Day 2

We woke this morning to the sound of silence. A great feeling and something those back home may never experience.  Kept warm by the subtle heat felt throughout the night and mosquito-free thanks to my trusty neon green mosquito net, I had some of the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.

I woke up with my family on my mind and prayed for them, wishing we could talk for a brief moment, yet trusting all was well back home.  My quiet time was interrupted by the commotion from outside my window. I got up to check out the scene only to realize my teammate had a large lizard in his room and was trying to get rid of it.  We see this at home a little, but everyday here.  We all said our good mornings and then it was back inside to gather together my laundry that needed washing and to get dressed for the day.

Breakfast is served at 8 a.m., and the food has been wonderful as well as the hospitality in general, so I look forward to that time each day. Following breakfast is Sunday morning service, which begins at 9 a.m. sharp.  The team and I walked over to the church about 40 yards from our sleeping quarters and were greeted with beautiful music as the church was already in worship. The pastor of the church was leading the service in English, more than likely for our benefit, and there was a translator to speak in their country’s language and dialect of Juba Arabic.

The service was filled with a lot of formalities all in welcoming Pastor Matt Chandler and our team to their church and service. The music was truly amazing, and it was a surreal and beautiful time to sing praises to God with our family from another land–a great picture of sincere worship to God. I don’t know all the hearts of those there, but there was a sweet communion there in the service.

A sobering moment in the service came as the pastor (Bishop Tibon) spoke of the potential civil war that could break out on January 9, 2011 after the peace treaty between the North and the South expires. The fact that these very people we are sitting with could, in a few months, be facing war was mind blowing. So, that day, my prayers of intercession and time of singing were so much more driven than in recent times.  May God be with Sudan in these months to come.

After a few songs and a time of sharing by the Bishop, we heard from Matt Chandler who is the lead Pastor of the Village Church in Texas.  He taught on Luke 15 and how God wants our heart much more than just our good behavior. A great message of love and devotion and many left our time encouraged.  After service, the team was able to get a little down time before lunch. Then afterwards, we would be headed to Lora, Sudan to meet the kids at the orphanage.

 We proceeded to head out on an hour drive from Yei to the orphanage. The drive was pretty simple with red dirt roads and potholes everywhere. We were told since there was no economic structure here that the roads, among other things, are never taken care of and many are in need.  What a reality as we watched the scene up and down the roads we drove.  Everyone here lives in huts made of straw roofs and mud-brick walls, and there are no electric power lines so people were using coal fires to heat and cook. Bishop Tibon had stated during church that if you walk around most of Southern Sudan you would think you were in the Stone Age—he was pretty accurate.  Making our way down the red dirt road was very humbling and convicting, and it sparked a wide range of emotions.

After over an hour, we arrived at the orphanage. We turned into the area where the kids lived, and we were greeted with their beautiful voices welcoming us in song–such a sweet gesture. It never gets old. We could see the excitement, anxiety, and sheer curiosity on their faces as we pulled in.  We got out the car, and it was amazing to see the kids marching alongside us walking us into the meetinghouse where we would introduce ourselves to them. What an amazing scene!  We spent about two hours with the kids introducing ourselves, visiting their rooms, and playing soccer. The rooms were filled with bunk beds wrapped in mosquito net and fans to keep cool, because there is no central air.

In the states, we often hear of third world countries, but until you have been to one it’s hard to fully explain it.  There is something inside us as westerners that wants to try and fix their problems or right their wrongs, but it is dangerous to try and view their world through our Western lens.  They were content with their possessions. What they needed was company, friendship, and love. Genuine love only found in Jesus. This was a lesson learned for me as I wondered what I could do to “better” their living.  Little did I realize, my living was maybe more worldly and harmful than theirs.

 After some fun time with the kids and staff, we left the orphanage and headed back to Yei where we would be for the remainder of the week. Driving away with all their smiling faces staring back at me, I couldn’t help but long to come again to see them as well as share with my team how much they blessed me.

We got back to Yei and had a normal evening of dinner and chill time as we looked forward to what the week would bring.  But this place has already made such a great impact on my heart: from the calm I felt this morning, the service where we fellowshipped with family in the Body from around the world, to the kids we met and played with and even the saints resolve as they watch the possibility of civil war unfold for them leading up to January 9, 2011 (a date we should be praying for).  And I knew if God was already working on me, then more was sure to come.