Another Emergency In Sudan

Friends and Family,

I realize I have been much less frequent in my writing lately and for that I apologize. I have received comments and notes asking for more updates, but my workload is a bit heavier this trip so finding the time to write hasn’t been the easiest. I do want to update you on a recent incident that occurred right here at home with us.

Tuesday morning, the students were cleaning the compound of trash and debris in preparation for the arrival of some missionaries who are coming for the next five months to work in Sudan, Gary and Alesa Akerman. The trash was being placed in a pit near the corner of the compound closest to the church to be burned. I had not arrived to the compound yet because of a vehicle problem. About 9am, the trash was set on fire. Shortly thereafter, there was an explosion and one of the older boys that learns and works around the compound was hit by shrapnel in both legs. His name is Lochen Lochek and he is 13 years old.

I was immediately called by Pastor John and told of the accident. I rushed to the compound with a doctor friend of mine, Gordan, and found Lochen laying next to the church bleeding heavily from his right ankle. The shrapnel had created a compound fracture of his right fibula and shattered his talus. Some of the bone was missing and he was bleeding profusely. We quickly began controlling the bleeding and moved him to Gordon’s clinic. I instructed Pastor John to evacuate the compound of people immediately and seal the compound until MAG could come and clear it from further ordinance.

At the clinic, we determined Lochen required surgery to control the bleeding and reconstruct the ankle. We could not find the boy’s parents and time was a real issue. I cleared the situation with the Kapoeta Chief of Police, Moses, and he told us to proceed to the hospital to help the boy. Oliver, another friend who works in the clinic with Gordon, and I traveled five hours with Lochen to Kakuma Mission Hospital in Kakuma, Kenya. We arrived and delivered the boy to the hospital where he underwent surgery yesterday. During surgery they removed a large piece of shrapnel from his leg and were able to reconstruct the foot. We thank the Lord for this, because there was a real fear that he would lose his foot. In fact, I’m not convinced that we haven’t witnessed a miracle. Gordon and I both looked at the injury and saw a whole section of fibula missing. But when they got him into surgery, they found it intact to the point they could repair without much difficulty at all. It was amazing.

We returned to Lokichoggio that evening and Kapoeta the next day. MAG (a de-mining company working in the area) came and cleared the compound and said there was no other ordinance. From what best I can tell, when the children were picking up trash one of them found a rusty piece of metal and threw it in the pit. The piece of metal was either an unexploded rocket propelled grenade round or an artillery round. It was probably brought into the compound much earlier by a child and went unnoticed. Unfortunately they are laying all around in the bush where unknowing kids pick them up from time to time. Many children are still lost from these types of accidents when they are off grazing their cows and goats and we don’t here about it until its too late.

We are going to pick Lochen up from the hospital on Saturday and bring him back to our clinic for post-operative care. Please pray for his quick recovery. The cost of his care will be between $800 and $1,000 USD. If anyone would like to assist with the cost of his surgery, you can make a check payable to World Missions Ministries and designate funds to account # 03007 – WMM Clay Hearn Emergency Healthcare Ministry. Send all support to:

World Missions Ministries

PO Box 12609

Oklahoma City, OK 73157

Thank you for all your prayers and support. The Lord is doing great things and in Sudan and I am excited to be apart of it. I will try to send updates more regularly.

In the Service of the King,

Clayton Hearn

This Is Africa

Greetings in Christ,

A few days ago, I traveled the one hundred forty kilometers to Torit with my friend and local pastor, John Adungosi, to check on our church there. We are in the process of completing the building project, but even now, there is already a roof on the building and services are being held every week. The trip took over three and a half hours. The roads were in terrible shape thanks to a recent rain and without four wheel drive, we would have never made it.

About two hours into the journey, I realized that my brakes weren’t working. I noticed this when I was trying to slow down for a large pothole and ended up cruising right into it at fifty kilometers per hour. We were too far into the trip to turn around, however, so we decided to cautiously proceed on to town. Thankfully, we arrived in one piece and began tracking down church members to find out the latest news and see how things were going for the Torit IPHC.

During the course of our search, around two in the afternoon, we were detained by a police because of a problem with the registration of our vehicle. While being interrogated in a bombed out house with a make-shift roof, a heavy rame came and flooded the town. I found my self packed into this house with about a dozen other Sudanese like a can of sardines. I was informed that we would have to wait for the rain to stop and then go to the police headquarters to resolve the issue. John and I were separated at this point because the rain had made any kind of movement outside impossible.

When the rain has passed, we went to the headquarters to sort out the problem. In the midst of it all, John began witnessing to a young policeman. He gave the Gospel message with boldness and power and invited the two men there to accept Christ.  They were not resistant to listening, but were not quick to act either. Soon after, the head of the traffic police came in and sorted out the problem. We made it out with only a small road toll fee and before we left, we had prayer with five police officers.

