There is a Korean couple here who are starting up a little music school. They have a few students (ex-pat kids) and teach piano and voice. On Saturday night they put on a recital for our boys at the center. Not only did they do a wonderful job, both the older and younger boys were impressed and all told me what a great program it was. I think they were amazed with these little kids playing piano so well and also were encouraged as some of them are learning how to play the keyboard. In the program they also gave each of the boys centers a chance to perform a song. The above video is the youger boys singing the little song we learn in Sunday School as kids "Read Your Bible Everyday." First in Arabic then in Enlish(ish). Enjoy! (And sorry for the shaky camera, I'm no so great at videoing!)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Real Stuff
Sometimes when I sit down to blog I try to think of what have been big moments in the week or whatever. More often than not, though, there are tons of small moments. Some funny, some frustrating. All worth chatting with my roommate about, but sometimes when I write them out many of them don't make a great story. All this to say sometimes I have a hard time defining what is noteworthy about what is going on this week.
There's a lot going on, as there always is. Language school is fine. I laugh and learn a lot there. The boys centres are great. I laugh and learn even more with them. I spend a lot of time on busses. I am pretty amused there a lot as well.
Then there is also a lot, a lot, of stuff going on in this country. Lots of rumors flying. Political and religious things clashing. I have to be careful about what I share on here. But just trust me when I say that the Christian minority needs your prayers here. ...and will probably need them even more in a few months. And as a special request the centres where I volunteer are on church property. On any day these properties could be taken and the centre's shut down. This is the reality.
Fear is definatly a tool that the devil uses to stop us. To scare us. To prevent us from moving forward or moving at all. I deal with fear here. Not in terms of personal safety. I feel perfectly safe most of the time. But there are other fears that can be just as paralyzing. Fear of rejection, doing or saying the wrong thing, being culturally inappropriate, of being misunderstood. The devil messes with our minds and whispers lies in our hearts. Even in dealing with men here. I have to behave differently here in many ways than I do back home. Sometimes when I'm walking on the street or a guy sits next to me on the bus I can feel myself tense a little bit inside. The devil wants us to build up walls and become hard. Which...I do need to have those walls here sometimes. They protect me from worse situations. But I also need to keep my heart from going hard as well. God doesn't want his children to have hard hearts.
I'm babbling again aren't I?
Bear with me for one more rabbit trail.
Before I came to Sudan I had talked to enough people who had lived overseas and read enough books about it to know that spiritual warfare was something I was going to be dealing with in a more pronounced way here than in the states. But you know what I've learned?
That Jesus' name is power.
That the Spirit that resides in me is greater than anything in this world.
That I can walk without fear because when I breathe the name of Jesus, satan is defeated.
There are a reason they are called battles. Because battles are not easy. You have to fight in battle. I know that I'm really just scratching the surface on this stuff and that I am by no means an authority on it at all. But I know that God is always the victor. Always.
Before I came I was kind of scared of what I might encounter here, esspecially the spiritual warfare business. I remember people telling me stories and I'd freak out a little inside.
But can I tell you something? There are times that I have felt dark spiritual forces around. There was one night my roommate and I both had some pretty crazy dreams and felt a heavy darkness around. I woke up. I prayed. I told it to go away in Jesus name.
And I rolled over and went back to sleep.
I know its not always going to be that easy. But what I'm saying is that God is greater than our fears and that our fears are more paralyzing and terrifying than the actual danger that lies ahead. We don't walk alone my friends. And we have the book. We've read the last chaper. We know how the story ends.
We win. Am I right?
Jesus is the victor.
There's a lot going on, as there always is. Language school is fine. I laugh and learn a lot there. The boys centres are great. I laugh and learn even more with them. I spend a lot of time on busses. I am pretty amused there a lot as well.
Then there is also a lot, a lot, of stuff going on in this country. Lots of rumors flying. Political and religious things clashing. I have to be careful about what I share on here. But just trust me when I say that the Christian minority needs your prayers here. ...and will probably need them even more in a few months. And as a special request the centres where I volunteer are on church property. On any day these properties could be taken and the centre's shut down. This is the reality.
