Howdy all!!!

Let’s start off with this point: If Scarlett O’Hara can do it so can I! Ok, so I didn’t exactly make a dress out of the curtains from my room but I did find creative uses for a pillowcase that died while on my way to Sudan. I loved this pillow case because it was a world traveler! It’s been to three continents! On Saturday equipped with scissors, a needle and thread I went to work. First I made a head scarf; you can never have too many here when you’re putting your hair up in a ponytail daily. Secondly, I made a sleeve for my travel mug. I discovered the other day that it’s great for keeping your tea hot but is simultaneously too hot to hold! Since you can’t pop over to your local Starbucks for a cup holder it seemed like a good idea. Anyhow, I’m proud! 

Speaking of Starbucks, Yei now has a coffee shop. In a land of mud huts, and cement block buildings there a place to get an espresso drink, amazing… I can’t wait to try it!

It’s been wonderful to be here and reconnect with people. I keep finding people I haven’t seen yet and it just makes me smile. Isaac, the orphan that Megan and I took to Kenya for surgery on my last trip, found me on Sunday and that made my day. He was off to go fishing with friends so I’m anxious to find out all that’s actually been going on in his life since I left in October. I’ve missed that boy.

I’ve also been making new friends; we went over and played volleyball at Samaritan’s Purse on Saturday and even played a few rounds Kawajas (white people) verses Sudanese. So much fun! Sunday I made my way across town to the English speaking Bible study and met some new people (like the motorbike riding nun) and reacquainted myself with some of the other local missionaries I’d met on the last few trips. It was a great time of fellowship and it is so encouraging to lift each other up in prayer.

Christine, one of the German missionaries, and I are working on the women’s Bible study. Last week we talked about intercession with the women and they want to pray for Sudan. They’re praying for peace in Sudan between people and also with God; for the end of tribalism; and no more envy among leaders in government, churches, and families. These women are amazing. This afternoon, I’m teaching on Esau selling Jacob his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34) and am trying to find a game that will fit!

Christine has been giving the women a packet going over what they’re learning complete with pictures. I’ve spent the last few days illustrating the Bible stories for the packets. Hopefully I’ll be able to load one of these onto the blog today! We’re moving slowely through the Old Testament and I’m five illustrations away from being done with the story of Jacob. Our new project is making an illustrated Bible to give to families; I can’t tell you how hyped I am for this project!

At some point I’ll organize the books EPC already has and when the rest of the books make it, I’ll add those in! A slow boat to China? No, a slow lorry from Kampala!

The current plan is still to go to Lura on Thursday—I’ll be prepared to stay but also come back. It might take some time to find a good place to pitch the tent; since the rains keep threatening to come it’s important. Potentially I’ll bounce back and forth between Lura and Yei helping out equally in both places. It’s still a mystery but I know that there are a lot of great possibilities and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all continues to unfold. It will be good!

Dinner last night was chipote and beans; I couldn’t be happier!!!

My web browser changed itself from English to German; at least I have lots of translators here at EPC!

There are these flying ants around right now and wiggle their way through the mosquito nets…I hear they’d make a great midnight snack; or even better fried or in a cheese sauce over noodles! Any takers?!

Peace!
Blessings!!
God IS GOOD!!!!
Robin

Greetings from Yei!

It's good to FINALLY be here! I'm pleased to say the books all made it safely and will be slowly making their way up to Sudan! I wish you all could have seen ALL the bags (4 big bags of book, one big bag of mine, my carry-on suitcase, a laptop case, and a pillow) precariously perched on the luggage trolley in Entebbe- It was a hoot! Plus I couldn't see where I was going or stop going for that matter. I'm incredibly thankful no one got hurt! I'm so blessed that my travels went so smoothly; and I even got the ice cream on the KLM flight that I loved way back when I went to South Africa! Oh the little joys-- Most everything I brought made it-- My bag had been searched and they cut the international locks off--so somewhere on the way someone helped themselves to some of my vitamins--*Sigh* :) who knew :) Other than that everything made it! Hurray!!!

