Patience and Flexibility

    This week was a great one. I have been getting better acquainted with my responsibilities as Base Manager. This job will be more challenging than initially thought. I have many responsibilities that include:

• Budget Manager with signing power for all Office, Housing, and Staff related items/functions 
• Housing Arrangement/Vehicle Transportation Coordinator
• Network Administrator
• Utilities Overseer for 3 Locations
• Generator Overseer for 3 units
• Lease/Contract Manager
• Office Manager
• New Housing Manager (we are looking for a new base and planning for it, had to draw initial sketches for our compound planning)

The White Nile

I'm not stating these to brag but just to say that there is never a dull moment. I feel like God is equipping me with the patience, fortitude and know-how to be quick on my feet and the flexibility to not only learn but act in these roles He has put before me to His Glory. But to be perfectly honest it is extremely stressful at times, so thanks for the much needed prayer and support.

This week I was able to go to a two day training program entitled Managing Projects in Emergencies.  It was hosted by an organization called Redr uk (Registered Engineers Disaster Recovery). It was very informative and I felt like it mapped out alot of interesting concepts. One being the reason that disasters occur because a given community's capacity is exceeded. 


This means that all disasters occur simply because the community's capacity to handle the given situation is exceeded and that NGO's and GO's are working to supply relief in the form of helping increase a community's capacity until they are able to increase their own infrastructure and capacity to a volume that can address their situation. 

Coffee Break

I was able to attend this training with my friends Patrick from Nairobi, Peter in logistics, and Lasuba in logistics. 

Peter - at training bright and early!

The training also showed us more critical ways of thinking about disasters. How to identify the roots of the situation (the main causes) so that they can be accurately addressed, instead of only addressing the fruits (effects of the disaster) because these will just reoccur. Both of these concepts were portrayed in the format of a Problem Tree, a very simple yet effective planning tool. 

The Problem Tree

Waiting for our ride after the first day of training.

The training was hosted in the Peace room at the Intra-African Hotel. Although the material was quite dry at some points, I feel the training was very beneficial. Also another benefit was that the food at the Hotel was great! This was the first time I was able to enjoy a burger since being in South Sudan ... the simple luxuries of life! lol. 

The Intra-Africa Hotel.

The Peace Room

After the two days of training were over,I spent  the rest of the week playing catch up  - addressing various budget items that were tabled in my absence. One of the joys of being the Base Budget Manager. (I think I have signed my name to more papers in the first month of being here than the entirety of my academic career.....this may be a slight exaggeration but you get my point!) 

Loading the caravan to Yida with Conor

I also helped my buddy Conor load a Caravan plane with lumber and supplies for Yida as they are preparing for the rainy season.

...keep this in your prayers..... 

In about a month rainy season will hit and it will be a struggle to get enough food into the refugee camps near the border because roads will become impassible. This is a major concern because there are essentially a ton of people with no means to provide their own food - suffering from famine, and NGO's like Samaritan's Purse have the ability to only provide a certain capacity of food. 

At the close of this week we said goodbye to our acting DCD (Deputy Country Director) Len.  He was a great help and will be missed, so we said our goodbyes and sent him off with the gift of a shirt that made him look more Sudanese. 

Len is officially South Sudanese and has the t-shirt to prove it! 

We also celebrated our Country Directors B-day by presenting him with a "Major Award". It is small things like this that remind us of our fellowship and sense of team here in South Sudan. 

The Country Director's Major Award.

We are all children of God that were called by God to act on the situation here in  different capacities, but it is nice to come together as a family to celebrate the small things. It provides a sense of unity that God wants us to share as the Body of Christ. To be a support net for each other and to build each other up.

Most of the team - and Len.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.- (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Driving and Flying

This week I spent the first part of the week securing a three month extension to our office lease with our landlord - I had to draft the contract and other paperwork. This was, of course, a valuable learning experience. At the same time I had to see through an internet connectivity problem with the office. I quickly realized that people get fairly stirred up when the internet is down. Both of these issues were resolved and I was able to visit one of our Field bases. 

Flying in the King Air to Akuem

On Wednesday, I flew out to our base called Akuem to see our operations there as well as take my driving test for my South Sudan license and meet with their base manager Harmony to discuss his approach to base management.

Studying the pilot

We flew out early Wednesday morning on SP's King Air plane. it was a fun experience because i got to sit right behind the pilot. 

I go to sit right behind the pilot!!

We had to stop in a place called Wau to refuel, upon first arriving at the desolate airstrip you wouldn't think that it is one of the biggest cities in South Sudan, with apparently some of the best laid out streets (being straight and logical, something that is not prevalent in all of South Sudan). 

Wau Airport

Getting fuel - it's cool that it's stored in the wings.

After re-fueling and dropping of two Expats (International Staff). We flew to another airstrip about 40-45 min out from out Akuem base since the King Air we were flying is not able to land on the air strip directly in front of the Akuem base. Upon Arrival we loaded up two Land Cruisers to set out to Akuem, one with bags and one with Expats. 

Arriving right outside Akuem and loading up the truck.

It was evident upon driving through the area of the harsh reality that the people of this community live in. We saw thatch huts in remote dry areas with extremely hot weather, and hand pump wells that have been drilled by SP to provide the communities with much needed water. It is easy to see also that these people know no different way of life and have grown accustomed to these conditions. 

