|
|
|
Past Issues - |
Joy's Monthly Memos |
Webmaster's Note: "Joy's Past Letters Page" gets so large that I need to purge the old messages and photos from time to time and start anew. I apologize if something you wanted to refer back to is now missing.
Joy’s November 2007 Monthly
Memo
Comfort Food
Yei, South Sudan
It’s pumpkin season in South Sudan. Yesterday Denise, Pastor Simon, the Sudanese Pastor Simon – quite confusing since we also have a Kenyan Pastor Simon on the team too, and I returned home from a trip to Lainya where we met with our contacts who will receive Bibles there. Each village we drove through found pumpkins lined up under the shade of the mango trees where the women were selling their meager fruits and vegetables.
Today I retrieved my solar cooker out of storage where I sent some of my ‘things’ when I left Lui a few months ago and I hope to be able to make some pumpkin bread and maybe even a pumpkin pie. Tis the season. . . . and although I won’t be eating turkey this Thursday it’s nice to indulge in a few seasonal traditions when possible. Pumpkins are comfort food at Thanksgiving.
Kind of the same way the Scripture is comfort food during rough times. That’s why we’re so excited to be able to get the Word of God into the hands of the Sudanese. A pastor from Malakal visited me this week. Malakal is an area where I will be headed in a little over a week to help my colleague Brent get started in mobilizing the churches to receive Bibles. Rev. Both said that ten years ago soldiers from north Sudan came through their villages and burned their churches down and threw their Bibles into the river. The Sudanese know what persecution is about.
It’s my prayer this Thanksgiving holiday that the words found in the book of Hebrews will be comfort food to the people of Sudan. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Here are some specific praises and requests:
Praises
A good start for the Bari and Zande language mobilizations. We actually underestimated the Bari distribution and have had to go back and ask people to reduce the number of Bibles they will receive. So far, so good.
If you’d like to learn more about the people of these language groups go to:
Purchase of motorcycles to facilitate the Bible Distribution Coordinators getting around for the mobilization of the Bible distribution
Safety on the roads and good health of the team
The Bibles have been shipped from the printers and are now on the high seas due to reach the port of Mombasa, Kenya in late December
Requests
Good relationships and communication with government and church leaders as we venture into areas of Sudan where Samaritan’s Purse has not worked before
God-chosen men still to be hired in Kenya and Sudan by the end of the year
Prepared hearts and minds of the over 250,000 people who will receive a Bible
Synthesis of the logistics of transporting, storing, and moving the Bibles to the training sites
I’m thankful for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Whether it is through trying circumstances, an unclear future, or outright persecution, our God is faithful. I’m also thankful for you, my support team, who have so generously supported me financially, in prayer, and through encouraging emails.
That all may hear, or read, the message of hope!
Joy
Bible Distribution team -
back row: Denise Nowery, Joy Phillips, Pastor Simon (Kenyan)
and front row: Pastor Simon (Sudanese), Brent Duncan
Financial gifts can be sent to:
World Gospel Mission
P.O. Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
Joy’s October 2007 Monthly
Memo
Looking through a kaleidoscope
Each time I hold the kaleidoscope of my life up to the light I see slightly different colors and shapes. One day my future looks clear and sharp and crisp and I feel like I know exactly what things will look like 6 months from now. But then the next day it seems as if someone has rotated the cylinders slightly and things are out of focus.
Since my last monthly memo I’ve kept busy with trips to Tenwek, Uganda, and Sudan, and meetings and correspondence for the Bible Distribution project. Despite staying busy the exact focus of this new phase of my ministry keeps eluding me. I like immediate answers to my questions! I’m a planner. I want to know where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing this time next year!
As I was reading the Bible this morning I found myself paraphrasing the 77th Psalm a bit:
“Has the Lord rejected my prayers to show me the way?
Will he never again guide me?
Is his unfailing love gone forever?
Have his promises permanently failed?
Has God forgotten me?
Has he slammed the door on his compassion?” Psalm 77: 7 – 9 (NLT)
But when I continued reading I realized I was being impatient once again.
And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.” But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. By your strong arm, you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.” Psalm 77: 10 – 15 (NLT)
God reminded me that I can rely on Him to clearly show me His plan. Instead of living with uncertainty and being distracted by the changing colors and shapes, I need to remember how He’s worked in my life and see anew that He’s a faithful God. So for now I find myself involved in 3 different activities.
1. Bible Distribution
I talked about this in my last monthly memo. I’ve gotten considerably more involved since then and have taken on the responsibility of coordinating this project until a full time Coordinator can be found and hired. We now have two staff in Sudan looking for contacts who will assist in the distribution. This is a massive undertaking. We will be unrolling a prayer strategy aimed at flooding this project in prayer. Stay tuned – I hope you will plan to get involved.
2. Community Health & Development
I am helping develop a program to complement the Samaritan’s Purse Project of rebuilding churches that were destroyed during the war. This new project aims to bring transformation to the communities that have suffered through the brutal effects of the war. Transformation that is wholistic, addressing all aspects of life, including health, water, agriculture, economics, education and empowering the church. Not only is Samaritan’s Purse interested in offering hope to the people of South Sudan by assisting them rebuild their church sanctuaries but we are also concerned with the spiritual and physical lives of the Sudanese.
3. Research best practices in the area of community health & development
In order to implement a new community health & development project in Sudan and be able to assist others doing similar types of ministry, I want to find out what’s out there. I want to visit projects that have seen a significant measure of success. I want to locate resources that are good. I want to find people and organizations to partner with.
So that’s what I’ll be doing for now. Taking it one day at a time! There’s so much to do – budgets to be approved, staff to be hired, assessments to be done, contacts to be made. I really need your prayers. But before I give a list of requests I don’t want to forget my reading from this morning, so let me list a few things to thank God for:
Some important and urgent prayer needs:
Lui Hospital’s funding will be taken over by the Ministry of Health in January and the staff has not heard anything from the MOH – they’re understandably nervous. Pray that a plan for continued funding of the hospital is put in place soon
Tenwek
Community Health & Development will be going through a transition in January
as well as they look for new donors and slightly change the focus of their
activities
Staff
needs:
Bible Distribution (is God calling you? Are you a healthy male who isn’t afraid of roughing it in Sudan, willing to commit 6 – 9 months of your life in order to get the Word of God into the hands of Sudanese?) We need to hire Sudanese assistant/translators too. Pray we have wisdom in choosing the right people for this ministry.
Community Health & Development (is God calling you? Interested in being part of a multi-disciplinary team that helps transform a community?) Pray that God will lead us to qualified and committed people who want to invest their lives in making a difference in Sudan.
The Bibles (157 tons of them!) will soon be shipped from Korea where they were printed to a port in Kenya. Pray for safety on the seas and over land as they are sent to Yei, Sudan and Lokichoggio, Kenya
Pray for Pastor Simon and Brent as they travel in Sudan making contacts in all six language groups and locate volunteers who will be trained to assist in distributing the Bibles
Pray that I will maneuver through the days ahead with grace despite the changing scenery in my kaleidoscope and that I will sense God’s amazing presence and power in all that I do.
Thanks for standing in the gap with me.
His,
Joy
Joy’s June 2007 Monthly Memo
Not a clue. . .
Our Evangelism Coordinator, Simon (pictured in a previous MM) took me to visit a friend of his yesterday. The wife of his friend, Samson, has a mental illness necessitating 24/7 observation and care. This is a big strain on Samson and Simon wanted us to encourage him.
