During our layover in Nyala, we visited the local UMCOR guest house for lunch. Joining us were three UN soldiers (part of the UNAMID peacekeeping force), who are assigned to Darfur from Pakistan. I had a great conversation with a Pakistani Major, asking him how he perceived the current security situation. He indicated that in more populated areas like Nyala, the security situation had much improved. However, in outlying areas like Ed Deain and Adilla, where our projects are located, the situation can still be volatile and unpredictable--especially for NGO personnel. He also fears that the upcoming Sudanese elections in Spring 2010 could be a trigger for renewed or increased conflict. Before we left, I thanked the Major for his service. When soldiers of the world come together for the security of people and the sake of peace, they are truly acting as an army of God. I do wish the UNAMID forces had a stronger mandate to engage against threatening forces when needed--the lack of authority to act was a critical UN failure in the Rwandan genocide of 1993-94.

As we flew out of Nyala, this time on a commercial flight, we had a bird’s eye view of the Nyala IDP (internally displaced persons) camp. Dan Bracken snapped this picture out the window of the UN plane on our approach to Nyala. The camp hosts 170,000 refuges, and the count continues to grow. It’s the largest IDP camp in the world. There is so much work to be done!

As I write this, we are comfortable in our hotel in Khartoum waiting to begin our long flight home on Saturday, arriving in Cincinnati late Sunday night. The team appreciates the covering of your prayers!

In Jesus’ name and service,

Bono of U2 once remarked that God is no respecter of persons. We cannot take privilege based on the accident of our birth at a particular marking of latitude and longitude on the globe. To those of us whom have been given much, much is expected in return. We MUST give back--without exception. As I look at these young girls filled with hope and expectation because of your sacrificial investment, I realize that each of them is just as important and just as worthy of a promising future as my own new granddaughter Ellie. In each of their faces, I see the face of a child whom God loves.

Our projects at Umelmonineen also demonstrate the power of strategic partnerships. Our own partner, UMCOR has multiplied what our projects accomplish in Darfur through partnerships with other NGOs (non-governmental organizations). The girls at the school benefit from one meal per day through the World Food Program (WFP). Another partner, UNICEF, has planted 250 trees in 9 school yards, including trees at Umelmonineen, that will provide badly needed shade for students in a region where 100+ degree Farenheit temperatures are the norm through much of the year. The students are trained on how to water and care for them, since it’s important that upcoming generations begin to address the significant environmental issues in the region.

Our second visit today was to our agricultural program at Kedriek, outside of Ed Daein town. It turned out to be a reunion with old friend. During our 2007 visit, my son Jonathan captured a picture of a farmer and his son who had used the proceeds from the first crop you funded to purchase a donkey and plow to increase his production. Imagine my surprise to reconnect with this same farmer again today in a volatile place like Darfur. Once again, we found both encouragement and need. Our project at Kedriek has now expanded to support 450 of the 500 households in the village. The people were very grateful. At the same time, the community lacks a school and a nearby safe water source. The children walk 24 kilometers round trip each day in the blazing sun to attend school in Ed Daein. It’s also a 12 kilometer hike to acquire safe water, with the only alternative being a muddy village pond that livestock water and bathe in daily.

The team is tired yet energized as we prepare to fly back to Khartoum tomorrow, away from the heat, the dust and the often desperate circumstances that currently define Darfur. We are energized by how God has used your investment from the “church in Ohio” since January of 2005 to accomplish his miracles of multiplication. But, God isn’t done here...so we aren’t “done” here. Join me again this year in remembering that Christmas is not our birthday, it’s Jesus’ birthday. We must continue to do that which honors him--no matter how hard, inconvenient or costly.

Students sit in the sand to study math	An old friend and his son in front of their crops
Students eat lunch provided by the World Food Program

God bless…

We have learned that two of the major challenges facing humanitarian relief organizations in Darfur are periods of deteriorating security, when relief organization personnel may become victims of banditry, carjackings, and kidnappings. The second challenge is that this year's harvest is expected to be poor, due to a short, inadequate rainy season and pest problems. When we first began our agricultural program in 2005 by giving each targeted household one bag of seed, the return from that investment averaged 18 bags at the time of harvest. This year, farmers may only harvest 7 to 8 bags. UMCOR worries that the people will be facing a food crisis throughout much of the dry season.

Today we traveled to Adilla, seeing the new brick-making machine that will financially support the needs of orphaned and special needs children in the region. We also visited Deriga town, which has been nicknamed Ohio 2. In 2007, Deriga was deserted, the militia had burned the town down. Most people had fled. A few who were remaining approached UMCOR and Ginghamsburg about implementing a safe water project, claiming that the people would return once the water yard was built. UMCOR was skeptical, but based on the persistence of the people finally started work. Soon, 5000 people had returned to the village. Once our school was built, the population swelled to 11,000. Today, 20,000 call Deriga home and 375 students attend the school. Agriculture has also been implemented to serve the people of Ohio 2.

My third visit to Darfur reminds me once again why it is essential that we who have so much live more simply this Advent season, so that others, our Darfuri sisters and brothers, may simply live.

View out the window of the UN plane to Darfur	Interview with the local Ed Daein TV station
Welcome by students outside of the Deriga school

God bless…