It is Saturday night in Tonj, Sudan. What a day! What a week, for that matter! Being here has been amazing! It is so neat to see God’s hand in everything that is going on here! Yesterday in the clinic, all of the girls were able to observe the birth of a healthy baby Dinka boy. I was even able to help the mid-wife, Stephanie, with the charts. I acted as her personal scribe, writing down everything she told me.  The mother had been in labor for quite a long time, three days if my memory serves me correct.  Stephanie finally had to break the membrane to get things going.  From the time the membrane was broken to the time the baby was born was about thirty minutes – relatively short, considering.  It is amazing how the Dinka people show no emotion unless they are in a considerable amount of pain!  The rest of the evening was pretty much uneventful after experiencing the birth.

Today we journeyed to a lepers’ colony and a Bongo village.  At the lepers’ colony, we were greeted by a few songs.  We then had the chance to sing a couple songs for them, but compared to their singing, ours was nothing to boast about!  The people in Sudan have voices that are so melodious and harmonize wonderfully together.  Mr. Tague and Sabet then shared the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  Before we left, we handed out a couple soccer balls and heaps of shoes that were donated and brought over in the action packers. We then headed to the Bongo village.

It was at least a forty-five minute drive down a very bumpy dirt road, if you can call it a road at all.  The road we took today is more like a path that we would walk along in a forest, narrow and full of ruts.  Oh my word! The Bongo village was amazing! (Fact: the Bongo drum originated from the Bongo tribe.)  At the village, there is an orphanage with at least 100 children.   I immediately felt a connection with one girl, probably seven years of age.  For the rest of my time there, we spent nearly the whole time by each others’ sides.  She even let me hold her baby sister, at least I am assuming they were sisters.  Oh, to hold a little African child!  I wish I could have brought them home with me! If I could, I would adopt them in a heartbeat!

One thing that continues to amaze me is how happy these people are.  They have nothing, yet are perfectly content; in America, we have it all, but continue to search for happiness in all the wrong places.

I feel like I have been here so much longer than just a few days! I feel perfectly at-ease, like I belong here.  It is such a humbling experience.  I am learning what it is to live such a simple life, and I am loving it! I am constantly reminded of Paul’s words, “I know what it is to live in plenty and I know what it is to be in need.”  I miss my family and the comforts of home, but at the same time, I do not want to leave! I am excited to see what God has in store for our remaining time here! Every day just seems to get better and better.

Please continue to pray for our health and safety while we are here.  So far, we have been blessed with both – praise the Lord!

Be His,

Skylar Gross