Hello everyone!
It's August 10th, 2007 and I'm sitting in the middle of the room surrounded by almost packed bags and my excitement for getting on a plane tomorrow is growing by the minute. Having the chance to see a boy's life change because of reconstructive surgery is amazing. Megan and I are looking forward to being there and investing in Isaac and walking along side him through the surgeries and in life in general not to mention his walk with Christ! We're also open to however the Lord wants us to serve in Kenya and will be actively looking for those opportunities!
I'll be updating this blog simply to remind you to check out www.sudanskids.blogspot.com where I'll be doing the majority of the updates for this trip- Hopefully you'll have video clips and photos as we go this time- Gotta love technology!
I'm attempting to see if I can successfully put a video on my blog (ay carumba!) and if this works I hope you enjoy the Sudanese orphans singing! :)
Much love to you all!
Robin
Friday, August 10, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
1. An Invitation
2. My support letter
-------------Invitation--------------
"Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life."
What?
An art show featuring Robin Oas
(and friends) to raise support for Robin’s return to Sudan.
The evening will include a musical theatre performance by Erica Maier
When?
Friday July 6th, 2007-----7 p.m.
Where?
Fa Lu Hutson's Residence
4124 Happy Valley Rd., Lafayette, CA
Suggested $10 donation *
*includes a raffle ticket for prizes such as show tickets, voice lessons, and more!
------------Support Letter--------------------------
Greetings friends,
I just wanted to thank you all for all your love, prayers, and support while I was in Sudan. God is doing amazing things and I feel fortunate to be a part of what's going on in there. It was amazing, stretching, wonderful, trying, adventurous, and uplifting to put it simply. As I sit in my home I marvel at electricity instead of oil lamps; the lack of AK-47s strapped to peoples backs, and food with flavor. As much as I am enjoying the comforts of home, I miss my mud hut and the friends I've made there.
I feel like I was standing at a whole table of different opportunities in Sudan, and I just had to reach out and try different ones. In general, daily life is like stepping back in time: oil lamps, pumping your own water for bathing and drinking, washing clothes in a bucket, cooking over a fire, …basically just living like locals. It was amazing to gain understanding of what it is to really live in the third world. I was also able to use my art to add some sparkle to a clinic and an orphanage. I painted butterflies and flowers for the girls and stars and soccer balls for the boys. When the boys entered their room they gasped, grinned, and asked, "Where are our flowers?" It melted my heart. Other days were spent in the field working side by side with the locals harvesting crops while listening to the chatter in Arabic. I can now say, "I see the giant lizard" in Arabic; one of the many 'useful' things the locals taught me sitting under the mango trees holding a hot yam and cup of tea. Or try teaching Sudanese children to cut snowflakes for Christmas; they now have a firm grasp of how to cut them but no concept of snow! I had many opportunities to teach in Sudan which is a lesson in flexibility. Imagine my surprise when I walked into a youth pastor's conference prepared to speak for an hour and they handed me the schedule which turned out to be me for 6 straight hours! You begin to pray and rely solely on God. It turned out to be a marvelous day!
One of the many highlights during my time was teaching for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church's (EPC) pastor's wives conference. They came in nervous and shy but by the end of the week they seemed transformed into confident women. Since the country has been in civil war for over 50 years they haven't had the chance to learn some of the basic Bible stories that we've grown up on—like Noah's ark! We not only taught them about the women in the Bible but also walked along side them with a practical skill: soap making. These women would walk up to 20 miles with a basket of produce on their heads to exchange it for one bar of washing soap! Hopefully, through the program that Christian Women's Empowerment Program (CWEP) has put together, they'll begin their own soap making business in their villages to help make life a little easier. The women were hungry for the teaching and skills we had for them. By Saturday they asked to go into the villages on outreach. The team I tagged along with was standing in the back of the EPC truck beating the drum and singing LOUDLY! People were coming out from alleys, shops, and huts to see what was happening-- Oh, you could just FEEL the joy of the Lord-- and people who were scowling couldn't help but smile. Our team introduced 5 people to Jesus and another team introduced 4 (including a soldier who was taking opium 12 times a day to forget the atrocities he'd committed).
I'll be heading back to Africa around the 10th of August. For the first part of the journey I'll be heading to Kenya with Megan, an ER nurse, to help a 10 year old Sudanese orphan named Isaac get reconstructive surgery. He was very badly burned as a toddler. We will be staying with him while he recovers and accompanying him by bus back to Sudan. Please watch my friend Vernon interview Isaac at www.sudanskids.blogspot.com. Once I reach Sudan, I hope to be working hand in hand with the Christian Women's Empowerment Program at EPC in Yei. I'm excited to partner with all the different projects they're doing, especially their widows ministry and pastor's wives ministry. These ministries help them with their knowledge of faith and practical living skills. I'm also hoping to use my art to benefit the community. There are many opportunities above and beyond what I can even imagine right now-- and I'm thrilled to be a part of all that's going on!
Thank you for all your support!
Many Blessings,
Robin
2. My support letter
-------------Invitation--------------
"Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life."
What?
An art show featuring Robin Oas
(and friends) to raise support for Robin’s return to Sudan.
