Reentry...from Sudan to Fort Worth

One week and two days ago, my family and I arrived in the US after spending a month in Sudan, Africa. So much is running through my head that I could blog about. Today is one of the first days i can think somewhat clearly. I have a never-ending head cold that has taken up most of my mental abilities for the past week. So here i am attempting to write what has taken place in my heart and mind over the past week. I will not be offended in the least if you dont read this in full and i will apologize upfront for its randomness.
Most of you know that a great friend of my Rachelle Pichardo came with us to Sudan. She was an amazing team member. We were all so blessed to have her their. She recently blogged regarding her own reentry. I am going to copy and paste a segment of that. It sums up most of our convos while we were in Sudan and pretty much exactly what i would have written, only better.
"I think that as Americans, our first thought is to take these children to America for a "better" life...but, I learned, this is not the answer. It really isn't. What is "better" anyway? As Americans we think we have the best answers, but I learned quickly that we don't. I don't at least. These kids don't belong in America. and America is not always the best answer. These kids are so happy where they are- their life is happy; their life is good. What is best for them is for us to go to Sudan, train them to be disciples of Christ and build them to be leaders of their country to make a difference. They are coming out of decades of war...naturally, we just want to take them out of that, but that is not always the best thing. We need to make them into the best leaders possible so they can change their country for the best...these kids are already making a difference where they are and Sudan needs them...it really does. Sudan isn't just poverty, people dying, war, starvation, etc. It isn't just what you see on TV. It's a county where there is hope and a place where I see people coming together and a place I really see Christ evident. ....The experience was amazing, humbling and one that I learned so many life lessons from...one I will always keep with me. The people I met have forever changed me. The children taught me life lessons. The nation taught me more about life than I never would have imagined. I am a better person because of Sudan. "
So with this said, many of you have asked, "How can I help? What can we do? When can we go?" and to these questions I say the possibilities are endless. So many people are stuck with this longing to GO, physically, to Sudan, that quite possibly will never come to fruition. I am not trying to be a downer here, but I am getting at a point. The point is, God has placed you where you are... a mom, a student, a teacher, a business person, and made you with all kinds of abilities...song writers, artist, one who can relate with children, physical fitness, writers and hundreds of other things. So maybe you will GO, but what happens if you dont? We long for people to see that where they are and what they do is just as valuable to the kingdom as going to Sudan and ministering to orphans. In fact these two things do not have to be diametrically opposed. Here are some ways that some of our friends have used who and where they are to minister to the orphans in Sudan. We have friends who have written songs about them. We have used those songs in videos made by other friends who are good at videoagraphy. We have had friends who are writers, write blogs and articles. Rachelle has an agriculturalist friend write articles that will help the farmer that works at the orphanage. We have teachers that do units on Sudan with their class. We have moms who talk to their children about Sudan, have their children pray for them and write them letters. We have friends who work in places where God is blessing them financially and they give and give and give. We have a friend who runs and he started a website called "I run for orphans" irunfororphans.com, where people can run marathons and races to raise money and awareness for Sudan. The list is endless. So today my friends. We love you and hope you will be encouraged where you are! Sudan needs leaders for the next generation. Join us in helping this country come to know Christ!

On a lighter note...do you ever have a couple of songs you just cant stop listening too?
well for the last month mine have been "From the Inside Out", "Came to My Rescue," "None But Jesus," all from United we Stand- Hillsong United "Shine", "Thank You for Healing me" from Matt Redmans new Beautiful News. 'Glory in the Highest", from Tomlin's See the Morning
I am so into these songs, they seem to be exactly what my soul longs to sing to Our Lord. Yesterday I was in the gym running on the treadmill and i listening to these songs. Next thing I knew I opened my eyes to realized everyone was looking at me because I was running with my eyes closed and my hands in the air! I guess my heart couldn't hold back! hehe! then today I was running on the same treadmill and found myself doing sign language to Glory in the Highest so as not to belt it out loud...i am sure it looked more silly than raising my hands! haha!

Home Safely

Hello everyone! we just wanted to let everyone know we are home safely. The flights home were great. Titus slept the entire first leg (7 1/2 hours) !! amen! He stayed up the entire second leg (9 hours) Then off and on slept the last leg (2 1/2 hours) The first night we all slept great. The second night Titus was up for 4 hours starting at 2 am. He got his days and nights mixed! So needless to say Titus and I are now sick, i think just from exhaustion alone. We went to the doctor today to rule out strep and other African things. The Doctor said we just have a viral infection. So Vernon has been being Mr. Mom. He made dinner last night and went to the grocery store today...what a wonderful husband. He starts school on Thursday so pray pray pray he doesn't get this sickness! Well, we love yall and thanks for keeping up with our Journey. We will be posting video periodically as we get them done. So check us out every now and then!

