From the journal of Andy Macaulay

Life in Sudan

A life without modern conveniences and trapped in the midst of years of war...
A life with houses made of mud and straw, but the families are committed to community...
People look at the life of the Sudanese with sorrow and pity, but their life is full of God’s presence...
They live in God’s love and they challenge everyone who tries to take it from them...
So don’t look at them with sorrow and pity, but instead enlighten yourselves to the way they rely on God...
My hope is that it doesn’t take the removal of all modern conveniences for us to rely truly on God.

Eric's Story

Going to Africa was truly a life changing experience for me. One that I still don't understand the full effects of yet. You have heard us talking about"relationships", and that is where my lesson began.
I felt an overwhelming desire to be close to people. To build relations with the people both in Kenya, and in Sudan. They seemed to have a very grounded and simple ease about them that I wanted to understand and wanted to be able to apply to my life. Learning how to really communicate with people of another culture presented its own challenges. It's funny but we all seemed to talk a bit differently after a couple of days. It wasn't just a difference in dialect though. It was more of a difference in our cultures. One of the biggest differences I found between our culture and theirs is patience. The people in Africa are just a lot more patient; both with others and with life in general. Like if something doesn't happen when it should, it's ok...it will happen when it happens. We called it "Africa Time". But they seemed to have that same kind of understanding for each other too. More of an acceptance of each other and their faults as well as their good points.overall I think they live in a much more positive and objective atmosphere
The best part of the trip to me was, by far, the opportunities that I had to just share in these peoples everyday lives... sharing the only real bond that we had... The Lord. I have never felt that I was more in the will of God than on this trip sharing together His presence and glory, and providence. Through my encounters with a few people on this trip, I feel like I have a better understanding of just how important we are to the Father. I'm convinced He sent me all the way to Sudan to give a copy of the Old Testament to a young man, whose name is Simon Mamer, and to tell him that he was to teach it to the other people there in Sudan, even though right now he is a student in Uganda. What I can't really put into words is the powerful effect that had on both of our lives! God was speaking to Simon through me. We both knew that what was happening was very important, just because of how far God had gone to make this meeting happen. We were both touched by God in a way that would change the rest of our lives. Kind of the way it is every time God reveals Himself to us. To say that we were overjoyed, would be an understatement...we were filled to the rim and overflowing! Simon told me, a couple days later, that when he told his family what had happened, they were all rejoicing and praising God very "seriously". I thought that was a cute way to put it. Needless to say, I came away from the whole incredible experience with a mixture of excitement and awe and peace and wow. But there is one thing that I know in my heart, that I can't seem to stop thinking about,and I feel like I'm supposed to relate to You, and that is that we are all just as important to God as Simon is....as Jesus is....He loves us all that much.

Deneen's Story

The First full day in Sudan Keli and I went to the church of women to share scripture and witness for the Lord. There was about 6 women there due to a tragic car accident which happened the night before, so many of the Sudanese were in mourning for the death of one of their close friends whose pregnant wife had lost her life. The women were very apologetic and said that they knew we came a long ways to share the word of God with them and that they would take our message back to them and share it. As Keli gave her testimony with an interpreter, the 86 year old woman piped up and replied, "we know you leave the comfort of your home, your cars, and your things to come here and share God's word, and even though the color of our skin is different we share the same troubles and burdens, and even though you come from the other side of the world, we are all one! This made me cry tears of joy in seeing how our Awesome God is the same there as He is here! And that He is doing the same thing all over the world, winning souls for His Kingdom!! Blessings, Deneen

Keli's Story

My desire from before we left home was simply to share the love of Christ with the ladies in Werkok, hopefully to help them understand how precious each individual lady is to the Father. One thing I noticed while we were having conversations through an interpreter, is that it seems to take a long time to get a simple point across. But you can see when they get the point because they look you in the eye and say, "Mmmmmm." One day this lady came by herself to the compound, she had been waiting to hear the Word of God. I shared just the verse on the bookmark that I had made to give out, it was Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." I watched her face as Peter interpreted the verse to her, line by line. When we got to the end of the verse she placed her hand over her heart, looked at me and murmured, "Mmmmmmmmm." I think she got it.

Andrea's Story

What I admire most about the Dinka people is how they hold fast in their belief in Jesus Christ. It is all they(and all we really need). Through decades of war and suffering it has made them stronger in their faith and they stand firm in the armor of God as the bible tells us to and fight to hold on to God's kingdom. Yes-they are poor by our standards: they are barefoot, wear the same tattered clothes each day, are malnurished, uneducated and lack proper medical care. But they are rich in God's eyes for they have a faith as pure as a child when it comes to loving God ! It makes my heart ache for our own nation and how we have watered down God's word and take for granted His precious son He has given us so we may be one with Him. The Dinkas really get this and treasure it above all else.

