The oil rich area of Abyei is proving to be the sticking point for the implementation of the CPA (Comprehensive Peace Agreement). Officially the area is considered a part of the Sudan (North) and is to have it’s own vote as to whether or not it will become a part of Southern Sudan, should they chose to form their own country in the 2011 elections.

ReliefWeb.int has a great article about how the future of Sudan could largely hinge on how this area is treated by the North and South.

If you’re curious about the broader history of the area, read about it at wikipedia.org.

——————————————–
The orange line indicates the boundary of the Abyei region. The purple states are currently a part of the North and will have their own vote whether they want to become a part of the South.

With Kofi Annan mediating, the last few weeks have seen their ups and downs. In principle both sides, the government and the opposition, have agreed to share power in the government until the next elections are held. This would primarily be exercised through the addition of a Prime Minister to the government. This position would be held by the opposition party. Mr. Annan has explained that the talks are stalling because the government is unwilling to confront the reality of sharing power.

Read more about the current situation in Kenya at CNN.com.

Nearly every country in East Africa has experienced internal strife in the last few years without resolve. Sudan, Chad, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda have experienced these horrors. Today marks a very important peace agreement in Uganda between the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) and the national government. Read about the recent agreement HERE.

While you’re at it, check out the film Invisible Children. Shot by post college students when they could not get into Sudan because of the safety hazards that had gotten very out of control at the time, they went to Uganda and brought back a film highlighting the fighting that has left so many boys homeless, many of them forced into the rebel armies.

In Belgrade, Serbia, Serb protestors attacked embassies and burned the US flag and others’ flags.

Well, it’s taken some time, but I’ve finally got Avery’s first month of photos up. You can view it through Flickr or my own photo album.

Flickr
or
My Album

ENJOY!

As many of you know, I am a current events freak. I’m definitely going to be giving that up when I move to Africa as my ‘connectedness’ will shrink considerably. But for the sake of having an outlet, I wanted to share with you some of the biggest news items over the past few days with international & tech flavoring.

Castro steps down from Presidency - Link (Cigar smokers rejoice)
HD DVD format by Toshiba is officially dead - Link
Pakistani elections finally happen - Link
Kosovo declares independence from Serbia - Link
President Bush tours Africa - Link

As some of you know this past Sunday our home church formally announced to the church that we were now commissioned, vocational missionaries. It is always a huge treat to talk with the various people who want to know more about what you’re doing and want to get involved. To hear the hearts of others and where God has been working on and in their lives and how they feel God is pushing them to contribute in our ministry is always such a blessing and a HUGE encouragement for Allison and I to continue in the direction God has been leading us.

We would love to come and visit your church, Sunday school, community group or small group if they would be open to having us. We always enjoy sharing about the work God is doing overseas. We are blessed through the response people have through their questions and remarks about how they have been involved or want to get involved.

So you may know about Kanye West and his antics about winning awards and how he feels he deserves them all and gets all bent out of shape when he doesn’t. Well tonight Vince Gill won the Country Music Single award tonight. He went up on stage and goes… ‘I just got an award handed to me by a Beatle.’ Soaking it in, he pauses for a second, then goes ‘have you had that happen yet kanye?’

I love country music.