June 4, 2019

The Journey Continues

I started this "Hiking to Help Refugees" blog using Google's "Blogger" app back in early 2017 just before my nephew, Adam, and I started our AT hike.  I used it all the way through the end of that year, but then discontinued its use.  I did so because that venture ended with us surpassing our goal of raising $100K for our ministry among South Sudanese and Sudanese refugees.  So the next stage involved staying busy putting that money to use. 

So I started relying solely on the newsletter I send out from my Hotmail account, and periodically sending the same messages out through my Mail Chimp account.

However, I have come to miss having a forum for writing down thoughts or sharing news which pertain to our ongoing ministry among refugees via the non-profit called Calvary Road Ministry (CRM).  So I am going to resurrect this blog and start writing.  If you so desire please feel free to once again join me in this God-appointed journey; a journey which like a long Appalachian Trail hike, has presented us with: unexpected events, twists and turns, the opportunity to meet some wonderful people, and a lot of satisfaction mingled with real pain.

Several recent things have happened which would fall within the "unexpected" category.  As has been announced already by the President of CRM, Alan McAlister, I was asked by him and its board to become its next president.  Renee and I have accepted this as the Lord's will for us, and I will assume that position in October of this year.  The second unexpected event took place in March of this year.  That was having the opportunity to do an on-the-field training event for followers of Jesus known as MBBs, Muslim Background Believers.

This particular community all originally hail from the southern sections of Sudan, but now live in refugee camps located either in northern Uganda or the NE of South Sudan. They all represent scripture-less people groups.  That is to say, a translation of the NT has not been completed in their language. So when we provide them with electronic media loaded with scripture, we utilize the language of Sudanese Arabic. They represent the new wonderful people we have met on our journey.  However, hanging out with these folks is sure to expose you to some serious pain, as you hear their individual stories of horrors experienced at the hands of Khartoum sponsored militias.

This training ended on March 30.  Not long afterwards, the military of Sudan staged a coup and placed their long standing president in detention.  This happened because many citizens of Sudan took to the streets starting in January, calling for regime change.  Until just the last few days, it appeared that the Transition Military Council (TMC) and civilian representatives were working on a plan that offered hope for real change. However, the latest reporting on the BBC, coupled with reports direct from the streets of Khartoum, paint a different picture.  Twists and turns.

During the brief hopeful period, we enabled a leader of this MBB community to travel to his home area.  He is staying where his parents now live; in a town located near a large IDP camp.  He has found the people of his home area, who are probably %99 Muslim, to be very open to the Good News.  He took one of the MP3 players we gave him and his own dad has been listening to the NT.  His dad has even taken it into the IDP camp and enabled men of his age to hear about Jesus.  Now they all want either a printed Bible or an MP3 player for themselves.  The bottom line is our brother has discovered his people are more open than ever to learn more about Him who is "The Truth."

Pray for this brother's protection.  Pray also for those of us who want to place more scripture in his hands while he is living back home.  The journey that undertaking will require will be far more dangerous than any thru hike of the AT!

Please note that in the sidebar of each post you will see the option "Follow by Email."  If you submit your email address I think each new post should result in your receiving notification in your inbox.  If you desire to follow us closely in our journey submit yours.

DC