Day 12 - Amsterdam to America

Monday, March 25th
We landed in Amsterdam at 530am local time (730am Africa time and 1130pm Alabama time).  After breakfast at McDonalds and Starbucks, Shayna and I got pedicures at the XpresSpa in the airport.  So nice to clean up our feet after the dirt of South Sudan!  We sat around Starbucks for several hours and played games, journaled, discussed the week and used the Internet. 
After a while we moved to a restaurant to have lunch.  Debby did the final devotional there which was on Shared Poverty.  We discussed that there is more to poverty than just material poverty.  Because of the fall, every life and relationship was affected - we share in this universal poverty of spiritual intimacy, being, community, and stewardship.  Even if we are considered "materially rich," we are equally devastated by these aspects of poverty.  If all we do is provide generous amounts of material goods for people in need, we can actually do more long-term harm than good.  We actually need to serve the poor more than the poor need our material goods.  She referenced 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 and Matthew 25:31-46. "And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."  It was a great time of discussion and reflection for us all.

We left Amsterdam at 230pm and made the 9hour flight to Detroit.  A quick layover with a trip through customs and we boarded the plane to Birmingham.  We landed ~9pm and were greeted by many friends and families. 

I know it is going to take several days, weeks and possibly months for us to process all that we have experienced in South Sudan.  You cannot take this journey and not be changed.  It is challenging to jump back into reality as if nothing has happened.  So, bear with us as we adjust back to life in America with our hearts longing to be back in Africa.  I am so thankful the Lord called me to be a part of this team and for all that He has shown me thus far.  Lord willing, I plan to return to S Sudan next March to serve the Moru people again.

A few comments about future plans and Four Corners work in South Sudan:
-Debby shared with me some of the long-term plans for the work in South Sudan.  They hope to take 3+ teams a year with 4 main focuses:  Medical/Dental/Acute Care, Community Health (prevention, education), Evangelism and Discipleship/Pastoral Training.
-There is a huge need for pastoral training in South Sudan and we are praying for men to go and train the church leaders there.
-Several years ago, Somali was the country that had recorded the highest stats for maternal mortality, infant mortality and less than 5yr old mortality. Since S Sudan has recently become an independent nation, the data for Western Equitoria State (one of the 10 states of S Sudan & where we were working) has shown rates for infant mortaily and under 5yr old mortality DOUBLE that of Somali. Their maternal mortality rate is almost double. The age of average death is much younger. All of this goes to show the need for health assessment and education for these people.
-Previous trips to the Moru people have focused not only on evangelism but education on malaria and oral rehydration solutions. This trip showed evidence that the education has payed off and the villages were overall healthier than before. However, there is a long way to go!