Samson was a carpenter before he had to stop work to look after his wife and their 2 young children. His wife stood during our 2 hour visit, eyes glassy, seeing but not yet seeing, not able to engage in conversation, and sometimes I was told not eating for days at a time. As he told his story my heart went out to him. He wants to help her so desperately yet there is no psychiatric help available in South Sudan. Simon knows this couple because several years ago they were engaged in evangelism activities together. They were all actively sharing Christ’s love to neighboring villages. Now, Samson encourages his wife to take a drink and hopes she will not physically lash out at him instead.
Simon asked me to pray for the family as we prepared to leave and I thought to myself, I don’t have a clue what this man faces on a daily basis. How can I pray?
We had to cross a river to reach Samson’s home. The bridge crossing the river was blown up years earlier during the war by the local army to prevent the northern army from crossing further south. Although new pillars have been poured we’ve been waiting a year for the actual bridge to be installed. A small boat is moored on either side of the banks and a rope hangs across the river. A strong man pulls the boat across. On the way home 6 bicycles loaded with luggage got on with about 12 people. We almost couldn’t dislodge from the muddy banks we were so heavy. As I looked at the bike owners struggling to get their bikes up the small piece of plywood into the boat and back out again I thought, I don’t have a clue what life is really like here in Sudan. After getting across the river I jumped into our SUV and enjoyed a comfortable ride home.
Transparency is not a cultural norm here in Sudan. People are very guarded with their thoughts and feelings. Often I try and figure out what the staff, or government and church officials are thinking, but honestly, I don’t have a clue. They frequently don’t understand our Western ways of doing things either and this can cause problems. Many people don’t understand why Samaritan’s Purse is transitioning the hospital over to the Ministry of Health. They believe our intentions may not be good and pure and honest. I wonder if they think we want to destroy the work we have spent 10 years building up? A few weeks ago a committee formed by the local government wanted to see if we had destroyed or removed equipment from the hospital. They were so relieved to find how well stocked it was and that all was intact. Hopefully that will be a testimony to the local community.
More often than I’d like to admit when I go to the Lord in prayer I throw my hands up (figuratively that is!) and say, God, I’m clueless! There is an awful lot around me that I don’t understand. And that’s getting more and more OK. I don’t have to understand why God put me in a situation that lasted for less than a year. I don’t have to understand why there is so much suffering and pain in this post-war torn country. I don’t have to understand why those around me don’t always trust my intentions or respect my abilities. I don’t have to know the plan for what I’m going to do after Lui. What I do need to know is that God knows what’s going on and because He knows everything’s OK.
There are only 2 more weeks until we will hand over the running of the hospital to the Ministry of Health and there’s still a lot to do. Pray that the Samaritan’s Purse team will all want to finish well and give it our all till we’re pulling out the gate.
In July I will join a work team from Trinity UMC in Mullica Hill and Sicklerville UMC, both in NJ, as they work with the staff of Tenwek Community Health & Development. This will be my first time to visit Tenwek since leaving 15 months ago and I’m looking forward to catching up with the staff and sharing my ‘home away from home’ with folks from back home.
After that I will begin looking for clues to the future ministry God has for me.
Praise God with me for:
* Good plans in place for continuation of the Nursing School
* God’s faithfulness in my life and in the ministry at Lui Hospital
Requests include:
* Pray for our last few days in Lui. That there will be a clear understanding and acceptance of our intentions and a peaceful and graceful handover
* The Acting Administrator is having severe eye pain and headaches – pray Anna will get healing
* Direction to all SP staff who are looking for what God has for them next
* Ministry team from NJ going to work with Tenwek Community Health & Development
Thanks so much for being a part of my support team through your financial gifts, prayers and encouragement. Even though I have been a poor communicator this past year I have definitely sensed you with me and I do want to express my thanks.
Shalom,
Joy
Joy’s April 2007 Monthly Memo
The closest airstrip is about 45 minutes away. The road to get there is a one lane dirt road – and it’s even one of the main roads through south Sudan. At one point there is a curve that you can’t really see around so you hoot your horn in case someone is coming the other way to avoid a head on collision. Sometimes with life’s curves and twists we can’t see the road ahead.
And sometimes the scenery changes from what we expected to see. This morning I was looking out the window and was shocked to see a paradise flycatcher – a beautiful bird that I’ve loved sighting in Kenya but have not seen in Sudan. Mary, who shares my office with me, and I tip-toed outside to follow it around from the flame tree to the neem tree – enjoying it’s long white forked tail and black and rust colored body.
Twists and turns, surprises – that aptly describes life in Lui. The last 8 months have not been what I expected, except that they’ve been hard. That much I knew to expect. What I didn’t expect was that I’d be leaving before I’d been here a year.
Samaritan’s Purse has made the hard decision to transition out of Lui. They’ve been here for almost 10 years. We were invited to come and offer medical services during the war – which is over now. Running a hospital is not the typical activity that SP engages in.
This doesn’t mean Samaritan’s Purse is leaving Sudan. They actually want to expand what they’re doing in Sudan. Their goal, like many other organizations, is not to be consumed in the running of large institutions. They want to take advantage of the current peace agreement between the north and the south to demonstrate the love of Christ through a variety of innovative activities that are being designed.
Lui Hospital has touched thousands of lives over the past 10 years. Last year alone we saw almost 20,000 patients. Almost 2,000 surgeries were performed, immunizations were given throughout the county preventing thousands of children from preventable diseases, nurses were trained and are now giving care at Lui Hospital and other health care facilities, and the list goes on. The ministry here has been a huge success but it is time to move on.
This news leaves all of us with many questions. Like, who is going to run Lui Hospital when Samaritan’s Purse leaves? That is still under discussion! We’re hoping that an interested organization will agree to fund and supply staff so that the services of Lui Hospital will continue. The Ministry of Health and our partnering church are also involved in ongoing discussions. Please pray that we will have God’s wisdom in knowing the way forward.
What am I going to do?, is also a good question! My desire is to remain in Sudan and get involved in a new project. My idea is to work in communities by helping people identify their needs, whatever they may be, and then assist them to come up with solutions. Through the provision of both training and assistance communities are empowered and there is potential to see real change. Offhand I see that most communities struggle with poor health care, education, water, agricultural practices and lack of trained church leadership. With encouragement, training, some finances or supplies, and guidance by the Holy Spirit I believe communities can be transformed. Please pray with me about these ideas. I hope to be able to spend some time doing research and planning after I’m done here at the end of June. I’ll keep you informed as plans progress.
You have been an incredible support team and I’m asking you to continue partnering with me. I will continue working at Lui Hospital for the next three months and then I will look at new ideas for the future. I believe God has an exciting future ahead. Thank you for being a part of what God continues to call me to do – even when I can’t quite see beyond the next bend in the road.
Praise God with me for:
* Four successful wells drilled this week in town – it breaks my heart to see fifty 20 liter plastic containers lined up at a well because there’s no more water to be pumped – the well has gone dry.
* A successful measles vaccination and malaria campaigns and slowing of the meningitis epidemic
Requests include:
* Ongoing spiritual ministry at Lui Hospital
* A positive response from an interested organization to run Lui Hospital
* A fruitful Board meeting on 30th April
* A smooth transition for the Sudanese and Samaritan’s Purse expatriate staff
Celebrating His resurrection,
Joy
Or that was my hope anyway. After a busy week I thought it would be nice to enjoy a relaxing day. I was wrong.