The evening will include a musical theatre performance by Erica Maier
When?
Friday July 6th, 2007-----7 p.m.
Where?
Fa Lu Hutson's Residence
4124 Happy Valley Rd., Lafayette, CA
Suggested $10 donation *
*includes a raffle ticket for prizes such as show tickets, voice lessons, and more!
------------Support Letter--------------------------
Greetings friends,
I just wanted to thank you all for all your love, prayers, and support while I was in Sudan. God is doing amazing things and I feel fortunate to be a part of what's going on in there. It was amazing, stretching, wonderful, trying, adventurous, and uplifting to put it simply. As I sit in my home I marvel at electricity instead of oil lamps; the lack of AK-47s strapped to peoples backs, and food with flavor. As much as I am enjoying the comforts of home, I miss my mud hut and the friends I've made there.
I feel like I was standing at a whole table of different opportunities in Sudan, and I just had to reach out and try different ones. In general, daily life is like stepping back in time: oil lamps, pumping your own water for bathing and drinking, washing clothes in a bucket, cooking over a fire, …basically just living like locals. It was amazing to gain understanding of what it is to really live in the third world. I was also able to use my art to add some sparkle to a clinic and an orphanage. I painted butterflies and flowers for the girls and stars and soccer balls for the boys. When the boys entered their room they gasped, grinned, and asked, "Where are our flowers?" It melted my heart. Other days were spent in the field working side by side with the locals harvesting crops while listening to the chatter in Arabic. I can now say, "I see the giant lizard" in Arabic; one of the many 'useful' things the locals taught me sitting under the mango trees holding a hot yam and cup of tea. Or try teaching Sudanese children to cut snowflakes for Christmas; they now have a firm grasp of how to cut them but no concept of snow! I had many opportunities to teach in Sudan which is a lesson in flexibility. Imagine my surprise when I walked into a youth pastor's conference prepared to speak for an hour and they handed me the schedule which turned out to be me for 6 straight hours! You begin to pray and rely solely on God. It turned out to be a marvelous day!
One of the many highlights during my time was teaching for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church's (EPC) pastor's wives conference. They came in nervous and shy but by the end of the week they seemed transformed into confident women. Since the country has been in civil war for over 50 years they haven't had the chance to learn some of the basic Bible stories that we've grown up on—like Noah's ark! We not only taught them about the women in the Bible but also walked along side them with a practical skill: soap making. These women would walk up to 20 miles with a basket of produce on their heads to exchange it for one bar of washing soap! Hopefully, through the program that Christian Women's Empowerment Program (CWEP) has put together, they'll begin their own soap making business in their villages to help make life a little easier. The women were hungry for the teaching and skills we had for them. By Saturday they asked to go into the villages on outreach. The team I tagged along with was standing in the back of the EPC truck beating the drum and singing LOUDLY! People were coming out from alleys, shops, and huts to see what was happening-- Oh, you could just FEEL the joy of the Lord-- and people who were scowling couldn't help but smile. Our team introduced 5 people to Jesus and another team introduced 4 (including a soldier who was taking opium 12 times a day to forget the atrocities he'd committed).
I'll be heading back to Africa around the 10th of August. For the first part of the journey I'll be heading to Kenya with Megan, an ER nurse, to help a 10 year old Sudanese orphan named Isaac get reconstructive surgery. He was very badly burned as a toddler. We will be staying with him while he recovers and accompanying him by bus back to Sudan. Please watch my friend Vernon interview Isaac at www.sudanskids.blogspot.com. Once I reach Sudan, I hope to be working hand in hand with the Christian Women's Empowerment Program at EPC in Yei. I'm excited to partner with all the different projects they're doing, especially their widows ministry and pastor's wives ministry. These ministries help them with their knowledge of faith and practical living skills. I'm also hoping to use my art to benefit the community. There are many opportunities above and beyond what I can even imagine right now-- and I'm thrilled to be a part of all that's going on!
Thank you for all your support!
Many Blessings,
Robin
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Greetings from California! 
Food making at YWAM...mostly chipote (my favorite!) and beans-- and then yams, and boiling our drinking water! It gave it that 'nice' smokey flavor...but it made it drinkable!
And finally, for this round, here is Lia, William (the baby), little Josephine and I with the just graduated Discipleship Training School... I'm so proud of all six of them- It sounds like they had an amazing 3 month outreach and just saw incredible things happen- I wish I could have been there to celebrate and hear all of the stories but I was in England by then!
Today finds me at home looking back on the last 3 months and smiling. It was amazing, there is no doubt. I think the hardest thing is not having anyone here in California with any frame of reference to where I've actually been, seen, done-- I miss that part of not being a team--Re-entry will be a process and I'm thinking about what that looks like daily!
I'm adding a lot of pictures including ones I've drawn!
So, sit back, enjoy and I'll explain them all! 
This is just one of those great moments at Harvesters where a group of the boys stopped (really kids are drawn to the cameras, it's not hard) to have their photo snapped- I really liked that the one boy insisted on holding dead flowers!
