Congdons in Doro

Doro now vast Refugee Squatter's Camp

2011-12-09T08:47:00.007+03:00

Every day brings news of developments from Sudan, and what has come today makes this an significant Tuesday for us.

The link below will convey you to a sad story. I discovered this interview of an Uduk man who had been living in the Northern town of Kurmuk, but last month was forced to flee with wife and children across into Ethiopia to escape the violent bombing and strife in eastern Sudan. Despite the anguish he must feel, returning to a bleak existence in a refugee camp where he spent two decades of his young life, his lament is for his elderly parents left behind in Chali, an important Uduk village just 30 miles from our clinic in Doro but well within the war-torn area beyond the new international border.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201111170031.html

Suddenly, I recognize the name of the young man! Santino John!! He is the godly grandson of the first Uduk believer, a man named Mona whose black-and-white photo with son Kona Samuel graces the pages of Malcolm Forsberg’s 1958 book ‘Land Beyond the Nile’. Crippled from childhood, little Santino was carried 400 miles to safety in Khartoum during the long war, and there he received a good education before rejoining his people in an Ethiopian refugee camp and beginning a family of his own. The years passed. War finally ended in 2005 and Santino returned, limping, to Sudan where he became a key member of our first HIV-education team in Kurmuk back in 2007. He proved to be a man full of integrity and deep commitment to Christ. I’ll not forget his deep emotion in Kurmuk when I played for him old video footage retrieved from the mission archives, of the baptism of his grandfather.

Our hearts sank to think of Santino limping along muddy paths, heavy-laden and heavy-hearted, leading his children to an all-too-familiar refugee camp; now safe with his family in Ethiopia, but in anguish for his elderly parents in Chali. Did they escape the bombing? Are they still walking toward Ethiopia? Did they flee toward Doro?

We sent an email to Vicki in Doro: ‘Can you ask our health worker Masir to look among the 19,000 refugees streaming into the Doro area, in case there is word of the parents of Santino?’

Imagine our joy when we received this response yesterday: “Masir says that he saw Santino's sister the other day and she's in the camp with their parents!” Then today: “Had a wonderful visit with Santino's family today… They arrived less than a week ago. It took them a long time to travel from Chali… They hid in the bush for several days and collected as much food as they could… Samuel was quite pleased to hear that Santino was safe in Ethiopia. I gave them one small packet of tea and a small packet of sugar…”

Sometimes we lay awake at night, wondering if we are up to the challenge ahead. We consider our limited resources, the vast needs, the complicated situation. But returning to Forsberg’s thoughts encourages us tonight, as we trace the gracious hand of the living God in the lives of Forsberg and the first Uduk Christians. Those early years passed and Santino’s grandfather Mona became the leader of the young Uduk church. Forsberg moved on to Khartoum, but returning to Chali for a visit he attended church, and recalls (p.231): “The communion service followed. My head was bowed. Two African hands holding a dish were stretched out to me. I took the bread and ate with thanksgiving, and when the same African hands were extended to me again, I took the cup and drank. The bread and the cup were memorials to the Savior who died for me, but the hands that served me were Mona’s. I remembered the communion service when I first served the bread and the cup to him. Then he was surrounded by missionaries. Now he had served me and I was surrounded by Uduk Christians. Many books have been written about unity and brotherhood. Our only source was the Bible, and we had found unity with some of earth’s most unlikely people. We had found that unity at the cross. Mona had first come to us because the birth of his son had made work taboo for a while. He had sat on the floor of our house while we gave him the bread of life, the Word of God. He had reached out to understand. Now I was sitting low on the bamboo slats, the pews in Chali Church. Mona was bending over me and I was reaching out to understand… The communion service brought it all into focus… We (missionary and Uduk alike) had sought to make God Himself our goal and He had embraced all our need.”

The living God who revealed Himself to Mona, carried his family through decades of bitter war, and entwined our path with his son and grandson, is for us also our goal and the One who has embraced all our need. His gracious hand, through much travail, has transformed their lives; His grace will do the same for us.

Forsberg closes the book, as we conclude this letter: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages.”

Love, Rob and Nancy

#4 TBC Team October '10

2010-09-16T16:23:00.006+03:00

A final tour around the Maternity Ward is in order. You have seen the steady progress in transformation of the Ward: Here is a view of the double-doorway leading into the labor ward, followed by a look as the paint goes on, looking through those same doors. What a difference a coat of paint makes!

When you look up, the ceiling is open over the ward to allow heat to dissipate.

The lab is of special concern, and there is much to be done. The countertop will be applied, sinks plumbed, tiling installed. Where Kevin is painting, at counter level we'll want to build a small blood-drawing 'station'. The windows and doors will need special attention to prevent dust (and critters) from blowing in freely. Note the fairly-typical gap under this metal door:

James, a Kijabe Hospital lab tech and friend, brought out the laboratory instruments, tested them, and placed them back in safekeeping until the lab is completed. He has returned to his employment at Kijabe Hospital, and we're thankful for his willingness to help in such a practical way. He is squatting next to the under-counter spaces where a few cabinets and open shelves need to be built.

And this young man is excited and happy, watching the excellent forward progress!

