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
Sunday, January 28, 2007
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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