To the right, a photo collage from my time with the team at EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church) just doing life- :)
"To the beat of the drums, drums, drums..." Anyhow, I got to draw during a church service (at Harvesters) and just catch the day in pen! What fun!
Pumping water, what will I do with out my daily exercise routine? *sigh*
(oh, and then carrying it, an added bonus, and no, I can't carry it on my head)
This is that great day that I got to ride home in the CWEP's (Christian Women's Empowerment Program) NEW van singing all the way--what a great conference to be a part of! Again, the response is s-t-i-l-l...WOW!
Here are some highlights from the same pastors wives conference- Starting with a sustainable living project: soap making! It was great to see the women work together to help each other master the skills.
Here's a couple fun ones from the baptism in Yei River at the end of the women's conference! What a celebration!!! I still don't think burning the opium to destroy it was a good idea, but ah well- :)
Food making at YWAM...mostly chipote (my favorite!) and beans-- and then yams, and boiling our drinking water! It gave it that 'nice' smokey flavor...but it made it drinkable!
And finally, for this round, here is Lia, William (the baby), little Josephine and I with the just graduated Discipleship Training School... I'm so proud of all six of them- It sounds like they had an amazing 3 month outreach and just saw incredible things happen- I wish I could have been there to celebrate and hear all of the stories but I was in England by then!
So for today "that's all folks"! When my brain is a little clearer I'm going to write about a few more things, like the last week and what I'm dreaming about for the future-- but I'll save that until I'm a little more coherent!
Love ya'll!
Robin
Friday, February 16, 2007
Greetings from London!!!!
So, I fly back to the States tomorrow after a couple days of adventure with my fabulous friend Helen- It's been glorious winter weather here--some strong winds but no rain and plenty of sunshine! Saw the crown jewels while I toured the Tower of London (and saw where all the prisoners were...yay for history)- The Traitors gate which went up to the River Thames was originally called Watergate. Our clever guide pointed out that it actually came up to water and had less leaks than America's Watergate...all the Brits roared with laughter...come to think of it so did I, it was funny!
Today Helen and I headed off for an adventure in Canterbury, Cathedral and all... it simply amazes me that we can step so far back in time! It was amazing, it was beautiful...you should see the architecture and design, it just blew me away...I'd like to see America have anything as old as Roman times (if not before)--Wow is the appropriate word I think :)
So a silly highlight was a hot shower and a blow dryer...I still think someone could make a fortune off of solar powered hairdryers for missionaries...really really...
Anyway, off to deal with the hassle of new luggage requirements in Britain...one of my homemade trucks from Yei will be staying in London...thems the breaks! :)
See you all soon
and in light of Valentines day...I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
hugs all around!
Robin
Friday, February 09, 2007
4 days 'till travel!
Wowie! How can I sum up ALL that God's been doing-- I'm absolutely stinkin' excited-- Last week I helped out at EPC's pastors wives conference-- and I have a billion and two things to tell you about that, but i think i'll wait for Internet that works better- But here are a couple of highlights- The women came in absolutely fearful of speaking about their faith, even praying-- they had SO many great questions and I got to teach them a lot of great stories about women in the Bible- A bunch of the stories I've known since Sunday school but they'd never heard! Queen Esther for one! Wow, God did so many things-- By Saturday they were boldly going on outreach- and the team I tagged along with was standing in the back of the EPC truck beating the drum and singing LOUDLY! People were coming out from alleys, shops, homes to see what was happening- Oh, you could just FEEL the joy of the Lord-- and people who were scowling couldn't help but smile- Our team introduced 5 people to Jesus- Another team introduced 4 including a soldier who was taking opium 12 times a day to forget the atrocities he'd committed- He brought the opium to EPC and they burned it- (um, is it me or was burning not the best of ideas? ah well...) AnnGrace and I were so wonderfully overwhelmed by all that God was doing that she grabbed me in a hug and we began to jump around- You'll only really appreciate that if you've met AnnGrace, she's extremely poised and where jumping around might be my M.O. it's definately not hers! :) That and we taught soap making on top of things so that the women have a sustainable skill! Later on the day of the closing we baptized 12 people in Yei River! YAY! Pastor Jackson did it (Bishop was still in Kampala!) and Joy, one of the widows we're friends with, was among the group-- What an amazing celebration! AnnGrace has already told me that I AM coming to help with more seminars no matter where i am in the world...I count it an honor!
I went "home" Sunday after prayers (aka church) and I found, as we drove in the NEW CWEP (Christian Women's Empowerment Program) van that all the local pastors wives (and asunta) had jammed in to accompany me home! Singing and Praising the entire way! Me oh my! I can't even begin to describe the experience except that it make me grin just thinking about it! When we hit the YWAM base we all got out and danced and sang even longer! Wow wow wow...
I had a couple of the village kids near EPC to make me a vehicle out of nido tins...I asked for one small small...and I got 2 BIG BIG!!! Um, well, so far they're both packed! ha!
Said g'bye to all my EPC friends (Pastor Jackson's family included) which was a sad moment, but I bet I'll see them again! i hope, I hope!
