Just a quick praise!
MY WATCH GOT RETURNED!!!! Ok, so I don't know who brought it back...but 6 days later it was left on my desk when everyone knew I was teaching art (aka the joys of stick figure illustrating) to the Sunday school teachers! The day after the Wednesday Church Fellowship meeting had been focusing on God changing the hearts of people who steal... interesting... :) What a blessing...
I woke up this morning to the melodic sound of the weedeater outside my window...ha!
keep praying for God to fix my computer! The guys can't figure out what's wrong! yikes!
cheers!
Rejoice in the Lord! :)
Robin
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Hi everyone!
There are so many adventures and fun stories but life is not always easy- This week has been full of challenges and frustrations as well as joys and excitement. It all started with throwing my back out over the weekend-which I'm sure wasn't helped by riding for 4 hours in the car on the "roads" to get to the Lora and back. So, I'm dealing with that, yes, I'm taking care of myself and doing my exercises, I can move my neck and generally it is good. I'm just in the slow but steady wins the race mode-
Really, I think back issues would be enough for one week, but when it rains it pours- my watch got stolen (off of my wrist) and my computer got what we think is a virus and we're not sure it's fixable! YIKES! The temptation to take my computer and chuck it into the Yei River to have an extended vacation with the fishes was high--I'm thankful that it was only a nice dream in my head, but really I'm praying up a storm that it's fixable- It's amazing how much ministry is done with a computer, even in Sudan! I type up my Bible lessons and meeting notes, etc...much like a typical American church, only in the middle of Sudan! So please, pray with me for it to be fixed--or if you find yourself with a well working, spare laptop with great wireless capabilities that's gathering dust in your corner, I know a lot of people heading my way in June! ha!
It's really reminded me of God's faithfulness. God is just faithful and good when everything is perfect- His character is unchanging even when there are huge frustrations. He continues to reveal Himself and draw us near! How awesome! It would be so easy to miss the little moments of God's glory when seemingly big things make you want to tear out your hair! I moved into a new room yesterday and woke up with to the sound of singing birds (and one incredibly vocal rooster) and sunlight- I sat in MY reading chair (praise Jesus!) by the window and read my Bible. Wow, am I blessed. I got a chipote making lesson in the kitchen the other morning and attempted to sing the Arabic praise songs with some of my women. A friend brought me the biggest chocolate bar I've ever seen (sadly, I've already finished it...I did share... um, a little). I have an amazing community of believers of different nationalities around me. I have food on the table. I have shared a cup of tea and some laughter with the women I work with. I managed to be understood by the women in the Yei Bible study when the translator failed to show up. I have yet to be beaned be a falling mango from the warring tree. I have the ability to correspond with friends and family from Sudan! I have a Savoir that loves and cares for me! I could keep going but I think I might loose your attention! Overall, there are so many amazing things despite the frustrations; it's just putting it all in perspective!
This is why it's still been a wonderful week despite frustration. This is why I am still smiling in the hope our Lord Jesus Christ gives us. This is why I can't wait to see what the next moment, the next day, the next month has in store. I am not alone, I have an incredible Lord who is with me all of the way!
How has God been working in your life today?
Seriously, I want to know!
Much love!
Robin
P.S. I'm really excited to show off my home (my room) when all the visitors come for the big meeting in June-- Hopefully, I can figure out a way to serve tea! :) and coffee... it's really beginning to feel like a home! Now I just wish I had acrylic paints or some art from home to decorate with! :)
There are so many adventures and fun stories but life is not always easy- This week has been full of challenges and frustrations as well as joys and excitement. It all started with throwing my back out over the weekend-which I'm sure wasn't helped by riding for 4 hours in the car on the "roads" to get to the Lora and back. So, I'm dealing with that, yes, I'm taking care of myself and doing my exercises, I can move my neck and generally it is good. I'm just in the slow but steady wins the race mode-
Really, I think back issues would be enough for one week, but when it rains it pours- my watch got stolen (off of my wrist) and my computer got what we think is a virus and we're not sure it's fixable! YIKES! The temptation to take my computer and chuck it into the Yei River to have an extended vacation with the fishes was high--I'm thankful that it was only a nice dream in my head, but really I'm praying up a storm that it's fixable- It's amazing how much ministry is done with a computer, even in Sudan! I type up my Bible lessons and meeting notes, etc...much like a typical American church, only in the middle of Sudan! So please, pray with me for it to be fixed--or if you find yourself with a well working, spare laptop with great wireless capabilities that's gathering dust in your corner, I know a lot of people heading my way in June! ha!
