Christmas in
south sudan for me was very lovely especially in 96 degree heat.. Lots more
about why God sent Jesus to earth and much less materialism compared to UK and
much more relaxing even though the price of chicken here is so high the same
money worries we all might have happen here and all over the world.. A 3 hour not boring church service filled
with the voices of children and youth praising God. Also for Christmas dinner a
bunch of people who were far from home and families got together and
appreciated the global message. We had 9 nationalities and nine dishes plus the
obligatory coke or pepsi from the UN. It was special as well because we had a
young girl poss 18/19 from Sth Sudan but a different town who thought she was
going to be very sad and lonely but instead felt blessed by being surrounded by
loving caring foreigners. Since then it has been a round of dinner and party
invitations mostly held in tukles (mud huts) and under the mango trees. This ‘under
the mango tree’ is such a way of life as we enjoy the shade and the breeze. I
love the music but the speeches are difficult as my Arabic is so limited and
i’m slow to learn. People do throw in the odd sentence in English though and
sometimes kind people interpret but usually the sound systems are so loud i
can’t hear the interpreter. So here i am trying to look interested not only to
the speaker but to the interpreter neither of which i understand. I am still
greatly enjoying the hospitality though even if i do feel a little awkward at
being an (to me undeserved) honoured guest, seated with the important people.
If it wasn’t for Jesus insisting on washing my feet I’m not sure i’d enjoy
myself at all and people here do enjoy honouring people so it is my duty to go
along with it. We have another party this afternoon with the honourable?(commissioner).
I love it.
I also
prepared my first sermon today for the English service on 1/1/12 at the cathedral.
Another place where I am totally undeserving to be but aren’t we all? I’m
talking about one body in Christ Jesus and how it’s all coming together in God’s
plan for his victory which he has already won. Mind-bending, to begin with.
What i have
learned is people are the same the world over. Most people are good and kind
but wherever you are there are thieves and dogs that bite. So be careful. I
Love you but not as much as He does.