I did sleep in a little later than usual before getting up and making sure everything was on the table for a self serve breakfast for our team and visitors. After eating I sat outside under the mango tree that shades my tukel with my Bible and was enjoying some time to read and reflect. Before I was done Mary, our new compound logistician, peeked around the side of my tukel (hut) saying someone from the hospital was on the radio wanting to talk to me. She said the nurse they had found to dispense drugs to the TB patients had chicken pox. I went to the radio room and by the time I got there no one responded to my calls.
I decided to go to the hospital to make sure all was OK. I ran into Anna, the Human Resource Manager and she had the nurse in question with her. The nurse wasn’t sick as had been reported but there was a problem with finding the right key. They had been given keys for the new TB village offices but the room where they thought the drugs were located couldn’t be opened with the keys that were left. Did I mention that on Friday we moved our TB village from a location 10 minutes down the road to a newly built TB facility adjacent to the hospital? Things had not been completely arranged and are still a bit chaotic. I knew that Anna could handle that issue so I came on back to the compound.
I then started in on my weekly cleaning activities. When you only have screens on your windows and it’s dry season dust is everywhere. Not to mention spiders, so I usually like to do a bit of cleaning during the weekend.
I enjoyed an American lunch (hotdogs, french fries and baked beans) with my Kenyan and American colleagues and anticipated a relaxing afternoon. I thought I’d read a little as well as work on a report requested by the State Minister of Health during his visit last week.
I had read 3 pages when I was told there were some visitors to see me. Two people from the Pharmacy Department of the Ministry of Health had come and wanted to talk to the pharmacist on duty as they had a questionnaire about HIV/AIDS. I knew that our pharmacy department had been almost depleted when army recruiters swung through town two weeks ago. They left with 3 of our 6 pharmacy staff. The staff person working was trained on-the-job. After an hour and a half with the visitors and our pharmacy assistant I thought the rest of the afternoon would be mine so I headed back to the compound.
I was in my tukel when the compound guard came and softly yelled, “mama, someone is here to see you.” The hospital receives deliveries of food that are used to feed patients. Two men from that organization were passing through town and had some questions about a delivery that came in January. We talked for a few minutes and I took notes about what to discuss with the Operations Manager on Monday.
I went back to my tukel and after a short while heard the radio and went to see what that was about. Matthew, the program manager from another project 8 hours away was due to arrive and I wondered if he was having vehicle problems. Well, it wasn’t him calling but another colleague from the same station who was in a new 4 ton truck headed for a church reconstruction project and the new truck had radiator problems. We used our radio and satellite phones to alert their base station as to the fate of their colleague. In the process we found out Matthew had also broken down on his way to Lui and wouldn’t be joining us for supper.
Around 7 pm I headed for the shower (warm water is poured into a hanging canvas bag that has a shower nozzle on it and we are able to have lovely showers even with no piped water.) I was enjoying the reprieve after a busy and hot day when I heard Mary calling for me outside the shower stall. Matthew was on the radio wanting to talk to me. He said he’d call back in 10 minutes – so I hurried through the rest of my shower.
Matt wanted to alert us that he had another vehicle out on the road and they had come upon an accident scene. He wanted to give me a heads up that they were transporting several seriously injured folks to Lui.
We were in radio and phone contact with the driver and other staff of Samaritan’s Purse throughout the evening as they made their way here. They tried stopping at a clinic about an hour away and were told, “Go to Lui!” There is little capacity to treat anything other than very basic sickness anywhere else in this region.
This is also the night the propane running the fridge ran out so the tank had to be changed. And there was some confusion about who actually knows how to start the generator at the hospital since we knew they would be doing surgery. We had received news that one of the victims had had his leg amputated in the accident. Our mechanic who usually starts the generator for night surgeries was out on R&R.
After helping make up a few extra beds for our Samaritan’s Purse team members, cum ambulance crew, I headed off to bed after midnight. It was early in the morning when I heard the last vehicle enter the compound and whispers of tired staff die down.
This was not my idea of the ideal Saturday. My idea was to focus on my needs, my to-do list, my preferences. Instead it felt like I was being called every 30 minutes to meet someone else’s needs. Like what’s that about? You may be shocked to hear that from a missionary. But I will be the first to admit I’m basically pretty selfish when it comes right down to it.
This was a good reminder of why I’m here. I’m here to serve others, not be self-serving. This is a pretty basic premise of being a follower of Jesus but one that I can easily forget in the chaos of life in Lui. I will remember my “quiet Saturday” and laugh at how God chose to remind me of this lesson.
Thanks for your prayers. God is faithful! If you have praises or requests you’d like to share with me I’m happy to pray with you too.
Please pray for a Hospital Board Meeting to take place and wisdom in decision making – we’ve already had two meetings cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
Thank you for praying for the staff during payroll last month – the exercise of distributing pay envelopes went incredibly well. And I was over my cold in record time!
Your Samaritan in South Sudan,
Joy
I’ve got a cold. I have that sneezy, tired, scratchy throat, watery eyes feeling so I’m going to make this short. Don’t think colds only go with winter weather. It’s now 96 degrees under a sunny sky with only a whisper of a breeze!
Yeah, a party!
A week ago we held a farewell party for our outgoing Administrator, Sylvester Paul. He left for Juba (the capital of South Sudan) a few days ago where he is enrolled in a Business Administration course at Juba University. Twenty plus years ago when he wanted to attend college after finishing high school the war between the north and south squelched plans he had to continue his studies.
At the same party we were also able to welcome the new Administrator, Samuel Mersee. Sam comes with management experience and a lot of energy. He spent the month of February working with Sylvester Paul.
Thanks for helping us pray a new administrator to Lui Hospital. Please pray for these two men as they both start new ventures.
Staff Discontent :(
One of the biggest concerns of our hospital staff is their pay. Non-Governmental Organizations (like UNICEF, Doctors without Borders, etc.) are working throughout Sudan and pay high salaries that are not in line with the local economy. Wages that are more in line with what the local economy can sustain look small and are not appreciated. That is where Lui Hospital finds itself today.
Due to a death in the family of our Human Resources Manager we were not able to distribute salaries last week. No direct bank deposit here – it’s strictly a cash affair. Salaries will be paid out this Monday and Tuesday. Some staff can become hot, and not because of the temperature outside, and it can be quite the intimidating process for the administrative staff involved. I’d ask that you pray for our staff. Pray that they will appreciate their pay, that it will meet the needs of their families, and the lack of a higher salary will not hinder their commitment to serving their fellow Sudanese.
It appears there are many “green pastures” throughout the country despite lack of rain for 4 months and they are tempting many of our staff. Our nurses especially are overworked due to shortages from nurses leaving for better paying jobs, to join the army, etc.
Thanks for your prayers. My prayer sign-up sheets remind me that I’m not in this alone.
I’m sure you’ve heard someone say before, “Give me three good reasons!”
As I explained in my last monthly memo the last few months have been hard ones. It’s been really easy to get wrapped up in the administrative quagmire and lose sight of why I’m here.
In walking through the wards the other day I was able to catch sight of why I’m here, and why Samaritan’s Purse is here and has persevered through hard times.
Reason No. 1:
Prevention is better than cure!
This baby had tetanus and died. Our
Primary Health Care program immunizes mothers during pregnancy to prevent
neonatal deaths like this. We also target other diseases like measles, whooping
cough, polio, TB and diphtheria. We run six primary health care units that are
staffed by a health worker who has received 9 months of training and one health
care center that is staffed by nurses and midwives. All these facilities
including the hospital offer preventive services because prevention really is
better than cure.
