Sudan African Mission - Mission News

Here in August 2010 Marilyn and I looked back at what God had been doing with each of us. Paul's life started Jan. 22nd in a blinding snow blizzard with five men helping Dad shovel snow to enable the doctor to come to this "white house on the point" 2 1/2 miles east of Stevenson, WA where I was born. That garden in the foreground didn't happen by itself. I learned to work hard as I grew up. At age 15 in Jan1942 I woke with flames roaring in my bedroom wall. As I ran down the hill barefooted to the barn, (just out of sight to the right), to get the water hose, the frozen ice and snow on the hill was very painful. I cried out to an unknown God to help me. As I look back I can witness that God was guiding and had my hand. Even though every board in the house burnt in the next hour, still God had my hand.

The basement was engulfed in flame and the first floor linoleum was bubbling from heat as I raced to my 3rd floor bedroom to throw the last bucket of water into the wall and to throw my geometry study book crashing through the east window onto the lawn below. Just as I raced down the steps my Dad crashed Mom's singer sewing machine out the ten foot front picture window and Dad took my hand as we raced out the front door as the floor exploded at our heels, but with God holding my other hand.

GOD still has my hand. I look around me and I see a multitude in USA and Sudanese stepping along beside me. The grip of my hand is weaker but God has a stronger hold, my Faith in Him is stronger, My step is sure, My voice is strong. My helpers are multitudes. Thank You .

In 1990 Yournew and 2 other Dinka men , Kuac and Michael went to Bible College in Zimbabwe. Then 17 graduated from the Great Commission Bible College in Nairobi, Kenya. Our third graduating class of 40 is just finishing Jan 2011 at ABC ( Aweil Bible College) in Sudan. This will make 140 Bible College Evangelists that have graduated from our own Dinka speaking Bible College. Even these last 40 student Evangelists are out preaching the good news of Christ each Sunday.

Malek and Malualkon are large congregations. Their mud buildings have been destroyed by torrential rains. Their straw roofs and log beams were lost when the mud walls collapsed. Above picture are many concrete blocks being made as cement is available for their new buildings. Truckloads of cement bags have to come 800 miles over treacherous roads from Uganda. $30,000.00 is now in our building fund. $30,000.00 more is needed.

Thanks to Paul & Wanda Sauls..And Rick & Della Deighton we are under way with a total of $2250.00 ..Yournew and workmen are clearing brush by hand from 90 of the 360 acres today.

In 1988 when we were asked to go to Khartoum, Sudan, we had no idea what God had in store for us. From the time we were married in 1950, we had talked of going to a foreign work, but that never seemed to develop. But when we were asked about going to Sudan, we prayed about it and gave it very serious thought. Our nest was empty, none of our five were still living at home. In 1980 Paul had graduated from the University of Nebr. In Kearney with a Master of Science degree (Msed)in Education. IDES (International Disaster Emergency Service) had sent a Mobile Maintenance shop into Sudan to repair the hospital equipment and they were looking for someone with the credentials to go teach the native men how to repair their hospital equipment. Khartoum had three large hospitals. Sudan is a very undeveloped nation, ruled by a strict Islamic Government. They do not want anyone in their country with Western (Christian)ideas. But because of Paul's degree and willingness to go, we were granted a Visa into the country. We didn't know much about the country of Sudan and there was not much in the news about the country. We knew it would probably be hot (but not how hot)! Khartoum is on the east edge of the Sahara Desert. We even took sleeping bags with us because we had no idea where we would be living. We thought we could sleep on them if not in them.

In the book Genesis chapter 12, we read of God saying to Abram, "leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you." So Abram left as the Lord told him. He wasn't a young man. He was 75 years old!! He had no children, only his wife, Sarah and his nephew, Lot. Do you think Sarah was a complaining wife? Leaving a nice home, servants, family and all she had. . They apparently walked the distance. But he did as God had told him. Things weren't always GREAT for him, but when he did as God told him, he was blessed of God and became a GREAT nation.

Now on to living in Khartoum. After leaving PDX on October 25th, 1988, 30 hours later we landed in Khartoum, Sudan about 2 A. M. We had no one to meet us and didn't know where we would be staying. We waited in the terminal and as it began to get daylight we called a taxi and asked to be taken to a hotel. The driver drove around town stopping at several hotels, but all hotels were afraid of Islamic retaliation for helping an American. Finally we got a room at the Government run Grand hotel located on the Nile River.. It cost $106 a night. The nice thing about it was it was on the Nile River. We could sit out in the cool of the evening ( At midnight it was still 90 degrees ) with a Pepsi and watch the people. We were in this hotel 8 days and then found a room at a non-denominational guest house. The hotel had guards with guns at our door watching our every move. We found a little safer place at a private fenced guest house with a watchman at the gate.

We prayed for someone we could trust and work with Paul in the hospitals. God led us to Yournew, a Dinka man. He spoke and wrote English, Dinka and Arabic. He became our trusted daytime hospital interpreter and night watchman at our house.