Now let me share a painful glimpse into the reality of life in Doro, expressed well in a note today from Grace Womack at our Nutrition Village:

"Yesterday one of my outpatients came very sick and had lost a lot of weight: Vomiting, diarrhea, fever. I told mama she needed to stay with him in the Village. She left the 1-year old (who weighed 11 pounds) with another mom in the Village and walked 2 miles home to bring back her 4-year old to stay with her. When she returned (without the other child), she was crying. Evidently, the father, a man from the North, was drunk and beat & kicked her because she left the baby and was planning to stay in the Village. She tried to reason with him, saying if the baby didn't stay at Doro he might die. Dad said, 'Let him die'!"

"I gave her milk powder and medication with instructions, and told her if she ever wanted to return we would welcome her. Also, I told her to bring the child on Saturday. So disheartening... I know this is nothing new under the sun, but still hard." (Grace Womack, RN)

And, other items of interest to you as you prepare for this adventure... walking distance from the old hospital site is our compound; this picture is from overhead. If you look closely, you will see the solar panels on the tin roof of the dining building. The large building is the storeroom.

The other tents and brown-thatched houses or 'tukuls' you can see are where we live - about 20 people inside the 300 yard perimeter - with small cooking shelters, showers, pit latrines, and every comfort imaginable. No hot tub, yet. But most of the year, that would be easy to arrange...

By early October, the rains will stop falling and 7 months without a drop will follow. However, the floods have been serious this year and the mosquitoes are out in force right now. Bring some DEET and at least one long-sleeve shirt to protect your arms at night. And remember this promise, if the task seems daunting: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." 2 Cor 9:8

TBC Doro Team #3

2010-09-11T22:22:00.007+03:00

The painting of the interior of the building began about 3 weeks ago. The place looks great! The men are standing in what will become the labor & delivery room. Electric wiring is overhead... some switches, plugs, main box, etc are yet to be completed, and this will be one of our tasks.

Most of the building is open above, to dissipate the heat which is oppressive from late November through May. October is not exactly cool (!), but pleasant. The lab and the operating room have completed ceilings. This shows the work in progress... We'll purchase cornicing this week, and send it as cargo on one of the upcoming flights -- nailing it in place will also happen in October.The 'half wall' in the foreground is between the nurses' station and the small 8-bed ward. We'll want to build a desk with a plyboard top and some cabinets, for the nurses' station. I'll purchase large sheets of plyboard on Monday, and those will also be flown in ahead of us. I may not have much choice, but would appreciate your thoughts about materials needed - thickness of the plyboard, for instance (OK, it's not quite like the plywood you have... but it works). I can purchase hinges and handles here - please advise if a certain type would be best. Now a challenge:

This is a close-up of the un-painted windows to show you a problem which will affect us in the lab (4 windows) and the OR (2 windows). The other 20 or so windows aren't such a problem, if they allow dust or rain to blow in during those two seasons of the year. You can see the light shining through the narrow gap next to the window-latches; and in the other picture, below the hinge (which still is covered with cement plaster). I hope there is some type of easily-attached and durable rubber strip which might provide even a partial seal for these windows. Ideas?? We can purchase various silicone sealants and adhesives in Nairobi. Again, thank you for your ideas.

The next picture is confusing: We're standing in the ward, looking over the half-wall of the nursing station space (which you can't see), and beyond it is a wall with window looking into a small room designed for sick babies. The window shutters are open from the window out of view on the left side. We bought two sheets of perspex transparent plastic, and will want to have a sliding window in the space looking into the 'neonatal ICU' !

This is a great time of the year. The Yabus River is at its highest; the endless dirt which is Sudan's lot for most of the year has been transformed by 3 months of rain, and elephant grass stands 10 feet high all around. You can see the cultivated fields of sorghum and maize near the river. Months of hunger are ending this month, and October is when the 'firstfruits' celebrations take place. All for now. Thanks for your preparations and prayer, that the Lord will make these weeks a life-changing time for all of us in Doro. In Him, Rob

TBC #2 Maternity Building

2010-09-09T12:29:00.005+03:00

View of the Maternity Building, with the adjacent buildings - the one in the foreground is shorter but in better shape and is our present Clinic building. The longer one has been for storage, but we've just repaired the inside and painted, and it will be in use by October as a place for our health worker-trainees to learn patient care.

Now we'll move to the inside of the building. I hope you have the architectural plan I sent. Perhaps I only sent that to you, Jon... if that's the case, can you copy to the others? Thanks...
The main part of the building is for maternity patients: a ward, labor, and delivery area. On the far end is the lab; on the near end is the operating 'theatre' (or as we would say, the OR).

First, pictures of the inside after plastering of the red-brick (locally burned brick) walls.

The windows were trucked down from Khartoum, 500 difficult miles to the North. The interior picture is taken from near the main door, close to where Lemam was standing in the earlier post. I am looking to the left inside that entrance, through what will be swinging double doors. The doors were made by the June team from Scotland; nice hinges we brought from the US. The first room is the delivery room which will hold 3 delivery beds: We'll install a wall-mounted sink and plumb that one and another six or seven of those throughout the building. The farther room also will have swinging double doors, and is an operating room. More pics to come... here's Rob with Kevin, making plans.

The building in the background here on our base is a 'kitchen', and the round grass-walled structure to the left is a place for taking a bucket-bath (some people would rather do that, than use the overhead bucket shower). I recommend the overhead bucket, at night under the stars, but 'we aims to please!'

On the weekends, we'll have opportunity to walk or take the quad bikes and motorcycle out to villages - here's a recent picture from Gasmalla, a village 4 miles from Doro with a typical thatch-roof church and a wonderful group of believers.

