Hello friends!!!!

I had a marvellous day of teaching in both Lora (on Noah) and Kenyi (on day 2 and 3 of creation) yesterday.I really loved being at the Kenyii center with giant boulders and trees---it felt like summer camp and Yosemite combined. It's a little place of extraordinary beauty! The women were awesome as well. I'm so encouraged by their love of learning. After teaching two different lessons I was both starving and tired, but thrilled.

I love Sundays---it's both a day of rest and of fellowship here in Yei. Starting off the morning in worship with the EPC congregation is wonderful. African services are really special. I really want to know what I'm singing but I'm still really excited that I CAN sing along with a fair amount of the Bari and Arabic songs. Bishop preached on putting on the armor of God(Ephesians 6:10-20)--he really has a lot of wisdom mixed in with moments of humor. The service ends by greeting and shaking hands with the ENTIRE congregation as we file out. I appreciate that practice more and more every week because I'm starting to know the faces of the people. Hopefully someday I'll know more of them as more than just faces. After church I went down to German village for tea and conversation--it's nice to just spend time with people talking and laughing. In the afternoon several of us head over to the Vocational Training Center for an English speaking Bible study. I love having the chance to pray and worship and support friends from ministries all over Yei. As always there are tasty treats--fruit salad and cake today! We studied Deborah (from Judges) and the woman who drove a tent peg through the enemies head while he slept. For some reason it just tickled me that the sentence right after the tent peg gets pounded through his temple is "And he died." If he didn't he'd have quite a headache! I don't know why I am so amused by that...welcome to my brain! So both the Bible study and today's sermon seemed to touch on war. Things like: we're in a spiritual battle, put your armor on, be prepared, pray pray pray... good words. It's easy to start relying on our own strength.

I found out today that they are starting to arrest women in town, actually in all of Southern Sudan, if they wear pants (or trousers if you prefer to call them that). Across the board, locals and foreigners alike. Interesting...

I've been reading "The Genesee Diary-Report from a Trappist Monastery" by Henri J.M. Nouwen which is basically his diary while he spent a season with the monks. He was talking about the work he was doing there and came to the realization to "relax and enjoy doing". The idea of being fully present in even the smallest tasks; realizing that everything can (and should) be done for God's glory. The monks would write out A.M.D.G which stands for Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam...great isn't it? Ok, I'll translate again..."to the greater glory of God"...there isn't one task that can't be to the greater glory of God. Humbling. A good reminder when I stubbornly don't want to do something...Another couple of quotes, "Why do I always want to read about the spiritual life and not really live it?" and "The spiritual life does not consist of any special thoughts, ideas, or feelings but it contained in the most simple ordinary experiences of every day living." I've really been mulling over being fully present, making the most of every moment, and talking to God constantly, etc... Whether I'm doing laundry or preaching I can do it for Christ.

Now I have a question for you...what do you want to know? I would love to try and answer some of the curious questions about what's going on in my life here---Drop a line! Or just say hi, that works too! :)

The German boys taught me a new greeting in Arabic today... I'm really glad I got it translated before I said it...why? They'd taught me to say, "I'm going to beat you." Ha!


I have an assignment for you all--anyone AND EVERYONE please go see Wall-E (the NEW Pixar movie) for me! I know, like all the others, it will be awesome and if I can't go enjoy it (and support the people I know who spent countless hours toiling on it!), then you can. I have no doubt it will be money and time well spent...so instead of eating ice cream for me this week, go to the movies.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

A.M.D.G.
Robin

Howdy friends!

What a super week. I'll confess right now I'm tired. Although I have no complaints--the meetings we had were a great start and getting to know all the partners was simply delightful. We had a lot of laughter even with all the more serious discussions. You could really feel God's hand in the apparent unity among the partners. I was encouraged. We had activity (if not straight meetings) from about 8 am to 10 pm every day. So it's little wonder we're all still recovering.
Pray for continued communication and unity. It will be vital! :)

We welcomed the visitors with singing and dancing, Ann-Grace talked me into dancing in front of the cars with her--kids and staff were lined up along the sides of the streets-- just fabulous... what a celebration! We started singing and dancing about 40 minutes before they arrived so by the time we finally stopped I felt like I had taken a shower. That's what I get for dancing in the hot sun for about an hour. If I did that every day I would be in the best shape ever!