We were in Khartoum for three months and then back to Portland for more supplies. I told Paul I wanted to take my Bernina sewing machine, so it was on the plane with us. I took lots of fabric, thread, zippers, buttons, patterns and things I could think of that I might need. There was fabric available in Khartoum, but it was very poor quality. I made dresses, shirts, and pants of various sizes. I knew there would be someone in the surrounding Dinka villages that could wear them. Nothing was wasted. I made two quilts with the scraps. I even made a polka dot teddy bear for one little girl. I was thankful I had my machine with me. I still have it and it works very good. My work of letter writing for SAM, I don't have time to use today. We were there almost two years. One thing really impressed me was seeing the Lepers begging as we drove down the streets. They would walk or crawl to the cars stopped for traffic and begged. It was a common to see beggars everywhere. Even young children were out trying to get something to eat.

Our CPA accountant tells me I do not need to write you a receipt every month because our computer will send you a contribution printout in Jan 2011. But my heart is with you. My computer is cold and heartless.

MALEK CONGREGATION: We have made this picture large for you to study the people. It is not a wide angle lens to see all the multitude. We also lightened the picture so you can make out their faces and clothes. Notice anything different from your USA congregation? Yes, see how many young faces there are, also the absence of old faces. Notice their "Sunday Best" clothes but all live in poverty. Notice each neatly dressed young Evangelists are the oldest people. Notice Dut on the left side, their beloved "Worship Leader "with the pink shirt and his drum on his chest. One young man asked me: "Are you a Christian" I told him "yes". He exclaimed to me, "I am going to run home and tell my father of you because my father says 'Church is just for children".

I see something else in this picture. Twenty years ago when Yournew went back home to his people, none were wearing clothes. Maybe some had a rag draped over their shoulder. 96,000 pieces of clothes were shipped in two 20ft containers to Sudan from the 2004 Peoria National Missionary Convention. Until then Yournew preached modesty at church and people stayed in their huts not coming to church.

This is a picture of the 2007 Malek congregation with their large new church building in the background with the cross on it. The church building was the first "Super Hut" in Sudan built like their10 ft living hut. Many poles held up the church roof but torrential downpours of rain for a week left too much water (tons) trapped in the straw roof and the roof collapsed. The mud walls dissolved. So the church in Malek has been meeting under a tree and a large tent for over a year. This year (2010), SAM is laying aside $5,000.00 a month in a "Malek building fund" for a building with concrete walls, roof trusses, insulation and metal roofing, like the blue Bible College roof to the right next door.

Do you wish to have a part with an extra $100.00 this month for building a church building? It is being used to win thousands to Jesus Christ their Lord in Malek and nearby villages.

"The work of the ministry is going on well. Our Lord is doing very great work among our people. Church ministry is growing well. There are lot of people called to his Church. We have 47 baptisms from the April - June 2010. I will send you all the details in my report when arrive in Nairobi.

The Malek Christian hospital has grown and is treating about 600 people a day. Especially children and women are blessed by this hospital. We pray to get more funds for medicines and floor tiles. I am working on the report with proposals for the Sudan Church in Aweil area before I come to Nairobi. We are very grateful for all the support you have been sending to our people. It has made a big difference in lives of our people in Aweil.

We thank God that has blessed us with the good rain in Aweil area this year. The Ox- Plow project is going well this year. The lower land flooded because of the heavy rain and the higher land will gain more crops now than the lower land.

When we look at people like this man sitting on the edge of a hospital bed at the Malek Christian Hospital with great pain. Our hearts go out to them. He is just one of eighteen thousand that came to the hospital last month (600 a day). Dr. Garang does his best to nurse back to health. Our Bible College students and leaders tell them of eternity and Jesus The Christ who loves them and gives them salvation and peace with God.

I thank God every day for those of you that have stepped up to the door of Mercy and have begged to enter in to march along with Paul and Marilyn into Eternity with such peace in our hearts that we are doing all we can for the Sudanese Church.

I was able to spend a week at camp at West Central Christian Service Camp near La Monte, MO June 13-18 with the high school campers. In addition to teaching a class, each evening I did a mission moment and presented SAM. It was exciting to interact with the students and see their excitement for missions. These young people will carry their desire to help others on throughout their adult life and they will be the ones encouraging the congregation where they attend to support missions in the future. Sunday morning June 20th, I was able to visit the Sunday School class in Eldon, MO. This class of first and second graders have brought their offering every week and the money has been given to SAM for several years.

This is the second appeal. Last month it made many of you blink your eyes in amazement. What an opportunity to have a self supporting Children's ranch with Food, Meat, Vegetables, Milk, Many homes, warm Beds, Christian House Parents, Prayer Chapel, Guarded Gates and love: James 1:27 "This is pure religion" (Now 100's roam the streets stealing). Yournew and Paul have stood looking many times with tears in our eyes at 360 acres (one square mile) of prime, rich, level soil. The community carved a cross into its bark of a large tree to designate it for the Church. None of the returning refugees have built upon it because the Community has set this acreage aside as " Dedicated to God " for an Orphan Children's Home.

The cost? Free to the Church. Fifteen years ago we prayed and dreamed for God to lead us: SO the Malek Compound with the Aweil Bible College with preachers had to come 1st and then. Yournew cried "How can I convince my people of the Loving God when they are dying in my arms"? SO the Malek Christian Hospital came next. Yet hundreds of homeless children roamed.

Again in 2002 we stood on this 360 acreage and controlled our trembling enthusiasm realizing the expense involved.