That's it for now... In Christ, Rob

TBC Team October

2010-09-09T11:24:00.006+03:00

Hi men!

I will load a series of pictures, to give you an idea what to expect next month. Kevin MacClennan from Scotland, the engineer helping out this year, completes his 'tour of duty' today, and will be back in Nairobi tomorrow. So... here we go. Rob

Here's a typical canvas 'safari' tent where we'll be sleeping... see the roof of the grass 'tukul' hut back behind. Take my word for it: The tents are better - no mystery creatures crawling around in the thatch at night!! And a picture inside the tent: That is 12-year old son Paul sleeping on the 'string bed' under his mosquito net. We have plenty of those nets, so don't bring one. You can see the wires of the solar light system against the back wall. And the bikes out front? If you like repairing bikes and punctured tires... you're coming to the right place!

Now... the building progress: This pic is from early August. The cement 'patio' where the Uduk man (our best Sudanese worker - Lemam) is standing is now complete. This pic shows the gutter in place... now finished. The plastering of the red-brick wall had started, and if you look closely you can see the smooth plastered wall at the far end -- the door at the far end opens into the lab.

Rebirth of the SIM Doro Health Center

2010-03-01T22:37:00.010+03:00

A selection of pictures from recent months. Great progress! Rob and Nancy

Doro Hospital site, Mabaan County, Upper Nile State, South Sudan Note the repaired roof of the old ward; the new Maternity Ward in the foreground

Rob Hinton oversees the foundation and pillars for Maternity Ward, 2009

The roof going up.
Bob and Liz take a good look at the inside of the Maternity Building - November '09

The bore hole drilling team hits a gusher! Water for the Health Center.

Vicki with Community Health Worker students, 2009

Lifeline for transportation and all needed supplies for the Clinic - AIM Air

Barb teaching some new tricks to a group of local 'traditional midwives', in rustic surroundings

Dr. Rob & Dr. Mike with a patient unable to wait for the completion of the OR; another sick baby

The Maternity Ward roof in place, walls going up in late November, 2009

Mid-December 2009 with windows in place... building teams working overtime to finish...

Stephanos will soon be ready to manage his own village health post

Ruins of old Doro Hospital with new 'Maternity Ward - Lab - Operating Room' January 2010

Sophia

2009-11-01T11:37:00.003+03:00

I recently returned from Doro, where the difficulty not only for the mission staff but much more for the Sudanese themselves, came home to me. From my diary:

“In the predawn darkness this morning I carried Wisdom to her final resting place. Her Mabaan parents had given her the name Sophia, and she’d impressed me in our few visits, sick as she was, by her strength of character. How appropriate that her name was Sophia, the Greek word for ‘Wisdom’.

Sophia’s heart was worn out, attacked by some undetermined devilry which, in the span of just hours, transported her from sweet pre-teen glances right into eternity.

It was all too quick for her sister: When we drove into the little village in Bankuman the little girl, suddenly awake, added two and two together quickly and spotting the shrouded body in the back of the Toyota pickup, launched into ferocious wailing and violent casting about. Even the barking Egyptian dogs milling in and out of the darkness, seemed at a loss to know what to do.

A dozen older women hoisted the rough wooden bed frame, wound tightly with string on which the body lay. They sidestepped the smoldering coals of the village fire and, near the main tukul hut, they set the bed carefully down. Gathering around, they uncovered the lifeless, innocent, adolescent face and, weeping and touching her cheeks, they called her name, wailing Mabaan lamentations. It was a sad, poignant, gut-wrenching scene, dimly lit by a few lamps in the darkness. The village fires were smoldering.

Sophia’s mother was one of the few without arms flung up into the darkness. As she cried out, remonstrating in the eerie light, she cupped her hands repeatedly under her breasts as if to say, “Oh, my daughter Sophia! You whom I nursed!! Why have you left me? Where have you gone? Oh, Daughter of my bosom!”

A small boy stood numbly in front of me, taking in the scene. Men appeared as well, now, out of the darkness, and they likewise seemed inept, passive onlookers upon this scene of unrestrained anguish.

Sophia. 12 years old. Just two years shy of adulthood and marriage in Mabaan. A girl with viral cardiomyopathy, heart failure. But so patient, long-suffering, quiet. “Why, O Lord?” we ourselves cry out. And David helps us: “Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am afflicted and needy"(Ps 86:1); yet in his pain he remembers God’s goodness: “You O Lord, are God merciful and gracious, abundant in lovingkindness…”(86:15).

For girls like Sophia, we came to Sudan. For little boys standing in the darkness. For mothers and fathers without hope. For Christ Himself, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of Wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3).

Thankfully, every day is not full of such pain; there is much encouragement.

Consider this account from missionary nurse Vicki Beattie:

‘Jacob Nyale is a 12 year old boy who suffers from Leprosy. His family noticed last year that he had a skin rash, but he lived far from Doro among the Nuer people, 100 miles to the South. Jacob came all the way to Mabaan County, hoping for treatment. It was Jacob’s uncle who brought him to Doro PHCC in September, where he was found to have an advanced case of leprosy with terrible nerve damage. He has no feeling in his hands and one finger is already paralyzed and ‘claw-like’. In all my years of leprosy work in Zambia I only saw a couple of children with skin problems related to leprosy but never such severe nerve damage. Jacob’s feet seem okay and he plays soccer with the other children. His family and neighbors attend a small church. Jacob is in first grade, taught by a neighbor. (Addendum: By God’s grace, Dr. Rob successfully met with the Sudan Ministry of Health in Juba in September and agreement was reached: SIM is now a leprosy treatment center in Upper Nile State. The one-year course of curative medication has already been provided for Jacob, and he is on long road to recovery).’

