My Back Pages: August 2015

Well I wouldn't be a blogger if I didn't say "I wish I posted on here more often". Sorry if you've checking back every day since May 21, 2014 for the next big update but if you are that poor soul today is your lucky day. Here's what you might have missed if this is the only way you keep up with me.

2014 South Sudan Trip Cancelled

Last year's trip, the one mentioned in the previous post, was first postponed due to the Ebola scare and later cancelled when members of our team were no longer able to come on the rescheduled date. It was very disappointing and ever since I'be been eager to get back and the good news is I'll be heading back this Fall. More to come on that later.

Empower Sudan changed our name to EmpowerOne

The focus of the organization has always been first and foremost church planting. However as we continued to do this we began to see other needs that needed to also be met such as schools, medical care, and relief in the midst of the current conflict. The people we were training also began to spill over the boarders of South Sudan to surrounding countries so Empower Sudan became too small of a name. So we changed it to EmpowerOne. Learn more about our mission here.

Don't worry there's a video so it's an easy read.

Conflict Continues in South Sudan

For decades the people of what is now South Sudan fought against the government in Sudan and finally won their independence. Now that they are their own country some of them are fighting each other. The conflict is tribal and political and skirmishes are intermittent with temporary cease fires and endless negotiations. Here are some recent articles that do provide some hope.

"We're not fighting"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/26/us-southsudan-unrest-president-idUSKCN0QV1MF20150826

"We're fighting again and they started it"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/29/us-southsudan-unrest-idUSKCN0QY0NF20150829

"Ok, now we're not fighting"

http://news.yahoo.com/south-sudan-rebels-army-accuse-other-ceasefire-breach-004355065.html

The places I will be visiting are not near the areas where there is fighting. I could get to Canada faster than one of these skirmishes could reach the cities where I'll be.

We Moved...

....to Camas, Washington for me to complete my Masters in Counseling and Theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest is beautiful and we are settling in well.

We all miss Texas...