From the Beach to the Desert

Well the mystery of what is next for me has been solved. After much thought and prayer I have decided to accept a position in Sudan. It is another finance position however the setting is much different. I will be in Sudan based in a town called Nyala, southwest of Khartoum (the capital of Sudan) in the Darfur region. Here I will be joining a team of 7 expats and 80 nationals.

For those of you unfamiliar with what is happening in the region of Darfur I'll give you a little background. In 2003 two rebel groups had formed in Sudan against the government's policies regarding the Darfur region. The government's responce to these groups was to mobilize and arm a militia group called Janjaweed. This has resulted in horrible acts of destruction, starvation and killing over 300,000 people displacing another 2 million. The UN has described the situation as 'the world's worst humanitarian crisis' and the US Congress and State Dept. has called it genocide. Since the conflict began people would flee into neighboring Chad, refugee camps or into IDP (internally displaced people) camps within Sudan. As things calm down people try to return to their villages however the situation is still very unstable and they usually end up returning to the camps as invasions continue.

Samaritan's Purse has been there since 2003 distributing food aid, shelter and basic supplies to try and meet people's needs. So as the conflict continues SP continues to bring assistance to the hungry, tired and weary. SP has a great little video about the work that they are doing there on their web site www.samaritanspurse.org. On the right hand side it says 'crisis in Darfur'. That will give you a better idea of what is going on. So as I think about what is happening there I feel rather privileged to play a part in bringing help to those in need. My heart breaks over countries in crisis and I have always said that I would love to be in the middle of it doing what I can, so here is my chance. The living conditions are going to be rustic but I hear there is electricity most of the time and running water when the electricity is on. I'm looking forward to all the challenges that this next year will bring.

So I will be heading off to Liberia to join my parents and a team of people from March 25 - April 7. Then I will be returning to Moz to train my replacement here and then I will go right from here to Sudan. I am able to go for a home leave however with going home at Christmas and again in February I felt that a break in three or four months will be needed. So I have delayed my home leave for a couple of months. I will post more details about my new home in Sudan as I get them. Please keep me in your prayers and I work through the nerves of heading into a new environment.

Ahhhh Weddings!

Well I have been back in Mozambique for a week now from my quick trip home for my friend's wedding. I had such a great time. I'm so glad that I was able to be there. And to my surprise there was lots for a bridesmaid to do a week before the wedding. It was great to be a part of such a special day for such a special friend. It was great to see all her planning come together to create such a beautiful day. The only problem was that it was too short. It all went so fast. I thought I would post a picture of Sharon just so you can all enjoy the beautiful bride.

So I thought I would be coming back to train and turn things over to who ever would be replacing me but it looks like things will be turning out a bit differently. I am still planning on joining my parents and a team of people in Liberia on March 23 but then on April 6th I will be returning to Mozambique for another month. (The other picture is of some of the great kids in Liberia that I get to go and see again soon!) They are having a hard time finding someone qualified to come and replace me. So instead of trying to rush and do everything before I leave I will be returning to hand things over properly. I was very thankful for this news because after investing the last year of my life into this, I would hate to not hand things over right.

'What's next?' is the big question that everyone is asking me. My African friends are having the hardest time understanding that I am leaving one job without another to go to. Jobs are not as abundant for them as they are for me. But I am very thankful for them becuase even though they don't understand they still support me and pray for me in this next step. I really have no idea what is next. It's kind of strange that nothing is standing out to me yet. Usually you have some options but there is one or two that are more possible than others. But as of yet I have very little direction. God has never let me down yet so I know that once again He will be faithful and place me in the job and country that He wants me in. Some of my options are to stay here but in a different role, to take a job in Indonesia or Sudan, go back to Canada and go back to school, or actually settle down a bit and get a regular job and buy a house. Or the answer could be behind lucky door number three - the great unknown.

So that's the update on me. I'm having a hard time figuring out what country I am in at what time and I think I may have permanant jet lag but really loving life. What is better than the constant adventure of travelling, seeing new places, meeting new people and never knowing what is going to happen next.