I started to post about our vision trip over the course of several posts…and then life got crazy busy again…and I only made it to Day Four. And if you even still follow this blog then THANK YOU, because I’m seriously a horrible, slacker when it comes to blogging!
But I do want to finish telling you about our trip, because God did some amazing things!
We arrived in Nasir on Day Five, and spent three days there. We were able to visit the market, tour the MSF clinic (Doctors without Borders), tour the Nasir FM radio station (secular radio), eat dinner at the Ethiopian restaurant in town, visit our own radio tower, meet the commissioner, and even visit a primary school and talk with some teachers. It was a packed three days in which at least one of our team members got heat exhaustion, and all of us fell in love with the Nuer.
One of the best things that happened while we were there was the time we were able to spend praying over the compound on which we’ll live. One morning we got up, ate our daily breakfast of oatmeal with a side of instant coffee, and then set out to intentionally pray over each aspect of our compound. We prayed Korean-style over the location of each house, we prayed at the gate, we prayed over the veranda location, we prayed over the garden spot, we prayed over the water well, and then we walked the perimeter of the compound praying. Blaise took the outside of the fence, while I took the inside, and we prayed aloud while we walked several laps. It was a beautiful and blessed time in which we could absolutely feel the presence of the Almighty. We prayed for our compound to be a LIGHT in the darkness of Nasir, for it to be a safe place for our team and for visitors, and for the Spirit of the Living God to dwell there with such power that people are drawn to it.
Another favorite from our time in Nasir was the time we spent with the women at the water well. We went to pray over it, but while we were there we ended up having an impromptu language lesson and then a powerful prayer time for the women there. We laughed, they laughed, they said Nuer words, we TRIED to say them back, they laughed some more. At the end, all of us were rejuvenated from the laughter and the bonding, and then the Spirit came on that gathering in serious power, and we were all blown away at how He works even when the language is not understood. Ah-maz-ing!
One of the most difficult things about that trip was the spiritual warfare. I felt like I was wrestling with a serious case of depression while in Nasir…like a hot, wet blanket had been thrown over everything and I could barely breathe. I really struggled hard to even verbalize the challenges I was facing, but thankfully I was able to, and then Blaise warred over me in prayer. When we climbed onto that little Cessna, I could feel that dark cloud lift. Whatever is going on in Nasir is dark, and I can’t wait to see Jesus light it up!
After our time in Nasir, we flew over to Aweil, where we stayed with Cush 4 Christ. We stayed in block homes similar to the homes we’ll live in, and we enjoyed getting to talk with Vince and Julie…gleaning from them the wisdom of nearly 8 years on the mission field of South Sudan. It was harder than I expected: the houses more rustic, the spiders larger, the night air more stifling, and the simplicity more demanding than I had expected. And sometimes when expectation meets reality, reality is hard to face. I really had to come to terms with how different our lives will be in Nasir than the States, but I also got to get really excited about it, too. However hard, it’s what we’re being called to, and I would rather live a life a million times as hard and still be IN God’s will than a life of ease OUTSIDE of God’s will.
In the end, we walked away from that trip feeling completely overwhelmed by the task in front of us. I don’t know why, but somehow I expected to come home feeling like I finally knew what I was doing; however, when we had our debriefing meeting on the last day, I realized that there is much power in the realization that I am not equipped. It is a reminder that it is not by my own strength in which I will accomplish anything in Nasir, but only by His strength. It was both humbling and freeing…He will provide if only I’ll be obedient. It’s been our story for nearly two years now, and it will continue to be true for years to come!
And now for the pictures…
As always, saying goodbye to South Sudan was incredibly difficult. I can’t leave the country without crying, but this time it was much sweeter, because goodbye is only for a few more months!