Reconnecting with family & friends

Unforgettable 30th May night
May 30 was a normal day in Yabus. I went to English class, taught the women and came back home. There was a meeting with the secondary school staff and the students so we had some good hours of meeting discussing on the issue of “honesty and integrity”. After the meeting, we had our dinner and sat down for another meeting. We call it “compound meeting” mainly for the missionaries and the staffs discussing various concerns. We didn’t realize that time went so fast until when we stretched ourselves as we end our meeting around 9 pm. Wow! What a day. But it wasn’t over yet – the night turned out to be day.
So it was after 9 pm - News came through email and phone calls that there was some political tension in Blue Nile State. Yabus being part of Blue Nile state, we knew that we needed to make a ‘quick wise and right’ decision as to what we should do if situation gets worse. Our team gathered for prayer and seeking guidance from God, and then there was a bomb explosion somewhere and that confirmed our going to Nairobi. I can never forget that night – we got ready with our ‘grab and go’ bag just in case we had to run to the bush or to fly to the safest nearest possible place. But amazingly there weren’t any more alerts. The local people were calm and normal. They were not as alarmed as we were, as they have been into war for more than 20 years.
We had only 9 hours (9.30pm-6.30am) wrapping up things and getting ready on the plane that was coming to take us the next morning. The whole night some of were packing. I was giving cash advance to the teachers and workers in the middle of the night since I needed to clear all the financial things before I leave. I tried to sleep, I couldn’t. The morning came and as we were getting ready to go, the students and neighbours came with shock on their faces, as to what in the world has happened to us that we had to leave very early without any warning. We explained to them the reason of our leaving and that the base will be closed down until further notice – the schools and ministries will be closed down. When they heard that, a student asked – “what about us”?
Where would these people go? The northern troops of Sudan are invading the Blue Nile area and have given 7 days to the southern army (SPLA) to leave the Blue Nile state. But the SPLA would not be silent on this matter because Blue Nile is their homeland and they would not allow the north Sudanese to capture their place as they have done to Abyei (another disputed state). So the native people in Blue Nile are willing to stay and fight for their land at the cost of anything. They said – “this time we are not running anywhere. We will not run to any other country. We will not be refugees anymore. We will fight against the north and if we die, we die in our own homeland”. They are serious this time. They are trained and armed well. I even heard that there are women undergoing military training.
This situation in Sudan has affected a lot of individuals and organizations who have been working and promoting the welfare of Sudan. As of now SIM has closed down the base until situation gets better. Oh! What a pain to end our ministries like this. We could grab only few essential things and left most of our things like that. But that is not our main loss. Our grief is that we left in a rush and could not say proper goodbye to our beloved friends, church and people. And we don’t even know our returning to Yabus is ever possible or not. Only God knows.
I am in Nairobi now, in a safe place actually. But my mind is constantly thinking about Yabus, the ministry and the people I left there. Everything was abrupt and no proper goodbyes make my heart sad. But I do believe that it is God’s plan that we are in a safer place but I keep asking, ‘what about my sudanese friends, where would they go for safety if war begins? My only prayer is – “Dear God, please control the situation and give grace to both the parties to count the cost of what they are doing”. Enough of war! It’s time for peace!
Sudan needs your prayers during this time. Please pray for God’s intervention in this country.

Will I ever get to meet them again? I didn't know that oneday I would leave them without any warning. I was there with them all the time and the next morning I dissappeared. They must have looked for me and found my house locked or empty. Why did she leave without telling us? Is she coming back to Sudan? When is she coming back? I know those questions are battling in thier mind right now. Oh! how I wish I could go back to Yabus and explain to them why I left. And tell them that I love them and miss them so much. Nobody knows what our future ministry in Yabus would be like from now on. We are waiting for God to intervene and bring peace to this land so that we could go back and continue our work as though we never left. Please pray for the Blue Nile state and the whole of Sudan.

I started learning Arabic with these women last year. I never thought that they would want to learn English too. Oneday our Arabic teacher came late in the class and so the women were getting restless since the time was passing by and they had to rush home after the class for household work. They asked me to teach them english while waiting for Ustaz (teacher). I said, "Do you really want to learn?" I stood up and taught them ABC... then to my surpirse they said that they want to learn english more. I thought they were not serious but they are. We have english class twice a week now. They can read and write alphabets and say their names in english. What an amazing opportunity to teach them something that they never dreamed of.

Unfortunately the borehole broke down and so we had to use the river water while the borehole is being fixed. In the picture shown - The orange juice looks cool and great but it was made out from the river water (the brown water bucket).

It's been six months since I last updated myself.
I am still in Sudan. The last few months have been great but challenging with so many transitions at our base (Yabus) - The missionary team and also the political inconsistencies.
However I see a new dimension in my minsitry focus. The Bible study with Uduk women, English class with the women in town mostly the Bartas. I have been having some solid visiting time, extraordianry converstations and encounters. I beelive that this is God's time. Revival is what we need right now. There's hunger and thirst for the truth.

Keep praying for Sudan Political situation, especially for the Blue Nile State.