On May 17th, the Sudan election took place; most everything went smoothly. President Kiir was reelected as president along with the Vice President, all his government officials, and cabinet members for another three years. They have established their offices in Juba, which is in the south part of South Sudan.

In our American language the South has declared their declaration of independence. On May 27, 2010, the new officials were sworn into office. The planning details are complete for the referendum election vote in January 9, 2011. This vote will say yes or no to separate the South as an Independent Democracy from North Sudan.

Twenty million black Sudanese are in dire need of our prayers. The brown northern regime from Arabia has been plundering the southern black people for decades. Millions have died holding back the northern armies. A peace treaty was signed on Jan. 9, 2005, which says they would try to exist as two nations existing as one nation for six years, then vote on Jan 9, 2011. Today, many of the South is gathering under the Christian flag. Do you see the need for Prayer?

So far 100 of the best of young men of the land graduated from Bible College. All of them passed the pre-test of the ability of studying from English books and writing reports in English. Three of them from Zimbabwe Christian College, twenty from the Nairobi Great commission College. Now 100 have graduated from our own Bible college in Malek. Their classes are taught now in their Dinka mother tongue in which they will preach. Fifty two graduates from Aweil Bible College in January 2010 makes the 100 dedicated leaders. These graduates were divided into two pictures because Paul did not arrive with 30 more blue gowns. OK boys: Backstage & share your blue graduation gown. Teachers are in red.

We opened the ABC classes in January 2010. We received 40 students. They are busy studying Bible classes. Another 20 may come 2nd semester. Pray for all of them!

We would like to thank everyone that sent card, notes, and e-mails to us for our 60th anniversary on May 14th. At last count we have received over 75 cards and 40 e-mails to mine and many to Paul's.

We had a dinner with some of the family at the Rheinlander on Saturday evening. We spent two days at the Beach (one of our favorite places).

We had celebrations for our 40th and for our 50th and have been to all 50 States, have been to Africa many times so spending time at home was good.

We spend lots of time with the Sudan Mission. It keeps both of us busy. Thank you again all of you. We appreciate your prayers and support for what we are doing. With love, Marilyn

June 13-18, Bev will be teaching Mission Classes at the West Central Christian Service Camp near LaMonte, MO. She will be updating the Sunday School class in the AM on June 20th at Eldon, MO. Bev will be back to Parkview Christian in Sedalia Sunday night to update progress in Sudan. If you are in the area stop by camp and visit any day or evening. Bev.

The Sudan African Mission has been assigned booth number 918 on Nov. 18 -21st at the Rupp Convention Center in Lexington, KY. The theme is "Harvest of Hope". See You!

We have a new SudanAfricanMission, SAM Facebook Page. News and pictures are added almost every day. If you have a computer, comment or sign up for current news.

In Jan. 2010 fifty two most talented Sudanese men completed their three years of Bible college. 14 of them posed for a picture with me before they left, walking to their home preaching point. All are reporting multiple baptisms but are hindered for lack of transportation. Who will team up with one of them and provide a $175.00 bike to win more souls? Really 30 bikes are needed! No roads, no cars, just dirt trails and multitudes.

In Alok the work of church is going on well. On February 2010 we had Bible study and 4 people accepted Christ and were baptized into Christ February 13th . We have a good congregation during the dry season because Alok is by the river where many people from different places come for fishing from January - April. Most of the people do not have water in their villages so in May most of the families will be going back to their villages. They come to Alok to get fish. In the month of May we are going to have few members in the church. Because many people are going back to their homes for the farming. Pray for the congregation and the growth of the church in Alok. We are praying so that God will open doors for you get some funds, so that we can be able to build a church.

Yournew and the Land Commissioner stand where Yournew and Paul have stood with tears in our eyes many times. We stood by the tree with a cross carved into its bark which designates it for the Church, on 360 acres (one square mile) of prime, rich, level soil. None of the returning refugees have built upon it because the Community has set this acreage aside as " Dedicated to God " for an Orphan Children's Home.

The cost? Free to the Church. Fifteen years ago we prayed and dreamed for God to lead us: SO the Malek Compound with the Aweil Bible College with preachers had to be and then. Yournew cried "How can I convince my people of the Love of Christ when they are dying in my arms"? SO a Malek Christian Hospital came first. Yet hundreds of homeless children roamed.

Again in 2002 we stood on this 360 acreage and controlled our trembling enthusiasm realizing the expense involved.

A crop without a fence would be devastated by wild animals.
Children without a house to live in is beyond reason.
What's a Children's Home without Mom, Dads & Caretakers?
$200,000.00 still isn't in our hands but "It will come".

SO : 2 weeks ago in Nairobi, in a trembling step of faith, Paul & Yournew agreed to claim the land and today Yournew has a group of community men clearing trees from 90 acres of the land."Tomorrow" a fence and homes and happy children come.

The sun is up and Mary is cooking breakfast for 75 people on an open fire and planning for 100 for a normal day for lunch. The airplane along with a load of medicine, plows and Bible College class papers, dropped me off yesterday and another 1000 mile flight from Kenya will bring in another load of supplies in 5 days to pick me up for the 40 hour flight home. Yournew and I go over accomplishments the last months and discuss plans for growth in the next year. There's so much to do and we must be diligent. God raised Yournew and I up for today to guide the Church and yes, a nation. We dare not fail. Thousands will look to us today with longing eyes. Yes, I will smile when the day is done.

