done that needs to be done, packing, flying, etc, but I am really okay. Please just lift up our entire team in your prayers: Megan, Mike and Dr. Kelly, Amber & Vernon and their 2yr. old son Titus. We leave for Brussels on Sunday, arrive in Uganda Sunday night and arrive in Sudan on Monday. The anxiety is eating me...:)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Africa Bound

It's almost here....I will be in Sudan in 2 weeks....I will smell the sweet air of Africa again and I cannot wait! The anticipation is eating me! To see the faces of children....to hug the women who have suffered the unthinkable and to sit at the feet of those who are hurting absolutely humbles me. I am amazed at the opportunity to learn from these people and to serve them. I can't wait....

Please pray for safe travel....for safe flights....for no complications with anything....for our team:
Amber, Vernon, Titus (2 years old)

We will help the staff choose the new orphans while we are there and will have to turn children away. They said this will be the hardest few days while we are there...kids will literally be turned away and go back to living in the streets...I am trying to prepare myself for this part.

I will be living in the commune in the Women's Empowerment Program. I look forward to learning from the women and just spending time with them. I hope to be able to encourage them as much as I can. I imagine they will teach me more than I could ever dream of!!!

I hope I can bring them as much joy as I know they will bring me!