It's really reminded me of God's faithfulness. God is just faithful and good when everything is perfect- His character is unchanging even when there are huge frustrations. He continues to reveal Himself and draw us near! How awesome! It would be so easy to miss the little moments of God's glory when seemingly big things make you want to tear out your hair! I moved into a new room yesterday and woke up with to the sound of singing birds (and one incredibly vocal rooster) and sunlight- I sat in MY reading chair (praise Jesus!) by the window and read my Bible. Wow, am I blessed. I got a chipote making lesson in the kitchen the other morning and attempted to sing the Arabic praise songs with some of my women. A friend brought me the biggest chocolate bar I've ever seen (sadly, I've already finished it...I did share... um, a little). I have an amazing community of believers of different nationalities around me. I have food on the table. I have shared a cup of tea and some laughter with the women I work with. I managed to be understood by the women in the Yei Bible study when the translator failed to show up. I have yet to be beaned be a falling mango from the warring tree. I have the ability to correspond with friends and family from Sudan! I have a Savoir that loves and cares for me! I could keep going but I think I might loose your attention! Overall, there are so many amazing things despite the frustrations; it's just putting it all in perspective!
This is why it's still been a wonderful week despite frustration. This is why I am still smiling in the hope our Lord Jesus Christ gives us. This is why I can't wait to see what the next moment, the next day, the next month has in store. I am not alone, I have an incredible Lord who is with me all of the way!
How has God been working in your life today?
Seriously, I want to know!
Much love!
Robin
P.S. I'm really excited to show off my home (my room) when all the visitors come for the big meeting in June-- Hopefully, I can figure out a way to serve tea! :) and coffee... it's really beginning to feel like a home! Now I just wish I had acrylic paints or some art from home to decorate with! :)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Some photos! See the end for the description! :) Hi to everyone! :)
Photos:
1) My and my friend Faustina (working with Delta Connections) in my office!
2) Illustrating at my desk :)
3) The women's Bible study in Lora!
4-7) The opening celebration of Lora orphanage!
8) The dirt piles left in the middle of the roads!
Photos:
1) My and my friend Faustina (working with Delta Connections) in my office!
2) Illustrating at my desk :)
3) The women's Bible study in Lora!
4-7) The opening celebration of Lora orphanage!
8) The dirt piles left in the middle of the roads!
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Hello Friends!
It rained! I can't begin to tell you what a blessing that has been this week. I woke up to the sound of the downpour and felt like doing a little happy dance. It was so hot this week that several of us were thinking about digging a swimming pool. Ha!
I'm finally on the upswing after battling what I'm pretty sure was food poisoning. It's not an experience I'm anxious to repeat and I'm still working on getting my strength back. Thank goodness for re-hydration liquids--too bad I had to use all the ones I had in one week-*sigh*...but I'm getting better and for that I'm thankful! I'm also thankful for the amazing community here on the compound- People really look out for each other, and that's such a huge blessing when you're sick. Pastor Jackson even came and prayed for me. So, as unpleasant as it is to be really sick, it was also uplifting to see how much Christ shines through the people around you.
I had a chance to sit down with AnnGrace this week and just talk. It was so nice to catch up and also talk and plan a little for the months ahead and really the future beyond that. It appears as if I'll be based out of Yei for now, helping Christine (one of my many German colleagues)with the womens Bible study in here--and still at Lora--but possibly adding the women's training center in Kenyii and Morobo. After our adventure last Friday at Morobo I know it's on everyones hearts to really make sure both of the orphanages are getting poured into with God's love and grace. To treat both places equally! I can't tell you how excited I am to think about all the details and pray about the future! That's the nutshell version of a lot of thought! Just know that as I look at all that God's doing my heart is simply overwhelmed with joy. I'm amazed to be a part of it all! :)
I'm typing this from MY OFFICE! It's nice to have a place to sit and really be able to organize all the various things I'm working on. It also makes illustrating the Bible a lot easier. I wasn't bothered about my chair in the corner, but having a desk is more helpful than I'd realized.