Sarah Benson adds: “The clinic work is continuing to grow day by day. During the months of Oct-Dec ’08 we were seeing an average of 30-40 patients per day. Now the average is 80-90 and we often surpass 100 patients in a day. We see many very sick patients especially children. Please pray for us as we see these patients with our Community Health Worker staff. May the Lord give us wisdom and boldness sharing the gospel in the midst of sickness and death.”

The commitment of the Doro Health Team is compassionate Christ-centered medical care; training for community health workers; village health care and community development; treatment for malnutrition, tuberculosis and leprosy; evangelism and discipleship to strengthen the Church. This is the SIM Health strategy in S. Sudan.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live! And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-6 (NKJV)

Looking back at 2008 in Doro

2009-01-20T21:30:00.002+03:00

Here are thoughts, written in the quiet of this Sudanese night, reflecting on the grace of God in 2008. As you remember His grace in your own lives in the year 2008, I trust you recognize His handiwork there. As you think of us, please pray that the Lord will raise up a team of capable men, and perhaps women, to come and build with us in Doro for the month of May. We are praying for a team to leave the States on the 2nd or 3rd of May, flying into Doro on the 6th of May, and returning to the States the final weekend of the month. I can promise a life-changing experience. We’re trusting that the Lord will send builders, handymen, and willing workers who can follow directions and work with a team. Please let me know if you can join us! The team will be limited to 8 members. I would love to entertain the thought of a few medical workers as part of the team…

With love, Rob and Nancy

God’s Grace in Sudan in 2008

The year 2008 in Doro was a vivid illustration of the rich tapestry of God’s grace in the lives of His people. For the Mabaan of Sudan, this past year was the third year of peace, and a time of rejoicing as more than 10,000 returned from exile to resettle in the battle-scarred land of their forefathers. For the SIM Sudan team of missionaries in Doro, it was a time of thanksgiving: The adult education students successfully completed their final level; the first class of community health workers graduated and went out to serve; a nutrition village was envisioned, and became a life-changing reality; and the long-awaited opportunity to open a clinic came early in the year, when the army vacated the ruins of SIM’s old hospital.

The love of Christ and the message of the Cross of Christ were a key part of that tapestry. The village evangelism spearheaded by our Ethiopian missionaries during 2007 bore fruit in three new ‘preaching points’, and in each place there was growth in the grace of the Lord Jesus during 2008. Daily prayers at the Doro missionary compound joined with devotional times at the training schools, nutrition village, and clinic, bringing a knowledge of the presence of the Spirit of God to this part of Mabaan.

The heat of Sudan, the perspiration, the challenges of daily life for the missionary family, the broken water pump, the mosquitoes, the heavy rain and flooding late in the year, the deflating bicycle tire punctures, the termites and bats and ever-present pigs… these also were part of the reality of life in Doro, and part of the lesson in grace which the Lord brought into our lives. There was hard work: nearly 1000 patients a month were cared for at the medical clinic, in very challenging physical circumstances. Tragic illness is no respecter of time, and the grace of the Lord Jesus touched some who were sick even in the nighttime hours. A starving child in the arms of a young, frightened mother is a heart-rending missionary experience. Our teaching was not without its challenges: Training Sudanese ex-combatants under a hot tin roof is fatiguing, mentally-challenging work. Helping illiterate village midwives to understand sterile technique is a labor of patient repetition. By God’s grace we taught, and by His grace we were ourselves taught.

By the end of 2008, more than 90 severely malnourished children had experienced the love of Christ in the Village of Hope. Plans were under way for the building of a maternity clinic with facilities to care for high-risk pregnancies and sick newborns. God’s grace became apparent when He sent an architect to design the maternity ward, and draw out a plan for a new outpatient clinic with lab and pharmacy. Then he prompted an engineer to leave his job in the UK to come with his wife, a doctor, to join our team in 2009. His grace will, by faith, bring us a lab tech, more nurses, and a team of builders to help in the year ahead.

The 2008 tapestry of God’s grace in Doro included more than these joys, and these challenges. Deep sorrows touched our lives as well, sorrows which brought a weight of glory we struggle to accept, yet which we know is producing already a wellspring of unlooked-for grace in our hearts and lives. As Christ suffered, so is our calling. Our friend and brother Dr. David Masters was called Home from Doro, on an unforgettably tragic first day of April, 2008. Later that month an airplane accident in Doro shook our team to the core, yet all lives were spared by God’s gracious hand.

His grace was sufficient for us, in 2008. We know it will be enough in the year ahead. Will His prompting bring a willing lab tech in 2009, to answer the prayers of those whose lives are wasting away from undiagnosed tuberculosis? Is His grace enough to bring a team of builders, an electrician, someone to erect a water tower for the clinic? Is there grace for the heat, grace for the challenge of a new class of 12 community health students still recovering from childhood memories of brutality we cannot imagine?

Yes, we know there is grace. In our weakness, God’s perfect grace. May it spill over into 2009 from all we have received in the year 2008.

Floods in Mabaan

2008-11-20T10:01:00.004+03:00

I'll post some of the recent email letters for interest, so you can catch up on the past year.

