Holy Trinity Peace Village, Kuron

Today I had the privilege of visiting the Holy Trinity Peace Village, Kuron. As a MAF pilot I get to see a lot of this country, but more often than not it is from quite a distance. Most days I will cover quite a lot of ground but only really get to see the airstrips at our destinations and not the actual work that is changing people's lives.

When I landed in Kuron today I was invited to have a look around with the group of people I had flown in and, since there was no hurry to get back to Juba, I accepted. Over the next 2 hours we bumped over some rough roads to see a Vocational Training Centre, a Health Centre (the only one for more than 60km in any direction), a Youth Centre (a large hall where conferences can be held and including accommodation) and the Administrative Centre. If I understood correctly, all this seems to have grown out of the vision and motivation of Bishop Taban, clearly a man of God with a heart for peace in this country. Now that's something worth flying for.

Bishop Taban (with a big fish!)

Youth Centre

Vocational Training Centre

Medical Centre

Its a long way to Renk

We've been back from Home Assignment for just over7 weeks and today I flew to Renk for the 7th time since we returned. It's a long way. The run up to Renk for MEDAIR is the longest flight we do here in S Sudan and it's about 3 hours each way. Although it's a rather long flight, it's great to be part of the work that MEDAIR are doing and it really hits home what a difference the aircraft can make: the 3 hour trip would apparently take about 5 days by road and part of the 'road' is only passable in the dry season.

Instead of the usual prayer from the cockpit today it was great to stand under the wing of the aircraft with 6 or 7 others while one of the MEDAIR team members prayed for the flight and for those who remained behind to continue the work.

"...open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God..." Acts 26:18

Elisha told me Abraham's story as we sat and ate our lunch in Malambo before the afternoon's flying got under way.

Abraham (centre) at Arash, near Malambo

Abraham had walked many hours (18 hours Elisha told me!) to be there so that he could join the flight to Arash and then, after returning to Malambo the following day, join the new intake of students starting a course in evangelism at the bible school.
Abraham, although quite young, used to be a witch doctor with many followers and was respected by many older witch doctors. He heard the Gospel through a group of students from the bible school in Malambo who were doing evangelism as a practical part of the course they were taking, and after discussions long into the night he had decided he wanted to give his life to Christ.
As a new Christian things have not been easy for Abraham, and part of the reason for his trip to Arash was to tell the people there that what he was doing before was wrong and that now he knows the one truly powerful God.
It is such a privilege for me to meet people like Abraham who have been transformed by God's love and have truly been turned from darkness to light. Please pray for Abraham and the other dozen or so students who are now nearly 2 weeks into their 3 month course at the bible school.

Bringing supplies to Haydom Hospital

This is Jean, one of our regular passengers arriving at Haydom Lutheran Hospital with an aeroplane load of supplies for a research project.

What a difference the rain makes!

It is incredible to see the change in the landscape that is brought about by the rains. I was struck by the contrast in these 2 pictures, both taken from the airstrip in Malambo, northern Tanzania. I took the first picture 6 months ago near the end of the dry season and the second just a couple of weeks ago while waiting for the weather to clear after a night of heavy rain.

Malambo in October 2011- the mountains obscured by dust.

Malambo in April 2012- the mountains obscured by low clouds.