Jan's jaunt to Sudan

At the end of this week Jan will travel to Sudan where she will live for the next 3 months ...

"I am off to Sudan on 25th February and returning on 30th May."

Jan has known John and Poppy since 1991, Jan spent time working with Poppy in the prison, and became a good friend.

Last time Jan visited John and Poppy in 2007 on an initiative called 'habitat humanity'. Jan helped with a number of projects.

Jan playing scrabble pro at Chantmarle.

Among the highlights of this visit was the time Jan spent helping the local teachers learn how to teach sports like cricket, touch rugby, and netball. The lady teachers wore high heals whilst Jan trained them.

John and Poppy went to work for the Brickworks based in Yein, Sudan which looks a bit like this.

Poppy is opening satellite clinics in rural areas and in southern Sudan, John is running a training college. Due to the war, many boys have been sent to war and have not been educated.

John is helping establish schools who offer basic training in carpentry, mechanics, and health care work, the girls are being sent to nursing college and medical college. John has also been helping organise finances and attempting to hand this over to the Sudanese, although the hand-over has not been simple. Nevertheless the aim is to leave the initiative completely to John from 2011

Wendy, Jan's friend from Southampton, a colleague from 10 years ago, attended a meeting with Jan where she met John and Poppy. Wendy gave up her job of 15 years to go and work with John and Poppy, and has been instrumental in helping improve relationships in the area. Wendy has been in Sudan for about 6 months.

Although Jan is unsure of exactly what she will be doing, her considerable experience in working in mental health in the U.K. is likely to be of great use ...

I am not entirely sure what I will be doing but I think it will include administration and practical help around the college and clinic that John and Poppy run and possibly work with a local mental health charity.

The help Jan will provide will release Wendy to go and work in orphanage with children whose parents have died or simply left them.

Jan has shared an email address on which she may be contacted, but mobile and email access is likely to be sporadic.

Jan's prayer request is:

- to not itch (the dust can be bad for her skin).

- to be useful