Robin's Missions

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