First, let me explain this is the first election Sudan has had in 24 years. But even before 1985 the black from the south had no influence in government rule. War has raged against the black south since 1988 but the north could not conquer the South.

Have you found you can go to www.SudanAfricanMission.org and then click on the map of Sudan on the left side that says "International Sudan News" and find much information about Sudan? (CPA) is "Comprehensive Peace Agreement" that was made in 2005 between the North Government and the Southern Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA).

Both North and the South have been functioning as two separate nations since 2005. For 5 years the North has ruled the north from their capitol in Khartoum by Dictator Bashir and the South is ruled by President Kiir from their capitol in Juba. Their Parliament (Congressmen) meet part time in Khartoum and part of the time in Juba. President Kiir has been re-elected with all his South Sudan governing officials starting Jan 11th 2011 when the final vote is taken by approximately 20 million in the South to become a separate nation.

Paul and Steve Holsinger plan to be in Nairobi, Kenya on May 18th looking for supplies to ship to the Malek Hospital

"It has been four months since I left Nairobi with the relief supplies for Malek. The trip was very good, all the relief supplies arrived in a good condition. I was received by the Christian community at Malek Airstrip with joy and happiness of receiving medicine for meningitis and 20 ox plows.

It was a blessing for our people to receive antibiotic injection in good time. There was an outbreak of meningitis in Aweil area and getting worse, but after the medicine's arrival, many sick people from Malek and the whole of Aweil county were filled with joy and gave glory to The Almighty God the Healer."

Malek Christian Hospital has become a blessing to the Southern Sudanese. Many people are praying to be blessed by our services and large numbers are seeing how God is doing His good will through SAM and SCOC. We serve both physical and Spiritual needs. We have a big responsibility to serve our people. It is good that SAM is sending support to Malek Hospital that alone serves 100 people per day. Also many needy people come to the Panthou Clinic, 40 miles southeast and Malualkon Clinic 30 miles east. We always send medicines where we hear there is a problem so doctors can give them treatment, which the government cannot do at the moment. All 3 of our clinics are working effectively. Many people form long lines looking for treatment and good service from our clinics.

Doctor Garang sent this report: "In Jan, Feb, Mar & Apr. we treated 6945 patients. 6549 walked home. 396 of them died at the hospital. PRAY FOR STRENGTH AMONG US WORKERS"

We opened the ABC classes in January 2010. We received 40 students but 20 students who registered did not report in the first term because of the election, which affected many activities in the country. We look forward for the best student group ever. We face the problem of accommodation. We pray that God will bless us with funds to build two dormitories and classrooms for the students. In 2010 we brought 20 bikes to the Evangelists to travel to their local churches to preach. They celebrated with live growing branches from trees by the river on their bikes.

May 14th, my Mom and Dad, Paul and Marilyn Douglass will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. Sixty years.... WOW! Dad and Mom have worked together in the ministry their entire married life. Prior to 1988 when the Sudan African Mission was founded, they served as a minister or in various other leadership roles in churches in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska and Oregon. Mom and Dad have six children, 13 grandchildren and by the time you read this, 21 great grandchildren. Should you wish to send Mom and Dad a card, please do so to PO Box 2432, Gresham, OR 97030.

"The distribution of the ox-plows, to our churches went very well. We were able to group the people and use the plows in their own farms where our Pastor Joseph Wol took care of the project and did very well. You will find the details report of the same prepared by Joseph Wol, there is more request for seeds to send to Aweil as soon as we have the funds in our hands. As you know we had a rain shortage last year. That made many people poor and they do not have seeds for this new season.

Dear on behalf of the Bread of Life Project, I would like to express my appreciation toward you and our donors for the wonderful job they have done. Concerning the twenty (20) ox plow, as pastor Yournew arrived at the airstrip in Malek, we received twenty (20) set of ox-plows where 212are benefiting by sharing the plow. We thank SAM for sending of seeds, SAM brought 69 sacks of sorghum seeds and distributed to the family who received plows. W e offloaded the plows with joy and thanksgiving in our hearts, unknowing what to tell to those who donated them for us, while the very most of us are vulnerable and in need but only dreamed of benefiting from the project, started jumping up and down with excitement and amazement singing "long live SAM, Long Live, Paul and Marilyn, Long live Donors because our lives are being rescued from the bondage of hunger and dependency that was leading to helpless and hopelessness."

In their cries of joy, Yournew heard their weeping also for vegetable seeds. Yournew sends Sam a request for seeds needed June 1st when the rains are best. 4000 packets of vegetable seeds. 50 bags of sorghum seed. 50 bags of peanut seeds. 3000 pounds of corn seed. Millet, peas are some that were lost in the decades of war. Besides some families have returned "home" from refugee camps with just the shirt on their back.

