Juba

Driving out of the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) Headquarters in Juba

Before and after pictures of a Hydraform building on our Juba compound

Four weeks into my journey and things have changed quite a bit. Last time I posted, Robbie and I were preparing to move to Juba to begin our work here. Now we have been here for a week, and I plan to be here for another week. Robbie leaves this Wednesday to go back to the US, so I am sure that things will be different when he is gone. Here in Juba, the compound is under construction. Once things are finished here, Water Harvest International will have a second team drilling water wells for needy communities in South Sudan. Until then, there is much work to be done on the compound. We are doing some plumbing work on the new buildings and helping in whatever way is most necessary for the local staff. We had had some great interactions with the local staff and have been blessed by those relationships. This post is short, but there will be more to come in a few days. Thank you for prayers and support.

-Brady

Farewell Kajo Keji

Today Robbie and I leave for Juba to help with the work going on there to establish a compound. We have really enjoyed our time in Kajo Keji and working alongside the staff of Water Harvest International and learning from the staff of Mobile Health International, which is a sister organization to WHI. It has been such a great experience to worship with our South Sudanese brothers and sisters in church, to pray with them in the mornings and to have fellowship with them everyday. I have learned that the community here in Kajo Keji seeks to know the Lord better, desires to do His will and is a light to the surrounding communities. I am thankful for the East African Ministries and their work here in Kajo Keji. As we leave for Juba, we realize that we will not drill any more wells during this trip. Our efforts are needed in Juba, where they have not yet started their well drilling operations. We will help them with the construction of the compound, so that they can begin using the compound as a base for their well drilling team. During our time in Kajo Keji, we were able to help drill 4 water wells, which should provide water for at least 700 people (a conservative estimate). I am so thankful for my brothers here, and I look forward to our time in Juba.

To my partners, thank you again for your prayers and support of this trip. I am blessed to be sent by you, and I think of you often. Thank you to those who are sending me emails saying that you are praying for me. I appreciate every prayer that you life up for me and please continue to do so. I will try to post once we get settled into Juba; however, the internet in Juba will be less accessible than it is here at the compound in Kajo Keji. God bless you!

-Brady

June 10, 2012- Back from the Field

All of the previous posts have just been added to the blog, although I wrote them in my journal days ago. We just returned yesterday from the field, and it is nice to be back at the compound for a little R&R. I have received a number of emails from people who are praying for our trip. I wanted to thank all of you for your prayers as Robbie and I are here drilling wells and sharing the Gospel. I am constantly reminded that I have a host of people praying for me, and it is a much needed encouragement. During our 11 days in the field, we were able to drill 4 wells. We had a wonderful time working with the drill crew, and we have learned so much about water well drilling. As we rest at the compound, wash clothes and recount our experiences so far, we will also prepare for the coming weeks. Our specific plans are up in the air right now. We eventually need to be in Juba (the capital) to take our flights out of there, but until then we have a number of options. The drill crew in Juba has not yet started their drilling operations because their compound is still under construction. We could go to Juba in the coming days to help with construction and encourage the team there. We could also stay here in Kajo Keji to help the drill crew on their next drilling trip. During each drilling trip, they go out in the field for about 3 weeks and drill 6 wells. Then they come back to the compound and rest for 1 week. Also, there is a potential that we could go to the town of Nimule for a couple of weeks with a team to conduct earth resistivity testing to select well locations. One of the great things for Robbie and me is that we are completely available to the WHI staff to go anywhere and work on anything that they need help with. We will nail down some plans in the coming days, but at least for a couple of days, we will stay here at the compound to get to know the staff here and help with any small tasks that need to be done. I have enjoyed the field staff and compound staff. I can tell that WHI is seeking to serve God in the most effective ways, while building up local leaders who love the Lord. It is a joy to learn from them and serve alongside them. Thanks to all who donated to support this trip and all who are praying for the work we will do here. I am so thankful for your support, and I am bolstered by your prayers. The Lord is good!

The pictures from these last few posts are from a photographer who works for WHI. Check out the WHI flickr page for more pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/43972710@N08.

