WHY

In the fall of 2005 as I began writing my senior thesis at Covenant College on Darfur a verse from Proverbs really struck me:

"Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. If you say, 'see, we did not know this,' Does he not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? "

~ Proverbs 24:11-12

The stark language and gravity of the verse have compelled me since that time to actively seek means of justice and redemption in the world. I am thrilled to have such an opportunity before me and pray that the Lord will be glorified through this work! While in college I wrote my Senior Thesis (a requirement for graduation) on Darfur hoping to use it as a means of promoting awareness (both personally and locally). I was able to write a number of papers, a newspaper article and give several presentations around campus about the situation in addition to that major work and am excited about the opportunity to enhance my understanding further and discover new ways of becoming involved in the situation in Darfur.

Personally I hope to marry this rigorous academic study of Darfur I had in college with a more personal, relational understanding of the situation there through this trip. I have felt since the time I began to research and write that a significant part of my understanding was lacking because I had no real connection/understanding of the situation personally. This trip is a valuable opportunity for me personally to expand my understanding and knowledge of the people and situation in Darfur. I expect the experience and relationships built in Darfur would carry more weight and significance than my academic studies ever could. I know I have so much to learn about the situation, and am excited about seeing these realities come to life. The details of the trip are still coming together, but I will be going under the wing of an organization called Persecution Project Foundation that deals specifically with raising support and awareness for the persecuted church internationally. An offshoot of that organization, Silent Images was created by a man named David Johnson as a way to raise awareness and funds specifically for the people in the midst of genocide in Darfur, Sudan. David has written a book about his experiences inside a refugee camp called Voices of Sudan and is currently working to raise awareness and money for a project building wells within the refugee camps of Darfur.

In January of 2008 David invited me to travel with him to a refugee camp in Darfur, Sudan but the outbreak of violence in Kenya halted the planning for our trip until now. We will be flying from Nairobi Kenya on March 10th to a town in Northern Kenya where we will hop on an Aid cargo plane bound for a refugee camp in Western Darfur. We will fly straight into the camp as Americans are not allowed by the Sudanese government into Darfur. At the camp we will be collecting interviews, pictures, and video documents of the people of Darfur and the progress of the wells being built. There will be a translator and we will be living and working in the refugee camp for about 2 weeks, flying back on March 21st (tentatively). Please pray for me as I prepare to take on this adventure!