In Search of Water

The Final Team Member!

2012-02-08T11:48:00.002-06:00

Our final team member has been selected. Jessi Matson will be joining our team to provide teacher training to the small school in Buagyi. Many of the children from Kalalayi walk the seven miles to school each day to attend. The teachers need help with everything from classroom management to working with special needs children. During the war, there were some chemicals that mothers and children were exposed to that have affected many of the children and their ability to learn and join in with the other students in the classroom. Jesse will address this need as well as other needs as she observes and assists the teachers. Jesse is an experienced teacher with cross-cultural environments in her ministry in Detroit and in her current role of directing the PowerHouse tutoring center. We are happy to have Jessi as a part of the team.

Jessi Matson

It is sad to say no to the other applicants that wanted to join this team but due to the size constraints, five is the maximum allowed from the US side of the team. We will be joined by a Sudanese man named Right Taban and his wife when we reach Juba. They will be the ones preparing the project for our arrival. Please pray for the team as we begin the work of preparing for the ministry experience in Kalalayi.

Two More Team Members

2012-02-07T14:46:00.000-06:00

This week I have been interviewing applicants for the Sudan Project. It has been exciting to hear the passion and desire that God’s people have to serve him in this way. Unfortunately, there are only 2-3 spots and of course we have more applicants than we have spots. My goal is to make sure that we have the right skill sets in our team members so that we are as successful as possible with this project.

Aside from me and Pastor Julius, we have 2 spots that need to be filled. The first is our medical spot. This person needs to care for the health and well-being of the team. The medical position is the most important position on the team to ensure that team members have the right vaccines and safe health practices before, during and after the trip. I am excited to announce that Darwin Gramstad will be joining the team in this important role. Darwin is not only a skilled nurse but he went on the previous trip we took in 2010 so he has an experienced understanding of the needs and challenges facing the team.

Darwin, all dusty in Sudan

The next spot is the mechanical, hands on person that can do everything from vehicle maintenance, mechanical repairs (borehole) and continue our agricultural farming demonstrations. It’s a tall order but we found the man for the job. Shane Copeland is a jack of all trades. He owns the Napa Service Center here in town and has an ability to learn and adapt quickly. Shane will keep us going and will immerse himself in the Farming God’s Way training materials so he can continue that training effort in Kalalayi.

Shane Copeland - Chili cook-off winner

We still have one spot left and more applicants to interview. The final team member should be added by tomorrow some time. I’ll keep you posted!

Here we go again!

2012-01-24T12:54:00.001-06:00

We have just made the team applications available this past Sunday (Jan 22^nd) with a deadline of February 1^st to have them turned in. There is so much to do and so little time to get it done (that’s almost a country song title!). As of right now, myself (Doug Bartel) and Pastor Julius Badigo of Falls Community Church are the only two confirmed team members. We are looking for 2-3 others to join us. We need medical personnel and people with skill sets in either agriculture, construction or other related fields.

Once the team is assembled, there are many items that need to get completed quickly, as they are very time sensitive. Passports and vaccines are the most important things to jump on right away, in order to be ready for an April trip. We will also be looking for a team member that will not be going on the trip, but will provide support from home and help in organizing the details of the project.

Please pray for these initial details as God assembles the team. If you are interested in an application, please contact the church at hillcrest@siouxfallschurch.com or by phone, 605-371-0546.