Hi, this is Majok (pronounced Ma-Joke) writing today (Tim to those of you back home). This trip has been amazing to say the least! It’s been a real joy and honor for me and I know the rest of the team to be serving alongside Sabet and Suzy for the short time we’re here.
Yesterday we had to deal with our first snake in the compound. One of the cooks, Mary, noticed it crawling around and then the hunt was on because it had made its way through the area where the generator is kept and between the brush and fence. Elizabeth, one of the other cooks, grabbed a bamboo pole that was on the ground and beat the snot out of it! Sabet then picked it up with another pole and threw it over the fence where Mike was waiting with a machete and chopped at its head a few times to make sure it was really dead. We then spent the next couple minutes taking pictures and trying to figure out what kind of snake it was. Some of the guys from Uganda working in the compound said they didn’t know what kind of snake it was but that it was indeed poisonous. Praise the Lord no one was bitten!
We then made a two and a half hour journey to a town called Ciubet (pronounced Tribet),which was down a very bumpy dirt road to sing with the kids, share the wordless book, hand out gifts and show the Jesus film. Sabet had never taken a team there before so it was an honor to go. Along the way, we came upon a herd of cattle completely blocking the road, being escorted by three men with AK-47s. Alicia was in the front seat and asked Sabet if it was OK to take a picture. Sabet gave the OK, but when Alicia took the picture, one of the guys got very angry and began shouting in Dinka and pointing at her. Sabet quickly jumped out and went around to talk to them about it. The men were asking, “Why is she taking a picture of my gun?” and Sabet calmly assured them over and over, “She’s just taking a picture of the cows. They are beautiful cows.” Finally the men backed down and let us pass. Alicia’s camera was hidden for the rest of the journey!
We had just arrived when storm clouds started to pour in and it looked as though we weren’t going to be able to do all we had planned. It started to pour rain and thunder, so we sought shelter in the church building they are still constructing. There we handed out the gifts and sung songs. When we finished the weather had cleared up enough to show the Jesus film, which was in the Dinka language (Yeah Jesus!). While the men constructed the screen for the projector, the little kids began singing African praise songs and were doing dances and a few of the Khwaja (the word for whities like me) women joined in. Although it was pitch black out, it was really neat to see all the Sudanese people pour in to watch the movie. We left about 30 minutes into the movie to head back as others stayed behind to help clean up after the movie was over.
Imagine our entire team sitting in the SUV as Sabet drives us back down this bumpy dark road in the middle of the African bush. We thought it would be a good idea to keep everyone talking by asking questions and Stacie starts the questions with, “Has anyone ever been kidnapped?”. Ummmm……not really the question to ask while we’re on this lonely road at night. So Sabet tells us about the time he and a couple other men were carjacked and kidnapped in Kenya. As we’re driving along and he’s wrapping up his story we have another van come up quickly on us from behind. Sabet sped up to keep us from being hit. It was a very scary moment. The driver finally went around but it scared the snot out of all of us! Sabet kept his eye on the driver in front of us and said he wanted to keep them in eye sight in case they decided to stop and let off some passengers who would then jump out of the bush and rob us. Nice! The other thing that happened, as we were still pretty far from the compound, was the car stalled for some reason as we went over a large bump. Sabet repeatedly tried to start the car again and it sounded like it wouldn’t start. Finally it started and we were off again. Mike asked shortly after this, “So….who just peed their pants when the car wouldn’t start up?”. So that’s when we prayed and kept the questions going! We ran across several other animals on the road, including a dead large puff adder. What an adventure! It turns out we made it home safely (thank you God!) and learned a lot of interesting things about each other. What was said in the van stays in the van! J
Alicia and I had the pleasure of leading the church in worship and I had the pleasure of giving the message today. It wasn’t a long message but the point I was trying to get across was the importance of being in the Word daily. We’re called to be ready to speak about God at all times, whether we’re a pastor or just an average Christian. This has been impressed upon my heart more and more as I’m here and especially during my times teaching the pastors. They only have a basic understanding of the scripture, yet they are asking very deep questions about the Word. Questions I’ll have to take back and research to get an answer. You can see that they really want to understand it more so they can go lead their churches more effectively back home. It humbled me and challenges me to be in the Word more when I’m at home.
I think that’s it for now. We start our journey home next Tuesday, so please continue to keep us in your prayers. Also continue to pray for Sheena and Stacie who will be here longer.
In Christ,
Majok