Robin's Missions

Singing in choir....dance kawaaja, dance!

My Sudanese outfit!!!

Dancing with AnneGrace in front of the cars at June's consultation meeting

Joyce and Charity--kitchen workers, friends, and some of my Yei Bible study women. Great servants of God!

Hugging small children...one of my hobbies :)

Yesterday over half of the church announcements were about goats... what about you?

And what are the odds that TWO pastors from TWO different churches that are BOTH in Irving, Texas preach in the same church in Yei, Sudan in a matter of a few weeks? I'd say the odds aren't high, but it happened! Amazing. :)

It's been a really interesting month actually. I'm thankful to be here in Yei. We've had two teams come (one from Kentucky and one from Texas) and I've been able to jump in and walk alongside each team while still working on the regular teachings and responsibilities! I love it! Also just continuing to get to know everyone here and forge deeper relationships--wonderful!

When the First Baptist Irving team was here we were focusing on the women in Lora. I can't tell you how excited my mamas at the orphanage were to have the team there. I'll use a phrase I've heard a lot of recently, "the ministry of presence", we worked alongside the mamas and got to be a part of their every day lives. When I helped in the kitchen within minutes my eyes were bright red from the smoke! Wow. Jen and I did a couple of days of washing with some of the mamas. I can't even begin to tell you just how strong these women are! They would whip through the washing of the wool blankets and I just struggled. My arms hurt for days. I could barely lift the water logged blanket and they would pick it up and wring it out as if it were simply a string. Wow. I will say, I am proud that the mamas have declared me an expert g-nut paste maker. Basically you kneel on the ground and grind the nuts with a smooth stone on top of an even bigger smooth stone. And then you grind some more...and just when you think it's done, you grind the g-nuts some more. I was proud of my tiny amount of g-nut paste I produced. When I think of the large amounts the women make every day to add to sauces, etc... I just stand in awe. These are STRONG hard working women. And what I love about them as well is the joy they have while they work. They are ready to celebrate and are so thankful for all that God is doing. They are also hungry for the gospel, in the afternoons the gals (from 1st Baptist) and I got to teach and sing with them. It was a blessing to everyone. The guys worked hard too---learning what it means to haul tremendous amounts of water from the hole back to camp for the orphanage to use. Again, it's the ministry of presence, simply saying you're worth it to serve...seeing people as God sees them, walking in their shoes, serving them, it's amazing.

This week they had another cause to celebrate--we have a NEW well in Lora! It's actually being drilled as I type this but they hit the first water on Saturday. This means clean drinking water for the kids and staff, what a blessing. We've been praying so hard for this. Watching the video that was taken just showed the mamas and kids jumping, dancing, singing, acting out how they felt with the old water (basically they got water from a HOLE in the ground...cloudy water...mmmm). God is good!!!!!

I can't believe that exactly 3 weeks from today is my last full day in Sudan--this time--- but still I'm not ready to leave. I am so encouraged by evening prayer (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays) in Bishops piot and the "family" time with everyone that happens after prayer. I feel like I'm home. It's a great thing. :)

One thing I'm working on, to help with fund raising for coming back again, is CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!! I know MANY people (like you?!?!??!) need Christmas cards and they would be ones featuring my art...stay tuned... I understand that it's August but I hope to get this idea off the ground when I get back in a few weeks- I'm already working on art! :) Also, if anyone is good at web design and would love to volunteer to help me make a website PLEASE let me know! I'm trying to find creative ways to help with raising the support I'll need to stay here longer and using the web to show my art is just one way! But I don't know how to design a web page, so, yes, please let me know if you can help!

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when the heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit. --Jeremiah 17:7,8

That's my theme verse right now--Abiding in God and trusting Him. He IS trustworthy.

That's life in a nutshell...so much more, but I'll save it for another day! :)
Much love to you all!!!
Robin