I’m always inspired by people who step out of their comfort zone to experience and participate in what God is up to.
For some, this means taking action locally to make a global impact, like a group of youth volunteers who are helping to raise awareness and resources to address the massive food insecurity in Sudan. Or a recent team of (mostly) retirees at Brookwood Baptist Church in Birmingham — some in their 90s — who counted and sorted pills to help prep for a free medical clinic in South Sudan.
For others, it means taking a leap to travel globally to learn from communities in the-hardest-to-reach places. Our recent team of doctors, nurses, medical officers, and pastors just travelled 3 long days from the USA to Kenya and arrived at New Life Ministry (NLM) one of our partners along the border of Darfur in South Sudan on Monday.
This year’s team includes Dr Kyle Hudgens, Dr Joan Perry, Tracy Sweatt, Maina Wahome, Eugenio Kirima (LUV’s CPO), and pastors Abrahama Ajega and John Mugo. They will work alongside LUV’s indigenous leaders in our anti-trafficking network including local nurses, nursing students, and an ecumenical group of pastors to offer much needed medical care. They have been prepping for months to provide a free medical clinic serving vulnerable communities in South Sudan.
These women and men are going to some of the hardest (and often hottest) places in our world so that they may participate in and witness what God is doing to uplift children and women.
Why Medical Care?
While offering medical care is not the primary mission of LUV, in communities where extreme poverty thrives, our short-term teams provide free clinics to care for the most vulnerable. This year, we anticipate serving many more refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.
One of our aims in doing so is to address the web of human trafficking and how extreme poverty contributes to exploitation. By addressing the medical inequities that those in South Sudan and Sudan face through both short- and long-term solutions, we can deepen the preventative measures available to the vulnerable which are an essential key to breaking the cycle of trafficking and oppression.
Today is day three of the free clinic, and the team has already seen hundreds of people. Please keep them in your prayers!
During this trip, Eugenio has been taking over LUV’s Instagram stories, sharing exclusive looks at the team’s incredible impact on the ground. Follow along and be a part of this journey as it unfolds.
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More Live Updates from South Sudan:
I’ll also planning on heading to South Sudan in early September with our partners from Rise Against Hunger, to review and celebrate the work being done at our largest farm at Hope For South Sudan (HFSS). Since this agriculture project began in 2020, HFSS has cultivated most of its own food, achieving record yields. In 2023, 75% of all consumed food at the school and safe house was from the HFSS farm! During the first few weeks of September, I’ll be sharing photos from the field visit too — so stay tuned for several months of live updates on our social pages!
Want to take action?
No matter where you live or how old you are, you can help prevent human trafficking in warzones — and you can start right now.
- Learn how: download our free resource guide on the myths and realities of human trafficking.
- Share about LUV: find easy ways to raise awareness and build community here.
- Give generously: a one-time or monthly gift makes life-changing impacts for children and women in warzones. Invest in hope today.