We go back to Juba tomorrow after a week in Nairobi. It has been a week of beautiful weather, shopping, eating and resting. Guess what? this time we did not go anywhere near a hospital! We did not run into as many people that we know this time but we did have a really nice evening last night with Chase and Audrey!
The break was needed by me more than Lynn but I have spent a lot of time in prayer and Lynn and I have talked quite a bit about the situation in Juba and I think I have been able to get a better perspective on things. Yes, I am still a little nervous but I go back having been reminded of who is in control and I am SO glad it is not me! And, NO, it is not Lynn!!!! sure wouldn't want anyone confused on that point. Ha! Thank you so much to 2 cousins who listened to a nudge to write me - it was just the encouragement I needed.
I keep seeing all this posts about snow and it makes me so glad I am not where that stuff is:) Our rainy season ends sometime in November which means our cooler weather ends and we will start seeing over 100 degrees. The rains have not been as good this year in many places in South Sudan so there is more hunger in many areas.
We are going back to Juba knowing that we will be busier than we have been. Lynn will be traveling to 2 different locations and is picking up a lot more office work. Well, we, are picking up more office work:) While Lynn is gone on these trips I will cover for him with the emails and such but even when he is around we tend to share that work. I like the office work more than Lynn so I write letters and send forms and he does all the official stuff:) It is good to stay busy but us old folks still manage to get our naps in!
If any of you cannot take the cold weather heading your way, just plan a trip to see us and I promise you will warm up:)
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Sunday, October 11, 2015
I remember
" I remember your father", "My parents knew your parents", " I knew little Timmy" Names of places like Doleb Hill, Nasir, Leer. These are all things I heard this morning at a very large Nuer Church here in Juba. I was introduced to the congregation as Nya Dhouram, daughter of Dhouram, with Dhouram being my father. I was touched by the cheer that came with my being introduced and by my very simple one word greeting in Nuer. After church as we stood in line to greet everyone so many people said they remember my father or have heard of my father and were so appreciative of the work and years my father gave to the Nuer. When the one man said he knew "little Timmy" ( sorry Tim) I almost cried. For those of you who don't know my family, Tim is my oldest brother.
How different this mornings service with the Nuers was compared to the services I went to as a kid in Ethiopia. The biggest difference is that there were 2470 people in church this morning!!! That number is right -2470!!!!! I knew the church was large but that is a lot of people:) I was afraid we would be there all day when the pastor said he had two parts to the sermon and 22 points but we actually only had a 2 1/2 hour service :)
We are trying to visit different churches in the Juba area and this was a really good start. Most of the congregations are by tribe and the services are in either the tribal language or in Arabic. It makes for time to think if we can't understand what is being said.
Right now, Lynn is between building projects and the church office people are gone for a week so we are heading to Kenya again for a one week break. It will be good to get away for a little bit, away from the heat, the tension and the dust. It will be good to have different food and even some really good ice-cream. You know, priorities are important and ice-cream is at the top of that list:) We will be doing a little work in Kenya too, with trying to touch base with a group there that will be helping with a project in the town of Pibor here in South Sudan.
So, while there is not really much new going on with us, we are doing well and continue to put our lives in God's hands daily. We continue to be challenged with how to respond to so much need but we are also inspired by the faith of the people around us and by their positive outlook for the future.
How different this mornings service with the Nuers was compared to the services I went to as a kid in Ethiopia. The biggest difference is that there were 2470 people in church this morning!!! That number is right -2470!!!!! I knew the church was large but that is a lot of people:) I was afraid we would be there all day when the pastor said he had two parts to the sermon and 22 points but we actually only had a 2 1/2 hour service :)
We are trying to visit different churches in the Juba area and this was a really good start. Most of the congregations are by tribe and the services are in either the tribal language or in Arabic. It makes for time to think if we can't understand what is being said.
Right now, Lynn is between building projects and the church office people are gone for a week so we are heading to Kenya again for a one week break. It will be good to get away for a little bit, away from the heat, the tension and the dust. It will be good to have different food and even some really good ice-cream. You know, priorities are important and ice-cream is at the top of that list:) We will be doing a little work in Kenya too, with trying to touch base with a group there that will be helping with a project in the town of Pibor here in South Sudan.
So, while there is not really much new going on with us, we are doing well and continue to put our lives in God's hands daily. We continue to be challenged with how to respond to so much need but we are also inspired by the faith of the people around us and by their positive outlook for the future.
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