Frequently/Ever Asked Questions
1. How can I get involved?
- Pray for the orphans, the missionaries including the doctors,
2. Why do you go?
- I feel called.
- I am blessed to have the health and time and resources and
employers who allow me to go and a wife who goes with me
and adult children with encouragement to us and ...
- It is fun!
The roads around Yei.
3. Why go again?
South Sudan is a beautiful country of hope and promise.
And have I mentioned the kids.
- There are needs and death, and yet promise and hope.
4. What about here, where there are plenty of needs?
- That is true. I do what I can, but we are called to help the poor
(Philippians), including orphans and widows (IJames),
throughout the world. I do what I can wherever I can, and try
to do more.
(Philippians), including orphans and widows (IJames),
throughout the world. I do what I can wherever I can, and try
to do more.
5. What was a typical day?
(All team members had varying tasks and schedules. It is dark there everyday from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Below is my weekday schedule. Weekends were more flexible.)
6:20 a.m. Devotionals with orphans .
7:00 a.m. Breakfast.
8:20 a.m. Devotionals with teachers at the school.
Observe in classrooms, other tasks.
Noon Lunch
1:20 p.m. Observe in classrooms, other tasks.
3:40 p.m. School is out. Play with kids, relax.
5:00 p.m. Go out from the orphanage on Community bible
cells with Secondary and Primary School kids from
the orphanage.
6:15 p.m. or so Supper
7:30 p.m. Team time - meeting/Bible Study/
relaxing/journaling.
(All team members had varying tasks and schedules. It is dark there everyday from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Below is my weekday schedule. Weekends were more flexible.)
6:20 a.m. Devotionals with orphans .
7:00 a.m. Breakfast.
8:20 a.m. Devotionals with teachers at the school.
Observe in classrooms, other tasks.
Team members, from l - r, Doug, Michelle, James, Denise and Clint use drama to teach a Chapel lesson, a regular part of the school schedule for all Primary students.
Noon Lunch
1:20 p.m. Observe in classrooms, other tasks.
3:40 p.m. School is out. Play with kids, relax.
5:00 p.m. Go out from the orphanage on Community bible
cells with Secondary and Primary School kids from
the orphanage.
6:15 p.m. or so Supper
7:30 p.m. Team time - meeting/Bible Study/
relaxing/journaling.
6. Did you feel safe?
The "Guest House", great accomodations, where we stayed both last year and this year. Below is
Physically, for me, it was an adjustment. I do not drink coffee and took myself off caffeine on Labor Day. I had an allergic reaction to Cipro (for gastro-intestinal) and ant bites that I had to work through. The diet is an adjustment but is healthy. We sleep under mosquito netting (pictured above), which is important along with medication to avoid malaria.
Safe from harm, yes. Not a concern. Yei is located in the far south of South Sudan, far from the northern border where disputes and conflict occurs with Sudan. Yei is actually close to the Ugandan border.
my bed, with the precious mosquito netting.
We are blessed with much better accomodations than the people of South Sudan live in.
Physically, for me, it was an adjustment. I do not drink coffee and took myself off caffeine on Labor Day. I had an allergic reaction to Cipro (for gastro-intestinal) and ant bites that I had to work through. The diet is an adjustment but is healthy. We sleep under mosquito netting (pictured above), which is important along with medication to avoid malaria.
Students in class at Nehemiah Secondary School, a private school.
When orphans successfully complete Primary School, Harvester's pays their tuition to this school.
It is located about 1/4 mile down the road from the orphanage.
Chemistry and Economics classes.
Safe from harm, yes. Not a concern. Yei is located in the far south of South Sudan, far from the northern border where disputes and conflict occurs with Sudan. Yei is actually close to the Ugandan border.
7. Are you going again?
- God willing, yes. I most certainly want to go. We went 18
days and I felt we accomplished a lot as a team, and I felt well-
received at the school.
- God willing, yes. I most certainly want to go. We went 18
days and I felt we accomplished a lot as a team, and I felt well-
received at the school.
We saw, and heard, a LOT more roosters this year. This one picks through scraps outside the kitchen area where the adult meals are prepared.
Inspired by a story from Lopez Lomong in the book "Running for My Life", the team bought a special treat of a chicken dinner for all orphans at Yei and Terekeka, where the 2nd orphanage from
Harvester's is flourishing.
8. What is behind the name "mark-stand"?
"Stand.
In the end you will be you.
One who's done all the things
you set out to do. Stand" - Sly and the Family Stone
in awe of the One who gave it all.
I'll stand. My soul Lord to you surrendered.
All I am is Yours." - Kristian Stanfill
"Stand.
In the end you will be you.
One who's done all the things
you set out to do. Stand" - Sly and the Family Stone
Setting out for 4 weeks or exams, with a dream of being a medical doctor.
"I'll stand with arms high and heart abandonedin awe of the One who gave it all.
I'll stand. My soul Lord to you surrendered.
All I am is Yours." - Kristian Stanfill
9. After 31 years in K-12, don't you miss the kids?
Wow! Kinda personal. For those 31 years - 4 as a speech/language special education staff member and 27 in administration - my purpose and passion was doing good things for kids. Did I fall short sometimes? You bet. Do I miss those kids? Sure do.
In this new phase of my life, God has placed additional chances for me to serve Him by serving others. Growing where I am planted. I am blessed with children in my life, be they my 6 grandchildren or kids I see in schools/teachers I work with, or these orphans.
Wow! Kinda personal. For those 31 years - 4 as a speech/language special education staff member and 27 in administration - my purpose and passion was doing good things for kids. Did I fall short sometimes? You bet. Do I miss those kids? Sure do.
In this new phase of my life, God has placed additional chances for me to serve Him by serving others. Growing where I am planted. I am blessed with children in my life, be they my 6 grandchildren or kids I see in schools/teachers I work with, or these orphans.
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