Vernon, Mark (both from His Voice for Sudan), Bishop and I took a whirlwind trip to Morobo and back in the afternoon once the official greeting time was over. It was pouring cats and dogs in Morobo. Kids were running and getting soaked to the bone just to greet us. Amazing. It was a short trip but I'm so glad we went. The kids just sparkled. I discovered, on the way home, that a stomach full of bananas, coke, and bumpy roads may not be the best combo. We all looked a little green. ha! But oh are those bananas worth it! There has been so much rain that the group that went to Lora almost had to stay there because of the roads! An adventure in living that's for sure. :)

Sunday morning my choir sang again. Never fear, there ARE photos...you'll just have to be patient. I couldn't look people I knew in the eye, but my my my did I dance and sing my heart out. You too could come join the Sudanese choir.

We said goodbye to most of the partners yesterday and then not long after we said a big hello to the Stonegate eye team. They're up in the clinic now testing the staff for vision. It's amazing that most people here only need reading glasses, distance doesn't seem to be a problem! It's great to have them here and they are wonderfully patient with all the tired staff here. It will be a fun week.

Sadly, that's the extent of my brain power.
Love y'all....drop me a line and say hello!
blessings!
God is GOOD!!!
Robin

P.S. We had a fantastic pudding one night and a version of cake another. It's fun to be a bit spoiled. Still, eat some ice cream for me!

The visitors are coming, the visitors are coming!

Hello everyone!

The compound is a blaze with activity this morning. Actually it's been
every morning this week. As clean as our compound is I've never seen it
cleaner! Every weed has disappeared, every bush trimmed, the dirt raked,
and the rooms scrubbed. I am the kitchen spy. Find out what the visitors
like, find out what they don't like and report to the caterer. Speaking
of the caterer we have eaten like royalty the last two days... PANCAKES
for breakfast...ok, so no syrup or anything of that nature, but I was
still felt like a spoiled kid hyped on sugar!And perfectly roasted goat
for lunch...can we KEEP the caterer? Please? Plus everything is
presented beautifully, something I grew up with in my family... It's
quite fun!

Who are the visitors? Great question! They are EPC's partner
organizations from around the world. Namely England and the U.S. This
consultation is the first time they're all meeting so we can look at the
future of EPC and plan together! So, we've been getting ready to take
good care of them. I've been working on welcome cards- Four fun designs
each paired with some cookies and sweets...just a little something to
say hi and we're glad you're here!

I have good news! My computer is working! I call it my computer on life
support but at least it's still alive! I basically can just use a word
processor and check e-mail but hey, I'm blessed that it's working at
all. And I'm thankful I did not chuck it in the Yei river. Self
restraint is a great thing!

A prayer request/praise...I got sick last week and they ended up testing
me for malaria twice. I really do not enjoy being tested for malaria, I
feel like a small squeamish kid when they get ready to prick my finger
to take a blood sample. I will even admit to holding a stuffed animal at
one point, some things never change. BUT the good news is that I do not
have malaria. I only had a nasty virus that caused me to sleep the
greater portion of two days and now I'm feeling a lot better. I'm still
running on a lower energy level and would love prayer for restored
energy, especially since there will be a lot of activity over the next
week!

Christine (my German co-worker) and I sang in our women's Bible study
choir this last week. We all wore Sudanese tie-dye dresses and head
scarves. You should have heard the cheering, screaming, and even some
muffled giggles that happened when they noticed two kawajas were singing
and dancing. It was super. Then Bishop announced that we will be singing
this Sunday too! Oh my! The visitors I happen to know I can't look in
the eye, they'll just make me laugh!

Ok, it's time to go change. I have a bright yellow traditional Sudanese
outfit that I've been asked to wear to welcome the visitors. I normally
just wear the skirt. As an American I'm just not used to parts of the
shoulder that go out past my actual shoulder! However, all the Sudanese
think it's awesome and love it on me, and if it makes them happy I am
more than willing to go the distance!

I discovered a great thing this week...a tri-weekly prayer and praise
meeting in the evening in Bishop's home. It is so wonderful to pray
together! Hallelujah!!!

Much love!
Many blessings!
Laugh today!
and eat some ice cream for me! :)
Robin