Sudan at last

We're safe in Juba, Sudan. Tomorrow we're supposed to head to Bor and I think we're flying there. Originally the plan was to drive, but the locals think it would be best to fly. I think the flight might be on a UN plane. Tonight we meet with Michael, the head of Rebuild Sudan, and some other figures involved in the ministry and in the affairs of Southern Sudan. We're trying to get a better picture of his ministry vision and goals and what a 'school' will look like in Sudan. Praise God we're here with all our luggage and no worse for the wear of an extra travel day.

A minor inconvenience

We arrived in Ethiopia on a redeye flight from Frankfurt. Originally, our flight from Ethiopia to Sudan was just delayed, but it was eventually canceled. I guess it's better to get delayed for a flight than to fly on a broken plane.
They put us up in a very nice hotel for the night with hot water, free internet, dinner and breakfast. We leave tomorrow morning for our flight to Juba, Sudan. Hopefully everything will work out and we'll end up where we're staying in Bor on Sunday afternoon.

On the way to Sudan

We're in Frankfurt in a hotel right now. We have around a 16 hour layover here before our flight to Ethiopia. Once we arrive there we fly to Juba in Sudan. Then it's a long car ride to Bor Town where we'll be working. I don't know when I'll be able to update this next.
Pray that all our stuff arrives in Sudan at the same time we do.
Pray for safety and good weather while we travel

Orientation Part II

Today was a whirlwind of activities and learning. I learned about everything from staff testimonies to lessons for connecting cross-culturally to how intern finances work today. We've been so busy from like 7:30 AM to 10 PM the past two nights so by the time we're done I can't even call my parents because of the two hour time difference. Today we hiked up a trail to these depressions in rock called the 'punch bowls' where snowmelt drains down through them and into a creek. One of them was so deep that some of the interns jumped in. Being a Floridian with very little resistance to the cold I elected not to go in, but being clumsy I ended up sliding into the pool on accident. It was cold, but fun. Then the other primary activity of the afternoon was each intern sharing a short testimony with the rest of the EMI staff.

This will probably be my last post until we're on our trip to Sudan, although we have a 15 hour layover in Frankfurt, Germany, so I may be able to send a post from there. Pray for our team as we design a school building for the ministry Rebuild Sudan Pray that we would clearly be able to understand what the ministry requires and that we would be able to complete the other work needed to do the complete design once we return to the states. Pray for safety and humility in all we do.

I'm pretty tired and I don't think that's going to change any time soon, so I've been remembering these verses from Matthew 11:28-30 because I know that God will sustain me and help me to serve him.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Orientation

WOW!
God is so good. He brought me safely to Colorado Springs on Saturday afternoon. I met the family who is letting me and the other guy intern live in their basement this summer. That evening the other interns and I and the spring interns that are still left went and grabbed some dinner and hit a local coffee shop and we had a great time.
On Sunday I went to church with a friend of mine from my last summer in Colorado. It was a great service. Then I had lunch with him and his family. That evening orientation started with dinner at the CEO of EMI's house. His wife made some delicious lasagna and he told us all about his testimony and the history of EMI.
Today we went rock climbing in the Garden of the Gods, which was a blast. We got to encourage each other to make it to the top of the rock faces and we had to learn to trust our belayers and the ropes holding us up. Then we went to EMI's office and had some lunch and did some sessions with EMI staffers. We learned a little bit more about how the various design disciplines blend together during an EMI project. We learned about the structural, architectural, and water/wastewater treatment things that EMI does. To close out the evening we went to the vice president's house and he talked to us about God's calling and our response and we also did a personality test.
This week is going to be very busy, especially since our team leaves for Sudan on Thursday. Hopefully I'll be able to upload another post and some pictures before then.

And so it begins...

I made it to Alabama today safe and sound. The drive was completely uneventful, and I'm definitely ok with that. I'm staying with my grandparents. We had an awesome dinner complete with steaks grilled by my grandpa seasoned with super-secret steak rub from my uncle. I'm excited to spend Wednesday here with them.

T-minus Two weeks

Well, right now I'm sitting in my parents' house in Bartow. I'm finished with school for the semester, and I think did well. It's really exciting to think that at this time in two weeks I'll be out in Colorado. I'm definitely looking forward to meeting the other four interns for the summer. I also ended up with the opportunity to work a few hours for my dad helping him get caught up on some work, which will help put some spending money in my pocket for the summer.

I'm so thankful for how God has met my needs for the summer. I'm almost done with raising support. My passport and visa are all taken care of, and I got my shots on Thursday. Everything is coming together. Philippians 4:19 is so true: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

In case I don't post again before I leave, here's how my drive to Colorado is going to break down:
5/12 - Drive to Alabama where my grandparents live
5/13 - Spend the day relaxing with my grandparents
5/14 - Drive to Oklahoma City and stay with some friends from camp last summer
5/15 - Spend the day with them
5/16 - Drive to Colorado Springs
5/17 - Orientation starts in the evening

Pray that I will stay alert and awake on my drive.