South Sudan will become its own country

What is happening in South Sudan?

According to the Cape Times on the 8^th Feb 2011 this is what was reported:

“South Sudan voted overwhelmingly to declare independence in final re

sults of a referendum announced yesterday, paving the way for Africa’s newest state...Hundreds of southern Sudanese danced and waved flags as the announcement was broadcast on a line of TV sets in a square in the centre of the Southern capital, Juba...Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said he accepted the results because they represented the will of the southern people.”

What does all this mean?

This means that South Sudan will become its own country and they are in the process of forming their constitution, government, flag and national anthem.

When is Cath returning?

I together with my team will be returning to Lohutok, South Sudan on the 28^th Feb. Some of my team will be flying with me and the rest of the team will be travelling with my car from Nairobi, Kenya in the first week of March. Please pray for our safe travels on the roads and crossing the borders.

How is Cath’s health and what has she been up to?

My health has remained good and I have had a great time with my gran, family and friends. My gran has recovered incredibly well from her illnesses last year and I joined her in her bi-weekly gym class even though she will soon to be 87 years old!

This month has been a successful time of report backs in my church and with various prayer and financial supporters. God gave me strength to speak in all 3 services at Meadowridge Baptist Church and it was wonderful to

be prayed for by the pastors and elders of the church as they prayed for Gods protection, good health and blessing for my continued work in Sudan.

I also received my results of my theological studies that I completed in January. For my last four assignments I received 80% and together with the other six assignments I did last year, it gave me an overall result of 75%, which was a miracle considering my health condition.

A praise and a good laugh!

While I in South Africa I decided to apply for a certificate that would allow me to have a German passport as well as keep my South African passport from the Department of Home Affairs. The good news is they awarded me with this certificate three days before I was due to leave South Africa but the funny thing was the name on the certificate was Catherine Anne Bezolo! This has a good African ring to it but it is not my name. I prayed and hoped that they would be able to issue me with a new certificate straight away. When I went to ask for a new one, they said they would try. I waited at the Department of Home Affairs and prayed. Praise God within ten minutes they issued me with a new certificate with my proper name Catherine Anne Bezold!

In Cape Town the temperatures reached between 35-40 degrees C! So it was wonderful to run under the water sprinklers with my niece and nephew, Rebekah and Michael. When we enter Sudan it will be their dry season and the hottest time with the temperatures mostly in the 40’s. We do not have cool water sprinklers to keep us cool in the heat. So pray for us.

I thank God for all the good times I had with family, friends and churches and would appreciate your continued prayers as we re-enter Sudan at this time.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!...I called to the Lord in distress; the Lord answered and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side I will not fear.” (Psalm 118:1-6)

My health

I give thanks to the Lord that I am healed! This is through your prayers and, the elders of my dads’ church laying hands on me and praying for me, as well as the various doctors that helped me. I had infusions with a new type of medicine for malaria as well as a drip to help clean my kidneys. After the treatment I had many blood tests and scans and the results were very successful with a negative result for malaria. All my organs from my kidneys, to my spleen and liver are all 100% normal.

Sudan and results

We can also give thanks that the referendum and elections have gone extremely well. There was more than the 60% required registered voters who voted to make the referendum valid. The provisional results that are coming out are more than 90% for separation of the South from the North. The final results will be released on the 14^thFebruary and there is confidence that a new country will be birthed. There is much excitement and we continue to pray that there will be peace particularly around the oil fields that are in the South.

My studies with the South African Theological Seminary (SATS)

On the 30^th January 2011 I submitted the last of the assignments required for the portfolio of Historical Books. This time I do not have to write an exam, but had ten large assignments to complete based on the Historical books from Joshua to Esther. It was a lot of reading but I learnt a great deal and have a greater understanding of the Old Testament through these studies.

Sharing in South Africa

In January I had the privilege of being invited to speak at the South African Theological Seminary and it was a wonderful time. I was touched that they took offering and raised enough money for me to buy a “Kindle” They wanted to bless me with that which would help me with my studies in Sudan. I also shared in my Dads’ bible study group and inchurch and was blessed by the people who have encouraged me during this time.

In February I will be in Cape Town sharing with various supporters. I will also be sharing at my church Meadowridge Baptist Church on the 13^th February 8am, 10am and 6pm. You are most welcome to come and we will also be showing the Moses film we made after the 6pm service and there will be an opportunity for people to ask questions.

Time to rest

I have had a wonderful time with my family in Johannesburg (Gauteng) where my father and step mother Marie-Claire took me to a game park. See picture above. I will be staying with my grandmother in Cape Town and look forward to spending time with her as well as the rest of my family and friends in Cape Town.

When are we going back to Sudan?

At the moment the AIM missionaries as well as the DIGUNA missionaries have been given the go ahead to return to Sudan. Most of us will be entering Sudan towards the end of February.