One Year Anniversary

Yep... it has been a year since I arrived in Tonj. It has gone by really quickly, but still feels like I have been gone forever. The one year mark is a little bittersweet since I had originally planned to go home right about now. I know I am still supposed to be here, but I am sad I will be waiting longer to see family and friends.

As I think back about this past year, I am overwhelmed with memories. I am so glad I have kept a blog because so much happens daily that I forget about many things. It has been fun to go back and read my blog. Especially the ones from right after I got here. (www.thisisstaciesblog.blogspot.com)

There were good times and hard times. While there are so many, some of my fondest memories have been:

Praying for patients in the clinic.

Going to Elizabeth's house and praying for her to get pregnant. Now, she has baby Joshua who I had the honor of naming.

Visiting Rebecca in jail and having a Bible study with her and some of the other prisoners.

Enjoying registration – I love interacting with the patients...even when they laugh at my Dinka.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years in Tonj

Going to Turtle Bay with the Kuj family and Mark.

Game nights and lots of laughs with the staff here

Reading some of my struggles that were so hard at the moment seem funny now. Here are some funny quotes from my blog –

“I had to do triage. I was so nervous. I don't know one thing about triage. At first I couldn't find anyone to show me the routine and I felt helpless.” (Now I love doing registration and triage!)

“In the afternoon we went to the market. That was just as scary as the last time we went there. I never want to go there again! Maybe I can avoid it for a year.” (This one is so funny. I feel totally at ease in the market now.)

“Thank you Mike, Amy, Tim, Alica and Tiffany for your encouragement and support. It was a blessing to have you escort me here. See you in a year when you come pick me up!” (hahaha... nope. God had other plans! Now Mike, Amy and I are here!)

“It was very exciting and a little nerve wracking. The biting threw me a bit and the bugs freaked me out!” (Discussing a birth... the mom did the biting and there were bats and bugs all around)

“I will have to oversee a lot of the meals. I hate cooking and I am lousy at it. Thinking about doing it stress me out and makes me really anxious. Thinking about doing it over the next year makes me dread the next year. It makes me long to be home now.” (Now this seems funny, but I was devastated at the time!)

“I ended up getting distracted and completely forgot to check on the water. Three and a half hours later, Sabet tells me he found the stove on, no water in the kettle and the kettle's bottom was burned through.” (See... I shouldn't be in the kitchen!)

One of my most meaningful experiences was flying to Kenya with eight year old Matoch after he was shot in the face. I'll never forget holding him while he cried right before he went to surgery to fix his injury. The language barrier seemed insurmountable. There was nothing I could do more to comfort him than to call upon the name of the Lord. Matoch's recovery was a miracle. The three weeks I spent with him in the hospital and Nairobi were challenging and rewarding. If God brought me to Sudan just for this, I would be ok.



(Matoch and I a few weeks ago)

This past year has been one where God has changed me. He has stretched me and grown me in ways I never thought were possible. I have done things that seemed far beyond my abilities. Yet, God has come through for me every time. I have learned to rest in Him and trust in Him for my future. When I felt alone and so far away from home, He was there for me to lean on. Just me and God. This year, I truly found my identity in Christ alone as I dealt with my weight loss struggle. God blessed me abundantly in that area and I am now 115 pounds lighter. He has worked on me inside and out.

It has been my honor to serve Him in Sudan with In Deed and Truth Ministries over the past year. God is doing so much in Tonj. Many lives are being saved physically and spiritually through the clinic and Bible training school. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have partnered with me in this. You are just as much a part of this as I am. Through your prayers and financial support, I am able to be your hands and feet in Sudan, working on the Lord's behalf. Saying thank you doesn't seem to be enough, but know I mean it 100%.

For those of you who committed to giving monthly for this past year, thank you. If you feel God calling you to continue, thank you again. If you are not able to give beyond the year, that is ok. I know that if God has called me to stay, he will call people to support the work. If anyone would like to make a contribution (either one time or monthly) here is how you do it:

1.Go to www.indeedandtruth.org. Click on donate and you'll see a my name listed and can designate a donation to me.
2. Mail a check to: In Deed and Truth Ministries, PO Box 51253, Colorado Springs, CO 80949 Please don’t forget to write my name on the memo line. Donations are tax deductible.

For you prayer warriors out there, here are some areas of need:

1.For guidance as I pray about God's will for my life and His plans my future with this ministry.
2.The Referendum in January – South Sudan will be voting on splitting from the North. No one knows if there will be peace or violence. For this reason, the women and children will be evacuating to Kenya for at least a couple weeks in January until we know it's safe to return. Pray for peace so we can return quickly.
3.Since I am staying longer, I have increased financial support needs. Ask God to provide “senders” my way.
4.For good health – I have had two bouts of malaria recently and some stomach issues. At the moment I feel great.
5.That I will spend quality time with the Lord despite how busy it can get here.
6.That God will use me to further His kingdom in Sudan and also as a blessing to Sabet and Suzy.

Thank you so much everyone for your encouragement and support.

Love,
Stacie