This message comes at a great time of peace, joy and gratefulness
for all the Lord has done for me personally and for all of the people Bridges to Sudan has served.
First and foremost
we wish you a very blessed Christmas and a happy new year.
Second, we thank you so much for the support you have provided
since we opened Bridges in 2007! Receipts for your donations will be mailed out before the end of January, 2012.
Last
but certainly not least, after lots of heartfelt prayer and listening closely to Him, effective December 31, 2011 we are closing
Bridges to Sudan. The reasons are quite simple:
Pappa David has sacrificed much so I could
help others in need. It is time for us to spend more time with family and friends together!
Our local work is finished
and the Sudanese are becoming more grounded and self-supporting daily. It is a true blessing to see the volunteers' efforts
and funds used is helping them reach their goals. The children are flourishing at home and in schools!
I personally
will be helping those who are still in critical condition.
Unfortunately with our ever-troubling economic times our
donations have been way down for the past two years. Thanks to many of you, local families have been helped, but we are unable
to raise enough funds for overseas needs.
Because of the volatile world situation, it is not easy to get funds or
provisions to the neediest without much red tape. God has given us the directive to allow other overseas missions to do this.
As
always, He will lead me personally, no doubt, to His next assignment. I'm excited to see where He'll use me next, knowing
only He can accomplish great things through each of us.
We at Bridges are so grateful
for all that we've been able to accomplish in His plan, and hope to keep in touch as we move into other territories as He
directs. Your support has been the best ever and I personally will keep you all in my heart forever. It could NEVER have been
done without you!
Joyfully in His service, always and all ways
Momma Chol (aka Sharon Svihel)
Click image to go to Facebook page
10/24: Cornelius and Momma Chol will be teaching a nursing class for Professor
Constance Roush at UNF
Bridge's Projects:
Town of Akoch
Change for Kids is an initiative to feed the children from Sudan that had to flee their homes in order to
escape the violence that has taken over their villages*.
All funds collected will be used to
send specially packed food that contains all the nutrition needed for the children to survive.
Akoch
Donations will be used to help feed the displaced
children living in Akoch. This village has welcomed people from Darfur and from the southern border of Northern Sudan. Although
Akoch has become their new homes the conditions are not much better. The land is mostly dry and there is a shortage of food
and water. In August alone over 300 children died. With Change for Kids we aim provide the children of Akoch the food and
water they need to grow to live full and healthy lives. With your help we can reach out to other villages like Akoch.
How you can help
Look for our Change for Kids jars around town
and donate as much as you can.
CLICK HERE to make a one-time donation or to become a monthly donor.
Keep checking with us for
more ways you can help.
Subject to change based on humanitarian needs. *To learn more about the conflict in Sudan check our news tab.
This book contains the heart-touching story of Simon Monytou Arop of Southern Sudan compiled and written
by Rev. Henry Munyori of Africa wheels of Hope (K) in Kenya.
Simon's wishes are to inform the
world at large of the War Torn Sudan which affected Southern Sudan's people for more than two decades. Sudanese refugees have
gone through very hard times as the world spectates.
As a refugee, Simon has stayed in Ethiopia
for 3 years, then in Kenya where he obtained his primary and secondary education. He is now an American citizen who will not
settle until he finds Sudan established and liberated.
If you are interested in supporting Simon’s passions to help in the Sudan and purchase the book for *$10.00 contact
Bracelet that is being sold for *$3 and monies raised are being used to
feed the starving children of Sudan.
For more information or to participate in this program
please contact Moma Chol @ 904.731.7143 or email
*Purchase amount includes applicable sales tax
BIG Thanks!
We would love to give a BIG thanks to all of our supporters
who helped raise funds again with the Birdies For Charity event!
BTS raised a little over
twice the amount that we did in 2010! Although no one actually won the Australian trip from Bridges this year, 2 people
were within 1 birdie of the guess. Better luck next year!
With every purchase Fazzini's plants a
tree and donates a portion of the profit to Bridges. This is a great way to give back to the community while enjoying gourmet
beverages.