...i am not the cool mom...

I realize there is a role I often play.
It is the "not cool" role!!
And I am now playing that at my kiddos school.
Maybe if you have kids in school you know what I mean?
Mom's get together, and it just seem like comparison abounds.
Its not said out loud, but its in the air.
Who's wearing cute stuff, who's hair is just right, who has the best house.
Who's kid is smart, does well in sports, is musical.
And the one that gets me the most... who has the most spectacular birthday parties.

Ok, I realize I am sounding judgey.
I apologize.
But I am judgey.
Not to the Mom's.
Not to the people.
But I do judge the spirit of comparison.
How it robs us of security.
It keeps us from real friendships.
It stops us from opening up, being ourselves.
It puts so much pressure on us, when the last thing we need is more pressure.
It keeps us from being free.

So I'm  not going to play.
I will run to drop him off in my sweats and messy hair.
I will wear whatever I need to wear, and make an effort when I feel like it but only because I feel like it.
I will not get into the flow of one-upping.
I will care about other Mom's, and help them to shine.
I will love on the "sporty" mom who thinks she has to know every NFL score and baseball players name.
I will love the "perfect" mom for her heart, and not let her appearance impact me one way or the other.
I will talk to the shy mom, who may often be mistaken for snooty and stuck up.
I will try a hug on the stand-off-ish mom, just to see if she really is.
I will talk about my struggles, my failures, my hatred of birthday party pressure.
I will do my best to be real.
I will be un-cool.

Wanna be un-cool with me??

...freedom part 2 - great news of Rudwan's release...

And the GREAT news....  Rudwan has been released!!

Just got done hanging with his wifey, one of my best friends Nancy.
She is a month away from delivering their sweet baby.
I can't tell you...

...how full of joy and relief she is!
...how beautifully she beamed!
...how cute her belly is!
...how her faith and trust in God throughout this has been such an inspiration to all!

Thank God for his release, and we will continue praying until he is home in the USA and back together with his little growing family!!  (probably as early as next week!!) 

And you can bet I will be at the airport bawling like a baby when he gets here!!!!!

OFFICIAL STORY:

August 16, 2012 

Dear friends of Sudan Sunrise,

We have just received confirmation that Rudwan Dawod has just been released by the Government of Sudan!  Rudwan is a leader of many of Sudan Sunrise's reconciliation and humanitarian initiatives.

Rudwan was just released approximately one-half hour ago, before midnight Khartoum time.  He is now with his family.  He is reported to be in good condition.  Our understanding is that the NISS is not going to file additional charges, and that Rudwan will be allowed to return to the US soon.  It will take several days for him to get his travel documents in order, but it is possible he could return to the US next week.  If all goes well he will be home in time to be with his wife, Nancy, for the birth of their daughter (named "Sudan").

Rudwan was abducted on July 3, beaten until unconscious, and tortured for several days.  He was charged with terrorism, which could have brought the death penalty.  A media campaign in Sudan accused him of working for the CIA to organize terrorists to bomb Khartoum marketplaces.  On Monday of this week Rudwan was acquitted of all charges, except the minor (and false) charge of "preparing to create a public disturbance."  He was sentenced to time served plus a small fine, around $100 US, which was paid on the spot by his friends.

As the judge announced that Rudwan was free to go, an officer with Sudan's National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) intervened, presenting a document calling for Rudwan's re-arrest.  Observers described the NISS as "very angry" with the court's decision.

Since Monday Rudwan has been held by the NISS, in a location they would not disclose.  Neither his family nor his lawyers were allowed to have contact with him.

The pressure for Rudwan's release may have contributed to the release of many other of the non-violent protestors.  Beginning Monday of this week the Government of Sudan began releasing women who had been detained for participating in the protest movement.  Yesterday more men and women were released, and today Omar al Bashir, the President of Sudan, announced that all political prisoners would be released by the end of the day.  We do not know how many have been released, nor how many remain in custody.

This has been interpreted as a gesture of good will by the Bashir regime to allow protestors to celebrate the Muslim holiday Eid with their families this Saturday.

Many many thanks to everyone who has signed petitions, gotten out the word, prayed and done all you can to advocate for Rudwan's release!

With deep appreciation and best wishes,

Tom Prichard

Executive Director

www.sudansunrise.org

tomprichard@sudansunrise.org

(202) 499-6984

...freedom...

Arrested without cause?

Family and home ransacked and mistreated with no permission or warrant?

Tortured?

Charged by the Government with whatever they want to discredit?

Judges bribed and threatened?

Gaining freedom only to be recaptured 1 hour later, again by the Government?

Whisked away where no one knows where you are?

This only happens in the movies... right?

This must be an action film, with some famous dude starring, right?

No, this is happening to my friend Rudwan.

He is in Sudan.

His wife is one of my best friends.

She is pregnant with their first child.

He is living this.

She is living this.

This is real.

Thank God for America.

And thank God for people who care.

My friend Nancy worked with me in our Middle School  Youth Group.

When I first met her, I loved her.

But she was such a priss!!

Make up perfect, hair perfect - mandatory!

Over the 10 years I knew her God totally changed her heart.

She went on a missions trip with us to Mexico...

Camping, dirty, outside showers.

She began to love missions.

She began to love Africa.

She finally made a trip to Africa with Sudan Sunrise.

They are a reconciliation firm, who are supporting peace and reconciliation to the nations there.

They are also rebuilding many school destroyed by the wars.

They worked closely with Minute Bol

in his village.

There Nancy met Rudwan!

Her second trip back, they were engaged!

And their love story continues.

He lives here, and is going to school.

She is pregnant with their first baby, a little girl named Sudan.

We know him, we love him.

He loves us.

He went to Sudan to work with a group that peaceably protests

for rights, for democracy, for freedom, for women.

You can read his story here.

Or do a google search and you will find many stories and articles.

FOR ME

this has changed me.

It has changed the way I think of so much.

Of Christians.

Of Muslims.

Of America versus Africa.

Of what is happening "over there."

Of how things big things impact individual people.

It has grown my love for people.

Just because they are people.

It has grown my capacity for compassion.

My understanding of what is going on behind the scenes of news stories.

Yes, my love for people.

For each person.

I think this is getting me closer to loving how God loves.

And I like it.

Please keep Rudwan and Nancy, and their baby girl Sudan, in your prayers.

And pray Rudwan gets home for her birth next month!