Today Sabet and Albino took us to the cattle camp, which was about a thirty minute drive up from the In Deed and Truth compound. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by lovely dark children with big smiling faces many of which were just babies holding babies. They all loved having their pictures taken and then being able to see them on the camera. Laughing hysterically they would point to their images on the screen. We actually had to limit our camera time because of what we called the ‘reverse paparazzi’ effect of being almost swarmed by the children.
As we walked through the camp the dairy cows were all around us, tied to a short rope which was then staked in the ground. Most were laying down, as the sun beat down on them. Big long horns protruded from their heads and our group kept joking about not ever wanting to be on the ‘business end’ of those. We paraded through the grounds like the pied piper, our following growing ever larger. We started seeing more adolescents and adults at this point, in addition to the babies group. A couple of young men even demonstrated to us their fighting technique with short thick sticks in hand. I loved how they would laugh and then hug each other after a bout. The single woman among us got many offers for marriage in exchange for a number of their cows. Usually they would ask the man standing closest to her if he would accept the offer.
Eventually even the older workers wanted their pictures taken and we obliged as much as we could without disturbing the peace. We were able to buy a couple of spears from the men and we’ll have a great story to share about their origin. No marketplace purchase here! As we left, one of the guys donated a shirt to a young boy and we watched as he proudly put it on. It was much too big for him but his face was beaming. As we pulled away we saw he and his friends around him pulling the fabric up to their noses and taking in deep breaths. Amongst the dung filled cattle field I guess a fresh clean shirt with the smell of laundry soap was pretty amazing. Ah, the things we take for granted…
What a lovely morning this was, and what incredible, resourceful and hard working people are the Sudanese.
As we waited on the Lord’s will we felt an urgency to get her out of the gloomy crowded observation room that had become home to her. Yesterday we choose to have a bedside vigil throughout the day so she would not be alone and to help her. Each staff took one hour to be with Ayak, praying and talking and encouraging her. Today we managed to get her into a wheelchair and I offered to sit with her while I homeschooled Hannah in the garden. We drank ice tea and I rubbed lavender lotion on her body. Even though she had hardly spoken in days she told Awad she liked being outside. It really was a beautiful day, shady under the Neem tree, birds singing, cool breeze rustling the branches. While Awad and I were tending to her she transitioned from being fidgety and uncomfortable to being peaceful and sleepy. Five women relatives (never happened before) stopped by to greet her. They saw Ayak asleep and after 10 minutes asked to leave and come back later. I felt an urgency to pray with them before they left and asked Awad to translate the prayer. The prayer in my heart was for them to understand our Lord’s mercy and love. Ayak’s body was failing but her spirit was healthy and needed to move on. When we finished praying some were weeping, all thanked me and left. I positioned a small fan on Ayak’s lap to help keep her cool and sat watching her sleep peacefully. Just a few minutes later she slipped into the arms of her Lord and Savior. Though she is absent from her body we are confident she is present with the Lord, no tears, pain or cancer.
Pastor’s Graduation!
