Slowly by slowly...

Slowly by slowly...a handy-dandy saying we learned when we were in Ethiopia. Selling Louise's car is just one more step taken toward our departure date...one more check mark on our to do list...one more knot tied...one more adieu said and done. 

We almost feel like we are in reverse...those around us continue to gather, while we continue to discard...it is a strangely liberating experience akin perhaps to the shedding of pounds while on a diet. Or perhaps it is like watching some object from a distance through a set of binoculars.  There is a focus that remains clear, but the closer you move towards it, the more details you can see.  For us, one more item gone means the letters on the banner at the finish-line are becoming clearer and sharper.

Bye-bye Tracker...thanks for good service and good memories.  

 

Wrong...dead wrong...

I recently watched an excellent presentation by "Wrongologist" Kathryn Schulz - on being wrong, of course.

As the description says, Kathryn "makes a compelling case for not just admitting but embracing our fallibility." But I couldn't help wondering what Kathryn would have to say to South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit and to former Vice President Riek Machar - or, indeed, to Omar al-Bashir whose wrongness has left his hands stained with the indelible bloodstains of thousands. These men are all wrong...dead wrong....literally. So, would it help if they admitted or embraced their wrongness? Perhaps...

But I venture to say that "admitting" or even "embracing our fallibility" outside the context of the Gospel, leaves our "fallibility" vague and undefined and therefore both untouchable and irreparable. Can the South Sudan ceasefire agreement work at all if both sides do not first deal with their own personal fallibility in terms of general human depravity and divine forgiveness through Christ? Indeed, can there even be any point to "embracing our fallibility" unless we first consciously plant our feet firmly on the level ground that lies before the cross?  

Read this...and Pray...

Dear friends,

The churches in Sudan and South Sudan have asked that this Sunday, Feb 16, be set aside as a special day of prayer for South Sudan. Although a ceasefire was signed, it has been ignored by both sides. Much of the population of the country is displaced, either within the country itself or over the borders. Please pray for God to move the hearts and minds of leaders and people alike to turn from hatred to peace.


in Christ,

+Grant LeMarquand, the Horn of Africa

A chapter ended and a chapter begun...

Another page turned...a chapter ended and a chapter begun.

Today I received my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification from Visions International and TriCounty Technical College.  It was a hard slog, but well worth the blood, sweat and tears..alright, maybe there was no blood.  It was fun to learn with and from my two fellow students, Robin Steele and Courtney Andrews and I venture to say that our main instructor and mentor Bernell Ingram is now also a good friend, although I am sure she wanted to wring my neck on more than one occasion!

Here's a hilarious take on perseverance...sometime we feel like this trying to find partners!

A message from Bishop Grant LeMarquand

Bishop Grant writes: “Although Gambella has thus far escaped the violence taking place across the border, one horrible incident did occur a week ago. It is unknown whether the perpetrators of this had come from across the border or were local. Last week, as the sun was setting and people were sitting down outside their tukals (huts) to eat, armed men of a different ethnic group suddenly appeared from the bush and opened fire on an Anuak village near Abol killing three people (two women, one pregnant with her first child, and one newly married young man). The men kidnapped eight children and headed back into the forest. Three of the children escaped, but five are still missing. The entire village swam across the river to escape further violence and have been living in the small village of Abol Kir where we have a small Anglican congregation. I went there today with a member of the Gambella Anglican Centre staff who is himself an Anuak priest. We brought a truck load of maize, cooking oil, coffee, sugar, mosquito nets, tarps, ground sheets, soap, and some cooking and cleaning supplies. 

The whole village gathered and I asked to hear the story of what happened. Two women spoke clearly and calmly recounting the details. I spoke about how it must be so easy to become angry and want revenge, but that taking revenge would just  make the other group want to retaliate again. I spoke about one of the hardest things that Jesus ever said: love your enemies – it doesn’t mean we don’t have enemies, obviously they are there, but he wants to change hearts – their’s and ours’. Then we prayed. One woman broke down weeping at the end of the prayer and had to be held by several other women who were afraid she would hurt herself. “She has a mental problem,” said my priest friend. “Her children are among those who are lost.” If my children had been taken like that, I would have a mental problem too!

The clergy were at the Gambella Anglican Centre this week for two days of training. We were able to talk about how the refugee situation is having an impact on the region, their churches – and themselves personally. At least half of the clergy have lost relatives in the fighting in South Sudan: one priest has lost six cousins, one has lost a son. Several have friends and relatives who are missing. Afer the clergy training days Wendy had 35 Mothers’ Union leaders here for two days of training on nutrition – but the war in South Sudan also had to be addressed. Wendy talked on Wednesday afternoon about grief and then led a time of prayer, especially for those who had lost loved ones. The demonstrative weeping that followed was intense, but neither unexpected nor inappropriate. It was a bit like a cloud burst which was briefly violent, but ultimately cleansing.”

Johann & Louise Vanderbijl

~ Touching The Whole Person – Body And Soul ~

-  Vision with action can change the world –

January 2014

Since the war broke out in South Sudan on December 15th, over 100,000 people crossed over the border into the Gambela People's Region with little more than what they could carry.  Add to these numbers the continuing flow of refugees from the war-torn area of the Blue Nile and Nuba Mountains in the Sudan.  The refugee camps are now so large that the government of Ethiopia has had to open a new one.  The majority of the residents in these camps are between the ages of 12 and 17 years old...many of them are orphans.  

These people tell harrowing stories of torture, rape, butchery, the loss of loved ones, and of the anguish of not knowing whether family members are alive or dead.  As you can imagine, this turn of events has placed a sense of urgency on our hearts.  In a recent letter to a mutual friend, Bishop Grant LeMarquand stated that his greatest need right now is to get Louise and me on the ground in Ethiopia.  

However, as of this past January, we are now only at 18% of our monthly budget total.  

We are therefore making a direct appeal to you to prayerfully consider becoming a regular monthly partner with us in our ministry in Gambela.  Believe us, any amount would be gratefully received...$5 a month or even less...every penny adds up in the end and, as we know, our Lord is well able to multiply our limited resources.  

Also, if you know of anyone else who may be willing to partner with us, please introduce us.  

Would you please pray about this request?

If the Lord lays it on your heart to become a full time partner with us, please go to our SAMS web pagehttp://samsusa.org/users/johann-and-louise-vanderbijl and click on Give to Johann and Louise Vanderbijl - OR follow the directions found in the attached from.

Many blessings.

Johann and Louise