Taylor left before the sun came up this morning to drive down to the coast. He will be working with four others scouting locations for the film. See the post at the top of our blog for more background into the film, A distant boat.

I got word that he arrived safely and wanted to ask for continued prayers for safety during his trip. Please also pray for good team unity and for finding locations that would work well. Thankfully a Kenyan media house is helping the production so they will be able to help in negotiating when locations are found. Please pray for favor for the owners of each location and for their willingness to help out with the project and for good witness to those who are not believers.
Thanks as always for your prayers!

Though we don’t share much about it, community development is a huge part of why we are on the field. I, Allison, studied community development at university and have long desired to take part in applying the book knowledge to help others improve their lives and open doors to share the reasons why we care.

I was trying to help out a team mate with some issues that had come up while working with the community building latrines and stumbled upon a quote from one of my favorite professors at JBU.

“Our call is to be stewards of God’s creation. We can be agents of blessing to others by teaching them how to make the best use of God’s resources,” “Engineering and renewable energy studies are very effective tools for demonstrating Christ’s love in places where people’s very livelihoods are at stake.”- Dr. Kim

That about sums up why I get so excited about helping others through community development and just wanted to pass it along.

Reports are coming out saying that Sudan has bombed Bentiu, a city in South Sudan. These bombs hit markets and had civilian casualties. Click here to read the full article from CNN.com.

Please continue to pray for both Sudans.

Today I am again thankful for the chance to live in a mix of cultures and get the chance to see things through a child’s eyes.

There are many “melt your heart” moments as parents, and I would love to share one of them. One day while playing outside, Avery ran up to me and told me quite earnestly, “We have to pray now!”. She had heard someone singing so we had to pray. This melted my heart because she had confused a neighbor singing in another language with hearing the call to prayer. When describing what the call to prayer was I mentioned that it was also a reminder for us to pray for others to come to know The Truth and find hope in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Next time you hear the call to prayer, or just someone randomly singing and your remember this story, will you join us in praying?

This sight always makes us smile and we are thrilled to be able to have finally gotten a picture to share with you all!

One of the areas of contention between Sudan and South Sudan, Heglig, has been taken back by South Sudan. This area was marked as part of South Sudan in 1956 boarder agreements. Since it is a major oil producer no one has wanted to let it go. Since the recent take over by the SPLA Sudan has responded by pulling out of peace talks with South Sudan. South Sudan has stopped oil production, which does not make Sudan happy and Sudan responded by declaring a mobilization of their army. Here are many links below to get the full story. Please keep both Sudans in your prayers during this intense time where war is seemingly more and more imminent. We do serve a God of miracles and I pray this could somehow be avoided and millions of civilian lives could be spared.
Sudan breaks off talks with South Sudan.
South Sudan shuts down oil production in the disputed border area of Heglig
Sudan declares general mobilisation after Heglig clash.

If anyone is devout and a lover of God, let them enjoy this beautiful and radiant festival.

If anyone is a grateful servant, let them, rejoicing, enter into the joy of his Lord.

If anyone has wearied themselves in fasting, let them now receive recompense.

If anyone has labored from the first hour, let them today receive the just reward.

If anyone has come at the third hour, with thanksgiving let them feast.

If anyone has arrived at the sixth hour, let them have no misgivings; for they shall suffer no loss.

If anyone has delayed until the ninth hour, let them draw near without hesitation.

If anyone has arrived even at the eleventh hour, let them not fear on account of tardiness.

For the Master is gracious and receives the last even as the first; He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, just as to him who has labored from the first.

He has mercy upon the last and cares for the first; to the one He gives, and to the other He is gracious.

He both honors the work and praises the intention.

Enter all of you, therefore, into the joy of our Lord, and, whether first or last, receive your reward.

O rich and poor, one with another, dance for joy!

O you ascetics and you negligent, celebrate the day!

You that have fasted and you that have disregarded the fast, rejoice today!

The table is rich-laden: feast royally, all of you!

The calf is fatted: let no one go forth hungry!

Let all partake of the feast of faith. Let all receive the riches of goodness.

Let no one lament their poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Saviour’s death has set us free.

He that was taken by death has annihilated it!

He descended into Hades and took Hades captive!

He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed: “Hades was embittered when it encountered Thee in the lower regions.”

It was embittered, for it was abolished!

It was embittered, for it was mocked!

It was embittered, for it was purged!

It was embittered, for it was despoiled!

It was embittered, for it was bound in chains!

It took a body and came upon God!

It took earth and encountered ??eaven!

It took what it saw, but crumbled before what can not seen!

O death, where is thy sting?

O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is risen, and you are overthrown!

Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen!

Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!

Christ is risen, and life reigns!

Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in a tomb!

For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first-fruits of them that have slept.

To Him be glory and might unto the ages of ages.

Amen.

-Paschal Homily of John Chrysostom

We are very thankful to be living in a home with running water. Sometimes our water looks more like tea and we are thankful to have a water filter. Even more importantly we are thankful to have direct access to the living water, Christ our Lord. We hope you are enjoying this season of Lent and pray you have a wonderful Easter remembering our rising Savior!