Update on our trip to Sudan & Uganda
Aug. 29 - Sept. 17, 2011!
We are excited! Our team just flew 19,000 miles and traveled hundreds of miles on dangerous dirt roads during the rainy season. We trained 114 police officers and some command staff, handed out 102 Bibles, and reached out to more than 400 children and orphans in various ways!
In the classroom we saw police officers seriously consider the tough question of how they could become men and women of integrity in a country that sturggles with corruption. After instruction on the importance of Community Oriented Policing we challenged the officers to apply what they had just learned in a local school in Yei, South Sudan among 400 children. History was made in South Sudan because police officers for the first time entered several classrooms filled with students sitting shoulder to shoulder. The officers were nervous but when the students warmed up to them it was difficult for us to pull them apart!
History was made again as we we invited the officers to attend a special "Law Enforcement Appreciation" church service. We were told that police officers in uniform had never entered a church before in South Sudan. We always invite the officers to come voluntarily after our training is completed as we allow our team to share in the service why Jesus Christ is so important in their lives. I had asked one of our more enthusiastic students to share for three miniutes at the service. In uniform Wilson made his way to the microphone and said, "I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ!" The audience made up of community members, local pastors, and children burst into applause as I saw "Hope" born in the new Republic of South Sudan. It was exciting to hear officers in uniform joining the children in worship and to here all of them at our request sing the new South Sudan National Anthem!
In another update I will tell you how you can help us in a ministry we became part of that helps to rescue street kids abandoned in Arua which is in Northern Uganda. Your becoming a financial partner with us helps projects like these and several others we are anxious to share with you in the coming weeks. We are already planning our next outreach which includes the idea of bringing over service teams that will help paint a school and pour a concrete floor in a Christian school in Kampala, Uganda.
Ongoing Team Mission: With "Operation Safe Child" our teams ultimate goal through our unique outreach is all about children. We will be continuing our training of police officers and command staff in Northern Uganda in Yumbe District. We will then travel to Yei in Southern Sudan to once again train officers representing several areas of Southern Sudan. Part of our training is in Community Oriented Policing. Our goal will be to conduct field exercises where police officers travel to local schools and orphanages to interact with children. Ethical policing and community involvement are some of the building blocks that create a stable environment for children. Our team will also conduct assessments of the needs for tuition, books, teachers and other supplies at some of the schools and orphanages we visit. "Operation Safe Child" is an opportunity for others back "home" to give to the needs of securing safe and stable futures for these precious children.
So why do we do this? Because Jesus compels us to care as He would care for these children who have suffered so much.
Through our networking with local pastors we conduct "Law Enforcement Appreciation" services during our weekly training. This gives the officers and command staff an opportunity to join our team and their community to hear about our faith and why it is important to how we do our work and serve our towns, villages, or cities.
So what does the police training and working with the government have to do with helping the thousands of children in Sudan & Uganda?
Can you imagine over time thousands of Sudanese and Ugandan police officers improving in their ability to provide ethical policing as men and women of integrity? As I am writing this update officers in both countries are training other officers with what they learned during our last three week trip.
Can you imagine changes in their government that would start by simply demonstrating respect for those who serve their country as police officers? These are the building blocks of creating stable environments for children to grow and flourish.
Feel free to email me at: sgtdave47@gmail.com or call me at 541-390-2891 with any questions you might have about our outreach goals.
Clicking on the "You Can Help!" link in the left hand column here at: www.policeoutreach.com sends you immediately to Safe Harbor's secure site for tax deductible donations.
If sending support by check or money order the mailing address is:
Safe Harbor International
PO Box 80820
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688.
A separate note should indicate for “Dave McDowell - Operation Safe Child” The note should not be on the check made out to Safe Harbor.
Will you in faith be part of going or sending and above all praying?