The next day, we were disturbed again by traffic cop who said that our vehicle was valid. Fortunately, that head officer saw me and intervened. He also told me he was having pains on the right side of his chest into his neck and shoulder. I examined him and determined it was likely muscle related. I directed him to a clinic I knew of in town. He told me if I ever have any trouble in Torit to ask for Joseph Taban and he would take care of me.

On the journey home, we were held up at an SPLA check point. There were five soldiers who refused to let us pass. This was fairly typical, but these guys really wanted to give us some trouble. About that time, a government official was coming from the other direction at a high rate of speed. They immediately opened the gate. The official passed through, but the soldier got confused and left the gate open too long. Much to the disappointment of the soldiers, I floored the gas pedal and made it through the gate as they were trying to close it. We got home safe and sound just in time for dinner…with no brakes. As we say, ‘This is Africa.’ I said a prayer of thanks for all the provision and protection the Lord granted on us this trip. I know it was only by His grace that we made it back.

In the Service of the King,

Clay

Well, I’ve Arrived

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

I have finally arrived back in Kapoeta, Southern Sudan and I’d like to report that things are going very well. I landed on Wednesday, September 2nd, and I have been quite busy ever since. The Kapoeta compound is running smoothly and we are averaging over a hundred kids everyday whom we are educating, feeding, and sharing the love of Christ with. We have even been approached by some adults who want to learn as well, so our pastor, John Adungosi, has started an afternoon class for adults teaching them to read the Bible.

I travelled into the bush on Thursday to visit our work in Naakwa. I met with the ministry of education and the local chiefs. There was a small problem with the name of our school that was affecting the delivery of food. Our meetings there were quite productive, however, and we are hoping to reopen the school in the next week or so. The Naakwa school is averaging over three hundred and fifty kids.

This project is still in need of funding, though. We only have one teacher there at the moment and we need more. We also need to build some additional structures there and to fence in the compound. Please be in prayer about this that the necessary funding will come in. These people are especially hurting because the drought as destroyed the sorgham crop, which is there primary source of food.

It seems the running theme of this experience for me is trust. Trust in the Lord. I’ve only been in Africa around two weeks and already I have had to trust the Lord to intervene and provide and He has everytime. It isn’t always easy, but its always good. I have a feeling this is going to continue.

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

In the Service of the King,

Clay

Headed Back

Greetings All,

Well I guess its time to get this show on the road again. I am flying out of Atlanta on August 23rd with my friend and boss, Ron Wooten, bound for Nairobi, Kenya. I spend a few days in Nairobi getting my things together and taking care of paperwork and then I will be heading back into Kapoeta. I hope to be on the ground there before September 1st.

My term will be a bit longer this time, ten to twelve months. I do plan to make a short trip back to the States if I get an interview for medical school. Otherwise, I won’t be returning until the end of next summer at least. It is all in the Lord’s hands. I will post continue posting updates here. I will probably only post once a week unless something important has happened. I look forward to sharing the great things God is doing in Sudan. Please keep in touch though, it is always so encouraging to hear from family and friends. Here are some things to please keep in your prayers:

• Safe travel
• Safety while living in Sudan
• Favor with the Sudanese government
• Favor with the tribal chiefs
• Open doors to share the gospel
• Understanding of the language (I will be studying arabic)

 

In the Service of the King,

Clay Hearn

Temporarily Home

Greetings All,

Well, I am back in the U.S. for a few months. I didn’t mention it to anyone because I snuck in and surprised my parents. I am home just long enough to take the MCAT and apply to medical school. Then, I am headed back to Sudan to continue working there.

The Lord has been so good to me over the last few months. I have grown and learned so much. I have been stretched a great deal, my world view has changed and I think my priorities in life are more in line with Christ and His Word and for I am so thankful for it.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for all the prayers and support from so many. I can’t begin to start naming names because too many would be left out. I am overwhelmed since coming home at how many people know who I am what I am doing and who have been praying for me. Many of them I don’t even know.

Please continue to pray for Sudan and that the Gospel would continue to move forward in that troubled country. Please pray for me that I will be successful in my testing for medical school and that the application process would go smoothly. And also please pray that I will be able to continue raising the needed support so I can return and continue doing what I love, serving the Lord in Sudan. 

I look forward to seeing talking to many of you in person over the next few months. Thanks again for all the support.

In the Service of the King,

Clay

 

Support Information:

World Missions Ministries

PO Box 12609

Oklahoma City, OK 73157

Memo: Clay Hearn – Acct# 90354

Another Update

Greetings in the Name of Our Lord,

I am still in Nairobi planning out the next few months. I have been able to help the missionaries here with various small jobs and I have also been able to do some work towards applying to med school. I have been staying with the Wootens and the Lists, eating well and sleeping in a comfortable bed. Its a far cry from the rice and beans twice a day and the 3 inch foam mattress in Sudan. I am ready to get back though, my heart is for the people of South Sudan. 