After the military moved from the ruins of the old SIM hospital in February '08, our team was able to begin clinical work almost immediately. Prior to that, our focus was on the training of Community Health Workers which is ongoing, and medical work in surrounding village communities. At last, however, the clinic was able to begin and there was great excitement. A wonderful doctor from the UK joined us in January, and you can imagine our shock and disbelief when, all in a period of 12 hours, he developed sudden abdominal pain and was taken to be with the Lord on the first day of April this year. His family chose to lay David's body to rest at Doro, and his memorial joins three others, SIM missionaries who died in Sudan 68 years ago.

With an early rainfall in late April, a chartered mission plane failed to clear the trees at the end of the runway. By God's grace the pilot and our 4 missionaries survived the crash, which destroyed the airplane. You can imagine that as the rainy season gathered strength in June, we were still struggling to find our way forward.

Two workers from Canada came during this time, and helped to screen the clinic building and encourage the team through difficult days. Then two men from Alaska joined us, and again there was progress with some needed buildings, a good pit latrine, and the encouragement of their spiritual ministry.

My son and I spent the month of June on the base, helping with the medical ministry and the completion of a storage building. A solar refrigerator was added, and life became better overnight! Later, a wind power generator was put in place and provides energy to recharge the battery bank, when the sun is obscured by clouds. Internet access and communication ability came to Doro soon after. And a doctor from Canada came to lend a hand during the month of July into August, which was a great blessing to the team.

The past two months have seen me in and out of Doro twice, along with a quick trip to the US to visit churches interested in supporting our building phase with work teams in '09, and to attend the Louisville Global Missions Health Conference where many contacts with prospective health staff brought encouragement.

The team at Doro has weathered another very challenging period of time, when serious flooding resulted in destruction of recently-planted fields all across Mabaan. The hastily-erected houses of thousands of Mabaan returnees whose lives were already precarious, were completely swamped. The county was declared a disaster area, and help in the form of emergency food relief came from the UN. The flood waters are receding at last. The road into Mabaan is slowly being repaired, after the waters destroyed a number of bridges. The coming months will be very challenging ones, for the Mabaan people.

But God is at work in special ways. The clinical work continues to be a blessing, under the capable hands of a Sudanese doctor Angelina and Sarah, an SIM Physician Assistant. A nutrition village is up and running. Many children are helped every day. And the training school for Community Health Workers is coming to the final weeks of this first year, with graduation expected by the end of November.

Thanks for your partnership with us. We are blessed to be a part of this ministry in South Sudan.

A second post from Doro Conference

2007-12-30T20:28:00.000+03:00

The Mabaan church leaders' conference ended joyfully. The leaders departed yesterday after many visits and discussions, and plans for future gatherings.

Then yesterday afternoon, I developed a full-blown right eye infection. I started using tetra eye ointment. Many patients came for treatment, and I was able to see well enough to work through the afternoon. Mike and Rod helped with the training school, which is up to ring beam level. Pastor John Chitumbo has done very well and God granted him relief from any gout until yesterday, after the conference. For Mabaans to witness an African man of God, speaking powerfully and with passion about the love of Christ, was far more effective than anything we others could have spoken.

My last patient was a Mabaan pastor, estranged from his wife. They both came at my request and we struggled until the sun went down, through their tragic story. Finally, we agreed to meet this morning to continue. We were a tired group as we sat around the table for another fine Barb meal. Then we sang and prayed, which we do each evening. We have shared such wonderful fellowship.

There was a sudden commotion outside. The sound of running feet one way, then back the other way. We said ‘amen’, and headed for the door. It was pitch black outside. The guard Joseph had gone for his ‘bwam’, and was shouting “snake!” And so it was.

Having roused Vicki’s cat, it reared up and hissed. Truly a great snake, the largest cobra I have encountered. Seven feel long. As big around as my forearm (OK, no comments from Timothy and Stephen!!). The torch light was poor, and my right eye was a blur by now. I kept respectful distance, but watched with chagrin as it took a few blows, then disappeared under the moldering grass which used to be our fence before heavy wind and rains destroyed it. Now the new barb wire fence was irritating the beast, but it dove under the grass and the night was suddenly quiet, and still. We all checked underfoot! The men clobbered the dry grass. Carefully I raked it bit by bit, pulling it away from the fence. Nothing. We were jumpy. We moved from near Vicki’s tukul toward the pit latrine, along the fence, checking the grass. John Maruti warily scanned outside the fence looking for any sign. There was none. I kept pulling grass with the rake, now on the other side of the latrine. I could see nothing, in the poor light and with a really nasty conjunctivitis now galloping along. Suddenly, a shout! I jumped back. There was the snake writhing in anger, now exposed! A few minutes of well-aimed blows, and it was dead. We took the obligatory photos, dealt with two drunk soldiers who appeared out of the darkness and wanted to dissect it immediately in fear of some witchcraft, and finally plopped it in a covered bucket for the night.

The drunk soldiers were 4 men, with a young wife whose 3-day old baby was gasping, teetering on the far edge of life. There was no refusing them, of course. They were ushered out to the guard hut, we hung an IV scalp vein with some difficulty, administered IV gentamicin, and prayed. They calmed down (which was answer to my prayer). We asked the loving Creator for a miracle, for this little girl near death from neonatal sepsis. We had no IV penicillin. She needed bag and mask briefly but as the acidosis improved she breathed on her own, and we divided the night into shifts. I went back to the canvas tent I share with Rod Greene, after the nurses cleaned my swollen and painful right eye. The left eye was now painful as well, so I lay awake and at intervals put the only eye drops we could find – expired chloramphenicol – into both eyes.

