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October 16, 2005
Back to the Bush
Dear Friends,
Good evening from Kurmuk, Sudan. As the sun is setting here, many of you are rushing out for a Thursday lunch wondering whether to eat something healthy or just run through Arby's for a Beef 'N Cheddar Combo. I well remember those days!
We returned safely to Sudan today. It's starting to get warm here. The rains have tapered off, and highs are in the 95 F range. It's the season of drying grass here. The tall grass has matured and is now dying and turning yellow. People are beginning to cut the grass and use it to fix their roofs or build new fences for their compounds.
Flying over Southern Blue Nile state we saw plumes of smoke rising from grass fires people had started. They are clearing the tall grass which is too tough to feed the livestock and also allowing the new tender grasses to take root on the last of the rains.
Speaking of fire, word of our return had spread like wildfire. The guys had given Bev a list of things to buy for them in Nairobi. Since there is no market in Kurmuk to buy clothes or tennis shoes, she was obliged to help with the task. Some of Beverly's friends from the hospital came to see what Bev had brought. One guy got a suit and another got some pants. The suit almost fit, but we tried to hide our amusement when he came out wearing the vest over the suit. But they were SO pleased with their new clothes. As her husband, it is so nice to see my wife using her gifts of gift-giving.
As we visited with the guys, they turned the conversation to the subject of their families who are still over in Ethiopia in a refugee camp. They said they were really looking forward to their return. When they left, we prayed for that whole subject. I prayed that all of us standing here have left our families and asked the Lord to protect us while we were apart and bring us back together safely. One of the Uduk guys shed a tear - a rare thing for a Sudanese - because of missing his family.
Here's the main reason I sat down to write - to share about an answered prayer. For those who know my (Chris's) background, the Lord used a friend's ministry, African Leadership, to bring me physically to Africa and spiritually to a place where God could reveal his calling on my/our lives. Since we joined the SIM Sudan team, I have been vowing and declaring that I would host the pastor training offered by African Leadership in our location in South Sudan. I even vowed to build them a hut with my own hands.
Can I tell you that God has blessed us with the precious gift of honoring this request. Last week, in Nairobi Kenya, three SIM'ers - Beverly, myself, and Claire Coburn sat down with two men from African Leadership and finalized plans for a two-week conference. [By the way, Claire and SP are the organizers; we're just there to connect people.] Invitations have been sent out over a huge area. Pastors will walk from 3 days away to attend. We are so thankful and grateful for this opportunity. It was quite a moment. To realize a prayer you've prayed for four years is being answered before your eyes. Praise God.
So many of you have written emails, and we cannot wait to respond. Thanks for your love and prayers.
Your hands and feet in Sudan,
Chris and Beverly
Published at October 16, 2005 09:34 AM