Reason No. 2:
We get the chance to offer people hope
through knowing Jesus Christ
Chaplains at Lui Hospital
Simon Kariuki, on the left, is a pastor from Kenya on staff with Samaritan’s Purse. He’s a great guy and is frequently my right hand man. He is mentoring these two Sudanese hospital chaplains. Repent (don’t you love that name!) is in the middle with another Simon on the right.
Recently a father brought his son to the hospital. They had come earlier for treatment and the son had not responded very well to his treatment. This time the father came to see the chaplains just to have them pray with him about his son. We’re happy to see that the spiritual aspect of Lui Hospital is as important as the physical side of treatment.
Reason No. 3:
We are able to respond to infectious disease outbreaks
Loice, one of our head nurses,
cares for meningitis patients during a recent outbreak
I hope you can get an idea of the crowded conditions during the outbreak. We had to put people on the verandah of our storeroom. Our staff worked really hard and many lives were saved. Surveillance systems have been put in place and we continue to monitor the situation.
Prayer & Praise update:
Yours in Sudan,
Joy Phillips
Joy’s New Year’s 2007 Monthly Memo
I woke this morning to a cacophony of voices from the many neighbors surrounding our compound. That mixed with celebratory gunshots into the air reminded me that it is now a new year. I continue to be challenged by the differences of living and working in Sudan, like celebrating at 6 am rather than midnight! Many days I feel like Dorothy when she said, “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” The rules and logic that have governed my life up to this point don’t always apply here. Life is not predictable. We can’t predict how our hospital staff will react and I can tell you the anger inside of some of the Sudanese is explosive. And who can blame them after over twenty years of civil war in their backyards. We cannot predict how authorities will react. We cannot predict what the future holds. That makes for some challenging days.
Obviously none of us can predict what each day holds for us, but I believe it’s a bit more predictable in Kansas than in Sudan.
I’m reassured by the words in scripture, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34.
This past year has been one of major transition for me as I left Kenya and the Tenwek Community Health & Development program where I worked for many years and began working in a new ministry in Sudan. Transition is usually hard and I will testify that this has been a challenging year for me.
I would be remiss if I failed to also acknowledge God’s incredible faithfulness each step of the way. Many years ago I wrote this saying in the front of my Bible, “Do not pray for an easy life. Pray to be a strong person.” I know the strength that has gotten me through the hard times is not my own, but it’s from God.
As I look towards many unpredictable tomorrow’s my prayer is that I will continue to rely on Him each day. Your prayers play a major role as I maintain right relationships with God, my co-workers, the community and leaders here and make wise decisions as I lead the team and programs here.
Thanks for praying for our job advertisements that I mentioned in my last monthly memo. We will be having interviews within the next few weeks. We especially need God’s choice for a Sudanese Hospital Administrator as our current Administrator will be leaving for further schooling within the next two months.
Continue praying as we plan for the future, go through the process of restructuring within the hospital, and relationships with staff and the community.
Your many generous contributions, cards, and emails are all appreciated more than I can tell you. Thank you for playing a part in God’s work here. South Sudan is slowly being rebuilt and it’s hard work.
Yours in Sudan,
joy
Joy's November
2006 Monthly Memo
On the bus
It wasn't until I went to High School that I rode a bus to school. Up to that point I walked a block to my grade school. Riding the bus was great fun though. I'm still friends with several of my seatmates. (That's you Mary and Barb)
Not long before I left New Jersey for Sudan this summer I visited with friends who are working in Uganda. They recommended I read a book called, "Good to Great," by Jim Collins. It's one of those management books that talks about how good companies became great companies, but the concepts can be used in any organization, even a mission hospital.
It has been quite a good and timely read. I didn't really have a management agenda when I arrived in Lui but trusted that God would show me what we needed to do as I got to know what was going on here.
It was apparent from the start that there are many issues at Lui Hospital and that there is a lot of room for growth. One of the leading principles in "Good to Great" soon took on significance. Companies that became great started by making sure the right people were on the bus (and the wrong people were off the bus) and that everyone had the right seat. Wow that makes sense, doesn't it.
We're in the process of filling up the bus with the right people. Some of our staff have left or need to leave! We need to reduce the size of some of our departments. We want some of our own nurses to begin an upgrade course that will start in several months but we will need more nurses to take their places in the hospital. So, we're on a mission to find the right people to fill up our bus. And we need to be sure everyone has the right seat or job assignment.
Please
pray with us as we seek to fill vacant spots for:
* Hospital Chaplain
* Hospital Administrator
* Physician Assistants
* Nurses
* Drivers
Thanks. I feel this is a crucial time as we look to the future of the hospital. We want Lui Hospital to reflect God's love and to do that we need the right people on board.
I've been back in Africa for 3 weeks since my brief Homeland Ministry Assignment with Andrew and Monica. They had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of you. We hope you'll not forget Tenwek Community Health & Development and the great things God is doing there. If you'd like to receive quarterly updates via email let me know or email Jonathan, Reuben, Andrew or Monica directly at: tenwekch@tenwek.com
As I've returned to Sudan and the ministry here at Lui Hospital I've had a keen sense of your prayers. There are challenges yes, but there is still nothing better than knowing you're in the center of God's will.
Thanks for your interest and for partnering with me. I appreciate the many financial contributions and expressions of love and support received this past year.
Yours
in Sudan,
Joy Phillips
Joy’s October
2006 Monthly Memo
May I take your order?
Have you ever thought about how many choices we have to make every day of our lives? Just going out to eat requires multiple decisions about what you want and how you want it! If you want a cup of tea - what kind of tea do you want? Black, green, Earl Grey, or one of several herbal varieties.
Fries: curly, spicy or regular? What kind of salad dressing? And would you like your meat rare, medium or well done? And please choose from several different desserts, each choice leading to additional choices! Ice cream: will it be vanilla, chocolate or strawberry? It’s overwhelming to say the least. Showing Andrew and Monica, staff from Tenwek Community Health & Development (THCD), the ropes of maneuvering in our culture has highlighted this observation for me. It’s a stark contrast to life in Kenya and Sudan. The choice there is more like: do you want to eat or not?
Being with Andrew and Monica for the past 2 weeks as we’ve shared in churches and with many friends about the ministry of TCHD has drawn attention to the fact that our view of life can easily become cloudy and introspective. It’s again encouraging me to consciously take a world-view of things in my life. Even though I live in Sudan it’s still easy to let my culture impose unfair judgments. When we’re constantly told, “Have it your way!” by the media I find my priorities get skewed. We do have many choices to make but I’m challenged to focus on others and not myself as I make choices throughout each day.
Prayer Praises:
1. A successful celebration as nurses graduated from Lui Health Training Institute (see picture of graduation).
Nurses' Graduation
2. Newly installed government leaders in Lui.
3. Good rains before the dry season beings soon.
4. Safe travel within Sudan in recent weeks and to the U.S.
Prayer Requests:
1. Hiring of several professional staff at Lui we’re looking for the right people to add to our team
2. That the police will return a project motorcycle that was impounded after a small accident almost 3 months ago.
3. Several building projects (TB ward & 2 small clinics) are behind schedule due to lots of rain making travel difficult, supply delays and staffing issues
4. Productive church, community, government and hospital relationships
5. An end to the conflict in Darfur and peace & reconciliation throughout Sudan
6. Dynamic interaction with Andrew & Monica during meetings and visits during the next 2 weeks (see picture)
Joy, Andrew & Monica
In Sudan I’ve enjoyed looking at the prayer posters, that many of you signed during meetings, when I get ready in the mornings. I’m encouraged that I’m not in this alone. Thanks for lifting the above praises and requests to our faithful Father.