I met a mission team from England going to Uganda on my flight to Entebbe. We were all staying at the same hotel and when they picked us up each of them had 2 big bags each—did I mention there were five of them? And I had my bag plus four big bags of books! That’s not adding the hand luggage we each had! We were packed in the shuttle like sardines. That’s one memory I’ll never forget! It was wonderful to get to know the team from England we had a chance to sit down and share what God is doing! It was a highly memorable night in general. There was a fierce storm; heavy rain, thunder and lightning, the works! The electricity went in and out frequently. As exhausted as I was it shouldn’t have mattered; after all who needs power when you’re asleep?! Here was the problem, every time the power went back on ALL the phones in the hotel rang in chorus! And that might be every five to twenty minutes! I was thankful for a peaceful sleep last night in Yei.

It's rainy season and my flight from Entebbe to Yei was a wee bit bumpy! I wasn't going anywhere however--I had my laptop bag at my feet and my carry-on suitcase and pillow stacked up on my lap... it was cozy...and heavy.

So now I’m just settling in to life…greeting friends, getting rest, and beginning to figure out the months ahead! I’ll be in Yei until at least next Thursday. Once I’m in Lura (at the Orphanage) I’ll be creatively updating the blog. I’ve arranged to send my typed blog in with one of the missionaries who will come every week and she can e-mail it to others to set up. Amazing!

At one point on my journey I realized that traveling to Africa now feels normal. It almost made my laugh out loud! I never would have imagined that in years past! It is so wonderful to be “home” here in Yei. My cheeks hurt from smiling yesterday and I can bet today will be the same! I’m so excited to see what God will do!!!


More soon! Be blessed today!!!
Love y’all!!!
Robin

Hello friends!

I'm sitting down to write as I get the final details ready to leave for Sudan again. It's really the eleventh hour;I'm leaving first thing in the morning (Tuesday, March 25th) and by the time many of you read this I'll already be settling into life in Sudan.

One of the projects I've been working on is a church library for EPC (the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Sudan). On my first trip to Yei I read one book, other than my Bible, the entire trip. I practically knew it from cover to cover! I relied on family and friends to e-mail me bits and pieces of information from different books and study guides to help me teach! After waiting patiently for the e-mail to open I madly scribbled it in my notebook (I was paying by the minute for Internet on that trip!). It gave me a vision for a resource library for the local church so that pastors and missionaries could come study. I thought I'd start by taking a few books over at a time while I worked out all the details. I sent out a handful of e-mails and suddenly there were boxes and boxes of books at my door! (Thank you Youth Specialties, Focus on the Family, and many friends!) I'm taking four huge bags (70 pounds each!) with me....A total of 350 books! I feel so blessed! I know that EPC is also thrilled to have the resources they haven't had access too! I can't wait to see how the library grows and forms over time. I'm also dreaming about have a teachers mission to help teach ESL so that more people in Sudan can learn from the resources.

I've been asked if I would help at the Lura orphanage which is an hours drive outside of Yei. All I know is that I'm living in a tent and doing something with the widows and orphans. The last time I saw the orphanage site it had over 5 foot high grass! It's going to be a huge adventure! Yes, there are a lot of "unknowns" as I start out-- it's not a set plan like the last trip when we took Isaac for surgery in Kenya--but I trust the Lord's plan and I'm excited. I also know it has the greatest need for help of all EPC's ministries. I have many questions and I can't wait to share what my tent will be like, is there a roof on the latrine, will I pump my own water, what I'll be doing, what each day holds, and on and on. I do know that the orphanage is at the base of a mountain; lovely!

Please join in this adventure with me! I'll be posting on my blog as often as I can and I would love your prayers as I go out!

Much love to you all!
"See" you in Sudan!
Love,
Robin