Sunday in Sudan

The West End team split up and visited 4 different worship services on Sudan. At the cathedral, Gordon preached at the English speaking service and Shengwok preached to hundreds at the Moru service. His Arabic seemed to be understood and his message well received.

Michael O. was able to return to the same village church he preached in last year! He had even returned with photos he took last year, which people LOVE! This is Larissa’s regular church. Kevin, Coleman, and Acacia joined them for the service. After the regular 3 hour service, there was a bonus 2 hour service where some people from the church sat to talk and pray with and for the visitors.

Some of us rode our bikes to Christine and Kim's church in the village of Okari. Jason, Tom, Amanda and I, Karen, joined them. It is a grass roofed church full of commited people and joyful worship. Most of the children stayed outside in Sunday School, singing their hearts out. With Tom on the guitar, we shared a song in English. Jason did a fabulous job preaching. He was clear, paused well for his translator, and shared from 2 Chronicles 9 how God is looking for those whose hearts are fully His. There were some in the congregation who knew English well enough to correct the translator when necessary. Communion was served, a common cup of juice and cookies, reminding us that no matter our origin we all equally are in need of the body and blood of Christ for our life.

After the service we were welcomed into the piyot, a round hut with a foot of open windows around the top edge for air flow. We were served beef stew and scrambled eggs with bread, fresh corn on the cob (we are right in the middle of the corn harvest!) and tea. After praying for the meal we were told to eat from the food set on a table in the middle of the piyot. I then proceeded to misdirect our visitors to put the food on their plates, I assumed that was the next thing to do. Little did I know that it was 3 courses. The beef/eggs/bread was to be eaten first, THEN the corn, THEN the tea. Whoops. There are so many unspoken things in all of our cultures that need to be learned. Here in Mundri we are met again and again by gracious hosts who endure our brutish manners and teach and love us as we go.