MatthewAndLizi.com » Blog http://matthewandlizi.com Matthew and Lizi Sun, 18 Dec 2011 03:19:09 +0000 en hourly 1 Lizi: my trip to Southern Sudan http://matthewandlizi.com/2011/06/lizis-trip-to-sudan/ http://matthewandlizi.com/2011/06/lizis-trip-to-sudan/#comments Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:22:50 +0000 Matthew Bailey http://matthewandlizi.com/?p=203 How does this work?
How can I convey the depth of need I saw?
I have to tell you about ‘In Deed and Truth’ Ministries. Sabet and Suzy Kuj, along with their 3 children and Oochie the Dog, live on a compound in rural South Sudan. They run a health clinic, lead a church, and train pastors from all over the area.
Sabet is Sudanese and Suzy is British. Sabet and Suzy love the people of South Sudan. And so they work for them. They pray for them. They sacrifice for them.
It is so hot. Nothing comes easily. There are generators and solar panels, cement buildings and metal roofs. There is a small garden.
In the villages there is no electricity or running water. Families live in one-room mud huts, sometimes 10 or more per home. They cook over open fires and wash dishes in buckets.
At the clinic there is Doctor Tom from Florida, Stephanie the beautiful young midwife from Nevada, Dennis the Kenyan Clinical officer (Physician’s Assistant), Margeret the Nurse/Midwife from Sierra Leone, Pritty, the Pharmacist from Kenya as well as several young Sudanese men who assist and translate.
In the presence of these, I felt I was in the presence of heroes.
These amazing people get up every morning, eat breakfast together, have a devotional time led by Sabet, and spend their days serving the men, women and children who come to them from as far away as three days’ walk. The needs are overwhelming. There is often improvisation. Lives are saved. Prayers are prayed. Death is common. Love is given in the form of medicine, knowledge, delivered babies, dressed wounds. It is incredible to see.
Since spending time with the Kuj family and the staff of In Deed and Truth, I keep asking myself, “What now?” I cannot get the images out of my mind. The stark, unforgiving poverty and what it looks like, is embedded in my mind.
Children carrying plastic water bottles full of filthy water.
The boy we prayed and sang over, dying from an illness that could’ve been successfully treated in any hospital in the U.S. and the wails of his family when he died later that day.
The hand-dug well, yielding only dirty, cloudy water, from which I saw a mother draw and drink and give a drink to her small child.
Things that just should not be, I have so much. My children are healthy and safe and clean. For this I am thankful and do not feel guilt, only a desire to not settle for my comfort and forget those who have so little.
We are not all meant to go and live in South Sudan. We are not all meant to become doctors and nurses.
But we are not meant to do nothing.
I keep reading of God’s heart for the poor and oppressed…of his desire for justice for the marginalized of the world. I ask Him, “Why don’t you fix it? Why don’t you eradicate the bad guys and save the helpless?”
He does not answer. And then I think that I am supposed to care about what He cares about and so I should be working to fix it. I should be spending myself on behalf of the needy. I am His body after all.
Do I truly believe it?
What can I do?
I haven’t figured it out yet. But I will not do nothing. To start I am giving money to In Deed and Truth and Aid Sudan. It will be well-used.
I am an eyewitness. I have seen and I cannot forget. I feel the presence of the people I met. I feel responsible.
I am home now. I am comfortable again. I am well.
But they are still thirsty, sick, naked, poor.
It was such an honor to meet the Kuj family and the staff of In Deed and Truth. I continue to pray for them and support their ministry. I pray you will join us!
Isaiah 58.6-12 says…
“Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
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THEN shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer, you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, THEN shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom shall be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
www.indeedandtruth.org
www.aidsudan.org
www.midwife4jesus.blogspot.com

]]> http://matthewandlizi.com/2011/06/lizis-trip-to-sudan/feed/ 0 Matthew & Lizi EP – credits http://matthewandlizi.com/2010/02/matthew-lizi-ep-credits/ http://matthewandlizi.com/2010/02/matthew-lizi-ep-credits/#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:52:46 +0000 Matthew Bailey http://matthewandlizi.com/?p=125 all songs (c) 2010 soul pants publishing

Track 1 - You Alone Are God

written by Lizi Bailey

produced by Jason Hoard

drums – Josh Fisher; bass – Pat Malone;  guitar – Jason Hoard;  keys, vocals, BGVs – Lizi

Track 2 – Healer

written by Lizi & Matthew Bailey

produced by Jason Hoard and Lizi Bailey

drums – Rob Hardie;  bass & guitar – Jason Hoard;  piano, vocals, – Lizi Bailey;  BGVs – Matthew Bailey

Track 3 - Peace

written by Matthew Bailey

produced by Jason Hoard

drums – Josh Fisher;  bass – Pat Malone;  guitar – Jason Hoard;  keys, BGVs – Lizi;  vocals – Matthew

Track 4 – Love Moves

written by Lizi Bailey

produced by Jason Hoard and Lizi Bailey

drums – Scott Meeder;  bass – Pat Malone;  guitar – Jason Hoard;  piano, vocals, – Lizi Bailey

Track 5 - Trace The Lines

written by Lizi Bailey

produced by Jason Hoard and Lizi Bailey

drums – Scott Meeder;  bass – Pat Malone;  guitar & BGVs – Jason Hoard;  piano, vocals, – Lizi Bailey

Track 6 – King Of Love

written and produced by Lizi Bailey

piano & vocals – Lizi Bailey;  cello – Max Dyer

Tracks 1-5  mixed by David Zaffiro and recorded by Jason Hoard at Black Cat Studio in Griffin, GA

Track 6 mixed and recorded by Thomas Ashworth

All tracks mastered by Bob Boyd at Ambient Digital

EP cover photo captured by Cody Bess;  EP sleeve design by Asher Castillo

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