Neverthirst Blog & Field Notes

We just returned from Sudan this past Saturday night after over 40 hours of travel - Sudan to Entebbe to London to Atlanta to Birmingham.  And this came on the heels of a 10 day India effort.  So now the process of pouring over hours of video footage and thousands of images begins. All in the hopes of best communicating what we have seen, experienced and heard from our friends living in Sudan.

I hope over the next several weeks we’ll be able to tell many stories.  Stories of hope, of dignity, of love, of perseverance and of suffering.  I am always encouraged by our brothers and sisters in Christ there - no matter the circumstances, I have always found smiles.

One of the villages we had the privilege to visit was Miri Dokota of East Mundri county. They are on our list of villages we hope to supply with clean water this year.  In particular I want to introduce you to Louis Martin.  Louis is a member of the local church here in Miri Dokota and volunteered to be interviewed as we arrived.

We asked her to describe ‘a day in the life’ and she began describing the typical day for all the women living in Miri Dokota.  It begins early as they set out on their quest for water - dirty water.  She pointed out that many of the women had not even returned from gathering water at that point….it was 1pm….and over 90 degrees.  You see, we happen to be there at the beginning of the dry season and found out it takes them hours to find a source that has not dried up.  These are typically hand dug holes or a few of the steams that have not dried up.

The most heartbreaking news came as she described how they had been told three years ago that their village would receive clean water.  In anticipation, and as their community contribution, they had cleared a path for the trucks and drilling rigs to reach them….a path they had kept clear for three years in the hope the group would return - but they never did.

Louis’ response - ‘as Christians we are still praying to God and know that He will provide it.’

Our response - Yes, He will.

I wanted to tell you that it didn’t take us long to get Louis to smile.  You see, there is a joy unspeakable in most all of the Sudanese we’ve met.  And no matter the miles they walk for dirty water and the disappointment the years of war have brought, they have found this joy in Christ - and they’re happy to tell you so.

It is a great opportunity God gives us to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our hope is that you will join us in our mission to strengthen the church in Sudan through clean water.