Fear is definatly a tool that the devil uses to stop us. To scare us. To prevent us from moving forward or moving at all. I deal with fear here. Not in terms of personal safety. I feel perfectly safe most of the time. But there are other fears that can be just as paralyzing. Fear of rejection, doing or saying the wrong thing, being culturally inappropriate, of being misunderstood. The devil messes with our minds and whispers lies in our hearts. Even in dealing with men here. I have to behave differently here in many ways than I do back home. Sometimes when I'm walking on the street or a guy sits next to me on the bus I can feel myself tense a little bit inside. The devil wants us to build up walls and become hard. Which...I do need to have those walls here sometimes. They protect me from worse situations. But I also need to keep my heart from going hard as well. God doesn't want his children to have hard hearts.
I'm babbling again aren't I?
Bear with me for one more rabbit trail.
Before I came to Sudan I had talked to enough people who had lived overseas and read enough books about it to know that spiritual warfare was something I was going to be dealing with in a more pronounced way here than in the states. But you know what I've learned?
That Jesus' name is power.
That the Spirit that resides in me is greater than anything in this world.
That I can walk without fear because when I breathe the name of Jesus, satan is defeated.
There are a reason they are called battles. Because battles are not easy. You have to fight in battle. I know that I'm really just scratching the surface on this stuff and that I am by no means an authority on it at all. But I know that God is always the victor. Always.
Before I came I was kind of scared of what I might encounter here, esspecially the spiritual warfare business. I remember people telling me stories and I'd freak out a little inside.
But can I tell you something? There are times that I have felt dark spiritual forces around. There was one night my roommate and I both had some pretty crazy dreams and felt a heavy darkness around. I woke up. I prayed. I told it to go away in Jesus name.
And I rolled over and went back to sleep.
I know its not always going to be that easy. But what I'm saying is that God is greater than our fears and that our fears are more paralyzing and terrifying than the actual danger that lies ahead. We don't walk alone my friends. And we have the book. We've read the last chaper. We know how the story ends.
We win. Am I right?
Jesus is the victor.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Beggars
After church on Friday I usually go for lunch with a group of the 20-something's. Today afterwards I sat outside of the restaurant for about 20 minutes with a friend while she waited for someone to pick her up. A beggar lady came up to us. Clearly a lady with a rough life. She stuck out her hand and said "Give me." in Arabic. I said "No," and "I'm sorry," and she wasn't having that. Which was a little unusual. Generally beggars here are much less pushy than any other place I've been. Eventually a guy that worked there came out and talked to her and after a bit gave her a jineeh (1 pound note worth about 30 cents) and she went away.
Lets talk about beggars.
This is a messy issue.
I feel like there is no easy answer. It's so hard to tell what the right thing is in those situations.
As a personal rule I never give money to kids for a variety of reasons. (It reinforces their begging, many times they are working for gangs, the money is more likely to go for glue to sniff than for food, etc.) I try to carry candy or peanuts to give to kids when they beg. But I often forget to put food in my bag so most times I just say I don't give money to kids and ask them where their mom is. I will give pocket change here and there to adults or folks who are disabled.
But with the lady today...did we do the right thing not giving her money? Did I deny Christ in that moment? What if the money had gone to something bad? What if it wouldn't? Even if it did am I still supposed to give in faith sometimes even if the outcome is a negative one?
How do you ever know what the right thing is?
After she had walked off it occurred to me that I should have just bought her some food. I was sitting in front of a restaurant for goodness sake.
I want so desperately to help those who are hurting. But giving money doesn't always make it better. It can make it worse sometimes. So...I don't think there is an answer that is always right. Each situation is different. I guess the important thing is just to keep in tune with the Spirit. Try to keep our hearts in generous mode. And realize that we're gonna get it wrong sometimes.
I want to help people who need it. But I don't want to go about it stupidly.
I like giving apples and things to kids when I come out of the grocery store. It makes me feel better about it. Like I'm doing something. ...And if it makes me feel better, then am I doing it for me? To somehow appease myself with "Well, at least I did something," even when thousands of kids here go homeless and hungry?
An apple is not a sacrifice.
God calls for total sacrifice and I constantly struggle with what that means for me today where I am. "Am I doing enough?" is an ever present question in my little brain. Enough of the right sorts of things? What is enough? Who's definition of enough is the right one? How can I give more of myself? Where am I being selfish? And how on earth do I balance that with not burning myself out? What is there for me to do well in this season? On this very day?
Oh, God grant me a generous heart. And the wisdom to use it well. Nothing you require is too much.
"[The Old Testament prophets] contend that everything, absolutely everything, takes place on sacred ground. God has something to say about every aspect of our lives...Nothing is hidden from the scrutiny of God. Nothing exempt from the rule of God. Nothing escapes the purposes of God. Holy, holy, holy."