-Brady

June 6, 2012- The Power of God

Day 2 of drilling in Jikidi, and we have hit a small aquifer. Although I am having some homesick feelings, I take joy knowing that this work is bringing glory to God. After this well, we have one more well to drill then we return to the compound for a week. Again, a rainstorm has interrupted our work. When it rains, we basically have to stop work for the day. As I lay here in my tent, I am reminded of the power of God. The sound of the rain and thunder declares the glory of the Lord. I took some time during the rain to look up scriptures that remind me of the power, glory and majesty of our God.

Genesis 1

Exodus 14
Exodus 15:2

Deuteronomy 10:17
1 Samuel 14:6
Nehemiah 8:10
Job 10:16
Job 38: 24-28
Job 38: 34-35
Psalm 21:13
Psalm 28:7
Psalm 29:4
Psalm 47:9
Psalm 50:1
Psalm 72:11
Psalm 108:5
Psalm 145: 3, 6
Psalm 147: 5
Proverbs 18:10
Isaiah 6:3
Isaiah 40:28-31
Daniel 10:6
Matthew 8:27
Matthew 28:18
Luke 1:37
Luke 21:27
John 16:33
Romans 8:39
Romans 16:20
1 Corinthians 1:25
2 Corinthians 12:10
Ephesians 1:19
Ephesians 6:10-17
2 Timothy 2:19
Hebrews 1:2

It was a long storm.

-Brady

June 3, 2012- Would You Cast Out the Demon?

We are at our second borehold in Diju, Kajo Keji County, South Sudan. Our first borehold caved in, so we drilled a second hole. The second hole started to cave in, so we had to take some steps to try and save it. Today was a big day for Robbie and me as it was our first Sunday in South Sudan. It was amazing. The worship was raw and beautiful, and it seemed that everybody in the congregation of 30 was involved in the worship. The congregation was singing a song in Bari, so I couldn't understand it. I closed my eyes and just listened to the sound of brothers and sisters in Christ lifting high the name of our Lord. Then, the person next to me tapped my shoulder, and I opened my eyes. The entire congregation was looking directly at me but still singing. The man told me, "you can pray for that child" as he pointed to a young boy who was about 10. I was stunned that everybody was looking at me, and I was also confused by the man's sentence structure. It sounded as if he was implying that I had wanted to pray for the kid, but he was really asking me, "Can you pray for that child?"

 I asked what the child needed prayers for. The man said that the child was disturbed by a demon, and he did not want to spend time helping his family. Instead, the boy would escape from the village and spend time alone. The man asked me to pray the demon from the child. I looked at Robbie almost helplessly because I have no experience casting out demons, and I felt like the spotlight was on me. I walked over to the child and held his hands as I crouched down to the ground with him. The congregation continued singing their beautiful song, and I started praying. I didn't know what to say, so I prayed for the power of Christ to come down. I repeated Jesus's name many times. I told the demon to leave the child in the name of Jesus. The child and I began swaying back and forth, but I don't know which one of us initiated the swaying movement. I continued praying for him and then went back to my seat. I don't know if the demon left the child, but I do know that he didn't show many outward signs during our prayer. I know that my faith was increased. Overall, I don't know what to think of the experience, but I am thankful for my powerful Lord.

-Brady

June 2, 2012- A Day of Firsts

Today was a day of firsts. I drove my first car in Africa. It was a manual off road Land Cruiser with the steering wheel on the right, but we drive on the right side of the road. It was also my first time being a school bus driver, as I had 10 kids piled in the back to travel to the nearby village. Today I learned how to survey for water with an earth resistivity device. It was an interesting process, and it enables Water Harvest International (WHI) to select well locations with a higher degree of accuracy. Before, WHI would drill 7 out of 10 successful wells, but now they can drill 9 out of 10 successful wells. The team just started using the device in January, and they have immediately seen the positive effect it has had on their work. Today I had my first African rainstorm. Of course, it was just like storms in the US, but since we live in tents in the field, everything seems louder. The lightning is bright, the thunder booms and rain pounds our tent. Tonight was my first time to drill at night and also my first time to do mud drilling. There are two main types of drilling that we do: air compression drilling and mud drilling. In both cases, the mud/air is forced down the drilling pipe until it reaches the bottom of the borehole where it returns up the side of the drill pipe pushing down the dirt and rock cuttings out of the borehole. Air compression drilling is cleaner and easier. Mud drilling is necessary in areas where the rock is further down, and you have a deep hole that is still only made of dirt and clay. Mud drilling requires much attention, and the area can get messy.

