“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you” (Psalm 9:9–10).
One original goal of the mission work of Hands of Mercy was to become a place of stronghold—a place of refuge and help for people with disabilities in the impoverished and war-torn country of Sudan (now South Sudan). Foremost it would be a place of a stronghold because it is anchored in Christ and His strength, seen in ways He connects people in the Church, His Body, to provide for their needs. Almost 20 years later now, Hands of Mercy stands as a compound of many buildings, next to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Sudan/Sudan. In those 20 years, we have been able to build schools, shops, rental units, provide glasses, first aid, educational materials and more, all to provide that stronghold for the needy to come and find refuge. It hasn’t always worked out as planned: baby chicks were eaten by the armies of red ants; the goats stolen; the solar mango dryer didn’t prove tasty dried fruit; the peanut grinding machine blew up on solar power; English learning lessons never were regular and on and on. Finally we realized rental property would sustain the mission financially and in the end Hands of Mercy’s stronghold on its mission is just that: a place to be for refuge and help.
That lesson came home recnetly when a government worker came to me via email, needing help. Tribal disputes had resulted in the burning of many huts and especially one of a young boy with cerebral palsy who used a wheelchair. Remembering our previous work together distributing girls’ pads to local schools, she asked for a wheelchair for this boy and his family. With good email connection now, we were able to get him one of our supply brought a year earlier in an Orphan Grain Train container. Within days of the fire, Luka had clothes, basic food supplies, and a wheelchair to get him to school and be with his family.
Other news: our last new building in the Hands of Mercy compound is almost complete, thanks to a grant from the LWML of the Michigan District. It is a three-room building/meeting place which we hope will attract rental income and for people to gather for celebrations or meetings. We hope this brings “traffic” to our shop and other activities spotlighting people with disabilities and their capabilities. With the hopeful addition of playground equipment, our compound of 13 buildings will be completely built out and the center, run locally by two managers, is now financially self-sustaining!
Hands of Mercy continues to connect with people here towards its “stronghold” goal. My home church, Trinity, Traverse City, gathered supplies and our Dorcas society, through the addition of funds from a Thrivent Community Grant, assembled over 40 “home health kits.” These kits are the most sought-after supplies I bring each year; despite progress in South Sudan, simple things like Aspirin, antibiotic cream, and the like are still out of reach of most people here. I have often likened those first aid kits as giving out $500 bills to people—freely, lavishly given and life-sustaining, like the Gospel message.
Also, this spring we witnessed an “explosion” of a sed planted a few years ago. Two women, hearing in a presentation about newborn babies wrapped in rags of cloth, simply asked each other: “Can we make a washable diaper design?” I test marketed the first design in S. Sudan. Now, another year later, over 100 sets of these diapers and liners are ready to go on the next return trip. Diane, one of the creators, even made kits with the pattern and instructions for other women to spread this “seed” around LWML’s fertile soil for mission work.
The ”stronghold” for people with disabilities indeed is the strong hold the Lord has on this mission. All thanks and glory “to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
And to all of you, who are the way He accomplishes that in Christ, my heartfelt thanks.
Together in Christ, our Stronghold and refuge,
Deaconess Pat
Photos courtesy of Deaconess Pat Nuffer
