let's be social!
It came way too fast. Everyone else in our team had already walked off our compound and toward the airstrip, but I was still hugging Nyaret, Nyabol, and Martha. They wished me peaceful travels and told me to come back soon. As I walked away and left them standing there waving, the tears streaming down my face betrayed the strength I was trying to find. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength…
I have had so many people ask me what the most difficult thing about missions in Sudan is…can you guess what my answer is? LEAVING! Seriously, it’s like shredding my heart every time the plane takes off and flies me away from the people I love. Every time I leave, I wonder why God does this to me…really. It’s completely selfish and I really am so thankful for every opportunity to spend time in Sudan, but it hurts SO MUCH to leave. I’m really looking forward to the day when the plane leaves with a team, and I’m not on it!
This trip was extra-special for two reasons: my husband was with me as we fell more in love with South Sudan and I got to return to my “home” village. It was also a powerful trip for many reasons: prayer was integral, spiritual warfare was evident, the radio broadcasting began, Lazari survived the fire and lightning strike, we commissioned all of the new buildings, prayer was integral, we graduated our Bible school students, and did I mention prayer was important? It was unlike any trip to Sudan before it, and God really showed His hand in everything we were doing, even when it didn’t go exactly as we expected. For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
We should have grabbed Buay to be in this shot, too, because he was very much a part of our team…
I did make sure to grab him for these!
Blaise and Kim…
Nasir falls away…
Please pray for Blaise and I as we work toward getting back there as soon as God will allow.
This was my devotional one night in Sudan and it was attached to an email that Mandy sent (which answered a HUGE prayer). It has really resonated with me, so I wanted to share…
Isaiah 61: 1-6
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord
is on me,
because the Lord has anointed
me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the
brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the
prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in
Zion–
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called mighty oaks,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long
devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for
generations.
Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and
vineyards.
And you will be called priests of the
Lord,
you will be named ministers of our
God.”