It was a long day, and I am tired. Tonight I was frustrated because I had a solution to a problem, but nobody would listen to me. Even if I tried to voice my opinion to fix the problem, it was difficult to communicate effectively because of the language barrier. The men on the drill team speak English, but it sounds different than ours, and it actually can be difficult to communicate with them. The Lord sustained me through my frustration and gave me peace and patience once I submitted to him in prayer. I am thankful that we have a Lord who tells us to cast our burdens on Him. He is good when there is nothing good in me.

-Brady

May 31, 2012- Drilling Our First Well

We are in the process of drilling our first well! We are currently about 110 feet down using air compression drilling. Every morning we have a time of devotion, worship and prayer. Before we pray, we sing this song:

You are holy x12
You are mighty x12
You are healer x12

It was awesome to sing with these men on the drill crew. When voices join together here in worship, it is a beautiful thing. This song before our prayer was the sweetest moment of the trip so far.

Robbie and I have been laughing about the food they feed us. At first, we were pretty convinced that we weren't going to be fed our first day. We started counting the Clif bars we had in our packs to determine how many days we could survive. Luckily, they fed us that first night, but it was late. The food in the field is consistent. Beans and posho are two common dishes here. Posho is a hot, moist, sticky, dense bread that they use to eat the other food (it acts like a utensil). So if you have beans and posho, you break off a piece of posho with your hand to scoop up the beans. There are no utensils in the field.

Last night, we showed the Jesus Film. Robbie and I were exhausted, so we only lasted about 40 minutes into the movie. We wanted to stay and watch it, but we were still jet-lagged. The Jesus Film is a movie about the life of Jesus, and it has been translated into hundreds of languages and is shown all around the world. When I went to Haiti in 2010, we showed the Jesus Film translated into Haitian Creole four or five times. Haitians are very dramatic and expressive, so their responses to the film were similar. From my experience so far, the South Sudanese people that we have met are less expressive.

I feel very welcomed here. The children are very confused by the color of my skin, and it makes them afraid of me or shy. I wish I could speak the local language, Bari, so that I could talk to them. But for now, the only phrases we know, "good morning", "good afternoon", "how are you?" and "what's your name?" will have to do.

In the field, we bathe outside with a plastic shallow tub. We bathe at night in the moonlight, and people can potentially (do) see us bathing, so I wear a bathing suit when I bathe. Because of my Western mentality and my introvert nature, I crave privacy. There is little privacy here in the field, and it bothers me. But I know that the Lord is working on my heart to make me more like Him. As we prepare to go to sleep, I have plenty of things to be thankful for. I am safely in South Sudan and am helping drill my first water well. I have a host of family and friends that are lifting up prayers on my behalf, and I have a Lord who has conquered all things. I am thankful to be here; now the adventure begins.

-Brady

My Pal Robbie

For the five weeks that I am in South Sudan, I am blessed to have the company of my good friend Robbie Stewart. Robbie is a fellow mechanical engineering student at UT. We had the opportunity to go Cap-Haitien, Haiti for spring break last year. During our time there, Robbie kept pointing out water wells along the side of the road. His passion for clean water got me interested in learning more about clean water. Last fall, we took a class together called Projects for Underserved Communities (PUC). Through PUC, we had the opportunity to plan and implement a clean water project in Liberia. Unfortunately, the project was cancelled because UT considered Liberia unsafe for student travel. Even though that project was cancelled, we learned a lot about working on a humanitarian project in a foreign country. While God closed the door on Liberia, he graciously opened the door for Robbie and I to go to South Sudan together. I am so grateful that we get to share another incredible opportunity together.

Here is a picture of Robbie and me at the DFW airport before we left for South Sudan!

-Brady