Send Neil to Sudan

As I returned back from the rainy seasons of Kenya and

Uganda I returned to the ever parching heat of Sudan. It

wasn’t too hot when I arrived, but over the last week it has

become too much for a Scottish man! After arriving back a

month ago I have been aiming to begin our outreach in two

communities a 25 minute cycle away.

There have been some cultural barriers in this, but we are

working through them to hopefully begin caring for their

communities (details in my blog

www.neilingall.wordpress.com)

We have begun the community health committee work in

Bantolgen, a 20 minute cycle from our compound, which is

going surprisingly well. We are now beginning to work on

latrine digging and working alongside our water project

team in building cement bases. In the process of discussing

issues of ill health with the village people, their conclusion,

thanks be to God, was that it is not God’s will for these

children to die, but we have a choice to follow his

commands. So that was the turning point to our meetings

and I hope and pray this continues!

We have been hoping to have my health care workers

trained in Vaccination administration to therefore have a

more holistic level of care in our villages, but it is very

difficult organizing anything in a culture that values

relationships over time management! These are the biggest

frustrations in Africa when we are so used to time efficiency.

Our work in the community constantly changes as 3

months ago most villages moved to their ‘Kalgie’ where they

shelter from the high winds lifting the dirt as the ground is

so dry. So we search around forests maybe 30-100 meters

from their villages for children as they hide from the dust

clouds. Now, as the thunder came and big enough

whirlwinds to lift off roofs from the mud huts, they are

moving back to prepare their mud huts again for the rainy

season.

This affects my work drastically as 4 of the 7 villages I work

in are only accessible by foot due to paths turning into mud.

With tropical rain storms, no Sudanese will go outside in the

whole area and therefore will stop our work that day. I

really am lost in how best to act, but I know the LORD will

guide me as these challenges come.

“For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on

his shoulders.

.

Refugee camp

Refugees

As the rains draws near to provide challenges to

me, it also comes with so many more serious

problems. The only river bed left dried up last

week (bottom of page), and the NGO’s have not

been able to draw filtered river water to the

refugees to help support their massive water

shortage. With 46,000 registered only getting

9.2L per person per day (which was only 4.6L two

weeks ago). The complete lack of any other

water source than that of borehole has meant

that their 9.2L is to be shared with their livestock

as there are no drinking holes for them.

So as the refugees eagerly await the hopeful 2

month early rains, the NGO community fears for

the spread of every type of disease and their lack

of water tight housing.

My Life

As you all know and have been able to share

with me, God filled my SIM account with £12,000

in 6 weeks (£2,000 a week!), and I raised over my

budget. It seems God had his plans for me to

stay a while longer If I stay until November the

15th

my colleague, Vicki, can go on home

assignment for 4 months, and I can cover part of

her work. So I’ll be leaving as the dry season

begins here and Scotland begins its winter…

great!!

Mangos and watermelons have come into

season so I am LOVING it as for 2 months the only

fresh foods have been onions and limes. I’m busy

most of the time which is good but also tiring!

I’m looking forward to SIM Sudan’s week

conference from the 13th

of April where all the

Sudan missionaries meet in Nairobi for one week.

Mailing Address

Neil Ingall

SIM Sudan

Box 79252

00200 City Square

Nairobi, KENYA

E: neilingall88@gmail.com

Blog: http://neilingall.wordpress.com/

For stories!

FB: http://facebook.com/neil88

For pictures.

Prayer points

- Pray for Ottagi and Nyonkagi as we hope

to build relationships and begin caring for

their children

-Pray for a strong health committee in

Bantolgen and for wisdom on how to help

them develop

- We all leave for our annual SIM Sudan

Prayer conference, 13th

April. Pray that I

continue to show the fruits of the spirit to

everyone and in everything I do until then

as I’m finding it harder to have grace in all

the small stresses of life.

- For guidance in how to best distribute the

mosquito nets to those who need them

before the rains come (maybe 2 weeks!).

- Continue to pray for peace and for the

leader of the North, Omar-Al-Bashir, that

his heart would change.

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know your name will trust in you,

for you, LORD, have never forsaken

those who seek you.”

Psalm 9: 9-10