We've just had a week of planning meetings under a mango tree at YWAM, they were good, my brain is fried! :) We had a couple of the Arua base up to help which was a treat so we bid them farewell (and me a slightly early farewell) with a bonfire and cake night! YUM!!! Very special!
So, from here on in it's closing things up for this chapter in Sudan--running errands and lovin' on people- I'm humbled and amazed by all that God's done in these last couple of months-
And I'm left with one question....
WHEN AM I COMING BACK?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!!?!?!?!?!?
Hugs, love, and all that jazz,
Robin
Wowie! How can I sum up ALL that God's been doing-- I'm absolutely stinkin' excited-- Last week I helped out at EPC's pastors wives conference-- and I have a billion and two things to tell you about that, but i think i'll wait for Internet that works better- But here are a couple of highlights- The women came in absolutely fearful of speaking about their faith, even praying-- they had SO many great questions and I got to teach them a lot of great stories about women in the Bible- A bunch of the stories I've known since Sunday school but they'd never heard! Queen Esther for one! Wow, God did so many things-- By Saturday they were boldly going on outreach- and the team I tagged along with was standing in the back of the EPC truck beating the drum and singing LOUDLY! People were coming out from alleys, shops, homes to see what was happening- Oh, you could just FEEL the joy of the Lord-- and people who were scowling couldn't help but smile- Our team introduced 5 people to Jesus- Another team introduced 4 including a soldier who was taking opium 12 times a day to forget the atrocities he'd committed- He brought the opium to EPC and they burned it- (um, is it me or was burning not the best of ideas? ah well...) AnnGrace and I were so wonderfully overwhelmed by all that God was doing that she grabbed me in a hug and we began to jump around- You'll only really appreciate that if you've met AnnGrace, she's extremely poised and where jumping around might be my M.O. it's definately not hers! :) That and we taught soap making on top of things so that the women have a sustainable skill! Later on the day of the closing we baptized 12 people in Yei River! YAY! Pastor Jackson did it (Bishop was still in Kampala!) and Joy, one of the widows we're friends with, was among the group-- What an amazing celebration! AnnGrace has already told me that I AM coming to help with more seminars no matter where i am in the world...I count it an honor!
I went "home" Sunday after prayers (aka church) and I found, as we drove in the NEW CWEP (Christian Women's Empowerment Program) van that all the local pastors wives (and asunta) had jammed in to accompany me home! Singing and Praising the entire way! Me oh my! I can't even begin to describe the experience except that it make me grin just thinking about it! When we hit the YWAM base we all got out and danced and sang even longer! Wow wow wow...
I had a couple of the village kids near EPC to make me a vehicle out of nido tins...I asked for one small small...and I got 2 BIG BIG!!! Um, well, so far they're both packed! ha!
Said g'bye to all my EPC friends (Pastor Jackson's family included) which was a sad moment, but I bet I'll see them again! i hope, I hope!
We've just had a week of planning meetings under a mango tree at YWAM, they were good, my brain is fried! :) We had a couple of the Arua base up to help which was a treat so we bid them farewell (and me a slightly early farewell) with a bonfire and cake night! YUM!!! Very special!
So, from here on in it's closing things up for this chapter in Sudan--running errands and lovin' on people- I'm humbled and amazed by all that God's done in these last couple of months-
And I'm left with one question....
WHEN AM I COMING BACK?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!!?!?!?!?!?
Hugs, love, and all that jazz,
Robin
Sunday, January 28, 2007
3 blogs one week...
when it rains it pours i guess...
don't forget to read the other ones...this one is basically because I can...and it's free...
Here's todays adventures!
Supposedly I should be back at YWAM tonight, but, um, no pick up- hopefully they made it back from Aura (Uganda) a-ok! So, one more night of luxary shared with a room full of bees...no seriously...they've invaded! There are swarms of them! I opened the bathroom door and before it even registered to my brain how many there were the loud sound took me by surprise! They caught fire to half the nest before the gas soaked flaming rag took a dive bomb and almost caught Pastor Dennis on fire- that was exciting. He told me that the locals want to finish the job tonight and as my grass thatched roof is right next to the nest in the big tree, well, I need to be prepared to run! ha! Well all the little stinging critters are dying now(from spray) but they're there and flying around like they're drunk...one was flying and just fell on me and then got itself back up and starting flying again-that's how I woke up from a nap since well, I'm a bit under the weather so...
...they tested me for Malaria today...I think it's just the flu though, 'cause I, thankfully, don't have malaria--though there's that slight part of me that thinks it would be a great missionary story- "when I was in Sudan and had malaria..." Ok, so rationally I'm really glad I don't, but still--In reality it's not too bad, I'm just tired and all my joints are achey... and they tested me twice just to make sure...love livin' with nurses this week...
At church this morning a baby just up and died, one of the village moms and her kid... she was singing and praising and then the baby seemed out of sorts (was recovering from Measles) although seemed healthy enough in the morning..she walked outside for cooler air and it just died... I've seen more death since being here! It's three kids in this area this week- Wow, death is a lot more frequent around here-
Alright, I'm going to go to bed and read--
Hope you enjoy the numerous posts in one week! yipee--
Love to all!
