Praying for a Very Dear Friend

I don't know all of the specifics, but I have a very dear friend here in Egypt who needs a lot of prayers right now. All of us here know her as Miss Mary. Miss Mary has been with our school since it began 17 years ago.




Miss Mary is from Sudan. She is one of the nicest and sweetest ladies you could ever know. She is kind of an assistant to the teachers, helping us out in various ways, and she also helps to run the library at our school. Not too long ago, it looked like things were settling down in Sudan, and it looked like South Sudan was going to be able to separate from the North and become independent. Because of this, Miss Mary was thinking about returning to Sudan to be with her family.

Miss Mary accompanied the Arabic teacher and me on a field trip to the vegetable and fruit market with the Kindergarteners.


Not a lot has been in the news about the situation there lately, but the violence has once again escalated, and it seems this times things are even worse than before. This is the exact message I got from a colleague from our school last night.

"Mrs. Mary's home area in Nuba Mountains, the border of Abyei, has erupted in extreme fighting and violence. The news from home is very bad. Her cousin, who is in the army, fighting against Northern Sudan died today. Her family and friends are no longer living in their homes. They are in the mountains, hiding in caves. People are very afraid that the North will use their air-force to destroy their area. She is on Skype with people giving her the latest news. Please pray for Mary and her family."

If you have been reading my blog long enough, you may remember that my husband used to be the head of a Sudanese school board here. The people on this school board help to keep this school running for the kids that otherwise would not be able to receive an education. I know that there are many of these Sudanese kids and families that probably have family in the area where the violence is taking place. In fact, the man who started this particular Sudanese school went back to Sudan a couple of years ago to start a school in his village, which just happens to be in the Nuba Mountains. His wife and kids have been here in Cairo, and had been planning on joining him this summer, but now, due to the violence, their plans have changed.

This is my husband with the man that started the Sudanese school here 11 years ago.


Another teacher at our school told me today that she had been upset and angry about some things that had been going on in her life lately. Then, she received the email about Miss Mary's situation. She said it really put things in perspective for her. She said it was very hard to imagine what it would be like, thinking that your family was having to hide out in caves for fear of their lives.

So, tonight, before you go to bed. Please say a prayer for Miss Mary and the other Sudanese people who are suffering and going through so much. Then take time to thank God, for the many blessings in your own life. I know I will.

The Sudanese School

A couple of years ago, my husband was approached by a man who was on the board of a Sudanese school. He was an expat too, and was getting ready to leave Egypt. The board needed another man to take his place. Well, this man asked Tim if he would be interested, and that is how it all began. Tim is now the chairman of the board and is very active in helping to keep this Sudanese school open.

There are several Sudanese school here in Egypt. All of them are kept open by donations, or are run by church sponsorship. The school my husband is involved with is run totally off of donations. We have been very blessed within the last couple of years to have several big charity organizations step in to help. One organization gives enough money for the kids to have a nice breakfast every morning. If they did not get this breakfast, most to all of these kids would come to school hungry.

The teachers and staff of the school are all Sudanese, so along with giving these children an education, the school gives opportunity for jobs to the Sudanese. There are around 275 kids enrolled in the school this year, and it is predicted there will be over 300 next year. The school will be moving from a single floor building to a seven floor building this summer. This gives them a lot of room for expansion.

Another benefit to these children besides giving them an education is that it keeps them off of the street and out of the gangs. There is a problem with different Sudanese gangs here, and just like in the States, these gangs try to recruit kids into them. Getting into these gangs means nothing but trouble and danger to the kids.

When we first came to Egypt we really had no idea that the Sudanese even existed here, but now we have many friends among the Sudanese. The kids at the school will just melt your heart when you look into their big eyes. These kids live in conditions that most of us cannot even imagine, but somehow they manage to keep a smile on their face, and they always manage to keep a smile on my face as well.

If you would like to learn more about this school you can go their web link at:

http://sdclc.spaces.live.com/default