And thank you for your generous financial support that is helping me bring God’s Kingdom to Sudan.
Choosing His best,
Joy
Joy's September 2006 Monthly Memo
I'm not sure what to write this month. I've been waiting several weeks for an inspirational insight into my life here. Nothing's coming.
Life has been busy, but not necessarily stirring. I know God is at work, but I don't feel it. That doesn't lessen my commitment to being here, it's just not as fun when it's hard work, frustrating and at times overwhelming. Transitioning to a new culture, workplace, lifestyle, communal living, etc. is taking work. Pray that I will do my best to follow God's leading in each of these areas of my life.
Thank you for praying for Andrew and Monica's visa interviews. They had easy interviews and were granted visa's and we will be leaving Kenya on October 12th. Below is our schedule. We'd love to see you at any of our meetings. If you'd like more details just write or contact the listed church directly.
Joy, Andrew & Monica's schedule for Homeland Ministry Assignment Part 2
October 15
AM, Evangelical UMC, Clarksboro, NJ
PM, Paulsboro UMC, Paulsboro, NJ
October 18
AM, Breakfast meeting with Mullica Hill Rotary Club, NJ
PM, Tabernacle UMC, Erma, NJ
October 20
PM, Tabernacle UMC, Erma, NJ
October 22
AM, Evangelical Free Bible Church, Scranton, PA
October 23
2 PM, Pitman Manor, Pitman, NJ
October 26 & 27, Visiting friends in Gettysburg, PA area
October 28
AM, Brunch at Memorial UMC, Quarryville, PA
All are welcome! Call Joyce Zercher at 717-284-4389 before October 23 to make reservations
October 29
AM, Emilie UMC, Levittown, PA
PM, Zion UMC, Egg Harbor Township, NJ
November 1
PM, Walnut Creek Mennonite Church, Walnut Creek, OH
Andrew and Monica will continue to share with this church family through Sunday.
November 4, afternoon, Joy at Missions Fair, Dobbins UMC, Delanco UMC
November 5
PM, Joy at Barnsboro UMC, Barnsboro, NJ
November 6
Noon, Joy at Seniors Luncheon, Friendship Finley UMC
November 7
PM, Joy at Clayton UMW, Clayton, NJ
November 6 & 7
Andrew and Monica at Christ Harbor UMC, Tuscaloosa, AL
November 9 11
all at Global Health Missions Conference, Louisville, KY
November 12
AM, Bethesda UMC, Swedesboro, NJ
PM, South Vineland UMC, Vineland, NJ
November 13
PM, fly back to Kenya and Sudan
A girlfriend sent this quote in an email recently that was a real encouragement to me.
"An easy, routine way of life which many associate with stability and security only gives man stagnation. Entrenched routine only spoils man and makes him simple and weak. On the other hand progressive resistance in life always has the potential to give man progressive strength, and to make man progressively wiser... Resistance makes a man think new thoughts he never thought before. It makes a man ask questions he never asked before. It makes a man seek answers he never sought before. It makes a man beg God for help that he never before realized he needed. These quests, quests of the heart and soul, eventually make a man deeper, wider, taller."
Praying God will continue making me deeper, OK - not wider, but definitely taller!
Through faith,
Joy
From October 13th through November 12th I can be contacted at:
107 S. Main
St, Woodstown, NJ, 08099-1118.
Phone: 609-868-2991,
Email: joy.phillips@wgm.org
Joy's August 2006 Monthly Memo
I was honored during my first 3 1/2 days in Lui to have 2 of my Samaritan's Purse (SP) bosses with me. They gave me a crash course in community and church relationships, hospital expectations, how to interpret situations from a Sudanese viewpoint and to top that off there was a little incident with a bicycle and a motorcycle. I say little, but I'm learning that in Sudan what I might consider little is probably going to turn out to be big. So, I also got some lessons in dealing with the police and community officials. I'm well on my way to becoming a Project Manager at Lui Hospital.
Four days after arriving I said good-bye to my 2 bosses and the Acting Project Manager who was going back to Kenya for his R&R and I started being in charge.
Today I was on the satellite phone with the Acting Country Director in Nairobi. He wanted to know how things were going. I told him that overall I feel they're going as well as can be expected! I do feel that there are a few holes in my understanding of the work and with several key people gone it has been a challenge. I reminded him I'd only been in charge for about a week. He said he understood. But he reminded me I'd been here longer than he'd been Acting Country Director. I said, yes but by only 3 days. And he responded, "You win."
And I would say he's right. I win because I feel I'm exactly where God wants me right now. As I took a walk after work this evening there was a spectacular array of clouds backlit by the sun as it began its descent. And as I was outside tonight I looked up and saw a brilliant sky filled with an immense array of stars. At supper tonight the SP team of Kenyans, Canadians, one Swiss and I laughed and laughed. And there was much enthusiasm as I challenged the hospital staff that God wants to do amazing things at Lui Hospital. I haven't felt God's face shining on me each day since being here, but often enough to be reminded that I'm not in this alone.
There have been real tough times during the past year here at Lui Hospital. Days filled with discouragement, betrayal and frustration that would have made most people quit, but this team hasn't quit. I'm privileged to be working with such a committed bunch of people. Please keep praying for all of us pictured below. I've got your prayer sign-up sheets hanging in the corner of my hut and when I see the names of who's praying for me each day I feel blessed to have such a great group of people alongside me.
Click on photo for a larger image.
Here are some prayer updates:
Praises:
* Good meetings with the Hospital Management Team
* A good outcome for the accident case mentioned in my July memo
* Safe travel to Sudan
* Good health
* A good meeting with Jonathan, Andrew & Monica (Tenwek Community Health & Development) while in Nairobi. They're doing well!
Requests:
* Safety for all vehicles and pedestrians for those of us working with Samaritan's Purse in Sudan
* Identifying and building up leaders within the hospital
* Good public relations with the community and region
* A resolve to act kindly yet firmly with personnel issues at the hospital
* Continued relationship building
* Arabic learning the staff in the lab are teaching me a phrase each day
* Continue to pray for Andrew and Monica¹s visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi on September 7th
Peace,
Joy
P.S. The schedule for the remainder of my Homeland Ministry Assignment from mid-October through mid-November, with Andrew and Monica, will be in my September Monthly Memo.
Joy's July 06 Monthly Memo
With only a few days until I leave for Kenya on July 28th and travel on to Sudan on August 2nd I'm in a housecleaning and packing mode.
I think I'm going to pack the posterboards where over 170 people signed up to pray at least 1 day a week. Many others told me they were already praying. Thanks for your commitment to pray. Seeing your names on the wall of my hut will be a huge encouragement when the going gets tough. Long term prayer requests:
1. that I will seek God's will in all situations and that I will not be tempted to act in my own interests
2. for quick understanding of the local culture and basic local language understanding
3. that I will be content with a simpler lifestyle
4. for good health and safety and lack of fear for security reasons
5. for wisdom as I lead the team in Lui and in planning for the future
6. for unity among the team working at Lui Hospital
7. for peace in Sudan: an end to the conflict in Darfur, an end to tribal unrest throughout the country, and unity as the country rebuilds after the long civil war
8. for spiritual growth in Sudan: numerically and deeper personal
commitments to Jesus
9. that I will be disciplined in my own personal walk with Jesus
Immediate requests:
Andrew and Monica have an appointment at the U.S. Embassy on September 7th to get their U.S. visas. Please pray with us that these documents will be granted so they can come in October to meet and share with many of you.