Eugene Peterson
Lets talk about beggars.
This is a messy issue.
I feel like there is no easy answer. It's so hard to tell what the right thing is in those situations.
As a personal rule I never give money to kids for a variety of reasons. (It reinforces their begging, many times they are working for gangs, the money is more likely to go for glue to sniff than for food, etc.) I try to carry candy or peanuts to give to kids when they beg. But I often forget to put food in my bag so most times I just say I don't give money to kids and ask them where their mom is. I will give pocket change here and there to adults or folks who are disabled.
But with the lady today...did we do the right thing not giving her money? Did I deny Christ in that moment? What if the money had gone to something bad? What if it wouldn't? Even if it did am I still supposed to give in faith sometimes even if the outcome is a negative one?
How do you ever know what the right thing is?
After she had walked off it occurred to me that I should have just bought her some food. I was sitting in front of a restaurant for goodness sake.
I want so desperately to help those who are hurting. But giving money doesn't always make it better. It can make it worse sometimes. So...I don't think there is an answer that is always right. Each situation is different. I guess the important thing is just to keep in tune with the Spirit. Try to keep our hearts in generous mode. And realize that we're gonna get it wrong sometimes.
I want to help people who need it. But I don't want to go about it stupidly.
I like giving apples and things to kids when I come out of the grocery store. It makes me feel better about it. Like I'm doing something. ...And if it makes me feel better, then am I doing it for me? To somehow appease myself with "Well, at least I did something," even when thousands of kids here go homeless and hungry?
An apple is not a sacrifice.
God calls for total sacrifice and I constantly struggle with what that means for me today where I am. "Am I doing enough?" is an ever present question in my little brain. Enough of the right sorts of things? What is enough? Who's definition of enough is the right one? How can I give more of myself? Where am I being selfish? And how on earth do I balance that with not burning myself out? What is there for me to do well in this season? On this very day?
Oh, God grant me a generous heart. And the wisdom to use it well. Nothing you require is too much.
"[The Old Testament prophets] contend that everything, absolutely everything, takes place on sacred ground. God has something to say about every aspect of our lives...Nothing is hidden from the scrutiny of God. Nothing exempt from the rule of God. Nothing escapes the purposes of God. Holy, holy, holy."
Eugene Peterson
Monday, January 16, 2012
Fill 'er up.
So I've gotten back into the swing of thing since a nice holiday break. School, centres...lots of time on the bus.
And it has been cold here. I know, I know, still no match for Eastern Shore cold (which, frankly I couldn't be happier to be far from!), but it's the coldest "winter" here anyone can remember here for years. It's in the upper 80's during the day, but gets into the 50's at night. Which is really difficult for most folks as their houses (and thin blood) are not made for cold. Esspecially when it's windy. My teeth were actually chattering the other morning when I was walking to get a bus. Yes, I have certainly climatized.
In other news, there is seemingly something continusly breaking in the apartment. I temporarily fixed our toilet, but its still on the fritz. Our oven has a small gas leak somewhere. And the light in my room is playing me for some kind of fool. It's totally winning. After 3 trips to the muglug (hardware shop), buying 4 new parts, and conversations with a handful of guys who know more about these things than I do, it still will flicker and flicker when I switch it on and never actually come on. Thankfully, though, my roommate returned from her trip home with an emergency light I have been using so that I'm not getting dressed in the dark in the morning.
A few other disappointments have popped by this week, but I'm not giving up hope yet. The weather though has been a huge gift. I have so much more energy when the weather is cooler. My brain seems to work better as well (the foreign lanuage compartment at least). So that's good.
Having a blast with the boys, as always. They fill my heart. Also had a really encouraging time with some of the other ex-pat ladies in the community here over the weekend. One thing that stuck out to me was the idea of fullness. One of the ladie likened it to Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving we eat 'til we're stuffed then everyone takes a nap. When you're full (in your belly) the natural place is rest. When we are full of the Spirit and in our heart and soul--it brings rest to those places no matter whatever else is going on.
I love that. Lets be full.
And it has been cold here. I know, I know, still no match for Eastern Shore cold (which, frankly I couldn't be happier to be far from!), but it's the coldest "winter" here anyone can remember here for years. It's in the upper 80's during the day, but gets into the 50's at night. Which is really difficult for most folks as their houses (and thin blood) are not made for cold. Esspecially when it's windy. My teeth were actually chattering the other morning when I was walking to get a bus. Yes, I have certainly climatized.
