Robin's Missions

Hi everyone!!!

It's been a great week and I only have one complaint...goats don't listen to reason. As much as I've tried to logically explain that my doorstep really isn't their own personal toilet they just don't listen! Maybe they need hearing aids or an interpreter; none the less it's been 3 or 4 times this week that I've arrived back at my room to catch the pesky goats on my doorstep. Well, at least they're not eating my soap or clothes, eh?!

I've been to Lora (I think that might be the actual spelling from a sign I saw the other day) orphanage twice now- It's beautiful. It's located near mountains and the compound is so clean! The ground is flat and weedless, the dorms look sharp, it just amazes me! Christine and I drove to Lora on Thursday to teach the women's Bible study. Little did we know they weren't expecting us on Thursday but on Saturday, so we turned around and drove back. It's an interesting drive; I was noting how vibrant the trees and road and sky were, I don't think I could have painted them more vividly than they actually were. Super! Anyhow, they are also demining Juba road and for safety reasons they close off the road from anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes at a time. I was thankful I had my sketchbook as we sat alongside the hot road that day. I think it was about 100 degrees give or take. I'm thankful for the deminers, it's really nice to know that you're not going to be driving along and see a land mine explode; it's worth the wait.

Saturday morning we got in the car and did it all over again! This time we had a lovely Bible study with the women. We started on the first day of creation with "let their be light". It was a great study. Part way through the women thought of a song about God's light in Arabic and we had a spontaneous song and dance time! Plus I can make the women laugh, it's great! I am so encouraged by the women's desire to learn about God, to dig into the Bible- As we were leaving some of the women were saying that they are getting old but they are finally understanding. It just touched my heart. They really are amazing women and I can't wait to see how God continues to form and shape them.

The kids are a lot of fun as well. Christine had to drop a few things off in the clinic so I was standing in the shade with the women. It only took a few seconds of playing with a small boy for the rest of the children to come running! With in seconds, it seemed, they began singing and playing the drums; it really was amazing! I got down on my knees and attempted to play the drums as well which provided comical relief to the kids! On the way home Christine and I bought mangoes and chipote and eggs, what a feast! I spent the rest of the afternoon in the shade of our compounds mango tree; hoping a mango wouldn't fall on me but really not caring too much. The breeze combined with the shade made it about 15 degrees cooler than anywhere else on the compound!

I've had a chance to get to know the team from NADUS (www.nadusfilms.com) a bit--they're a neat group of guys who are working on a documentary of Southern Sudan not to mention several other projects like water purification- They've been setting up a demo water purification system and hope to have one ready and in Lora by the end of the week!

Yesterdays church service was amazing. The David's Kings Choir(the mens choir) sang- And you could feel God's presence so strongly in the church- People got up and danced; it was contagious! Bishop preached and as usual I took notes; he has a lot of wisdom. We took communion at the end of the service; my first communion in Sudan (after all the time I've spent here it suprises me!)-The bread was a cookie similar to an animal cracker...and the wine, well, it certainly wasn't grape juice, it had a bite to it that made my eyes get big! Oh the way from church the kids taught me one of their dances; the 2 minute walk from church took about 15 minutes but we all laughed and danced with out a care in the world!

I'm still waiting to see how things will unfold here-- I've been told that the tent for Lora is BIG! It's supposedly about the size of a room so I'll be able to have a real bed! Nothing is settled yet, there's still a lot to take care of here which is great-- I know that God has an amazing plan! :)

Oh yes!!! the books have arrived!! and from what i can tell from a quick glance they all made it! I can't wait to start organizing! Maybe Wednesday! Today I'm illustrating Adam and Eve, planning tomorrows women's Bible lesson for Yei (we're studying Isaac blessing Jacob -Genesis 27 and I think I'm going to make the women act it out!), etc... I'm so thankful to see all that God's doing here!

Oh yes, a correction from the last blog...the coffee is on the Sudan's Kids blog (www.sudanskids.blogspot.com)... drink up!

Keep on keepin' on!
Much love,
Robin