Robin
when it rains it pours i guess...
don't forget to read the other ones...this one is basically because I can...and it's free...
Here's todays adventures!
Supposedly I should be back at YWAM tonight, but, um, no pick up- hopefully they made it back from Aura (Uganda) a-ok! So, one more night of luxary shared with a room full of bees...no seriously...they've invaded! There are swarms of them! I opened the bathroom door and before it even registered to my brain how many there were the loud sound took me by surprise! They caught fire to half the nest before the gas soaked flaming rag took a dive bomb and almost caught Pastor Dennis on fire- that was exciting. He told me that the locals want to finish the job tonight and as my grass thatched roof is right next to the nest in the big tree, well, I need to be prepared to run! ha! Well all the little stinging critters are dying now(from spray) but they're there and flying around like they're drunk...one was flying and just fell on me and then got itself back up and starting flying again-that's how I woke up from a nap since well, I'm a bit under the weather so...
...they tested me for Malaria today...I think it's just the flu though, 'cause I, thankfully, don't have malaria--though there's that slight part of me that thinks it would be a great missionary story- "when I was in Sudan and had malaria..." Ok, so rationally I'm really glad I don't, but still--In reality it's not too bad, I'm just tired and all my joints are achey... and they tested me twice just to make sure...love livin' with nurses this week...
At church this morning a baby just up and died, one of the village moms and her kid... she was singing and praising and then the baby seemed out of sorts (was recovering from Measles) although seemed healthy enough in the morning..she walked outside for cooler air and it just died... I've seen more death since being here! It's three kids in this area this week- Wow, death is a lot more frequent around here-
Alright, I'm going to go to bed and read--
Hope you enjoy the numerous posts in one week! yipee--
Love to all!
Robin
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Beware of the blog, it creeps and leaps and glides and slides....oh wait, that's the blob. :)
It's been a great week at Harvesters (www.htrn.org)- I preached today at the women's fellowship on campus--MAN! If we worshipped with as much gusto we would have no need for the gym- I worked up a major sweat just praising...I mean sweat rolling and dropping off my nose- no mere glistening...the sweat that calls for a shower! then i had to preach! talk about transitions- It was a great warm up for the pastors wives conference next week, I keep trying out material on the women here- And it gets me used to pausing for translation! And it was definately a time where I could feel God's presence- some of the women teared up a bit-- God was up to something. :)
We had a big paint brush to get the dorms painted. TOO big for most things...so, back to kindergarden for me, fingers make great paintbrushes. I understand why we don't let small kids use oil based paints for fingerpainting, it just doesn't seem natural to soak your fingers in gasoline to get paint off. After all I think I grew up being taught NOT to play with gas! None the less the rooms were a HUGE success! YIPEE! One girls room has large flowers and the other butterflies... I finished one of the guys rooms with a big ol' soccer ball and stars ...looks fun...then the boys came in... oooh, they said... then a pause..."where are our flowers?" So now they have flowers, and a bat... they did not however get a giant snake!
On a sadder note, we saw a baby girl die this week-- she aspirated on her own vomit--I remember seeing the nurses run full speed to the clinic- We prayed, we waited, we eventually mourned. Several of the kids are on close watch because they're having similar problems-- it's a hard thing to see- It's weighed on all our hearts this week.
Who remembers the Oakland hills fire? Oooh, well the conditions (dry and windy) have been about the same. I was in the dining area last night and i saw HUGE flames leaping up, the sky was orange and it was close- It made my heart jump a bit. It's the first time I've ever run to a fire (another thing I was taught not to play with) and a bunch of the older boys made a fire breaker-I love that they tried to save the mango trees over the togals (homes)--priorities in place, eh? They came back with their chests puffed up with pride feeling like total heros. Overall, it wasn't scary, there was remarkable calm, once we realized it was controlable- We were just thankful the wind had changed direction! Too bad there aren't marshmellows in Sudan it would have made a great extreme campfire. Today we're thankful for a spot of rain!
I leave Yei in just over 2 weeks so i am hoping to post again, if not I'll post in the states again- It all depends on the ever spotty internet access... as I'm leaving free constant internet when I go back to YWAM either tomorrow (Sunday) or the day after- And remember, "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan" (Exodus 22:22)
I love Sudan...and I'm still dreaming about an art mission...I'm beginning to write down all the stuff I'd need- I wonder if I'll be back here...I really love the people- It's not easy, but that's not what I signed up for- I signed up to live life and live it abundantly...St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive.", and that's what I intend to be- I'll fight for it...seriously...pump my own water the rest of my days? If that's what it means to live, ok!
Oh yeah,and there are these "things" that look like a cross between a rat and a squirrel... not to mention there are lizards living in my ceiling.