In other news, there is seemingly something continusly breaking in the apartment. I temporarily fixed our toilet, but its still on the fritz. Our oven has a small gas leak somewhere. And the light in my room is playing me for some kind of fool. It's totally winning. After 3 trips to the muglug (hardware shop), buying 4 new parts, and conversations with a handful of guys who know more about these things than I do, it still will flicker and flicker when I switch it on and never actually come on. Thankfully, though, my roommate returned from her trip home with an emergency light I have been using so that I'm not getting dressed in the dark in the morning.
A few other disappointments have popped by this week, but I'm not giving up hope yet. The weather though has been a huge gift. I have so much more energy when the weather is cooler. My brain seems to work better as well (the foreign lanuage compartment at least). So that's good.
Having a blast with the boys, as always. They fill my heart. Also had a really encouraging time with some of the other ex-pat ladies in the community here over the weekend. One thing that stuck out to me was the idea of fullness. One of the ladie likened it to Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving we eat 'til we're stuffed then everyone takes a nap. When you're full (in your belly) the natural place is rest. When we are full of the Spirit and in our heart and soul--it brings rest to those places no matter whatever else is going on.
I love that. Lets be full.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Gifts in Unexpected Places
You know what's great? Surprises.
Tuesday was my first day back with the older boys center after being gone for a week. I got there chatted with the lady who cooks and helped her a bit in the kitchen, as per usual. Ate lunch, then had the program with the boys. They're still working on the wire stuff, and getting darn good at it too! I'm really stoaked with what they're coming up with.
Anyway, the director of the center was there and seemed to be a bit hurried. So I asked him if he wanted me to end early--if there was another program for the boys in the evening. He said "No, no," and told me to go another half hour. Then he told me the boys had a gift for me. I was pretty surprised, and sometimes things are lost in translation, so I wasn't exactly sure what he meant. Then ten minutes later he looked at my watch to see if it had been half an hour and was smiling. Then he told the boys to stop and clean up.
They cleaned up much more quickly than they ever do, mostly because the director was telling them to. When they finished he picked a boy and told him to go into their dorm and get the gift. Apparently they had been waiting and anxious to give it to me since I got there, hours before in the afternoon.
While he was retreiving the gift, he explained that some of the boys of their own volition approached him and wanted to get me a gift to say thank you. So a few of them went to the market one day and picked out a present for me.
He came out with a nice sized gift. It was even wrapped with a bow! I was really impressed, and a little embarrased for them getting me anything at all. Then an earlier-appointed three boys got up and spoke. I didn't catch 100% of everything they said, but basically thanked me for teaching them the things that I have. They said they were thankful to God for sending me to Sudan and that I have worked very hard and that they appreciate all of the new things I have taught them.
It was absolutely unexpected and really just the sweetest thing. I took the gift and thanked them. Said how happy I was to be in Sudan and that they were all a blessing to me. Teenage boys...who knew they could be so thoughtful?
Sudanese also don't open presents in front of the person giving them generally. So I brought it home and opened it here. They picked out a curiously shaped vase, and also a little ceramic basket with two sheep holding it. Not things I would have picked for myself really, but just the thought of them wanting to get me anything at all is more than a gift. (Plus, they could have done much worse!) :)
I'm still smiling about it. It's hard to tell how people are taking you sometimes, esspecially cross-culturally. There were days I felt like the boys could really take or leave me being there. So I find this to be a gigantic encouragement. Not just that they like me (which is great! haha), but that they are really enjoying and getting value from the things I'm doing with them. So I'm thanking the Lord--he sure does know how to fill our souls! ...And I'm making these boys brownies next week!
Tuesday was my first day back with the older boys center after being gone for a week. I got there chatted with the lady who cooks and helped her a bit in the kitchen, as per usual. Ate lunch, then had the program with the boys. They're still working on the wire stuff, and getting darn good at it too! I'm really stoaked with what they're coming up with.
Anyway, the director of the center was there and seemed to be a bit hurried. So I asked him if he wanted me to end early--if there was another program for the boys in the evening. He said "No, no," and told me to go another half hour. Then he told me the boys had a gift for me. I was pretty surprised, and sometimes things are lost in translation, so I wasn't exactly sure what he meant. Then ten minutes later he looked at my watch to see if it had been half an hour and was smiling. Then he told the boys to stop and clean up.