I'm trying to find creative ways to break into the lives of the Sudanese. So far, I've began to get up some mornings to help the women prepare breakfast- So fun! I actually got let loose on making the omelets the other morning. Tomorrow after church we're making chipote. I'm obsessed with chipote--it's the closest thing there is to a tortilla... and if I can round up an avocado or two, and some tomatoes I'll practically have a burrito! yay! Mostly though I'm just excited to make chipote- I haven't done that since I was at the YWAM base here in Yei-- I'm thrilled. But more than the love of chipote I'm excited to have time with the women!
Pray for the plane crash in Southern Sudan yesterday morning. It looks like we lost about 21 people including several defense officials and a presidential adviser. http://allafrica.com/stories/200805020791.html I'm really curious to see how this will affect Sudan.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
Love to you all!
Keep pressing into all that Christ has for you!
Robin
Other prayer points:
-for the women's ministry--that God keeps the roads open when it's time to travel to the remote locations, that God raises up leaders, that He opens hearts...
- Traveling mercies for the EPC staff who are traveling to Kampala, Uganda for a seminar this week
-for missionaries all over Africa to be strengthened in the walk with Christ and vividly see the hope set before them.
-for the new German missionary family, that they can get settled (they have 3 children under 5)
-my health!
-For God's wisdom and hand in all I do, that it would be exactly what He wants, not me!
It rained! I can't begin to tell you what a blessing that has been this week. I woke up to the sound of the downpour and felt like doing a little happy dance. It was so hot this week that several of us were thinking about digging a swimming pool. Ha!
I'm finally on the upswing after battling what I'm pretty sure was food poisoning. It's not an experience I'm anxious to repeat and I'm still working on getting my strength back. Thank goodness for re-hydration liquids--too bad I had to use all the ones I had in one week-*sigh*...but I'm getting better and for that I'm thankful! I'm also thankful for the amazing community here on the compound- People really look out for each other, and that's such a huge blessing when you're sick. Pastor Jackson even came and prayed for me. So, as unpleasant as it is to be really sick, it was also uplifting to see how much Christ shines through the people around you.
I had a chance to sit down with AnnGrace this week and just talk. It was so nice to catch up and also talk and plan a little for the months ahead and really the future beyond that. It appears as if I'll be based out of Yei for now, helping Christine (one of my many German colleagues)with the womens Bible study in here--and still at Lora--but possibly adding the women's training center in Kenyii and Morobo. After our adventure last Friday at Morobo I know it's on everyones hearts to really make sure both of the orphanages are getting poured into with God's love and grace. To treat both places equally! I can't tell you how excited I am to think about all the details and pray about the future! That's the nutshell version of a lot of thought! Just know that as I look at all that God's doing my heart is simply overwhelmed with joy. I'm amazed to be a part of it all! :)
I'm typing this from MY OFFICE! It's nice to have a place to sit and really be able to organize all the various things I'm working on. It also makes illustrating the Bible a lot easier. I wasn't bothered about my chair in the corner, but having a desk is more helpful than I'd realized.
I'm trying to find creative ways to break into the lives of the Sudanese. So far, I've began to get up some mornings to help the women prepare breakfast- So fun! I actually got let loose on making the omelets the other morning. Tomorrow after church we're making chipote. I'm obsessed with chipote--it's the closest thing there is to a tortilla... and if I can round up an avocado or two, and some tomatoes I'll practically have a burrito! yay! Mostly though I'm just excited to make chipote- I haven't done that since I was at the YWAM base here in Yei-- I'm thrilled. But more than the love of chipote I'm excited to have time with the women!
Pray for the plane crash in Southern Sudan yesterday morning. It looks like we lost about 21 people including several defense officials and a presidential adviser. http://allafrica.com/stories/200805020791.html I'm really curious to see how this will affect Sudan.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
Love to you all!
Keep pressing into all that Christ has for you!
Robin
Other prayer points:
-for the women's ministry--that God keeps the roads open when it's time to travel to the remote locations, that God raises up leaders, that He opens hearts...
- Traveling mercies for the EPC staff who are traveling to Kampala, Uganda for a seminar this week
-for missionaries all over Africa to be strengthened in the walk with Christ and vividly see the hope set before them.
-for the new German missionary family, that they can get settled (they have 3 children under 5)
-my health!
-For God's wisdom and hand in all I do, that it would be exactly what He wants, not me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)