Ministry Blog
Hope for the Children of Southern Sudan
Elephant Land - Blog 8
February 15, 2010
ELEPHANT LAND BLOG #8 “A DAY IN THE LIFE” or “What Keeps Us Going”
Greetings again from very hot and dry Yei. We did get a bit of rain on Thursday, for which we were so thankful. I want to tell you about our day two Sundays ago. I knew that that afternoon, after church we’d be going to the market and I was to preach. Edina Tumalu, one of our women pastors, was going with me to interpret. When we arrived at church around 10:00 AM, we saw our assistant pastor, John Muroga, talking very earnestly to a couple. I’ve learned enough Juba Arabic that I recognized he was quoting a lot of Scripture. He brought them up and told us that they wanted to give their hearts to Jesus—right then, before the service started! So, they told their story.
Gino said that he was not a Christian. He and his wife both had been ill, and so he went to a witchdoctor for help. But instead of finding healing, he was still sick; moreover, a demon chased Gino into the bush three times! His wife (his second wife) was a backslidden Christian, and she wanted to rededicate her life to Jesus. John Muroga told him to tell the other wife that from now on, theirs would be a Christian home.) We questioned him as to whether he had any charms or ‘medicine’ from the witchdoctor, so we could burn them. He said no. Then Boo went over the plan of salvation with him, to be sure he understood. He did. I have to tell you, the man looked terrified, like we were going to kill him or something! I anointed him and his wife with oil, then Boo laid his hand on Gino and I laid mine on Susan (his wife). John Muroga and other elders, men and women, gathered around and also laid their hands on them. I think I mentioned before that in our church here, everyone prays out loud, at the same time. So, we spent a few minutes calling on the Lord and casting out the demon. (Some of you may doubt the reality here, but Jesus dealt with demons many times, so we are following Him.)
Yesterday at our missionary fellowship, Jenny Joy, Mary and Carolyn (a younger and 2 older ladies) told us about their trip to a village in the bush. A man who was possessed by demons came and stared at them menacingly, even though he was blind. He even came into the church and slept outside their tent. They were fasting and praying the whole time. Suddenly they heard some unearthly groans and shrieks. So they came out and began casting out the demons. He was a lot like Legion, as in the struggle, he tore off all of his clothes. But finally, he was delivered and received partial sight in his eyes. They just got word that now he has regained his full sight. And here’s the kicker: the WHOLE VILLAGE has come to Jesus as a result of the deliverance of this Legion!! (There’s no doubt that in Africa, demons are very real.)
When we finished praying, I looked into Gino’s face. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. Everyone clapped and cheered and they went back to their seats while we started the service. During the service our pastor, Amos, received a call from our Chair of Trustees, Mike Kuma. His wife, Esther, needed a ride home from a local clinic, where she was recovering from hernia surgery. By the way, there are only TWO DOCTORS in all of Yei right now: one is a German missionary, Dr. Matthias, and the other is a Sudanese, Dr. Wole [pronounced woely]. The latter had performed the surgery. So Boo left the service to bring her home. At the end of our service another call came, that the mother of Baby Christine [as well as Betty Asha] needed a ride to the same clinic. After worship, we gathered our little children/youth choir, all three drums and as many people as we could pack into the Land Cruiser, and we headed for town. Boo dropped us off at the market, then took Peter Lomoro [one of our youth pastors, and recipient of a school scholarship] to the village to pick up Christine’s Mom.
In the market, meanwhile, we set up under a big mango tree for shade. (For those of you who’ve been here, I call it “the inside market” where the best produce is sold.) Esther Undo, the pastor’s widow who cares for Baby Rebekah, beat that big drum and led the choir in quite a few songs. Then she stood on top of the drum—and exhorted everyone in the market to come and listen! We probably had 100+ people dancing and smiling—plus one crazy man. He was happy to sit down and play one of the drums. After a lot of music, I introduced myself. I told them that every week I go there to buy food from them. But that day, we came to give them spiritual food from God’s Word. I said that maybe their jobs keep them from going to worship at a church, so we brought the church to them. The background noise was very loud, so Edina and I were virtually screaming to be heard. I preached from John 1:1, 4, & 9-12. I have been studying John in the Juba Arabic (Yoanne), so I understood every word that was read. The people listened very attentively. At the end, I asked everyone who’d already given their heart to Jesus Christ, to raise their hands. About 80% of them did. Then I gave the invitation to those who did not raise their hands. The choir began to sing, and a lady stepped forward. Edina translated—and I went over the plant of salvation with her, then she prayed with us. Both Gino/Susan and this lady—whose name is also Susan—received their own copy of Yoanne (which has a plan of salvation). Her face was shining with joy! In one day, we’d prayed with 3 people to give their hearts to Jesus! Another lady came for prayer for healing, and we did so. After that the choir sang a lot more songs. People started laying down money, lemons, cassava flour, salt, onions—until we had to borrow a tub to hold it all! The crazy man got very excited and started pouring flour on our choir kids. One of the men went over and yanked his arm and spoke sternly to him. Before our closing prayer, I told them that we had not come there to receive anything from them, but that we were thankful for their offerings. Then Pastor Amos exhorted them and closed the service.
I called Boo to pick us up, and we took the whole crowd to Esther’s (plus the drums). Then Boo and Peter and I went back to the village and took Baby Christine and her sister, Charity, and took them to the clinic where Cecilia had been admitted. Some of our last team members visited that church. Finally, around 3:30, we arrived back home.
Yesterday (Sunday) Gino and Susan were back. During the dancing songs, Gino came up many times, all smiles, and danced and shook our hands. His whole face and demeanor was transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. Yoanne 1:12:
“Lakiin le kulu nas al akudu Huwo, Huwo wodi le humon sulta asan bikuun awlaad bita Rabuna, hata le humon al aminu fi isim Bitoo.” “But to all who received Him, He gave the right and power to become the children of God, even to those who believed in His Name.”
These things are what keep us going through the heat and dust and struggles: to see the love, joy and peace of Christ on the faces of men and women, boys and girls.
Please pray for these new Christians in their walk with the Lord.
Phyllis Hankins