Then across the dark compound came the voice of one of the nurses, Amy, calling from the little thatch hut. The child was gasping again. The unnamed little girl – they told us they wait three weeks for naming, to see if the child will live – had vomited and aspirated. We fought for more than 2 long hours, but at last she died. In broken English one young soldier said to me, “The Lord gives, the Lord takes.” And they went with the tiny body out into the night, mother weeping behind. It was a sad moment, reminder of so many night-time vigils over the years at Luampa Hospital in Zambia, battling for life when death hovered so near. For one of the nurses, it was the first baby ever to die ‘on her watch’, and the acuteness of the pain was a poignant reminder of the deep, deep love of Jesus for each little one who suffers in such dark and distant places of the world.

God is good. This morning we found a new bottle of chloramphenicol eye drops, and the pain and swelling are subsiding. As I was unable to meet with the pastor and his wife, Rod and Pastor Mike rode off to Boing and have returned with encouragement and hope. After talking together, the couple prayed and committed to work toward reconciliation for the sake of their marriage, their seven children, and for the sake of their commitment to Christ.

Thank you for praying. In Christ, Rob

Exciting events at Doro...

2007-12-30T05:12:00.000+03:00

Two recent posts from Doro...

Rob with Mike Ruyle and Rod Greene, preparing for a bike trip to the village of Gasmalla.

Entry One...

It is Sunday evening here. I hope this reaches you with news of the conference, which has just ended.

The prayers of thousands from all corners of the world were answered, in a wonderful way.

This was the first gathering of Mabaan church leaders in Mabaan County, for more than 21 years! Gray haired old men were with us. Young church leaders. Youth in the choir. Mabaan leaders from Khartoum. Mabaan leaders from southern Mabaan. Mabaans from northern Mabaan. Each of the past four days there were some 150 church leaders together. Counting choir members and young people there were between 200-250 people every day!

There were many obstacles. We heard of another conference taking place 200 miles away in Renk, which seemed poised to saboutage this gathering. Preparations here in Mabaan seemed minimal, just a week before the conference was to begin. Church contributions to the conference were discouraging. But we arrived at Doro, and we prepared and prayed. And the Lord worked.

Pastors from Khartoum gathered in Renk, but transportation difficulties prevented more than a handful from traveling from Southern Sudan. When they heard that a wonderful conference was in progress in Mabaan County, they came and joined us! What a blessing.

Unity was the topic. The Cross was the message. Why was the Lord pleased to offer His only Son? To reveal the splendor of His love; to reveal the personal intent of His love; to reproduce His love in us! Pastor Mike preached with power every morning, and today the message of reconciliation, leading into the first sharing of Communion here in Mabaan since 1982, was charged with emotion.

We were challenged toward unity by Pastor John Chitumbo of Zambia, who brought a wonderful series of messages from the life of the early Church. Unity only flows from the hearts of those who truly understand the Grace of God, who have tasted His Salvation, who have been ‘called’ and ‘brought near’.. We were challenged to consider the example of Paul, the humility of Barnabus, the wisdom of the early church leaders in the book of Acts. There were tears and rededications, and new Believers who for the first time had their eyes opened to the Gospel message.

The amazing unity for which so many have prayed came about, in wonderful ways. Pastor John spoke with words of grace and humility, and barriers were broken down. Yesterday, and today’s six hours of concluding meetings were one of the most encouraging, uplifting, and joyful celebrations of unity I have ever experienced.

Thank God for honoring the prayers of His people, and sending His Spirit to gather these scattered and wounded people for such a blessed time of reconciliation with the Lord, and with one another.

Please pass on to all, our gratefulness as we prepare for a restful evening here in Doro, South Sudan. In Christ, Rob

______

Leprosy; children in Mabaan

2007-02-19T23:26:00.000+03:00

Leprosy is endemic among the Mabaan, and those people groups living South and East of Mabaan County over toward Ethiopia. Decades ago, SIM treated hundreds of leprosy patients and maintained an active leprosy community in Doro. There has been no leprosy medication available, for perhaps 40 years now. Locating these patients, and arranging for the necessary medication, is one of our foremost challenges.

Despite poverty and hunger, the children retain their playful spirit and touch our hearts deeply. I am treating a sad little baby here on our Doro compound: Imma is 2 years old, and weighs less than 12 pounds. Our nursing staff is doing a wonderful job working with the families of such children, to bring them back to health.

Thanks for your partnership with us. Love, Rob and Nancy

The base; kitchen hut in background

2007-02-19T22:21:00.000+03:00

The improved airstrip

2007-02-19T22:15:00.000+03:00

Travels in Upper Nile

2007-02-19T15:41:00.000+03:00

Hi again,

Back from another fruitful trip. I will include a partial journal of the D. trip here, and pictures. You can get the full report from me by sending me a request.

S. Sudan Trip February 2-8, 2007 to D., Upper Nile

During the long trip by plane to Northern Kenya, then on to D., I’ve contemplated the remarkable history of Sudan as recorded in Moorhead’s fascinating book The White Nile. It’s interesting that precisely 150 years ago, two years after Livingstone stumbled upon the majestic Victoria Falls along the Zambezi in southern Africa, the first expedition attempting to chart the headwaters of the Nile set out from the East Coast of Africa. That journey, followed by others in the ensuing years, opened the interior of Central Africa to the outside world and exposed the awful scourge of slavery, an age-old noose around the neck of the people of southern Sudan and her neighbors to the south.

