Article
October 8, 2012
by Stefanie Paulson

Brief Update – Term 4 Madness

I have been a student for a long time. First there was 7 years of elementary school, 2 years of junior high, 4 years of high school, 4 years of college, and now we are just over 1 year into med school and I don’t think I have ever worked so hard or been so busy in my life. And trust me, that is saying something! I have remarkable capabilities for being busy. I have been likening Term 4 to a perpetual state of drowning. I feel like I am drowning and I am just hoping I will be alive by the time the Term ends in December.

I feel like I have always worked a lot since starting school here, but the amount of material we are supposed to master in a week is unfathomable. And quite frankly my brain is rebelling. I am hoping now that the requisite term sickness is out of the way (even if it did plaque me the 2 weeks leading up to exams and during exams) I am hoping that maybe, little by little, I will feel more on top of things and hopefully this next set of exams will go better than the last ones (please no illnesses) and I will have enough energy to keep going until December.

Its been even more tough with Tyler being gone. He is a breath of fresh air to my soul most days, and usually my only contact with a non-med student for weeks on in which is so needed. We all like in this work-filled bubble and sometimes I need him to remind me there is a world outside of the library. And he washes dishes – I hate washing dishes and hate even more having to take the time to do it now.

But Tyler, from what little communication we have had, seems to be doing well and I am so excited for the things he is doing. Its kinda like my heart is divided. I selfishly want him here to keep me company and entertained in my down time, but really want him to go. As he said, he is serving as an ambassador for our family and I am just as much represented in his efforts and he is.

With any luck maybe he will get a chance to post a little more soon. Things should be slowing down and returning to normal and he will get more into a pace of working. If not, I know he will at least have a large follow-up post to write once he gets back.

That’s all for now. Please keep praying for endurance through what feels like an impossible term. And that maybe I will find some time for a little more sleep.

Article
October 2, 2012
by Tyler Paulson

I’m on my way to Africa!

Most of the you far away probably haven’t heard yet, but I’m on my way to Africa! Right now I’m on a jet plane floating somewhere above the Libyan dessert on my way to Nairobi, Kenya. Tomorrow I’ll be flying to Juba, South Sudan and then making my way up to Tonj.

I’m going to be spending the next three weeks here helping out my friends Sabet and Suzy Kuj. The first class of their 3-year discipleship training program is graduating this week – and I’m so happy to be here to celebrate with them!

I’ll be taking my camera everywhere with me, documenting how life in Tonj has changed and how In Deed And Truth has grown over the last two years. I’ll also be working with the Kujs and Jeamette Lock, their stateside coordinator, to chart out the next year of designs for their website, printed materials and fundraising events so they can more fully communicate the work they’re doing to their supporters all around the world.

And since this is South Sudan, probably a bunch of other unexpected stuff too.

I’m excited to return to Africa for so many reasons, this continent has a mysterious way of drawing one back; but mostly, I’m just excited to see a bunch of people I love and care for so much face-to-face. As months go by, the people you serve with can become chat bubbles and email threads and the ones you’re truly doing this for can become faces in a photograph instead of a handshake and a smile.

Some ways you can be praying:

  1. That I would be filled foremost with the Sprit, and with love for everyone I interact with, especially those whom I don’t share a common language with, and that the Spirit would guide my creativity as I seek to make things that tangibly bless the ministry and further His Kingdom.
  2. For the pastors who are graduating, that the Spirit would be upon them as they go out to start or continue the work at churches across South Sudan.
  3. For my health, thanks to a well timed red-eye to London I feel very well adjusted to the time change already, but I have a propensity to attract stomach bugs and, admittedly a bit selfishly, would prefer to not be puking my guts out during my limited time here.
  4. For Stefanie, she’s in the middle of some of her most work-heavy weeks in all of med school right now, that God would sustain her in my absence and remind her of much I love her when I’m not there to.
  5. For my employers, I’m so incredibly grateful to work for two guys who not only personally believe in the what I’m doing, but are also willing to give their designer three weeks off in the middle of fall to go do it.

The desert had started to fade into jungle below me, I think we’re getting close…