One basic missionary characteristic is flexibility. If you don't have it when you get here, you'll soon have to learn it. I think, I brought some, but still have to learn some more and the current developments give me opportunity for such growth.
After three months of Juba-Arabic preparation, I should have started teaching theology at the Bright Hope School of Theology in Torit. However, the school which should have opened in September 2008 will now only open in spring 2010. So, for the last couple of months we have been looking around for another temporary placement for me and in the end decided for Gideon Theological College (GTC), which is in Melut on the Nile at the most northern tip of southern Sudan. I will be moving to Melut on the 20th of july and will start teaching a course on biblical theology two weeks later when the term commences on the 3rd of August. Until then, I will continue with Juba Arabic for another four weeks in Torit. We have agreed for me to teach in Melut for one term until the beginning of December and will then look at how the school in Torit is moving on and consider subsequent stepts for next year's placement. After a time of anxiety and trying to get my head around all these developments, I now feel quite excited about the changes ahead. I've been in regular contact with the principal, Philip Eisa, and with the staff of Medair, a Christian development organisation, which ahs a base right next to the school's compound. Since I will be the only AIM missionary working in that area of Sudan, I will rely on Medair for flights and postal mail, which means that my mail address is changing to the following from July onwards (I will change it in my email signature as well):
Verena SchafrothAIM Melut - South Sudan
c/o MAF Kenya
PO Box 21123
Nairobi 00505
Kenya, EAST AFRICA
Developments in Torit
I finished my first phase in Torit well and have been on holiday for two weeks with my sister Mirjam, who flew out from Germany. I am now back in Torit and look forward to getting stuck into language and culture preparation again. Please pray for the remaining 4 weeks in Torit and that I can really concentrate on language learning while also preparing for the move to Melut. Our South Sudan team weekend is coming up from the 10th to the 12th of July - please pray for good interaction and God's Spirit during that time.