“Probably nothing more monstrous or cruel than this traffic had happened in history…” (p. 83). By 1870, it was recorded that “some 50,000 slaves were being brought down (to Khartoum) from the Upper Nile every year, and a gang of at least 15,000 Arabs was engaged in the trade” (p. 144). A healthy young girl “was valued at ‘a single elephant’s tusk of the first class’... and she could also be purchased for a new shirt or for 13 English sewing needles…” (p. 149). Three years later Livingstone died in Africa, leaving this inscription for his Westminster Abbey memorial, “All I can add in my solitude is may Heaven’s rich blessing come down on everyone, American, English or Turk, who will help to heal this open sore of the world” (p. 119).

In the decades that followed, slave markets were closed and the ‘open sore’ disappeared from sight, only to re-appear sporadically, even recently, in Sudan’s tragic history. Descending onto the D. airstrip this hot Friday afternoon, looking out over the sparsely-populated, flat, sun-baked country all around, I am struck once again by the burden which these people and their neighbors have borne for so many painful years. Jesus’ words are timeless in their application, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” May your Rest come to this place, O Lord.

Journal entry Friday 2/2/07

Thursday was a long, tiring day of travel which began abruptly at 5 am. Mr. Gachoka arrived with his van, the Schaefers and I loaded our belongings, and we drove through the dark, wet hills to Nairobi. An ALS prop plane flew us to Lokichoggio and after a quick look at the unoccupied SIM house with its wall-full of angry bees, we settled at the ACROSS compound for the night. I slept soundly. Loki was wonderfully cool, after un-seasonal rainfall. Douglass of ACROSS was ready for us at 6:15 a.m. and we drove the bumpy road to the airport. Joey D. joined me for the trip into Sudan, leaving Schaefers to deal with the bees (!) and get the Loki house into livable condition. John M. was our pilot – a great guy, father of Abby and bright-eyed Caroline. Joey sat up front and had a flight lesson, while I alternately read and dozed in the seat behind, in the little AIM Air Cessna 206.

Our stop at Y. was brief. The secondary school project is well underway, and Joey remained with the team there. The winding Y. River is a beautiful sight from the air as we follow it from Y. village to D. To explore its oxbows and serpentine pathways would be a pleasure. There is a large hill standing out from the plain, halfway between the two market settlements. War raged along the margins of the River for more than twenty years, I must remind myself, and there will be no leisurely ‘tramping in the bush’ for many years to come.

Many familiar faces awaited our arrival at D. airstrip, and such a joy it was to greet Sebsibe and Abebe. Thus we began our days together, and I heard both joyful and trying news. The Ethiopian missionary couples have had little encouragement from the few local people, churched or unchurched, who live in the area. Nevertheless, despite living in tents without a single ‘tukul’ hut in progress and no grass yet in sight for the compound fence, they have an unwavering contentment. Their regular village visits each Wednesday and Friday took them this week to the village of Deng, a man possessed by a demon. Long years with the demon, since his youth, earned Deng tremendous respect and notoriety in the region. His ability to foresee events and wield power in the community brought him wealth, so that he even owns vehicles where a simple bicycle is considered an outstanding achievement. He listened while Sebsibe and Abebe spoke about Jesus from the Scriptures. He told the missionaries of the demonic influence in his own life; how he would be led into the bush for even six days at a time, completely out of his mind and living in the dirt, only to be found and dragged home by his family. “Can you deliver me?” he asked. Sebsibe tells me his answer was “No, we are not able. But we serve the God who is able, who is more powerful than the demons.”

Deng was not convinced, but he desired to be delivered, so they prayed for him. At last, they said, the man was cast down on the ground, shaking violently, then the demon departed and he was still. Deng sat up, and with gratefulness and amazement began to ask what he must do, to be saved! Should he get rid of one of his two wives? Give up drinking? Remove the fetishes? They told him the Good News of salvation, and Deng put his trust in Christ who has the power to save. The Lord would instruct him what to do next, they said, and promised to visit and teach from the Bible regularly. Deng will certainly need much prayer in days to come, but he immediately followed the pattern of the jailer in Acts 16 by calling his family and testifying to them. That day, his wives and two other family members also trusted Christ for salvation. What a blessed day!

Other good news: In these two weeks since I last visited, the UN came and helped the army from the North remove all eight tanks onto large trucks, for transport to K. A terrible chapter was ended when those machines of death were taken away. We can expect that the departure of the M. army from this area, will follow in the near future. Some of the SPLA troops have already moved to a location near the town, as the new “Joint Integrated Unit” of South Sudanese forces is being formed. There is hope that the rest of the SPLA will follow next month, and vacate the old hospital premises. Ah! Such news is almost too good to believe!

As I flew toward Lokichoggio early yesterday, Nancy was at home contemplating the wisdom of my journey to D. with its three resident armies. She typed an encouraging text message which reached me in Loki and went with me, when I left the reach of telephones. It read: “I Kings 22:19 the armies of heaven are with you.” So there were four armies in Doro, not just three! And now the prospect is imminent, that there will be just two: The army of the New South Sudan, and the hosts of the living God.