1 . Joseph reports, "Receive our greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our congregations send their love to you and our sponsors. We give you the appreciation for the support you sent to us to do the work of Christ. We thank God that for the work of Wannaname church. Everywhere at Wannaname village people welcome us to their homes to share the word of God. The church membership is increasing every day at Wannaname, it is because of the hard work that our Evangelists are doing for our Lord. This year we have the following baptism; 18 people baptized Feb. 23rd, 26 people were baptized on Mar. 19 th , 23 people were baptized on April 22, We are happy the support you always send to us. Most of our time we spent it at the village door to door evangelization.. Also we have Home Bible study and children Bible study. The good thing we are teaching at primary school as part time teacher to help children understand the Bible, pray for us. Pray for Sudan.
2 . At the Basuat Church 77 were baptized.

There is no need to print a little picture so small it has no message in it; ink and paper space are valuable.

My point of this article is that Sudan is not like a normal day in USA. Our native Sudanese Evangelists, who walk in our shoes, know where to walk and where not to and stay alive. Pray for them as they spread the Gospel of Peace for you and I.

On the right, in the picture, are government leaders who called for information about those needing medical help in Sudan.

March 19, 2010 United Nation reports show there are presently 4,263 survivors remaining in Sudan suffering as landmine victims . Thousands of landmines are still buried in and along trails, side roads and farms after twenty years of civil war. The number of landmine victims grows every day even though the peace-treaty had been signed in 2005. Recently three large bulldozers were destroyed while building roads in South Sudan. Main roads are now cleared of mines.

On the left in the picture, is a sea of victims with injuries from land mines, bullets, polio, war, and agricultural accidents. Their cries were "We need help with physical injuries. We do not have money to travel 400 miles to a hospital. We do not have roads or vehicles either. We do not have Doctors. We are the few who have survived. Now we suffer."

The Government listened but took no action. We Christians responded as Christians ought to by listening and promised a hospital as soon as possible.

Three years ago 17 midwives cried out to me in a large meeting because I had said one year earlier that we would build a hospital and they had not seen it yet. I kneeled down in the coarse sand, cleared a six inch square with a stick and said, "God can make it in a second! Do you want it on top of us?" Their faith in God made them cry out: "NO No,". So I explained to them it would take time for Christians to save from their living expenses and for SAM to collect the money.

Also 29 Malek area village Chieftains met with me at the Malek Compound to discuss their sicknesses. The testimonies from their hearts made me shudder. The most prominent cry was "We have no way of lab testing to tell why we are dying."

We pay Dr. Francis, Dr. Garang and 11 dedicated Christian workers in the hospital and Compound. Today we have the most modern Hospital Building in South Sudan. That was the easy part , thanks to you Christians. Dr. Garang writes to me saying his hands are partially tied because of lack of equipment.

Now we are praying for $700.00 a month to pay a trained Lab Technician who is available in Sudan. So far SAM has no answer for that money. Tears are flowing, and the hospital still needs equipment.

Paul and Steve Holsinger plan to be in Nairobi, Kenya in May looking for equipment to ship to the Malek Hospital.
Has your Bible School Class been talking? Is there equipment in America to be donated? Where is our answer?

On January 11, 2010 these 26 students, in blue robes, graduated with full honor Diplomas. 26 more received Certificates until they make up class time they lost because of the 2008 flood and sickness. The seven teachers, in red robes, are the ones who came to Malek Bible College to teach 3 years.

April 15 is the date set for National Elections in Sudan. South Sudan has never approached major government changes without a sword in their hand. Violence has left at least 2500 dead and 350,000 have been displaced by demonstrations in response to the upcoming elections. South Sudan has many outside influences to excite riots and confuse people.

April 15, 2010 will be a historic Presidential election in conjunction with a Sudan Census to determine how many black Sudanese, who have not been killed and are alive in South Sudan. A credible process will also reduce the possibility of election related violence and help to legitimize leaders that will oversee the referendum vote.

In January 2011, there is to be the referendum vote to determine if South Sudan will withdraw from North Sudan as a separate nation with their capital in Juba.

However officials are warning to be calm for a successful elections on Apr. 15 is a vital stepping stone towards the referendum withdrawal vote.

Deng Maror and Ajok Akot have reported that the plows helped them lots. There is higher crop production with the plows. People are learning it is better than the old method of using our hands and shovel. More people who have reported about their plows results. I will put the plow project in my plans when I visit Aweil Churches so when I return from Aweil I can give you pictures and the reports about the project from farmers and Evangelists. We can get a big acres of good farmland for the Church from local Chieftains and Commissioner. We, the church, must apply for it. The land is there being held for the church to use in the future, Maybe an Orphan Children's Home?

Yournew writes as he leaves Nairobi. "I have just received good news from Evangelist Joseph Wel that there were 15 people baptized at Wananame Church. Wananame is growing very fast because the Church is in the middle of a large population. There is not any other Church in that area. God is good. In the past community leaders in that area have been rejecting all Churches from being established in Wananame. We thank God that those elders who were refusing all Churches in that area are the ones who invited the Church of Christ to be the single one in their home area. Joseph asked me bring with me about 2000 copies of baptism certificates and we will send more on our next flight going to Malek". Lift up prayer and praise!

Last Sunday we baptized twenty people who have believed Jesus as their Savior and we have also received four families who have backslide from our church and now let praise God for that. In fact that is God's work not human work.

We have Bible study class every evening in which 56 men, 23 women and 15 elders attended . Surely we are growing and we are proud of that. Pray God will keep up for us.