It's been a great week at Harvesters (www.htrn.org)- I preached today at the women's fellowship on campus--MAN! If we worshipped with as much gusto we would have no need for the gym- I worked up a major sweat just praising...I mean sweat rolling and dropping off my nose- no mere glistening...the sweat that calls for a shower! then i had to preach! talk about transitions- It was a great warm up for the pastors wives conference next week, I keep trying out material on the women here- And it gets me used to pausing for translation! And it was definately a time where I could feel God's presence- some of the women teared up a bit-- God was up to something. :)
We had a big paint brush to get the dorms painted. TOO big for most things...so, back to kindergarden for me, fingers make great paintbrushes. I understand why we don't let small kids use oil based paints for fingerpainting, it just doesn't seem natural to soak your fingers in gasoline to get paint off. After all I think I grew up being taught NOT to play with gas! None the less the rooms were a HUGE success! YIPEE! One girls room has large flowers and the other butterflies... I finished one of the guys rooms with a big ol' soccer ball and stars ...looks fun...then the boys came in... oooh, they said... then a pause..."where are our flowers?" So now they have flowers, and a bat... they did not however get a giant snake!
On a sadder note, we saw a baby girl die this week-- she aspirated on her own vomit--I remember seeing the nurses run full speed to the clinic- We prayed, we waited, we eventually mourned. Several of the kids are on close watch because they're having similar problems-- it's a hard thing to see- It's weighed on all our hearts this week.
Who remembers the Oakland hills fire? Oooh, well the conditions (dry and windy) have been about the same. I was in the dining area last night and i saw HUGE flames leaping up, the sky was orange and it was close- It made my heart jump a bit. It's the first time I've ever run to a fire (another thing I was taught not to play with) and a bunch of the older boys made a fire breaker-I love that they tried to save the mango trees over the togals (homes)--priorities in place, eh? They came back with their chests puffed up with pride feeling like total heros. Overall, it wasn't scary, there was remarkable calm, once we realized it was controlable- We were just thankful the wind had changed direction! Too bad there aren't marshmellows in Sudan it would have made a great extreme campfire. Today we're thankful for a spot of rain!
I leave Yei in just over 2 weeks so i am hoping to post again, if not I'll post in the states again- It all depends on the ever spotty internet access... as I'm leaving free constant internet when I go back to YWAM either tomorrow (Sunday) or the day after- And remember, "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan" (Exodus 22:22)
I love Sudan...and I'm still dreaming about an art mission...I'm beginning to write down all the stuff I'd need- I wonder if I'll be back here...I really love the people- It's not easy, but that's not what I signed up for- I signed up to live life and live it abundantly...St. Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive.", and that's what I intend to be- I'll fight for it...seriously...pump my own water the rest of my days? If that's what it means to live, ok!
Oh yeah,and there are these "things" that look like a cross between a rat and a squirrel... not to mention there are lizards living in my ceiling.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
“If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than a canal. A canal spreads its water about as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus without loss to itself [it shares] it’s superabundant water”
-Bernard of Clairvaux
Hello friends! Greetings from Harvesters Orphanage in Yei! I’m spending the week up here while the rest of the staff is in Arua, Uganda!
I’ve been teaching preschool this week and am, um, sending the kids to get punishment to other teachers…um, hitting kids with a stick is not something I’m used to… however…starting tomorrow I begin painting the girls dorm with flowers and butterflies! I’m beginning to dream about an art mission…maybe back in Sudan or somewhere else… people get so incredibly cheered up by murals and there are a lot of orphanages and clinics going up… just dreaming…
Next week it’s back to EPC to help Ann Grace (Bishop Taban’s wife) with the first ever Pastor’s Wives conference- I’m thrilled- I’ll be there from the 30th to the 3rd- And am looking at a lot of great women in the Bible to hopefully teach from… I really count it a high honor to be asked to help with the conference- I’m just smiling thinking about it! Please pray! It’s been great to have never ending electricity at Harvesters for some great study time and currently my own whole house unless other visitors come- J Not to mention the mashed potatoes, stew, and chocolate cake (oh the life)
I had a lot of fun with the team from L.A.! I probably walked about 50- 60 miles (in 98 degree heat) last week until I hit the knarly chest cold (anyone else coughing up fun stuff?) which is thankfully almost over. But we ran a VBS for the kids at Iris Ministries and the team did a wonderful job- I coordinated, surprise surprise and ran the big group times with songs and goofiness… good fun…the walk to and from the orphanage was a great ministry opportunity in itself getting to know the locals who never see “kawajahs” (that’s me and other fair skinned folks) walk…ever…. What an amazing week.
But here’s my heart… it’s FILLED with joy-- a deep deep deep deep joy- I see God’s hand working in amazing ways in this area…it may be slow but it IS happening- I wake up in the morning with a new excitement for what God’s going to do with the day- And I’m ready- God’s doing big things here and keeps on doing them- it’s time to be overjoyed with His faithfulness in my life! “I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart…WHERE?”
I can’t believe I’ll be leaving Yei (by PLANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) on the 13th o’ Feb. that’s really really soon…my oh my has the time flown! It’ll be good to see ya’ll in Mid-Feb (pre-bday! Whoo!) but I’m really going to miss all the contacts and friends I’ve made in Yei! Ooops, time to go lead a bible study for the orphanage workers! YAY!!!!!!!
Love to all!
Robin
-Bernard of Clairvaux
Hello friends! Greetings from Harvesters Orphanage in Yei! I’m spending the week up here while the rest of the staff is in Arua, Uganda!