I was blessed to teach the children each day in a sort of VBS. The first day I went to the local church with a very special lady named Mary from Church and Development compound across the dirt road from the hospital compound. About 10 kids showed up at first and I read Zephaniah 5:17 to them to start filling them up with how valuable they are in God's eyes, the boys AND girls. More and more trickle in and I realize they come late because the older ones go home to wash and put on their Sunday outfit to go to church. The next day there was about 40 kids and I felt lead to teach from Proverbs since they only have the New Testament translated in Dinka. They listen and understand very well. They are so hungry for more, they don't want to go home. They really seem to appreciate learning and are very sharp. It angers me that they are not in school, thanks to a new northern Sudan law that says they can't start until April instead of January! After our bible study we would go outside and play games. It made my heart feel so good to hear them laughing and playing like children should-they don't do that much here. They are not a child-centered society like we are. I was so touched by how there precious faces would light up from the attention I was giving them. They loved our time together so much they asked me to come back on Saturday to teach them! How could I say no as I didn't want our time together to end either! Each day several girls would walk me back to our compound and fight over who would get to hold my hands and they want to sing "Jesus loves me" over and over! This is the song I taught them in English to sing in church on Sunday!
When we reach the compound it is so hard to send them home(lor bai in Dinka). Leaving them was almost as hard as leaving my own children, wondering what will happen to each of them, some sick with malaria, others with TB or Typhoid....I am so blessed to have been chosen for this mission to teach the children and learn and grow spiritually along with them! Thank you God! Andrea

On Our Way!

We were all thrilled that the day came to leave our transition phase of the journey and make our way to Werkok. It would take two flights, the first to Lokichobi, still in Kenya but near the Sudanese border. In Loki, we boarded a bush plane owned by AIM. Eric took the controls of the plane while Mike our pilot enjoyed his lunch.The highlight of this leg of the journey was flying over Zion Church just before landing. Zion Church was built by the community after 30,000 people gathered to burn their traditional animism idols on this site.
We were greeted by Dave and Joy Mueller and their boys Ian, Forrest and Cameron. The Muellers arrived a week prior and have committed to staying on site for 9 months to oversee the project.

We were pleasantly surprised by our accomodations. The men's bunks were in an old Red Cross type
tent while the women were welcomed into a lovely "tukel", a mud-hut with a grass roof, bats, lizards, and mice included. We guys were so envious. Within two hours our girls were needing to be toweled down because of the heat. I'm sorry. I just thought that was hilarious.
Our first greeting once in the compound was by three children, one of whom was wearing zip-up fleece pajamas during the heat of the day and was sweating profusely. I'm sure it was either that or run around naked.
Welcome to Sudan....

It's All About Relationships!

Over the course of our trip, that statement became our battle cry. Before we left Nairobi, we were treated to dinner at a beautiful Indian restaurant by a friend of Dave's named Shaunti and his wife Karen. Shaunti was Indian himself but his family had lived in Kenya for four generations. He was an amazing host, helping all of us order and filling the evening with stories. Shaunti's connection to the mission is that he is helping pull together what's necessary to provide running water to the hospital. All water at this time has to be pumped and carried, then filtered. Shaunti has worked with water his whole life.
Feeling a little intimidated by Shaunti's larger than life presence, I asked Jesus to give me a question to ask Shaunti, that would show our interest in him. What quickly came to mind was, "Shaunti, what is your earliest memory of this passion you have for water?" The story that followed was amazing.
As a boy, Shaunti had been asked by his father to go six miles and bring back some water. His effort was met with disapproval upon his return. From then on Shaunti began to dream up ways of transferring water, even creating a box filter when he was only 10 years old. His father owned a small food stand that sold meat on a stick. Shaunti had taken the business over when he was only 7. Within three years, the boy had multiplied the business, handing it back to his father, providing enough security for his dad for a lifetime. By age 19, he had finished his schooling and study of water. With 7 shillings in his pocket, he used 4 to get to Nairobi to ask for a job. He landed a project with a rich landowner with a 30,000 acre farm. The man had only four water sources on the property and wanted water to every square inch of the land. He told Shaunti that if he didn't get the job done in four months that he would personally kill him.
Shaunti said that he was going to need lots of supplies and workers to make that happen, so he was given a blank check to a hardward store and permission to hire as many workers as he needed. He employed 600 workers for the project and finished in seven weeks, checking every fitting himself. He said he enjoyed a big breakfast, then went to his employer and said he was done. Together they went to see every fitting again.
Shaunti had been promised 35,000 shillings to finish the job, but instead was handed a stack that was 100,000 shillings. He could not sleep with that money in his room, so he demanded the man hold it until morning. The man refused and Shaunti threatened to sleep outside the man's door. The man finally agreed and Shaunti made the man go with him to his father and present him the money in front of him. When he did, Shaunti was presented with 250,000 shillings, a small fortune.
It's the same story everywhere. Every boy wants his father to be proud of him.
When Dave told Shaunti the budget for acquiring the desired water tanks for the hospital, Shaunti, said, "Dave, let's go have some tea" (translation: That's never going to happen!) Dave said, "Shaunti, we've got to have it!"
Shaunti has developed a love for Dave, like a son for a father. He promised to do what he could. He called a connection and made the request for 4 tanks. The response from the man, a marketing guy for the company, was, "If I go to my supervisors and ask for that, they are going to kill me!" Shaunti said, "Ok, what will they do to you if you only ask for two tanks?" "Probably beat me up." Shaunti said, "Ok, I will watch your kids for a month while you recover." After the man came back with the news he had made the deal for the tanks, Shaunti asked the man, "Are you my friend?" "Yes, Shaunti, you know I am your friend." Shaunti went on, "Would a friend give away a shirt without the buttons?" "What do you want, Shaunti?" "We need all the pipes and fittings for the tanks." "Fine, Shaunti."
After dinner, we were invited to Shaunti's home, and were treated to mango ice cream topped with warm carrots boiled in milk and mixed with some Indian spices. I know that sounds weird, but it was awesome. Karen showed us her spices, all hand ground.