Sunday school classes are been taught by their teachers how to sing songs in their mother languages as well as Bible study. So 45 children attended the classes. I wish we had a digital camera so that I can send some photos of church.

Multitudes celebrate the opening of the Hospital

Yournew writes: "I bought a few of the hospital laboratory tools and blood test equipment in Nairobi and carried them to Malek. We are praying God to provide for someone who can operate the lab equipments and even train others in the ministry to carry on the medical ministry to a better and more effective level. We may get somebody but the challenge at the moment is if we are going to get someone to operate the lab, we need the church to pay him for that work and SAM has a lot of responsibilities at hand but this is one very crucial area ministry to be pursued. The Sudan churches are appealing to SAM if he can find a sponsoring Church in USA who can pay the lab technician. We are looking at $700.00 per month.

Many churches were established by Malek as the mother church and as the church grows, its needs both spiritual and physical help. It also grows bigger and sometimes complex. At the moment all our Evangelists are working in the new churches and facing lots of challenges to meet their basic daily needs and we pray and kindly request for support to enable them to buy food for themselves and their family as they work for the Lord in their ministry."

In 2009 SAM metered out 16,000 pounds of corn and 16,000 pounds of barley to desperate, needy people.

Many children and young people come into the Malek hospital suffering from starvation. They are skin and bones. Food supply shipments by truck have been cut off from the north. Yournew writes "I am also kindly requesting to carry on the children feeding program because there is a lot of need especially this year. We have many families who have no food at all in their houses. That will result in more suffering for many children, widows and total orphans will suffer most. I pray that God will provide the funds for this year that we will be able to save lives of many needy children in Aweil South."

We received about 100 new students applications and 60 were accepted. 37 students have reported to class at Malek. The rest were delayed for a few days due to the ongoing elections. As a result, we delayed the opening until Feb. 23.

On March 1st Yournew flew from the Nairobi plow factory with 20 new plows and spare parts weighing 1200 pounds. We were limited on weight because boxes of Bibles & medicine had to go to Malek. The plane was loaded to the 2700 lb max.

The Nyam church needs very quick help to construct a new building. A lot of progress and development in South Sudan. The government of Aweil State carried out the land survey to build the main road to Aweil that must take place. Very unfortunately, our church building fell on the road during the survey so the bulldozer took it down. We kindly need your support financially to rebuild the church. The County Commissioner gave us a piece of land, which is enough for the church to rebuild. We are growing with about 100 members who struggle to feed their families. The building will cost $15,000.00. We will meet under a tree until we can build. We are praying for your help soon.

Concerning the evangelism work in Aweil East, God is doing a good work. Many men and women are coming daily for Bible studies. We have 46 men and 30 women baptized last month. We pray that God will call many more to His Kingdom. We have many members who come back for the worship. We pray to continue to that work. In January membership was as follows: 209 men, 395 Women, 170 children, 80 Regular visitors every Sunday.

I was busy doing the following projects in the mission. Some of the projects are finished but some we did not finish because of shortage of the funds.

Hospital fence was built and we have shortage of funds to buy the cements and sand.
We have drilled two wells. We bought the pump, tank and the materials for the plumber to do the plumbing to the hospital and the doctor's guest house.
The Doctor's guest house construction is complete but there are a shortage of funds for a few things inside.
We have enlarged the fence around the hospital, church and ABC Bible College. It needs more work to finish it.
800 100 lb Bags of corn were initially distributed to 500 poor and the needy people.
I spent much time preparing locations in villages for the 52 graduates from Bible College to preach.

In 2008 - 2009 there was a high growth of the churches in Aweil. And Evangelists who graduated from ABC are doing a great work in Aweil area. We can say that is God's blessings for the work they have done.

We need to pray for their ministries while serving their people. I am appealing to you so that you can get the sponsors for them who support them with food to be able to do better in the ministry. Some Evangelists have families and they need our support and encouragement.

A new water well has been drilled close by the Malek Christian Hospital with an electric pump

The well serves the Bible College next door also. When you look closely you can see the doctor's office and living quarters with the light blue roof, just to the right of the water tower. We found it difficult to get competent Doctors to come to help from Juba, Rumbak and Wau when we had a mud hut for them to live and sleep. Yournew agrees we are done building and need to focus on hospital equipment and conversions.

I am overseeing/supervising the hospital patients and construction of the fence and building of the guest house.

Conducting Bible studies, and evangelism, as a result of 40 people were baptized in Malek church. We have established a new church at Makuacamiir which is at the North East of Malek 2 miles and 50 people were baptized.

Through the evangelism we have managed to bring back new members who were not active in church membership.

We also thank God that for the relief food Sudan African send to us. The food helped most vulnerable families about 500 households especially the poor people.

Among them are our church members who were facing problems of hunger. Many of their children go for two to three days without food, but we thank God for providing the food. We pray that God will bless Sudan African Mission.

Lastly, our healing ministry (Clinic) is doing so well. We pray that the hospital equipment will come soon so that we can be able to test the sick people to give them the right medicines.

20 bicycles are needed for our rural Evangelists to effectively evangelize. Each cost USD 150.00. Thanks, signed Joseph Wel

Our greetings to you in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are happy to report to you again about the work in our church in Waralai.

