Sudan Overview

Although I plan on writing about a variety of things on this blog, the main reason that I've started it is to let y'all know about my trip to Sudan that I'll be going on in August. So, first up, here's an overview about what we'll be up to:

SETTING THE STAGE

- Sudan has officially been an independent nation since 1956, when the people declared themselves free from the British-Egyptian rule that had governed for most of the prior century. Immediately however, the country was thrust into a civil war as rivaling factions disputed over the many strong cultural differences between the northern and southern regions of Sudan. A brief peace was brokered from 1972 to 1983, only for the Second Sudanese Civil War to again ravish the country. In January 2005, a comprehensive peace agreement was reached between the north and south, which essentially granted Southern Sudan autonomy for six years, to be followed by a referendum on independence to be held in 2011. While the horrific conflict in Darfur continues to persist in western Sudan, the South is striving to reestablish some semblance of stable life. Over 250,000 refugees have returned from camps in Uganda, Ethiopia, & Kenya. Though eager to begin recovery, most people have incredibly limited resources with which to rebuild their lives. This is the scene we will be entering into.

THE HOPE:
- The leaders for our trip, Jonathan & Lauren Ramirez, have already spent time in Sudan, having worked with a couple named William & Eunice Laku among the Didinga tribe of southeastern Sudan. William & Eunice became Christians while in refugee camps (some of the first among the Didinga people), and have returned now to their homeland to be ambassadors of a Christian faith and of peace. One of the visions this couple has for their land is a dream to start a multi-tribal boarding school, called "City on a Hill", which would strive to bring the youth of surrounding tribes to learn together in a unified environment. The hope is that if these children of war can be educated together, hear the Gospel, and build healthy relationships with each other, then these future leaders can guide their country into a time of peace and life that hasn't been seen in generations. The Lakus have invited the Ramirezes to join them in this endeavor, not building a school FOR them, but rather developing a school WITH them. And so our team is going to learn more about the culture and to support this great vision, considering as we go the ways that each of us can be a part of this long-term effort, and how our community back here in the States can be a part of what the Lord is already doing among the Sudanese people.

LOGISTICS:
- Our trip will take place the first two weeks of August, and will include a team of 15 people. We will arrive first in Nairobi, Kenya for a night, then fly to Lokichogio -- then fly again into Sudan to our destination of Nagishot. We'll spend 10 days among the Didinga tribe, joining William and Eunice in their ministry and learning as much as we can about the culture, the current circumstances in the region, and the development for the boarding school. After leaving we'll spend two nights in Nairobi for a time of debriefing, then depart on our flight back to Austin. I hope to do some extensive writing both before and after the trip, and will most likely post those pieces on a blog that would be available online for you all to read.

WAYS YOU CAN BE INVOLVED:
- Be in the know. I'll be sending out more details and updates from our team as we get ready for the trip, as well as follow-up reports once we get home. These will include specific prayer requests and opportunities for you to further support the City on a Hill school as plans continue to develop. If you'd like to receive these email updates, then send me a reply at ERLing82@gmail.com, and I'll get those to you. If you'd prefer to receive a follow-up letter once we return in August, then send back your physical postal address, and I'll mail you a trip summary and photos once we return home. From all my previous travels, I have definitely come to believe in the blessing that comes from having a support team of people praying for the task at hand, so know that I truly appreciate those of you can commit to praying for our team and the Didinga tribe!

- Provide a financial gift. The approximate total cost per each team member will be $2,700. For my share of those expenses, I'll be covering one-third through my own savings. I'll be doing fundraising this summer to provide for the remaining cost, approximately $1800. If you'd like to contribute to that goal, you can make checks payable to Austin Stone Community Church. The church is a 501c-3 non-profit organization, and thus all gifts will be tax deductible. If you are interested in helping out in this way, let me know, and I'll give you details on where to send your gift. Providing tangibly for our expenses will enable us to provide tangibly for the Didinga people – so thank you for participating in the task with us!

Many thanks to all of you for your interest in supporting this exciting endeavor – and for your care and support to me personally, to our team, and to the people in Sudan who we will be working with. Blessings and love to each of you!

Sincerely,
emily