What a night....

They Saw Us Coming!

One thing I quickly realized when arriving in Africa is that white people really stand out. Our visit to the Village Market to find gifts for our families also showed us what natives think when they see white people coming: suckers with money!
We had been prepared that the people enjoy a good haggle and get offended if you're not willing to play. So because of their perception of us, they would throw out a outrageous price for their product knowing that they would end up receiving about half of what they asked if we played our part effectively. Let's just say I made some people really happy and helped meet the needs of several families. Look at the smiles I put on these faces! I purchased a small djimbe drum from a young, smooth talker named Sebastian, and a traditional Masai game called Bao from Christopher. Christopher knew he had me when I asked him to teach me to play. We sat off to the side for about 45 minutes talking and playing. He let me win twice.
Deneen, our world traveler veteran proved to be the toughest haggler to deal with and the word spread fast. What was wild though, is how connected everyone was. I expressed to one "retailer" that I needed to find my friend (only thinking of Deneen) to help me pick out some jewelry for my wife. Five minutes later I was being led by the hand to connect with my friend. He had found her without even a description. Very strange. Andrea made a heart connection with the woman she worked with, who rescued her from some of the more aggressive salespeople. while Keli leaned on our driver and new friend, George, to provide advice. George did a great job of being patient with us, and hiding what must have been going through his mind as he saw enough money leave our hands to provide for his family for months.

Welcome!

On January 15, a seven-member team from CrossPoint Church in Ellijay embarked on what would be the adventure of a lifetime: From left to right, Glen Grindley, Deneen Stover, myself, Keli Grooms, Eric Berk, Team Leader Andrea Boykin and Andy Macaulay. Our mission was to make our way to Werkok in Southern Sudan and to present ourselves available to God to further His mission of love of restoration to a people recovering from 20 years of war. This day came about because a year and a half earlier, God gave His heart for the Sudanese to Andrea, and His heart was apparently breaking, His love overwhelming. She could not sleep, viewing picture after picture that described the plight of the Sudanese. A connection was made with another man who is driven to help the Sudanese, Dave Bowman of Grand Rapids, MI. Dave is a retired dental technician who adopted five Sudanese "Lost Boys" who were orphaned by the war and walked 1000 miles to Ethiopia before being brought to the states. Through his Sudanese sons, Dave met Bishop Nathaniel Garang and later Pastor Stephen Mathiang who shared with Dave their story and dreams for their people. A vision was conceived to build a teaching hospital in the little town of Werkok, to give relief and health care to these people who had none, all in the name of Jesus. Dave's passion has carried the vision forward, and in just one year since the work began, a compound has been established by the Werkok community for the hospital and for the missionaries overseeing the project. We were met by Dave in Nairobi, where we spent several days getting over our jetlag and mingling with other missionaries at African Inland Mission's Mayfield Guest House. A chronology of this experience will be to great a project to undertake at this time, so the rest of the posts will be our stories and pictures captured throughout this life-changing adventure.