We have 60 Christians in Bible study and our membership grow everyday. We have youth ministry and we meet twice a week . We need for you to support them with sportswear such as t-shirts. We also have adult education and they need support to provide them with the books and writing materials.

We need a church building at Waralai so that we can be able to have Sunday service during the rainy season. We need two bicycles to make our work easy in the village.

We need your prayers so our God will lead us in His ministry and make us to teach his people the way they should follow.

I am very glad to write to you and report to you the mission work in Malek. I am kindly informing you that the work in Malek Mission is going on well. ABC is doing all the clearing for the compound at Malek Mission and some other works in the church. These groups are very respectful students and I trust that they will do the best ministry in the local churches.

I am kindly asking you to make a plan of mission funds for the dormitory building for the ABC. Other request is for beds for the students. Most of our students do not have sleeping materials. Our old local wooden beds which were bought in 2006 are all broken. We pray that God will bless you with the funds so that we can be able to serve our students with their needs in ABC. We are praying for your coming to Malek so that God will help you in your trip. Our God is doing His great work in Malek. We brought many people into Christ. We are doing our evangelism and counseling in the villages around Malek.

I am sending you my report to tell you that the work in Alok is going on well. God brought many people to the church. I am now having about 40 people, men and women who are in Bible studies at Alok village. We have 9 people were baptised on November 22, 2009. Alok is a new church but is growing very well. We do not have any house for Sunday service. We do make our Sunday service under a tree.

I am asking if you could please send me a bicycle to help me with the transport and evangelism at the far villages.

I have a problem in that my wife gave birth to twins and there is not enough milk from the mother. I am praying for God to bless the babies with milk and food for the mother to feed.

Report from Lino Agou. I am an evangelist at Malek church. I am a songs leader in the churches of Christ in Aweil area.

I have established the new programme of going to the different churches to teach young people into Christ through singing. I hope through the prayers and the hard work our churches in Aweil will grow bigger.

We brought many to the church because of the song plan that we have produced to the churches. We are really blessed with this ministry. Our God is always with us with every work for Him so that can bring many people to know his word and love of Jesus Christ.

I arrived in Gresham earlier this month and have been adjusting to life in Oregon. While people in Minnesota are shoveling snow, my raincoat is getting used more than ever!

I am working into my position with SAM. Mountainview Church in Gresham is having a Mission Fair Nov. 7 & 8 and SAM will have a booth in the front hall.

Nov. 19-22 is the National Missionary Convention in Peoria, IL. Stop by booth #1513 and introduce yourself. I'd love to meet as many of you as possible!

Yournew traveled the 1000 miles to Nairobi this week to bring Church Reports from ten different Evangelists. Yournew is sick with the flu but regaining his strength. He will return to the Malek Church compound after one week in Nairobi. He says "The good news is reports from our 18 students who graduated in 2007; but the great news is that our new Evangelists have established 7 churches in their own villages."

We found a new, 60 kw Gen/Set in Nairobi for $18,000.00.. Thanks to many who have sacrificed and a steady flow of funds have come in. We are still $4,000.00 short but I have confidence in you that the rest will come to SAM. We will go ahead and Yournew will return to Malek Hospital with the new generator on board. There will be much ditch digging by hand to get the underground wiring to the Hospital, Church Building and Bible College. Then fuse panels so the power is on. When we had a little 4 kw the compound looked like an Oasis in the desert but gave up being overworked with night Bible studies.

The 110 birthday cards received were a real encouragement to me. I thank each one of you very much. God Bless you!

I was among eighteen students who graduated in 2007. I have been helping at Malek for all this time after my graduation from college. I thank God for the knowledge I gained from ABC. I am happy to report to you that I am having a good Ministry at Dolnoon, it was established in June, 09.We now have 36 members.

We thank God that He blessed Dolnoon community with a big tree by the name Kuel which we made as our church building on Sunday. I pray that God will bless us to construct the church building. Dolnoon will be a strong church in the near future because we have many youth in the church who are very helpful in the church work. I am kindly requesting you to support us with chairs, bibles for our members.

I am glad to report to you the work I am doing in the mission of Malek Church. I am very happy with the ministry work here at Malek. I thank God for calling me to work with my people by teaching the word of God.

I am a leader of song at Malek Sunday Service and blessed for doing this work for God and I am happy to serve my Lord. I am a compound manager, I should know what the students will eat and the workers at the mission. God gave me wisdom to serve my people for three years. I am also helping people in the clinic giving medicines to the sick. We are the only ones giving medicines to the sick. We teach them the word of God too. I am glad to write to you that our students are happy with the food we provide to them. What is lacking is the bedding for them, we pray, one day God will bless us with beds.

Greeting to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am happy to write to you that I am in a good health with my family. I am glad to tell you that I was a teacher in government school but now I am ministering in the church at Buoyen from last June, 2009. I am now having 40 people who received Christ. I am preaching full ministry at the Barmayen Church of Christ which was established in August, 2009.

After the church was established, I called the elders and youth for meeting to discuss about the land where we will put the church building in the future. The elders showed me a land for the church near Barmayen Primary School. It is a good place for the church. We pray that one day God will bless us to grow bigger. I need a bicycle, drum and some Bibles.

