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OUR MISSION
The main focus of the Sudanese Outreach is
to build relationships through recreational activities,
devotions, tutoring, mentoring, and sharing our lives
with the Sudanese community.
Our goals include being an advocate for the over 9,000
refugees now living in Omaha, Nebraska teaching them
through our commitments and our love for them that their
hope is in Jesus Christ. |
Linda and Larry Heuertz |
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IN THE NEWS:
- In 2003 “Six Who Share” honored
Larry and Linda Heuertz for outstanding contributions, leadership,
guidance in the lives of Heartland children.
- KAKUMA AFRICA In June of 2005 Larry
and Linda went to Kakuma in Kenya Africa and visited the
refugee camp there and were able to unite with families
of families in Omaha Nebraska! What a reunion it was for
us to bring news, supplies, and love from the families in
Omaha to their families still waiting in refugee camps.
It was such a culture shock to us to see how they live in
a barren dusty land with little or no schooling at all,
yet they give God all the glory for all that they have and
to be in a safe place. (Please email us for all of the
details of our time in Africa at info@hopeforsudan.com
). See photos of our trip
to Kenya below:
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HISTORY
Hope for Sudan outreach started in July of 1998 as part
of a Fusion Street School Outreach in Omaha Nebraska.
We spent a week with a small team of men and women holding
a basketball clinic, having devotions and forming relationships.
At the time there were only 1,200 Sudanese in Omaha.
We had 13 kids show up the first night. During that
week God laid a burden on the hearts of Linda and Larry
Heuertz for the Sudanese. So it was then that Larry
and Linda began a ministry for the Sudanese called HOPE
FOR SUDAN. When the Hope Center opened in October of
that year, they allowed the outreach to meet there.
God has blessed us with a team who was committed to
be “Jesus with skin on”
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| OMAHA SUDANESE OUTREACH
What a fast TEN years it has been!
We wanted to send out a newsletter in celebration of
starting our eleventh year. We have learned so much.
God has taught us as we went along loving and doing
HIS work.
The NATION OF SUDAN has grown into about 10,000 Sudanese
right here in Omaha Nebraska! We have watched babies
grow into young girls and boys and we have watched middle
school kids grow and go off to college to further their
education. We have attended college graduations from
business, nursing etc. We have celebrated with many
of them in receiving their citizenship. We have sent
off many men who have joined the armed forces to protect
the United States of America.
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 We
have helped thru Lamaze delivering many many babies
and spent many days and nights in intensive care with
premature babies. There have also been some tragic accidents/sicknesses
where we have spent many days in intensive care with
youth from van and car accidents, helped with family
needs, meals etc thru these times.
We have grieved with them when losing loved ones from
infants on up in the states and grieved with them when
losing loved ones in Sudan and the refugee camps. They
then spend their time in church all day and all night
reading scripture and worshipping HIM in song.
We continue to help the Sudanese community with groceries,
medical visits, funerals, legal proceedings, schooling,
helping with furniture, clothing, helping youth who
have made wrong choices and spent time in youth detention
centers.
 The
Sudanese community continues to teach us selflessness,
patience kindness to one another and their strong faith
in God. Their child-like faith that makes everything
so matter of fact and not question why things happen
when it is difficult things to go through. We share
meals with kids and many times with their families and
are able to listen to the hearts of the parents and
their concerns of the public schools, praying for them,
sharing the gospel and teaching them. They are always
grateful whenever you help them and so hospitable to
us when we come to visit. They welcome our prayers count
on Mama Linda now to sing the “Blessing’
song over their newborn babies and their children. We
have cried many times when families have moved out of
Omaha and we miss them so much.
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A VOICE AND AN ADVOCATE
We continue to be a voice and an
advocate for Sudanese with immigration and the courts
with documentation, jobs, schooling, attending athletic
and school events, teacher conferences, school counselors,
tutoring, medical visits, employment opportunities,
explore housing opportunities etc. |
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TEAM
Our team continues to teach the Sudanese about American
customs and Holidays. We spend time in the Sudanese
communities, as guest in their homes; we have many Sudanese
into Larry and Linda’s homes, even for slumber
parties!!!!!
The teams go on community outings with the youth for
all ages to the zoo, movies, skating, bowling, ballgames,
swimming, shopping, church out to eat along with teaching
life skills when out in the community.
The outreach has attended many Sudanese weddings, festivities,
and helped sponsor 2 Sudan Days sanctioned by the Mayors
office.
Above all, we are ministered and taught by
the Sudanese. They teach us their customs,
explain their holidays and accept us into their homes;
Americans can learn so much from these sweet loving,
and caring people.
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