Mosque

Hey Everyone!
Victor and I went to the Mosque in Kampala yesterday. It was incredible! We were able to meet with a man named Issa. He runs an organization that looks to help dialogue between people from different faith backgrounds.
I was able to share with him about the importance of being able to sit down and build relationships in order that a dialogue on truth and virtue could start. At first he started to say the most important thing was to live in peace with each other and that Islam is not a religion of violence. My response was two fold. I told him first that whether Islam is a violent religion or not is a secondery issue. Yes it is important to discuss this, but I also realize that some extremist Muslims will say yes (in order to bring about ultimate peace by eliminating the enemies of Islam) and others will say they do not believe Islam is violent. Either way it is important to start off talking about the most important issues, such as what is truth and how do we understand what ultimate truth is.
Secondly, I used a word picture for him by using my son Titus as an example. I asked to picture Amber, Titus, and I in a village and Amber is making tea over a fire. Would it be loving for me to let Titus run straight into the fire while I am sitting in a chair with a smile on my face, JUST BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT TO OFFEND HIM by telling him to be careful. This would not be loving...it would be evil of me (John Piper used this in a sermon one time and I just tried to change some of the aspects of the example). The proper and loving thing for me to to do is to get down on my knees and look at Titus in the eyes with a serioud look and tell him that I love him so much and I would hate for him to run into the fire and die. I then would give him a hug and tell him how much I love him. This would be love speaking. In the same way I told Issa that living together in a non violent society is just a means to set up dialogue to discuss what is ultimate truth.
He told me it was unusual for someone to come and want to have these kinds of discussions of such honesty and love.
He then told me that when I come back in August he would have me on his radio talk show and then we would set up times for me to come and teach at the Islamic University here in Kampala! He also said he would set up some teaching and dialogue times for me at the Mosque when I come in August!!!
Thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue that God will open up more doors for continued dialogue!
We head home tonight. Please pray that Titus will have a good flight(s).
We love you all so much.

WE MADE IT!!!

We wanted everyone to know that we made it to Uganda yesterday and we have had a wonderful time! Titus has done well and adjusted. He has his first bloody nose this week as he fell flat on his face! He tripped while the girls were painting, but he was okay!
The medical clinic in Yei is finished and it looks awesome!!! We are excited!!!

Here is a before shot of the clinic we worked on...


Here are some after pictures!

(This is Rachelle talking now....)

Megan and I have been in Morobo the last few days at the orphanage and it was such a beautiful time. When we arrived, they greeted us with song and dance. It was awesome! We worked with Vicki, the nurse, and had a Bible study with the widows. We treated children throughout the day for various issues and also went through the new medical supplies that arrived from Uganda. The children were so loving and our time with them was priceless. We helped paint the medical clinic and treated cases with the chicken pox. There were only 2 when we arrived and when we left, there were 13. I felt like we built some amazing relationships with the widows and the children and by the time we left, tears filled my eyes. It was hard, but I know we will return soon. What an amazing privilege to be a part of their time. Please continue to pray for the children and the leaders in Morobo as they carry out the vision of being future leaders in their country.










Prayers for this week:
Vernon will be going to the mosque with Victor tomorrow and hopefully will be invited back on Friday. Pray for conversations they will be having and for the Gospel to be shared.

Amber and Vernon will be keeping Titus up all night on Friday because we will be flying on Friday night and we hope for him to sleep on the plane. We will return home on Saturday night. (I, Rachelle, will be back in Memphis, on Sunday)

Pray as Megan and Mike fly out tonight and for safety as they return home.

Thank you for being a part of this mission and for praying for this team and we have felt the love and encouragement this week.

I bet you wish your pastor had 20 inch guns

The title of our post is in dedication to Vernon and Amber's pastor, John Durham. We are not sure if his biceps are shown on the website of FBC Irving, TX., but if they are not it is because the server did not have enough space to hold the picture.
WE LOVE YOU BROTHER!!!!!

For the last two days Vernon and I have been teaching a pastors training course. The 10 pastors we have been teaching are part of the Bari speaking Bible training school.
The topics discussed were received very well. The last session was a Q & A time. We talked about the Biblical teachings of divorce and remarriage, forgiving our enemies, and whether or not we are allowed to wink (according to Proverbs).
Sunday will be going to church, Monday we will go to Morobo in order to pick up the girls, and Tuesday we fly out for Uganda.
We are not sure if we will be able to make another post before we leave, but we will try when we get into Uganda.

Back to the Future site!

Vernon Talks about some of the hardships of building in Africa.

Hair cut needed:)

Hey guys we got another post up but after I watched the video I saw how bad I need a haircut! Tomorrow we go back to the future site for the orphanage so please keep us in your prayers as we try and get all the logistics worked out so work can start.
Vernon

Jan 3rd update!! From the Team

Hey all!!! things are going great here the team is well and Vern and I have been working with Bishop Taban while the girls have taken on a project of painting the new clinic before they leave for Morobo.

Vernon has also been spending time with a 61 year Sudanese man named Enoch. His wisdom is invaluable and Vernon is working with him to possibly write a book here for the future generations to learn from their history.


As for myself I have gained a new fishing partner in Titus as our room is located right next to the Yei river. We took an adventure the other day about 50 yards down river to where they wash clothes and I have to say how much fun it is to just see everything so new through the eyes of a 2 1/2 year old.