The work in Malual Kon is good. We have many people in Bible study. We have 8 people who were baptized. The Sunday services have grown very big in Sept.,and Oct., 2009.

We have a new church which was established by Muko Kuof. Its name is Masak Kuol which is 6 kilometers from Malual Koon. Mayak Kual is a new church but it growing very fast. We receive new members every Sunday.

On Sept. 4, 09, 17 people were baptized and Oct. 14, 53 people were baptized and there are more people will be baptized soon.

On Oct. 25, I will be going to open a new church at Worateny because the village does not have a church there. All this time, they have been going to Warawara church which is very far from them. We want to have a church building at Malual Kon. Many thanks. Morko Kuot

The membership of the Nyamlell Church was 300 in April, 09 it has now constantly increased by the returnees from Northern Sudan, 70 women have increased to 75, 30 men increased to 40, 20 youth reached 30, and 30 children increased to 40.

Nyamlell is town headquarters of Aweil West County so some returnees decide to stay. God is blessing us in Sudan spiritually and mentally. I am so thankful to my sponsor who is giving his hand and heart to make the Gospel preached to the poor and glory and honor shall be given to Him.

Lastly, the evangelism door to door is very effectively done in Nyamlell and we are expecting Ox-plough to be helpful for the poor. I suggest that the church should buy a bull and the youth can help the poor to cultivate the field of widows at evening hours. Cost of the bull is 300 dollars in three churches = 900 dollars. Thanks, Yours in Christ, Paulino Malou

The official grand opening of the Malek Christian Hospital will be Jan. 7th, one day after graduation. Many officials will attend.

We have established a new church at Warlai about 3miles from Malek church in July, 2009. We have reached 96 members who received the baptism. The church is growing every day, we are kindly asking you to support us with the following. We need bibles, chairs, tables and songbooks. We have established this church at Warlai, but it will grow as we will be working with our people teaching them the word of God. In the Bible study we have 25 children and 30 adults and those mentioned about will be baptized soon. We are teaching them to understand the gospel better. We have at Warlai Church a small shelter where we conduct our Sunday Service. We pray that God will bless our ministry and thanks a lot. William Wol & Tito Dhal

Graduation for 52 students will be January 6, 2010. All of them need a sponsor for their upcoming ministry. They have struggled through 3 years of disaster, sickness and starvation all around them but Bible College cl asses are going well. The workers are very busy in the Church compound and the hospital, landscaping, cleaning the hospital and giving medicines to the sick. Every Christian in the Malek compound is very busy serving the Lord.

We have 38 Native Sudanese, ordained Evangelists with college degrees preaching in South Sudan.

The 38 take turns today coming to Malek to teach 52 Students in Aweil Bible College. There are now a total of 90 Evangelists, including students, serving churches in Sudan. 100 more students are signed up for college in Jan.2010

Since the July 2009 report in respect to hunger in the region, The situation has worsened and people are dying of hunger especially the poor women and children. There is no food available. The people are surviving on wild leaves and roots, but some are poisoned to death or develop other heath complications. SAM is the one place they can come for food. It is such a shame when we have so much to eat in America and are so busy playing games with health program politicians that an article about thousands dying of hunger in Sudan can't even find a place in the news or even on the second page of our newspapers. The President, Congress, Senators and the public seem blind to Sudan tragedies. In this year alone, SAM has sent $50,000.00 for food this year.

Receive my greetings in the name of our Jesus Christ, I therefore hope God have guided you through your traveling. We are praying for you and our Christian brethren and sisters and are happy for the support we are getting for the Kakuma church. Our congregation are getting on well this month.

One activity we have carried out is door to door evangelism. Three church members who had backslide, we encouraged them back into congregation and three new people we convert this month.

Women groups were busy with the bible study in which they need some writing material. I do spend Friday and other days to study with them

Our Sunday school teachers are very busy teaching our children with songs and memory verses so they should be good people in the future.

Also if SAM could add $200.00 a month to help orphans which our church took care of since Victor was here in Kakauma. We are concerned as the Kakuma church of Christ has been and is responsible for these children.

When I met Yournew, he cried to Paul "How can I tell my people about the love of Christ when they are dying in my arms". Paul told him that it would be up to God to lead us in a way to show that love.

Both of us learned that tragedy and disaster bring opportunity. Just as sickness, death, and trials bring opportunities in our churches in the USA so it is with the extreme trials in Sudan. Let me name some opportunities.

Many Christians have loaned vast amounts to God and God has repaid the loans. Prov: 19:17. Do you want the names of a few hundred of them? When I call them, they say "We are doing what we want to do for our Lord Jesus.

Some have given every month since Marilyn's and my first day in Khartoum in 1988.

Paul and Marilyn have been reporting to supporting Churches in Missouri for 3 weeks from Aug 12th to Sept 1st. It was a blessing to meet many Christians along the way

Marilyn is to have a MRI on Sept. 4th on her left Kidney to see if cancer is still there. The specialist will give us an answer on Sept. 9th. In the mean time, she's busy at her desk. We are planning an 80th birthday party for her Oct. 17th from 2 until 4 at the Mountianview Church in Gresham.

See you at booth 1513 at the National Missionary convention in Peoria, IL this November 19th to 22nd.