*Praying for women at the leadership training.
*The woman in the picture has malaria.
*Giving my testimony at the training.
Well, Vineyard Family, today was my favorite day! All four of us went to the last day of the leadership training, where the people gathered for worship and teaching. Pastor Mark and Clint had been sharing about the amazing prayer times they had there each day, and I was so jealous! So, today I was finally able to be there and I was so, so thrilled! Since we had not been there before today, Kathy and I each shared our testimonies. As I listened to Kathy’s testimony I thought of how powerful it is when we share with one another our journey, and what God has done for us. It brings us to a place of deeper connection, and binds us together. Before this we participated in worship. And by participate I mean lots of bouncing while holding hands with a Sudanese person who has approached you. Wow, these people have energy! Pastor Mark did two teachings. He adapted some of his Vineyard teaching for the people here. Truth is universal - the scriptures apply to us all regardless of our culture. I was impressed with Pastor Mark’s ability to bring his personality into that place and truly be himself in spite of teaching with an interpreter. He did an excellent job! Then some guy named Clint spoke…he was white, and looked like our Clint, but this guy was preaching like crazy!! This Clint was on fire!! I told him later that I hope that this new “Clint” preaches at Vineyard from now on, cause it was great! The Holy Spirit was all over the messages and the words. Glory to God!
During one of the teaching breaks something very neat happened! The Sudanese people all ate rice and drink tea during the break. And the women here do the majority of the work. So they were preparing and serving the food for all these people. Pastor Mark decided he would go help them serve, so he and Clint both went and help dished up the food for all the people. One of the leaders said to Clint later, “ah, so Pastor Mark is teaching us that a good leader will serve…” I think it’s so great that the actions of these men Mark and Clint just as powerful as their words. As much as I was impressed with their teaching today, I am impressed with how they are living out their faith here in Sudan. A couple of nights ago my devotion was from the book of James and I read these words, “Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do.” It strikes me that this is why we are here – not just to preach well or do nice art projects, but to live out our faith by what we do – the little things like holding hands with an orphaned child, playing jump rope with a group of kids, or helping serve a meal. Today, as I watched Pastor Mark and Clint, I felt grateful to have them as leaders in our church, and privileged to be able to witness God use them here in Sudan.
The morning session ended with a time of prayer. We first prayed with the men who felt like they either needed courage, protection, healing from sickness, or rest. Many men came for prayer and we laid hands on them and prayed for the presence of God to come and met their many needs. We then prayed with the women individually. It was so amazing to hear their stories – so many widowed or divorced, many with conflicts in their homes or unbelieving husbands. Many were also sick - malaria, headaches, chest pain – and many were also being harassed by demons. We prayed for an hour and a half, but it felt like 15 minutes to me! My heart broke for these people and I just kept hearing the Holy Spirit prompt me to pray for the “favor of God”. We prayed for many children as well – all sick – lots of problems with headaches and stiffness. A couple of times I literally just sobbed while we prayed, overwhelmed with compassion for these people.
This afternoon we were able to do something very fun – we bought a bicycle for Esther, the woman who has been cooking and cleaning for us this whole week. She even did our laundry, by hand! In the time since Clint was here last year, her husband has died. Here when the husband dies, his family comes and takes everything from the house, so Esther and her 2 children (ages 15 and 8) were left with nothing. She lives a long walk from here where she works, and she often has to walk into town for things, so this bicycle was a big deal! When it got here, we told her we wanted to take a picture of her on it. So she came out, hopped on it, and took it for a spin around the driveway. Then we asked her to pose with her bike and the guys. She said yes, and then stood there, said that she was so very grateful to God. And before any of us knew it she had started praying right then and there because of the bicycle. Amazing…so much gratitude for something so seemingly little. Yes, I was crying. I had to hand Kathy the camera to take the picture. I know!
Tonight we went to the church for an outreach program. All I can say is that I’ve never jumped up and down so much in my life! These people really get into their worship! It was so much fun to jump up and down, while holding hands with these people while they sang songs about being happy and how we are all the same. Pastor Mark and Clint both spoke again, and then we handed out the balloons that the JAM kids had donated. The balloons were a big hit!
Tomorrow we leave here to go to Kampala, Uganda for a couple of days. I will miss Sudan and its people. One thing I’ve said the whole time preparing for this trip was that I wanted to come and leave everything of me I could – leave it all on the playing field, so to speak. As I sit here tonight typing this, I feel like I have. I’ve done everything God led me to do, gave everything of me that there was, and I leave this country tomorrow with no regrets. Thanks so much for all of your prayers that have been keeping us safe and well. We know that God has been orchestrating it all, and we have seen his provision along the way, and we are blessed.