Come to the well - for real. 

Driving to the compound.

Arriving at the Akuem compound

Upon arrival to the base the Area Coordinator, John, gave us a tour of the facilities. Akuem, being the biggest operating base of SP South Sudan, houses a huge W.A.S.H. program that addresses Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in the surrounding communities by drilling wells and providing communities with education about proper hygiene, through the building of latrines, ect. 

The tents the people on base live in. 

They also have a huge fleet management shop that is responsible for maintenance on the compounds 50+ vehicles so that transportation is reliable and mobile. 

The fleet workshop - and where I took my driving test. Yes - I passed.

They also have a huge church reconstruction program that is aided by their on site prefabrication metal shop that helps construct supports and other structures key in the church building process. 

Metal prefab shop.

Hand pumps that are used after bore holes are dug to bring water to local communities.

They also have many other programs such as a  bible outreach to the different tribes within the community. This is a pretty active base that has had their capacity taxed because of the recent growth of the other SP bases along the border, but they are still working diligently to help the Northern Bahr Gazal Region in which they are located. They are also doing a great job at keeping Christ as the center of their operation and committing their programs and efforts to HIS GLORY! 

All of the problems at Akuem are for HIS GLORY!

Overall it was a great adventure to go visit their base and I am looking forward to visiting out other Field Bases. Keep the South Sudanese people in your prayers especially since rainy season will begin shortly and they will have difficulties getting food to these people since roads will become impassible. This is a reality of thousands upon thousands of people with no food to eat. 

Also check out this video, this guy was working for SP named Ryan Boyette and is now trying to show the world what is really happening here in the Nuba Mountains http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rock-center/46581824/ Please pray for him as well. 

In closing I would like to remind everyone that if we are faithful and reach out to the Lord in prayer. He will act on this situation. Just as Jesus fed the five thousand, He is and remains faithful to his people and can make sure that these sheep of his flock are fed as well. 

So pray fervently with the authority that God gives us as his ambassadors. Because we can't just pray, doubtful that our prayer will be heard, but we must pray knowing that our God is awesome and there is no limit to his power, and that with his help we can move mountains. 

For Jesus said ""Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." - John 14:11-13

Mobilization of the troops.

We just have to believe and 

God will work in a mighty way, t

hrough us, and 

with us so that all may be to his Glory!

~ Bobby

Arrival in Juba & 1st few days ...

I arrived at Juba International Airport Sunday, February 19th, after a few plane flights 

including one from the U.S to Ethiopia that lasted 13hours. 

Once I arrived, it was mayhem trying to apply for my Visa and find my bags. There was really no organization to the process - just every man and woman for themselves. On top of that I had to keep close watch on the guys preparing the visas because they took my passport and it was a nightmare to get it back. But, God is great! He allowed me to get my Visa and luggage with few issues (except the waiting part). 

Last Man Off!!!

Security Fence at the airport.

Plus, as soon as I got all my luggage searched by security (i.e a person sitting at a desk taking a glimpse inside each bag then writing OK on it after inspection) I was greeted by an American asking "Are you Bobby?" His name was Dave and he was my welcoming person from S.P. He helped me get my bags to the S.P. Land Cruiser parked outside and we proceeded to head to our house in Juba. 

Our house in Juba

Where I spend most of my quality time.

Once I got there I carried my bags into the commons area and proceeded to pass out on the couch due to Jet Lag. I was woken up for dinner and then we went to a devotion they hold every Sunday night, for members of various NGO's (Non-Government Organizations). It was truly uplifting to see a large attendance since the bible study had been recently started. 

Thatch Huts

Around Juba

More Juba

Then after I went back to the house with the other expats working here in Juba and passed back out, still extremely tired. 

My luxury suite. Someone ate the mint on my pillow. And my pillow. 

The next few days I kind of floated around the Juba office getting to know people and trying to digest all the info that the different departments were giving me. I was also waiting to be reassigned since the program that I came down to work on, is no longer in need of me. 

In the two days leading up to my re-assignment I just helped out the Logistics office loading planes for the field office with another Expat named Peter. 

Pipes for Doro - used to make waterholes

Loading the caravan for Doro

I was informed after the two days that I am now to be the SP Base manager here in the capital, Juba, for the time being and my first major goal is in helping SP move offices and houses to a combined type compound. I am looking forward to this project and the details that will be my responsibility (pretty much all of the leg work for making this move - including utilities, staff for food, housekeeping ect. and all of the other aspects of managing the base.) I will also be responsible for coordinating room assignments as well as where guests will be staying. I am excited and I know that God will equip me with the skills and provide for my needs to make all of this happen so that his name can be glorified. 

This entire experience has been a true test inflexibility but I know that this is where God called me to be and it is what he has called me to be doing. When God calls we must only show up with willing hearts. The rest are just specifics that he will take care of as long as we truly trust in him. 

My desk. Now you can see my view when I write. 

I am flying next week to visit some of the field offices before I really get settled in and start the bulk of my work. 

Keep me in your prayers and I will try to update asap.

Bobby

Made it!

From Bobby's Facebook page:


Made it to South Sudan safe, now embarking on a great mission to help the people here!

Going to Africa

Leaving Saturday. Praise God!