Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Christmas in August - lots of presents!

I quoted from Exodus 33:13-14 in my last email: "Remember that this nation is your people." The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."   As I think back on the past 3 weeks it's true that His presence was with us as we traveled to Sudan - but in reality His presence is our present.  

We enjoyed the gift of koinonia as our team and families gathered at Tenwek officially launching Mango Ministries.



We also enjoyed the gift or fruits of the land as we savored cool watermelon at Werkok that Reuben helped plant 3 months earlier.   
 



Reuben and Joseah may have felt like it was Christmas with their new Suzuki 125 cc motorbikes that flew in with the team.  They are able to travel around the county where we are making our base in Akot, South Sudan.  



A real gift for me and Joseah was seeing so many of the Bibles that we helped distribute last year. We're praying that God's Word will continue to speak to the people of South Sudan. The man on the left gave his heart to Jesus last year when he received his Bible!



Another present we hope to share with many folks is the telling of Bible stories in culturally relevant ways. Billy Coppedge shared stories from formal church services to a captive audience in the back of a land cruiser on a trip to town.  


Please continue to pray that God's presence will continue to rest on the team.  Join me in thanking Him for the presents we have been blessed with and that the Sudanese will acknowledge Jesus as the greatest present of all.  

What gifts has Jesus given you this summer?

Thankful,
joy