I’ve been teaching preschool this week and am, um, sending the kids to get punishment to other teachers…um, hitting kids with a stick is not something I’m used to… however…starting tomorrow I begin painting the girls dorm with flowers and butterflies! I’m beginning to dream about an art mission…maybe back in Sudan or somewhere else… people get so incredibly cheered up by murals and there are a lot of orphanages and clinics going up… just dreaming…
Next week it’s back to EPC to help Ann Grace (Bishop Taban’s wife) with the first ever Pastor’s Wives conference- I’m thrilled- I’ll be there from the 30th to the 3rd- And am looking at a lot of great women in the Bible to hopefully teach from… I really count it a high honor to be asked to help with the conference- I’m just smiling thinking about it! Please pray! It’s been great to have never ending electricity at Harvesters for some great study time and currently my own whole house unless other visitors come- J Not to mention the mashed potatoes, stew, and chocolate cake (oh the life)
I had a lot of fun with the team from L.A.! I probably walked about 50- 60 miles (in 98 degree heat) last week until I hit the knarly chest cold (anyone else coughing up fun stuff?) which is thankfully almost over. But we ran a VBS for the kids at Iris Ministries and the team did a wonderful job- I coordinated, surprise surprise and ran the big group times with songs and goofiness… good fun…the walk to and from the orphanage was a great ministry opportunity in itself getting to know the locals who never see “kawajahs” (that’s me and other fair skinned folks) walk…ever…. What an amazing week.
But here’s my heart… it’s FILLED with joy-- a deep deep deep deep joy- I see God’s hand working in amazing ways in this area…it may be slow but it IS happening- I wake up in the morning with a new excitement for what God’s going to do with the day- And I’m ready- God’s doing big things here and keeps on doing them- it’s time to be overjoyed with His faithfulness in my life! “I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart…WHERE?”
I can’t believe I’ll be leaving Yei (by PLANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) on the 13th o’ Feb. that’s really really soon…my oh my has the time flown! It’ll be good to see ya’ll in Mid-Feb (pre-bday! Whoo!) but I’m really going to miss all the contacts and friends I’ve made in Yei! Ooops, time to go lead a bible study for the orphanage workers! YAY!!!!!!!
Love to all!
Robin
Friday, January 12, 2007
Hello everyone--
God is good! Outreach took a new turn when the bridge to the village broke-- i'll be helping the team work at Iris Ministries (www.iris-sudan.org/schome.htm) until the 21st! From the 21-29th I'll be chillin' at the Harvesters Orphanage-- Then hopefully some time at EPC with women's ministries before i head back to the states mid-February-- the possibilities are endless... i'm lovin' all that God's put in my path-- Helping lead an outreach team is definately part of my element and helping their real leaders plan and program and make use of the heaps of contacts i have already is fun!!! ok, off to play with orphans!
MUCH LOVE TO ALL!!!!
Robin
God is good! Outreach took a new turn when the bridge to the village broke-- i'll be helping the team work at Iris Ministries (www.iris-sudan.org/schome.htm) until the 21st! From the 21-29th I'll be chillin' at the Harvesters Orphanage-- Then hopefully some time at EPC with women's ministries before i head back to the states mid-February-- the possibilities are endless... i'm lovin' all that God's put in my path-- Helping lead an outreach team is definately part of my element and helping their real leaders plan and program and make use of the heaps of contacts i have already is fun!!! ok, off to play with orphans!
MUCH LOVE TO ALL!!!!
Robin
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Hello everyone!
It's been a whirlwind day! i'm grasping a few minutes on the internet before preparing to go on outreach with a team from Cali and the Sudanese DTS for 10 days! WOW!!! Should be an adventure! After that, if it works out, i'm still attempting to talk with EPC before i go i'll go hang out for a week doing women's ministries at EPC and then back to ywam for a week plus a little more and then travel to Entebbe Uganda to fly to London on my way home! Crikey! it's gone so fast!
Yesterday was the marker of the one year of peace between the North and the South of Sudan- There was much celebrating going on! And lots of soldiers and roadblocks...there are even troops from Uganda that have been brought into help ensure peace between the northern and southern troops...got to see a helicopter land, way cool...
I also saw the Texas team (http://www.sudanskids.blogspot.com/) off after 16 days with them- I'm so thankful for all the time and new friendships that have been built- It was great to laugh, cry, talk, play, and just worship and serve God together. Not all easy, but hey, what is? I'm going to miss them for sure-It was strange to swing back by EPC to get my stuff and the porch swing, and various furniture was already gone-- so barren! But before i headed back to YWAM i got to meet up with friends from Harvesters (Mindy, for those of you who know) and from Goalie where i spoke on the Youth Pastors conference- so a day of g'byes and hellos--
More hellos awaited on the YWAM base when i was THRILLED to see all my friends from the Sudanese DTS and show off my newly learned Arabic greetings (i was sitting with the widows behind the houses at EPC eating sweet potatoes out of my hand and drinking tea and having them teach me...what fun!!!)-- it was good to see everyone again...and we had BEANS and RICE for dinner~ ha ha...oh yes, it's back to my bunk and no light from the Ritz-- what no flushing toilets anymore? Oh, i was spoiled, but i'm jumping back into things with great ease- which is great-
I feel like i'm back with fresh perspective on my ministry and more love to give out to the people here, i did need a break from the chaos that was here but it feels good to heap some love on the base kids again...
