After the rains

Trip Start Feb 06, 2008
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Trip End Feb 2009


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Flag of Sudan  ,
Monday, October 27, 2008

I was holding out in writing this update hoping that I might have some good interesting news to share.  Unfortunately, when I started writing this over two weeks ago, I didn't think that was going to happen.  I was beginning to share the disappointing news that a water program that I had been working on since July had been denied funding by SP Canada.   I spent the months of July and August putting together a proposal to start a large water program in Nuba.  We were told at the beginning of June that our SP office in Canada had money that they wanted to give for a water program in Nuba.  The program would have consisted of 20 different projects; 12 hand pumps and 8 water yards.  (Water yards are just electrically run submersible pumps that pump water to a large storage tank that runs out through a rather simple distribution system.)  It would have dramatically helped tens of thousands of people here gain better access to clean water sources.  There are still many communities that don't have developed water sources and either use shallow hand dug wells near river beds, or have to walk for hours to the closest source.  I was informed in early October that SP Canada had for some reason decided not to accept our proposal and send funds.  There was a chance that we might find some smaller amounts of funding sources, but I was doubtful that a full scale program would be started. 
 
Right after I heard that SPC would not come through, I was asked to consider a water program manager position in the Ogaden desert in Ethiopia (near Somalia).  I was amazed at the excellent timing of the situation and felt that God had closed one door to open another.  However, I started feeling guilty at the possibility of leaving Nuba where I knew there was such a demanding need for water.  If I stayed, there was no guarantee that any funding would be found and it would have also meant that the position in Ethiopia would be filled by someone else.  Thankfully it never came to me having to make that decision.  About a week ago I received a call from Chris, our Deputy Country Director, who had just been in a conference call with SPC who were wanting to start discussions of funding the Nuba water program.  They admitted that they couldn't' fund the entire $660K program, but wanted to know how much we needed to begin a respectable program.  Chris wanted to know what that amount would be, and off the top of my head I told him $300K.  When I spoke to him just 30 minutes later, he had already received a call from SPC saying that they would give $400K!  This was now the most exciting night of my time spent in Sudan.

I am really excited about this opportunity and I pray that it will bring a great help to satisfying the water needs of the people here.  There is so much to do, but I really enjoy the work.  The program will initially run just through this years dry season (Nov - June) and since the funding was cut back a bit, we are only able to do 8 hand pumps and 4 water yards.  However, there are and have been many people excited about the possibility of this program.  UNICEF has been very supportive since the beginning and depending on their capacity for this upcoming year, may be able to help out with drilling costs, so that we are ultimately able to do more projects.  Right now I'm working to finalize our list of locations where to put in a developed water source, then we'll start signing drilling contacts, and we are also working to hire and establish our national staff for the program.  I will be home over Thanksgiving, so if you are interested I would love to share more with you.

Concerning my church reconstruction work, there has not been too much happening lately.  We reached our rainy season goal of churches several weeks ago.  So, now we have to wait for the roads to become passable enough for trucks to come down from Northern cities to bring supplies to continue the work.  The lack of rains is good and bad.  Many of the roads that were not used at all between July and November have been used throughout the entire rainy season this year.  However, the lack of rain is causing a shortage in crops for the people.  In the 8 months that I've been here a bag of sorghum has almost doubled in price as the time increases between the end of one harvest season the beginning of the next.  By this time next year, though, we may see extreme shortages in the food and even higher prices.

Sudan, in general, is an interesting place these days.  If you're interested in learning more I have an article that was written specifically about the Nuba Mountains and mentions many of the places where we work and live.  If you have time and are interested, you should read the article.  It will give you a better insight into what's happening politically around here than I ever could report.  Just let me know and I'll send it to you.

My most recent R&R was really good.  My Mom was able to come and meet me in Nairobi.  We spent a couple days there and I showed her the guest house and SP office, in addition to some shopping, eating, and going to see the Dark Knight.  We then went for three nights to Masai Mara National Game Reserve for a sweet safari.  I was amazed at how many animals could be found in such a small area so close to each other.   After the safari we went to the island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania for 5 nights for some real R&R.  The beach was real nice and the snorkeling was good too.

If anyone is ever interested in joining me on an R&R, specifically the spring of '09, I'm always looking for ideas.
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