I have a few praise reports from Sudan. Greg has told us that the clinic is nearly complete and that it is one of the nicest facilities around. We also heard from our pastor working in Torit that the church building there was finished last week and they had their first church service this past Sunday with seven people. They are expecting even more when the word gets out the building has been completed.

Also, we learned a few days ago that the commissioner in Kapoeta has been removed from office by the government. He is the man who has caused so much trouble not only for us, but for most organizations working in his county. He was disliked by the citizens as well because of his bizarre and harsh rules that he was notorious for coming up with on the spur of the moment. Now we are praying that they will install someone who is more interested in advancing his people instead of his pocketbook. 

Well that’s all for now. Please continue to pray for the work in Southern Sudan and thanks for all your support.

In the Service of the King,

Clay

All Cleared Up

Hello,

I would just like to report that I have heard from Greg and the situation has been resolved in Sudan. The military has come to an agreement with the government and life is beginning to go back to normal. That is, I guess, if life in Sudan can be called normal. 

It will take some time for me to arrange transportation back so I may be in Nairobi for while longer, but thank you to all those who have been praying for Greg and the continuing work in Sudan.

In the Service of the King,

Clay

Update On Greg

Hello,

I just heard from Greg and he tells me that the situation still isn’t resolved there in Sudan. In fact things have gotten a little tighter, but he is safe and the work is still moving forward. The borders and airstrips are still closed and very few can drive their vehicles for fear of having them confiscated. Greg did tell me he got word that it might be all over by Tuesday.

Please continue to pray for the safety of Greg and those still working in South Sudan. Pray also that this situation will be resolved quickly so that work can continue to move forward. Thanks so much for all your support of what is happening in Sudan.

In the Service of the King,

Clay

Please Pray for Greg

Hello All,

Greg McClerkin

I am writing to ask everyone to please pray for Greg McClerkin, the missionary that I work with there in Kapoeta. I just got an email from him saying the town is on lock-down by the SPLA because they haven’t been paid their salaries yet by the government and they are blocking entry and exit to the country. He said they have confiscated a lot of vehicles, but he is safe inside the compound.

He is said something similar happened last year and and lasted 4 days and also that there have been similar situations within the last week in other parts of South Sudan. He assured me he is not in danger and that it will just have to be waited out, but please pray for him because these events are often unpredictable and desperate people can do desperate things.

I myself have been trying to get back to Kapeoeta  for the last few days and have hit an obstacles everywhere I look. I am still in Nairobi with the Wootens. It seems that perhaps the Lord was delaying me so I wouldn’t be crossing the border as all this erupted.

I will update you an any changes and please keep Greg and those around him in your prayers.

In the Service of the King,

Clay

Its Been A While

Greetings,

It has been quite a while since my last post. I have been recovering from a minor illness and then traveling so I had less opportunity to write than I normally do in Sudan. Without being incredibly long I will try to give you a run-down of all that has been going on.

A couple of weeks ago I came down with Malaria, but fortunately I had access to the right medications and I quickly got over those symptoms. I was still feeling poorly however, so I decided to head to Nairobi to get some rest and to find some better medical care.

I arrived in Nairobi  last Monday where I stayed with the Wootens for a few days and went to see a doctor. It was great being with the Wootens, who are always so nice. I had great food while I was there and great company. I also found out that I had bacterial infection and a severe vitamin deficiency from the diet in Sudan. This was good news and was easily cleared up with a round of Cipro and a multi-vitamin. The rest was great and so was the first hot shower I had since being in Sudan. 

On Thursday, I met my long-time friend from high school, Travis Harris, at the AIM Air Services hanger at Wilson-Nairobi Airport and we flew to his home in Entebbe, Uganda. Travis is a missionary pilot for AIM (Africa Inland Mission) Air and flies all over Uganda, DR Congo, Sudan and Kenya. I have been staying with him and his wife, Kelsey, and they have been showing me around Entebbe and Kampala.

This past weekend we went to Jinja, Uganda and went rafting down the Nile (I guess I should say went rafting up the Nile River since it flows from South to North). It was an awesome trip. Full of Class III, IV, and V rapids, we actually only flipped once. It was intense and exciting and being in the water was a great reprieve from the hot temperatures in Sudan. 

I am flying back to Sudan on Thursday. It has been a great break and I am well rested and fully recuperated.  I am ready to get back to work.

I will try to write more once I get back to Sudan. I generally have more time for such things there. 

In the Service of the King,

Clay

PS – I have posted some pics from the rafting trip. Enjoy!