They cleaned up much more quickly than they ever do, mostly because the director was telling them to. When they finished he picked a boy and told him to go into their dorm and get the gift. Apparently they had been waiting and anxious to give it to me since I got there, hours before in the afternoon.
While he was retreiving the gift, he explained that some of the boys of their own volition approached him and wanted to get me a gift to say thank you. So a few of them went to the market one day and picked out a present for me.
He came out with a nice sized gift. It was even wrapped with a bow! I was really impressed, and a little embarrased for them getting me anything at all. Then an earlier-appointed three boys got up and spoke. I didn't catch 100% of everything they said, but basically thanked me for teaching them the things that I have. They said they were thankful to God for sending me to Sudan and that I have worked very hard and that they appreciate all of the new things I have taught them.
It was absolutely unexpected and really just the sweetest thing. I took the gift and thanked them. Said how happy I was to be in Sudan and that they were all a blessing to me. Teenage boys...who knew they could be so thoughtful?
Sudanese also don't open presents in front of the person giving them generally. So I brought it home and opened it here. They picked out a curiously shaped vase, and also a little ceramic basket with two sheep holding it. Not things I would have picked for myself really, but just the thought of them wanting to get me anything at all is more than a gift. (Plus, they could have done much worse!) :)
I'm still smiling about it. It's hard to tell how people are taking you sometimes, esspecially cross-culturally. There were days I felt like the boys could really take or leave me being there. So I find this to be a gigantic encouragement. Not just that they like me (which is great! haha), but that they are really enjoying and getting value from the things I'm doing with them. So I'm thanking the Lord--he sure does know how to fill our souls! ...And I'm making these boys brownies next week!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Dongola
Between Christmas and New Years I went with a group of friends to Dongola, a city about 5 hours northwest of Khartoum. We stayed at a guesthouse there for 3 days and, aside from being eaten alive by mosquitoes every night, we had a nice time.
While we were there we played a lot of games, had a bbq on the beach, explored the town, and drove another hour North to see some more ancient ruins and see the third cataract of the Nile. I'm still not sure what that means, but there were mini rapids. It was pretty cool, anyway.
The people we were staying with connected us with a local guy to show us the good spots and things. So he took us around to a few places. But also told us that some carvings on some rocks were 9,000 years old. And that an old pile of ruins was from the middle ages 2,000-3,000 years ago. So...I'm not sure how much of what he told us was accurate. We still saw some neat things, though.
And some of the guys that organized the trip brought along a Santa suit that they managed to find in Khartoum. They may have made all of us take a turn wearing it.
It was a bit large.
So it was a fun time. Though I will say that it was not as restful as I had hoped. I hoped that we would maybe have a day of down time to read, or walk, or relax but the group I was with kept us busy.Which was a lot of fun, but I came back feeling still...overstimulated?
The weeks leading up to Christmas were crazy full and I haven't really had time to sit, relax and catch up. So thankfully, this week I still amoff from language school. I'm still going to the centre's, but largely I am giving myself a break. Relaxing around the house...refueling myself with some solitude and creative projects and catching up to fuel me for the next very long stretch before there is another break.
It was nice to get out of Khartoum, and this week it's been really nice to putter around at home, which I don't get to do very often!
The city is right next to the Nile and along the river there are a ton of date palms and small farms.
 |
| Green! How I have missed you in my life! |
The people we were staying with connected us with a local guy to show us the good spots and things. So he took us around to a few places. But also told us that some carvings on some rocks were 9,000 years old. And that an old pile of ruins was from the middle ages 2,000-3,000 years ago. So...I'm not sure how much of what he told us was accurate. We still saw some neat things, though.
And some of the guys that organized the trip brought along a Santa suit that they managed to find in Khartoum. They may have made all of us take a turn wearing it.
It was a bit large.
So it was a fun time. Though I will say that it was not as restful as I had hoped. I hoped that we would maybe have a day of down time to read, or walk, or relax but the group I was with kept us busy.Which was a lot of fun, but I came back feeling still...overstimulated?
The weeks leading up to Christmas were crazy full and I haven't really had time to sit, relax and catch up. So thankfully, this week I still amoff from language school. I'm still going to the centre's, but largely I am giving myself a break. Relaxing around the house...refueling myself with some solitude and creative projects and catching up to fuel me for the next very long stretch before there is another break.
It was nice to get out of Khartoum, and this week it's been really nice to putter around at home, which I don't get to do very often!
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