Pray for a Samaritan's Purse staff in Lui, Sudan who was involved in an accident yesterday (he is unharmed). Pray for an uneventful response from the legal and community standpoints.
Sunday's Sermon:
If you missed catching up with me in person you can hear me on the Internet. Go to: www.pitmanumc.org <http://www.pitmanumc.org/> to hear the service at Pitman Untied Methodist Church where I spoke on July 16th.
Fall Schedule:
Andrew Cheruiyot and Monica Cheres from Tenwek Community Health & Development and I will be returning to the U.S. in the fall for 4 weeks. Look for our schedule in next month's memo. We'd love to see you at any of our services or meetings.
Staying Connected:
I will continue to send my email Monthly Memos from Sudan. For those of you who are not on email I am starting something new. The Monthly Memos will be printed and sent to you every 3 months. This will replace a printed prayer letter twice a year. So if I have your email address you will no longer receive regular printed prayer letters. If you are receiving this Monthly Memo via the postal system and you have email I'd love to send your updates through email. This will cut down on costs and get information to you quicker than by snail mail. You can send new email addresses or changes to me at: joy.phillips@earthlink.net. For those who only receive my emails I'm attaching my latest prayer letter that tried to get everyone up to speed on where I've been and where I'm going.
For general Email correspondence use this address: joy.phillips@wgm.org. While I'm in Sudan I won't be able to access this account so please be patient. When I go to Kenya on my R&R breaks I hope to catch up with email. Letters are always appreciated and can be sent to: Joy Phillips, c/o Box 76143, Yaya Towers, Nairobi, Kenya 00508.
Thanks again for your overwhelming expressions of support, love and interest in my ministry. I appreciate you.
Joyfully,
Joy
Joy Phillips serves with World Gospel Mission in Sudan
P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948
joy.phillips@wgm.org
Joy’s June 06 Monthly Memo
Between 2 Worlds
Earlier this week I visited my sister in Cape May, New Jersey. It’s a tourist destination known for great beaches and Victorian architecture. I took a few hours to take a picnic to the beach. I sat in my beach chair and waved seagulls away from my hoagie and enjoyed seeing the dolphins frolic about. I’m sad that in my leisure, security and comfort I did not think about Africa.
In one sense the world is shrinking by leaps and bounds. I grin when I think how the world of communication has changed in Kenya during the past twenty years. In 1985 there was one phone on the Tenwek mission compound. To use it we would crank it up and questioningly yell, “Operator? This is Bomet 36.” Now there are landlines, faxes, Email, Internet and everyone has a cell phone. Globalization has brought people closer together.
Yet yesterday on the beach the people of Kenya and Sudan were figuratively, as well as literally, far from me and I don’t like that. It’s so easy to compartmentalize different aspects of my life. The atrocities happening in Darfur didn’t come to my mind. Nor did the children who have died for lack of clean water or a vaccine costing only cents, or the incredibly heavy burden that women bear in Africa making them look old beyond their years. Such a contrast to our culture where looking young fascinates and consumes us. After living in two worlds for many years I’m still not sure how to merge them, although I think the answer lies in living more simply and intentionally.
I woke up this morning thinking about those who pray for me. I’m incredibly blessed that so many people have made commitments to pray. On Tuesday night I had a meeting with a women’s group. A woman who proudly admitted to her 89 years gave me a big bear hug and told me that she prays for me every day – not just the one day a week that I challenge people to. People frequently tell me that they have been faithful in praying for me and that’s a huge encouragement. But I realized that almost all of the people who tell me this are seniors! Is that the politically correct way to say that?! I had a moment of panic when I realized that this might mean my prayer support will dwindle as the years go by. I hope not. Does my generation know how to get on our knees? I fear that we don’t, from my own feeble attempts to be a prayer warrior.
I’m reading Henry and Norman Blackaby’s book, “Experiencing Prayer with Jesus,” and I was impressed with these words.
“I’ve often said to the Lord, 'O God, many others have begun and never saw the completion of your promises in their generation. O Lord, help me to be faithful in my generation that when I pray, I hear from you...and that when I hear from you, I immediately adjust my life accordingly.'”
May our prayers bring us closer to the heart of God and may we, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Kenya and Sudan, plead to the Father on their behalf. Someone recently sent me this quote from Dr. Eldon Fuhrman: PRAYER WORKS. PRAYER IS WORK. PRAYER LEADS TO WORK. For those of you who are of my generation, let’s make prayer a priority!
Praises:
* Interest in the
ministry in Sudan as I’ve shared with many
* Safe travels and good health
* Opportunity for good times with family and friends
* Good progress on my to-do list
Prayer Needs:
* The staff at Lui
Hospital
* Wisdom and insight as I assume leadership responsibilities at Lui
* Tenwek Community Health & Development (TCHD) in Kenya needs to find several
nurses to hire for mobile clinics
* Wisdom as TCHD plans for the future
* Peace in Sudan
Dates to remember:
I fly to Kenya on July 28th and I fly on to Sudan on August 2nd.
I look forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday at the Kountry Kitchen in Elmer around 6 pm. We’ll eat at 6:30. If you didn’t make reservations but want to come a few seats are still available at $8.75 /person.
Remaining speaking
dates:
June 25 am Strathmere UMC, Strathmere, NJ
June 27 pm Kountry Kitchen meal
July 2 am Trinity UMC, Mullica Hill, NJ
July 9 am Bird-in-Hand UMC, Bird-in-Hand, PA
July 16 am Pitman UMC, Pitman, NJ
July 25 am Bethesda UMC, Swedesboro, NJ (VBS)
July 25 pm South Vineland UMC, Vineland, NJ (VBS)
I will be back in the US with former Kenyan colleagues, Andrew and Monica, in mid October. If you’d like us to share with you please let me know.
Thanks again for bowing before the Throne of Grace so the Kingdom of God will be seen in Kenya and Sudan.
Kneeling,
Joy
Joy Phillips
Ministering in Sudan
World Gospel Mission
PO Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
joy.phillips@wgm.org
Phone until the end of July: 609-868-2991
Joy's May 06 Monthly Memo
Catch me if you can!
Three ways to catch up with Joy
1. Back by popular demand - meet Joy at the Kountry Kitchen Restaurant Join me on Tuesday evening, June 27th anytime from 6 to 6:30 pm for several hours at the Kountry Kitchen, just outside of Elmer, NJ on Rt. 40
We¹ll be having their full breakfast buffet for supper for only $7.75 per person which includes all manner of breakfast foods including drinks, tax and tip. There is limited space so the first 75 to send me your name and check will be on the list. The deadline for receiving payment is June 12th.
Please address checks to 'Joy Phillips' and send to me at: 107 S. Main St., Woodstown, NJ 08098
An extra special bonus will be the attendance of Len, Betsy, Anna, Abby and Luke Phillips. My brother and his family will be in NJ so they will be joining me as well. Len and Betsy and I will share briefly about our work in South America and Africa, respectively.
2. Come and hear me share in person. If you'd like more details about any of these meetings feel free to contact the church directly or contact me.
