ITS VALENTINES DAY -- and Roxanne and my 15th anniversary! She is in Kansas and I am in Africa! Who would have thought?
Abel Aret is the student with Typhoid, and he seems to be doing better.. He is on a 5 day treatment that is suppose to help him. I talked to him for a while today. He is only 23 years old, and he is married and has two children. His kids are 5 (girl) and 2 (boy). When his wife was 12, they got engaged, and married when she was 14! He had to pay 2500 Sudanese pounds for her dowry ($1250). Prior to seminary he was a brick layer, so he was able to pay 1000 pounds. His father paid anoterth 1000, and his uncles each kicked in 250 to help him with the dowry. Abel is a visionary. While at his home church, he leads the effort to support the war widows and orphans with food and care. He says last year they were able to help 20 familes. In addition, he collects eye glasses for those who need them. Talking with him you can see how dear to his heart these thigns are, and how he cares about the suffering people in his hometown. He asks for prayer for his family, and for the work he does with the orphans and widows. He also asks that the Lord will help himmake it through seminary so he can be a pastor.
One of the things that I was concerned about coming to Sudan was how safe it would be here. As far as I can tell, I am relatively safe. Being one of few Americans here, (I have seen maybe 5 other caucasians, but have not talked with them to see if the are American or not) I am greeted warmly and friendly by the Africans. The greatest danger is walking on the roads (there are no sidewalks!) --- there seems to be no traffic laws at all. It is truly the "law of the biggest vehicle" at work. Trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians in that order. Several times I thought how close to being hit I was or someone else.
Ocassionally in the market I feel a little weird, there are always so many Africans loitering and watching --- so I am always careful and cautious when walking. Some of the market ways are very narrow, crowded, and cluttered, and they don't feel safe, so I avoid them. Otherwise, I haven't noticed any danger.
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Happy Valentine's Day & Happy Anniversary! Have a chocolate covered "cavasa" for us!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines Day and Happy Anniversary! It seems that God has called both you and your lovely wife, Roxanne, to serve in two very distant areas, yet all in God's Kingdom. I am very humbled by the excess that we have here and the many blessings that we have here in the US. Yet how we lament over our worries when most of the world would love just half of what we have. You are truly the personification of Jesus' Great Commission--in a land that is ravaged by poverty, war, famine, and disease. And yet all of your student share the one thing that they ask for and that is our prayers, what faith the Holy Spirit has given these young men. My prayers are for them and also for you and your family that you come back safely after leaving a legacy and a greater depth of
ReplyDeleteGod's Word that these young men will never forget. Please wrap yourself up at night with the mosquito netting (as spoken by one whose life has changed after one pesky mosquito bite!). May the Lord Bless you and keep you--we'll see you soon! We miss you very much! God Bless--Kathryn Wallinger
I just wanted to send you this email to tell you how much we appreciate you being our pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church & School.You are truly showing us how to become a true disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteBy going there and teaching the Good News of our Lord Jesus to people that really need hope and true guidance from the conflict,persecution,and despair that they are facing in today's world.You are truly a blessing to us all.
One of best friends, Scott Motley mother just recently past away,and the family would not take any money at her Memorial Service. Instead they wanted us to contribute money in her name (Anita Motley) to aid children.
We would like to know as a family, how we contribute in donation to the Sudan children for medical aid,orphaned children,food etc.
I was hoping if you knew any organization in the area you are in, that you can recomend.
In closing please be safe and take refuge in our Lord Jesus Christ in time of need and stength. In the meantime our prayers will be with you and the Sudan people in your care,and as you travel back home this week.
God bless you.
Perry Hasart
& Les & Lin
"In the same way,any of you who does not give up everything he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33