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