And later on the trip ... On we pushed to the village, and a wonderful reunion with local Pastors J.H. and D.N. As we sat and talked, the subject of leprosy came up and so we went to visit three lepers. A fourth came to us at the end of the day, as well. All had typical lesions of multi-bacillary leprosy. These I documented with digital photos, and will work into a presentation in order to begin a desperately-needed treatment program which our leprosy nurse will be able to oversee.
As expected, many came for medical help and we cared for each one. There was a child quite ill with malaria, a man with chronic osteomyelitis years after snakebite, patients with filarial onchocerciasis, and a woman with advanced mitral valve injury due to rheumatic heart disease. Most dramatic, of course, were the lepers. Finally, we said our good-byes and headed for home via the village of the woman with presumed TB, whom I’d visited in January. Gratefully, her lungs sounded clearer this time, and despite the unavailability of TB medication she was bright, and eating well! I left more antibiotics and other medication, and prayed that the One who created her, would shepherd her back to good health. The family was much encouraged

And conclusions ...

- Our compound needs a builder – whom will the Lord provide?
- Water for the health center – who will design the refitting of the pump, and the new tank and piping which will be required?
- Solar fittings and panels could be here by late this year – will we have a place to install them? Will we have a builder to oversee all this?
- The hospital buildings may be vacated in the next month, and will need to be cleaned of years of filth and refuse – how will we do that?
- What about the temporary health center – who will knock out the bricked-up windows, put up insect screening, hang dividers in the open space, dig toilets?
- How will the nurses live at the unfinished compound, if we are able to prepare the temporary health center? Are they going to have time for the many patients who will come? Who will bring their daily water from the well? Who will trek to the market to buy their food? Who’ll cook it over the coals, manage the grass-hut kitchen, wash their clothes, and so on?
- Then there will be the purchasing of materials for building, perhaps a brick press to source, cement to bring. The transporting to D. of large stocks of medical supplies and equipment, tables and chairs, exam couches, a small generator, solar infrastructure, two all-terrain vehicles, and more – who will help with all the logistics?
- From where will the additional funding come, to accomplish all this?
- Our base in Lokichoggio is an important point for the movement of these items, but Lou and Gerrie are just here for a couple of months – who will live and serve the team, in Loki?

This is the right time to remember the powerful truth contained in the Lord’s words to Sarah, “Is there anything too hard for God?” In His time and by His enabling, we look forward with anticipation to His answer to the many challenges ahead.

In Christ, Rob

News from Kenya...

2007-01-11T09:42:00.000+03:00

Hi,

As you know, the final weeks were hectic there in Oregon as we said our good-byes to you all and were torn by the desire to stay with Mom and Dad as he recovers from the recent illness. But we left them in good hands, said farewell to R and T at the airport, and arrived with all our luggage in Nairobi.

After 10 days, we're settled, the boys are in school, Timothy has asked a date for the Junior-Senior banquet, and therefore, life is settling into some normalcy! The Doro team has made a good start now, and tomorrow I will leave with Bob for Northern Kenya, then S. Sudan and the base. When we're back next week, you'll hear how it has gone. Two items today:

One, the reminder that God is in control. In Portland last month, we had a gathering of friends who traveled on the summer tour from MSB to Israel with Dad in 1979. A wonderful time. We met at a mission center in Portland where one of our group is serving, and at the end of the day she introduced me to Desta, an Ethiopian believer studying and living at the facility. Well, by God's providence Desta is brother to one of our two Ethiopian missionary couples at D.! I will carry greetings and letters and pictures tomorrow, as I go. Isn't God good?!

Two, another reminder that God is in control. As of this morning, we have a charter flight into D. but no return flight. All our contacts are booked for the month, and we've not been able to arrange any return yet. Thanks for praying for God's provision as we continue to scan for any flights into our area, during the next 48 hours. Bob will need to fly out of Kenya in one week.

In Christ, Rob

Congdon News

2006-11-27T07:13:00.000+03:00

Hi there! This is our first attempt at talking with you this way. Hope it works well.

Nancy and I welcomed Timothy and Stephen home a couple of nights ago, from RVA in Kenya, so there is increased life in the house. When Robert and Thomas show up in a couple of weeks, we'll have a wonderful time until the flight back to Kenya on December 29th.

There are a number of issues on the table, as we prepare for the upcoming challenge leading the medical ministry into Mabaan area of Sudan.

Plans for the medical center - I should fly into D. in late January with Bob, an experienced engineer with CH2HILL who has agreed to assist with the design plans. Logistics are a critical issue in Sudan, and flight plans are no exception. So this is a a matter for prayer. SIM has a new project to purchase a plane, in order to facilitate the ministry.

Plans for a start to the medical clinic - we hope to start in the old D. Hospital buildings by February. However, staff for the clinic and all the basic infrastructure and necessary lab, medication and even minimal water and power, will need to be in place. We're praying for Kenyan professionals, like Isaac, to a key part of our health care team.

We have received donation of a small generator, and the wonderful offer of help from an expert in energy supply schemes for remote hospitals. He'll help us design and implement a solar power supply. We're waiting for word about donation or special pricing on a portable ultrasound machine, which will be critical to the medical work.

Plans for a start to the training school - training community health workers is key, and there will need to be significant building progress in the months ahead. We'll aim to have tukuls (thatch houses), a dining facility, communication hut, and a classroom building along with the health facility. I'm encouraged to see the needed funds for this first year, coming in steadily.

More in the days ahead, about Desta and the Ethiopian team now preparing for the trip to D. in December. Love, Rob and Nancy