Oh, and they got a new lamp for my room! A smidge of light at night! what a blessing! That and there are less mosquitoes at YWAM...i didn't have to search my net endlessly to survive... ha, death to the malaria bringers...:)
Well, I'll post when i can...pray for saftey on outreach and that i can just really feel God's presence and love for me, i really need that right now...heaps... :)
Anyhow, i'm going to go read about 3 million e-mails....
Oh yeah, i think i'm in some video footage on the texas team blog (http://www.sudanskids.blogspot.com/) drawing in the background..if you need proof i'm alive... they should be posting more soon including photos of the clinic i painted--more proof i'm alive!
much love to you all!
Robin
It's been a whirlwind day! i'm grasping a few minutes on the internet before preparing to go on outreach with a team from Cali and the Sudanese DTS for 10 days! WOW!!! Should be an adventure! After that, if it works out, i'm still attempting to talk with EPC before i go i'll go hang out for a week doing women's ministries at EPC and then back to ywam for a week plus a little more and then travel to Entebbe Uganda to fly to London on my way home! Crikey! it's gone so fast!
Yesterday was the marker of the one year of peace between the North and the South of Sudan- There was much celebrating going on! And lots of soldiers and roadblocks...there are even troops from Uganda that have been brought into help ensure peace between the northern and southern troops...got to see a helicopter land, way cool...
I also saw the Texas team (http://www.sudanskids.blogspot.com/) off after 16 days with them- I'm so thankful for all the time and new friendships that have been built- It was great to laugh, cry, talk, play, and just worship and serve God together. Not all easy, but hey, what is? I'm going to miss them for sure-It was strange to swing back by EPC to get my stuff and the porch swing, and various furniture was already gone-- so barren! But before i headed back to YWAM i got to meet up with friends from Harvesters (Mindy, for those of you who know) and from Goalie where i spoke on the Youth Pastors conference- so a day of g'byes and hellos--
More hellos awaited on the YWAM base when i was THRILLED to see all my friends from the Sudanese DTS and show off my newly learned Arabic greetings (i was sitting with the widows behind the houses at EPC eating sweet potatoes out of my hand and drinking tea and having them teach me...what fun!!!)-- it was good to see everyone again...and we had BEANS and RICE for dinner~ ha ha...oh yes, it's back to my bunk and no light from the Ritz-- what no flushing toilets anymore? Oh, i was spoiled, but i'm jumping back into things with great ease- which is great-
I feel like i'm back with fresh perspective on my ministry and more love to give out to the people here, i did need a break from the chaos that was here but it feels good to heap some love on the base kids again...
Oh, and they got a new lamp for my room! A smidge of light at night! what a blessing! That and there are less mosquitoes at YWAM...i didn't have to search my net endlessly to survive... ha, death to the malaria bringers...:)
Well, I'll post when i can...pray for saftey on outreach and that i can just really feel God's presence and love for me, i really need that right now...heaps... :)
Anyhow, i'm going to go read about 3 million e-mails....
Oh yeah, i think i'm in some video footage on the texas team blog (http://www.sudanskids.blogspot.com/) drawing in the background..if you need proof i'm alive... they should be posting more soon including photos of the clinic i painted--more proof i'm alive!
much love to you all!
Robin
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Hello everyone! Happy 2007!!!!
Check out what i've been tagging along to (from the 24th o' Dec. to the 9th o' Jan) on this OTHER blog http://www.sudanskids.blogspot.com/
It's been great hanging out by the Yei River ministering to kids, loving on the EPC (evangelical presbyterian church) community, working with the Stonegate (and friends) team and just seeing God work in amazing amazing ways... i'm SO grateful! not much internet at the moment so that's why i'm redirecting you to the other blog-- it'll give you a big picture of what's been happening in my world at the moment..oh yeah, i have a flushing toilet in my room and light for a few hours at night, it's like being in the lap of luxary for a couple weeks, hot diggity dog! i'm one blessed gal...more soon!
pray for patience, discernment, joy, and just a continuing sence of God's presence!
Love you ALL!!!
Robin
Check out what i've been tagging along to (from the 24th o' Dec. to the 9th o' Jan) on this OTHER blog http://www.sudanskids.blogspot.com/
It's been great hanging out by the Yei River ministering to kids, loving on the EPC (evangelical presbyterian church) community, working with the Stonegate (and friends) team and just seeing God work in amazing amazing ways... i'm SO grateful! not much internet at the moment so that's why i'm redirecting you to the other blog-- it'll give you a big picture of what's been happening in my world at the moment..oh yeah, i have a flushing toilet in my room and light for a few hours at night, it's like being in the lap of luxary for a couple weeks, hot diggity dog! i'm one blessed gal...more soon!
pray for patience, discernment, joy, and just a continuing sence of God's presence!
Love you ALL!!!
Robin
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