Updates!

From Kathy:
For about 4 days last week we were not in communication with the team mainly due to them being in transit between Juba--Bor Town--Jalle. Now that they are in the area of Jalle, we will start to maintain more dialog.

As they arrived in Bor Town, they were greeted by the elders of the church and local people. As much as Fred, David & William were ready to begin the building process, in Sudan there is much "meeting & greeting" and "talking & greeting" and "meeting & talking" all of which come first...:-)

After getting settled, the emails recently have centered around the procuring of supplies locally and the cost of these supplies. After being shocked at the price of local materials, the team would covet your prayers in asking the Lord to go before them in securing the supplies that they need at a price that is within the project's budget.

David & Fred have also had a few frustrations with getting started on the building process, mainly due to the culture adjustment in Sudan and the way things are done there. They are slowly learning what TIA (This Is Africa) really means. Please keep them in your prayers as they begin to settle in and pray that the Lord will renew their strength each day in this journey.

Please keep David in prayer for the Lord's healing as he is experiencing an upset stomach.
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From Fred dated Jan. 25th on encouragement that they had received from David's mom & again from Rick:

"Thanks for the encouragement. We were just talking about Nehemiah having the sword in one hand and working with the other just yesterday morning...It's quickly becoming evident that we are not just here for construction, which we expected, but weren't sure what else. David & I walked the perimeter of the property and claimed it in the name of Christ yesterday (Saturday). I know that Satan didn't like it so we are just waiting for him to try and trip us up but we know that there are alot of people fighting for and with us!"

After a discussion about supplies, Fred wrote:
"...hopefully we will break ground tomorrow (Monday 1/26) and get the youth to start clearing for the first school building. Again, you know how it is here so only the Lord knows if we will actually start, but I'm going to do everything I can to get them out there."

"Send our love back..."

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From David - Jan. 24th

Praise God! He's moving! He's stirring...the kind of stirring that you can feel but struggle to describe! the stirring that you feel when you know He is doing works beyond comprehension!!
Pray that these people will wrap themselves in Gods love!
Pray that God will continue to shine through us in this dark land!
Pray in the name of Jesus that the strongholds will be cast down pray that these people will be healed as well as this land pray that Fred, William and I be vessels for what God is doing, and submit to His agenda daily!
Pray for this amazing rash on my right arm that God has allowed me to experience for some reason!
and Pray that Gods will be done and that He is glorified!!!


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From Steve Beesley, Fred's dad, on an email received from Fred dated Jan. 25th:

Fred asks for our prayers as there have been some tough times in a strange land that is totally different from what he is used to. The guy's mud hut is 15 x 15 with a tin roof. They did purchase a diesel work-type truck with fuel being $7 per gallon. He mentioned that they were guarded at all times (the Sudanese way of keeping their guests out of harm's way) and were actually visited by a Sudanese general and a few of his soldiers who basically had heard about their mission and came to welcome and meet them. Fred comments that he is well and that he & David make a good team. They both realize that they are totally dependent on God for protection, encouragement, health and all provisions. The team asks for everyone's prayers as they hope to get started today (Monday) on the actual construction, as they spent the day setting up the markers showing where the buildings will go. Fred has been writing in a journal each day, chronicling the events of the day and the things he is experiencing spiritually. In the end, says Steve, he will be able to relate about an experience few will ever have.

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From Fred dated Jan.25th again in reply to an email from Rick:

"Yeah, we have been eating mostly local food. We liked the Ethiopian food that we ate in Kampala and in Juba. It was interesting but after we got over that, it was pretty good. And yes, we have been taking our meds (for Malaria) every day."


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From David - Jan. 27th

"Tell Kathy we are taking our malaria meds every morning, and we are drinking plenty of fluids. we are eating the local food, but not as much now that we're settling in. now it's mostly beans and rice and whatever we brought. I did manage to get sick yesterday, and I'm not quite 100%, but I feel alot better!
We look forward to you guys getting here in march!"