May
May 21 am Wesley UMC, Quarryville, PA
May 21 pm Ennisville UMC, Huntingdon, PA
May 24 am Racoon Valley Rotary Club breakfast,Mullica Hill, NJ
May 28 am Elmer UMC, NJ
May 29 June 1 Visiting in NC
June
June 1 June 4 Missionary women¹s retreat in NC
June 5 9 Visiting in TN, KY and Ohio
June 11 am Carll¹s Corner Community Fellowship, Bridgeton, NJ
June 11 pm Heislerville UMC, Heislerville, NJ
June 14 pm Woodruff UMC, Bridgeton, NJ covered dish
June 18 am Memorial UMC, Quarryville, PA
June 20 pm St. Paul¹s UM Women, Brick, NJ
June 25 am Strathmere UMC, Strathmere, NJ
June 27 pm Kountry Kitchen meal and sharing
July
July 2 am Trinity UMC, Mullica Hill, NJ
July 9 am Bird-in-Hand UMC, Bird-in-Hand, PA
July 16 am Pitman UMC, Pitman, NJ
July 25 am Bethesda UMC, Swedesboro, NJ (VBS)
July 25 pm South Vineland UMC, Vineland, NJ (VBS)
3. I have CD's available with two PowerPoint presentations on them. One presentation is my new Homeland Ministry Assignment Quiz. In the past I've frequently tested my audiences understanding about Kenya. The results were... how can I put this?
This quiz is on Sudan and to be honest I'm afraid people won't do all that well on it because news of Sudan has been under the radar screen for so many years. Dare to take the quiz and increase your understanding about Sudan.
The other PowerPoint presentation is on Lui Hospital in south Sudan the project where I am going to work. See where I'll be living and working.
If you'd like me to send you this CD just let me know - I'll be happy to send it to you. My commitment is to building the Kingdom of God.
Prayer is part of the work involved. Here are some fresh items to pray and praise for.
Praise:
1. Rain has arrived in both Kenya and Sudan.
2. An HIV positive pregnant woman at Tenwek Community Health & Development was treated with medicine to prevent transmission of HIV to her newborn and now 2 years after birth her child tests negative! For years we¹ve been testing and treating women and babies but we don't always get the feedback down the road.
Requests:
1. At TCHD we have been involved in a yearly campaign going to schools and distributing medicine to treat intestinal parasites to students along with teaching on sanitation and hygiene, and integrating spiritual truths. Oddly enough this is one of the most appreciated programs we do each year. The medicines from the US for this year's campaign haven¹t arrived in Kenya yet. School is out in July so Monica writes that it will be best if the medicines can come soon so it can be distributed before the end of the school year.
2. The Peace Agreement in Sudan hasn't resulted in enough positive change in the time frame expected. It's taking time to recover after so many years of war. Pray that peace will prevail and that the recovery effort will make steady progress.
3. With transportation routes opening up in south Sudan more patients will be able to come to Lui Hospital. This will put more pressure on the staff and resources.
4. Pray with me that I will be prepared for each day of sharing with supporters and interested people in America and for the challenges that await in Sudan.
Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom of this email. I can easily get carried away. Your perseverance in supporting me along the way is appreciated more than you'll know.
Catching up,
Joy
Joy Phillips
Working in Sudan with World Gospel Mission
in partnership with Samaritan's Purse
107 S. Main St.
Woodstown, NJ 08098
609-868-2991
joy.phillips@wgm.org
Joy's End of the Month Special Memo
There are still seats available so please join me at the Kountry Kitchen Restaurant in Elmer, NJ Tuesday evening, June 27th anytime between 6 to 6:30 pm. The Kountry Kitchen is just outside of Elmer, NJ on Rt. 40. We'll be having their full breakfast buffet for supper for only $7.75 per person which includes all manner of breakfast foods including drinks, tax and tip. The deadline for receiving payment is June 12th.
Please address checks to "Joy Phillips" and send to me at: 107 S. Main St., Woodstown, NJ 08098
An extra special bonus will be the attendance of Len, Betsy, Anna, Abby and Luke Phillips. My brother and his family will be in NJ so they will be joining me as well. Len and Betsy and I will share briefly about our work in South America and Africa, respectively.
I hope to see you there!
Joy Phillips
609-868-2991Joy's
April 2006 Monthly Memo
Flower power. Hippies. The Beatles. I missed out on the1960’s and early 70’s. I was around, but not old enough to get involved. I remember peace rallies and a generation of young people wrapped up in thinking they could make a difference.
On April 30th I found myself in a sea of people at the Mall. Not the shopping mall but the National Mall in front of the Capital Building in Washington, DC.
Thousands of people gathered to let their voices be heard to protest the atrocities going on in the northwest part of Sudan in Darfur. “Never again,” they chanted. Signs read, “Not on our watch.” Some call it genocide, some stop short of that and say mass human rights abuses are going on – but no one denies that innocent children, mothers and men are being ruthlessly murdered. And if they are lucky enough to escape from their burning villages there is a high probability they will starve to death. The United Nations reports that 3.5 million people are now hungry, 2.5 million have been displaced due to violence, and 400,000 people have died in Darfur thus far.
It was gripping to be part of such a diverse gathering. People of many races, faiths, ages, and political viewpoints were united in their desire to see the end of suffering in Darfur.
The Jewish community turned out en mass. I guess there is something to be said for identification through personal experience. Several speakers were themselves holocaust survivors. This led me to wonder why there wasn’t more of an Evangelical Christian presence. It certainly seems clear enough in the scriptures that God encourages his children to fight oppression and injustice. See Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18 & 19 and Isaiah 58:10.
The fighting and atrocities seen in Darfur today are not unlike what has been going on in south Sudan for decades. Because of my upcoming move to south Sudan I have a keen interest in what is going on.
To many the situation in Sudan appears hopeless. And from a worldly perspective it may be. But not unlike the activists of the 70’s we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are people who can make a difference. The power of prayer cannot be overlooked. I urge you to pray for the country of Sudan, for those in leadership, in the peacemaking processes and provision of security. The people of Sudan have suffered tremendously. Through my prayers and yours we can make a difference in Sudan. Please pray. To find out more about what is going on in Sudan and for additional ways you can make a difference go to: SaveDarfur.org.
Home Sweet Home
I have many places that I call home – south Jersey being one of them. I have a new home during my short Home Ministry Assignment in Woodstown. I am living in a house graciously loaned to me by the First Baptist Church and I’m enjoying the quaintness of this historic town and being close to Wawa – the local coffee and hoagie shop.
I will be in the States through July and will begin my new duties in Sudan in August. I will return to the US for a month in the fall with Monica and Andrew, two of my former co-workers from Tenwek Community Health & Development. They are anxious to meet and share with many of you. If you’d like to have me/us share with your church or any other group, or you want to visit over a cup of coffee please let me know. I’m anxious to share how God has been at work in the past few months and the opportunities of the future.
Over the last 6 weeks there have been times when I’ve had email problems. If you’ve tried to contact me and haven’t heard from me please resend your email. I do want to be in touch. Current contact info is at the bottom of this email.
Jonathan, Reuben and other staff at Tenwek Community Health & Development will be sending out a quarterly email update. If you’d like to read encouraging reports from them – let me know and I’ll see that your address is added to their list. I hear from Jonathan at least once a week and reports are that all is well with the project and staff in Kenya.
I’ve had to re-do my Monthly Memo address list. If you would like to add someone to the list let me know. If you’re on my list and would like to be removed – drop me a line.
"If we turn our heads and look away and hope that it will all disappear then they will - all of them, an entire generation of people. And we will have only history left to judge us."
