A letter from Sharon Kandel on Interpretation Assignment prior to service in South Sudan
October 2014 - Counting Down to December
Greetings to everyone!
The count down is almost over! We are hoping to leave the first week of December!
This has been a busy summer. Orientation, where 10 of us got to know each other very well and will have a connection with the rest of our lives. We were amazed at the life stories of these other mission co-workers. Language training: we were not sure what to expect but were impressed by the program and were pleasantly surprised to learn that we are NOT too old to learn a new language or to hear subtle differences in pronunciations! Here is a surprise that we learned in language training—both Lynn and I are introverts! I know that will be a surprise to many of you. J Trauma-healing training that taught us things to identify as trauma behavior and how to listen to people. We would recommend the trauma-healing course to anyone! Speaking—I have always said I can talk in front of people for any amount of time and I have sure been given the chance to prove that!
Oh, and trying to figure out what to do with 20 years of collected stuff! Packing has never been fun and this time is really hard, but we are trying to use this as an opportunity to get rid of lots of junk and to downsize. We have met so many interesting people and seen a lot of beautiful churches. We have also spent more time together in the past four months than we have in the last 20 years, and guess what? We still like each other!
We are getting excited again about going to South Sudan. This summer has been so busy that we started to lose some of that enthusiasm but now as the time gets closer to leaving we are getting excited again. We know that it will not be easy there but we have a sense of peace in knowing that we are doing what God has called us to do.
Some things we have learned this summer are that we do not like “get to know you” games, but that we really do like connecting with people. That each congregation has a sense of purpose for their church, that Mission Committee people are lots of fun, that people like being connected, and when people hear we are going to South Sudan the response is “OH, MY.” :-)
The beginning of October we were able to spend three days in Louisville getting to know Shelvis and Nancy Smith-Mather and their two children. They have been serving in South Sudan and are getting ready to go back. It was so nice to have the chance to get to know some of the other mission co-workers and to play with their two children.
It was also a time to spend with Michael Weller, the Regional Liaison. We were also able to get a better understanding of what our jobs will be and where we will be living. For now it looks like we will be living in a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor of an apartment building in a secure compound. A bonus to this apartment is that it has air-conditioning and Internet access! We will spend the first three months focusing on language learning and then start into work along with language learning. All of this is subject to change, but it is nice to have a general idea of what we will be doing. Of course along with all of this is getting to know the people we will be working with and getting familiar with the city of Juba.
As we are winding down our time here and gearing up to go to South Sudan, we ask for your prayers. Prayers that we get everything done, figure out what we need to take, and that South Sudan could get a peace treaty signed that all will agree to. For right now we are treasuring time with family and making last-minute trips to see siblings.
Thank you to all the churches that have shown us such wonderful hospitality this summer. Thank you for all the prayers we have felt keeping us going and that we know will be with us as we move forward. Thank you for the financial gifts you are giving on our behalf and thank you for the notes and words of encouragement.
Using our gifts for God,
Lynn and Sharon Kandel
Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.
- 1 Peter 4:10
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, South Sudan, pp. 129, 131
Read more about Lynn and Sharon Kandel's ministry
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Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
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A group of committed donors has pledged to match all gifts sent by individuals for mission personnel support now through December 31, 2014, up to $137,480. This means your gift today will be matched by a gift to support mission personnel around the world, wherever the need is greatest. We invite you to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to double the impact of your gift. Thank you!
