Update from Sudan

Being in Sudan has been such a great joy. We’ve only been here for 2 wks but it already feels like a month. We’ve been blessed to experience quite a bit in short period of time. Last week we went to a ceremony of the opening of a bridge that was bombed some years ago. The bridge is part of the Pan-African highway & it connects Nimule to Juba (the Capital of S. Sudan). The rebuilding of the bridge was a big deal because it shows that S. Sudan is making progress towards recovery from wars. The bridge was 100% funded by USAID so the President of S. Sudan spoke at the event along with other dignitaries even a congressman from the US.

Achua Bridge

Chaplains at bridge ceremony

 We’re also planning an FRM-specific outreach called Love Covers. It’s an outreach for local schools that are in heavy need. We conduct an all day Bible study with games, crafts, singing & we give away back packs with school uniforms, mosquito nets, school supplies, underwear & t-shirts. Lately we’ve been surveying different schools in the bush to choose one that fits our criteria. Right now, because our budget is small, we’re looking for a school with about 50-100 students, a lot of need & good attendance. We’ll be doing random drop-ins at the school to check on attendance because we want to encourage the children to be in school everyday not just show up for the big event. 

Taking registration at school

You’d be amazed at what the schools look like here. Most have no buildings. The only building is usually the teacher’s office which isn’t building…it’s a Tookul (mud hut). The children sit outside under a tree in front of a shabby chalk board. All schools require uniforms but usually only a few children are wearing them because they can’t afford them. When I see the lack of amenities & supplies I just marvel at these teachers hearts. They must be so dedicated & passionate for these children. We’ll drive for miles in the thick bush & find a tiny makeshift school out in the middle of nowhere & yet these teachers make it happen without state-of-the-art amenities. 

School classroom

Learning how to use the flanel graph

 On Friday we held a children’s ministry workshop for the chaplains because most of the chaplains will go on from here to start their own churches & some are already Sunday school teachers. The best part of the day was when the chaplains had to do a presentation of a Sunday school lesson. We were a little worried at first because the guys were so frustrated that they couldn’t quite understand how they were to do a presentation. They had so many questions about how to prepare a study using the Inductive Bible Study technique & how to use visual aids with the teachings. It was really sad to see them struggle over things we Americans find so simple but their minds just aren’t as advanced.


Chaplains presenting

 In the end they were able to get through it & we were so pleasantly surprised by the presentations! The guys did soooo great! They went all out with their dramas, props, children’s songs, we were laughing the whole time. The one thing that seems to be a trend here in Africa is that mostly men are involved in children’s ministry, whereas in America it’s mostly women. I get hopeful every time I see a male teaching & loving on the children because I know that many of these children are lacking a godly male role model in the home. Children are the future & Africa is in dire need of God now & in the future.

Chaplains studying

 Finally, on Saturday we had an outreach with women’s ministry & we went out to a village in the bush called Longo. We pilled in about 100 people (women & chaplains) in the lorry & drove out to a village where military barracks are.

The event was planned by the women & for once the native women did all the teachings, not us Americans. I have such a heart to see the natives become leaders & pastors. Because I believe it’s more beneficial to have native missionaries I like giving the teaching privileges over to the natives. The women did so great, years of discipleship by Vicky has paid off. Their teachings went well & their testimonies were powerful. About 10 people prayed to receive Christ & it was a wild celebration. Later on in the evening the chaplains showed the Jesus film to the SPLA soldiers.

Women teaching & sharing their testimonies

Chaplains sharing with the children

Dancing & singing to the Lord!

We had an afternoon of much dancing & worship. I felt like I was part of a National Geographic episode! We were surrounding by about 150 people singing, banging on drums, hootin & hollerin & dancing their cultural dances. I have many moments here where I just sit back & think “I can’t believe where I’m at right now!”  Needless to say I’m loving Sudan! It’s not what I expected it to be like & it’s so much better than I hoped for.

This little boy was afraid of the "white people"

Pastor Michael giving an invitation


 

Chaplains singing in back of lorry

 

 

Riding in back of the lorry with about 100 people