- George Clooney on the situation in Darfur
Blessed are the peacemakers,
Joy
Joy Phillips
ministering in Sudan with WGM in partnership with Samaritan’s Purse
World Gospel Mission
PO Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
currently at:
107 S. Main St.
Woodstown, NJ 08098 -1118
H: 856-769-3621
C: 609-868-2991
joy.phillips@wgm.org
An incredibly complex situation
Will moving to Sudan involve sacrifice?
Yes
Will it be worth it?
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found
it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought
that field.” Matthew 13:44
Sudan has suffered greatly in recent decades. War, violence, famine, and resulting poverty have had an incredible impact on the people. The Sudanese people need the Kingdom of heaven. I envision the Kingdom there and with that vision I recognize the need to sell all I have, figuratively if not practically – and joyfully – in order to see the Kingdom in Sudan here and now. Yes, it will be worth it.
Please continue praying for me as I finish up here at Tenwek. Goodbyes are always hard. Soon I will be traveling to the U.S. to share about what I’ve been doing for the past two years and the exciting challenges ahead in Sudan.
If you’d like to hear from Jonathan, Reuben and other staff at Tenwek Community Health they’ll be sending out a quarterly email update. If you’d like to be on their list – let me know and I’ll see that your address gets added.
My local email address will be changing – please check your address book and be sure to use my permanent address for all future correspondence. It’s joy.phillips@wgm.org. Due to busy days I have not had time to work on my HMA schedule. If you’ve written to me I will get back to you. Thanks for your patience, support and prayers during this time of transition.
Thy Kingdom come,
Joy Phillips
Joy's January 2006 Monthly Memo
Five years ago the staff of Tenwek Community Health & Development began praying the prayer of Jabez as found in I Chronicles 4: 10.
"Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!" And God granted what he asked.
We were so excited about what God was doing through our wholistic ministry outreach that we were sure He would immediately use some of us outside our program area to continue the great work that we saw all around us. We were wrong.
Instead what has happened in the last five years is that God increased the scope of our ministry within our program area. Our activities doubled, staff numbers increased, and we have seen incredible growth in the number of people whose hearts and lives have been touched by our activities.
A year ago we began a study that encouraged us to ask the question, "Where is God at work, and where can we join him?" I still felt that God had more for us and that it would be a privilege to be able to share what God had been teaching us to help build the Kingdom of God in a neighboring country. Each Administrative Team member chose a country of interest among our neighbors. These countries include Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. We agreed to find out what the pressing needs were and we wanted to find out exactly what God was doing in each of these countries.
The meeting day arrived when we were to give our reports; only no one was prepared. Everyone was too busy! My heart sank with disappointment. So we pushed the date back and everyone agreed to come with a report to the next meeting. Only no one did. And my heart sank a little more. I really felt like God wanted us to reach out, to trust Him to show us where we might be of use in expanding His Kingdom. With no one to dream with I foolishly dropped my quest.
Last November I met a friend at a coffee house in Nairobi. He was meeting with several Sudanese Bishops. He introduced me to them and told them that I lead a community health and development project. One of the Bishops explained to me that the church in Sudan is like a plant that appears to have died, but new green growth is springing forth. He said the church needs help in rebuilding after the devastating war the country has gone through and he welcomed me to Sudan to help.
One lesson that I never quite learn is that I shouldn't doubt God. God heard the prayers of our Administrative Team. He just answered differently than anyone expected.
I am the one going to Sudan! After my Homeland Ministry Assignment I will go to Sudan to be the Program Manager for a mission hospital and its related ministries. I visualize my leaving Tenwek and going to Sudan like a runner being sent forth from a very healthy vine.
Despite more rugged living conditions and a totally new culture, language, colleagues and country I look forward to the challenges ahead.
On the immediate screen is my transition from Tenwek Community Health & Development. For now my duties as Director will be taken over by the Assistant Director, Jonathan Bii, who many of you met two years ago when he visited the U.S. with me. Please pray that God will grant the staff a keen sense of priority, a clear focus on the tasks at hand, and that they will not lose their sense of mission in the hectic days ahead. Leaving Tenwek will probably be one of the hardest things I have ever done and I frequently find myself blinking back tears. Your prayers will be much appreciated as I make this difficult transition. In fact I know I will be relying on those prayers.
Tenwek Community Health & Development will undergo a strategic planning process during 2005, led by one of my capable missionary colleagues. I know God has great things in store for the project. Please pray that God will provide the leadership and vision needed to allow TCHD to continue bringing the whole Gospel to the whole man here and beyond!
There are still many details to be worked out concerning my change in ministry. Look for the February edition of Joy's Monthly Memo for more information. And I still look forward to sharing with as many of you as I can while I am in the U.S.
Following Him,
Joy
Joy Phillips
Working with World Gospel Mission in Kenya
joy.phillips@wgm.org
Hope Begins!
The tents have been returned, the stage is stored for another big function, the performers have all returned home, and staff members are recuperating. The Hope Aloud! 2005 youth rallies are over.
"How did it go?" is a question I've been asked numerous times this week. And I'm finding that's a hard question to answer.
From my human perspective not all of my expectations were met. I would have liked to see thousands in the crowds, not hundreds. I wanted the rain to hold off, but it didn't. We had a schedule thinking it would be followed but it wasn't.
What I have to keep reminding myself is that my plans are not God's plans. I have a book sitting on the bookshelf beside me entitled, "The upside-down Kingdom." The title is a good reminder that God doesn't work in the ways we expect him to work. God was with us of that I have no doubt. And so I look forward to seeing the many ways that God is going to take the rallies and build up His kingdom. The kingdom that is upside-down. Remember, this is the King that came to earth as a baby.
We do praise God that our Voluntary Counseling and Testing counselors tested over 150 people and counseled over 1,000 young people. I have heard a report that at the last rally at least 5 people gave their lives to the Lord. The word was preached, a challenge was given to live a life that is sexually pure, there was a lot of really good singing, and testimonies were shared. We are told in Isaiah 55:11 that when His word goes out, "it shall accomplish what He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it." Prayer is never wasted. Your prayers were invaluable. Thank you for your partnership in this important event. Please continue praying with us that God will continue doing a good work in the lives of the many people who shared in the rallies.
So many things did go well answers to prayer include: safe travel throughout for everyone although the U.S. visitors arrived with none of their checked luggage! It came later. No extreme health problems, sound and music equipment all worked, support from government officials, and more.
The staff especially enjoyed getting to know the Hope Aloud! musicians from the U.S. (see picture in next email) We enjoyed sharing our ministry with them as they learned more about HIV/AIDS and poverty in Africa.
It's hard to grasp the fact that Christmas is just two and a half weeks away. We are busy trying to finish up projects that were scheduled for completion in 2005. This year we've gotten the hang of some activities we started last year and this year things have gone a little smoother.
There's no snow here although, as I said earlier, we are having a bit of rain. There are also many celebrations as we remember Jesus' birth. One tradition that I enjoy propagating is having advent devotions with the staff. Most had never heard of advent before joining our program and they enjoy the lighting of the advent candles and discussing God's amazing plan to send Jesus to earth.
From Kenya I pray that you and your family will enjoy a Christmas season that is filled with hope. Hope that springs forth from knowing God.
With hope,
Joy
joy.phillips@wgm.org
Tenwek Community Health and Development
PO Box 39
Bomet, Kenya 20400
World
Gospel Mission
PO Box 948
Marion, IN 46952-0948
If you do not receive my prayer letters and would like to receive a copy of Joy's 2005 Christmas Gift Giving Catalogue please send me your name and address and I will be sure and send you a copy when it is ready but it's not ready yet!
|
|