Let Me Introduce Need

I had been to Sudan before, five years ago on a survey trip. We barely got across the border but I was thrilled because I could "check" Sudan off my "passport" list of countries that always sounds impressive in certain circles. Somehow that trip as a recent college grad with the whole world before me, jet-sitting down my "country bucket list," was different than this one. We drove up Saturday, the 160 kilometers (100 miles) taking just shy of six hours. The trip was honestly fun, nothing like putting the ol' land rover through her paces. We delayed twice, once to visit some missionary friends and once while the de-land mining crew got out of the way. They say the major roads are all clear but we were warned to not even step off the road to use the toilet. They haven't de-mined the shoulders. Somehow before that would have been awesome, as in, dangerously cool. This trip though, with Joanna and Elsie Jayne on my heart, it wasn't as awesome. We were thankful for our missionary friends' latrine.

It was exciting to finally reach Yei. Rinehimers, Mark Landerour volunteer, and I made up the Arua team and we joined Jonathan Mayo (our Ugandan field director), Terry and Karen Duncan (our African Regional Director) and Joy Phillips (WGM's representative in Sudan). The fellowship with such African-seasoned, Jesus-loving missionaries was worth the trip. Our three objectives were 1.) visit with several of our Sudanese pastoral contacts 2.) discuss the opening of Southern Sudan as a WGM field (opportunities & needs) 3.) actually see what the town of Yei was like.

What I walked away from our time together with was the comment I heard from several Sudan-veterans: "Sudan is hard. Nothing comes easy." Needs? Oh' my yes. We had a great brainstorming session of discussing just a few minor ones: grassroots pastoral training, water, literacy, training of school teachers, children programs for the war orphans, AIDS/sex education, youth sport camps, bible studies, and serious discipleship for all ages.

The list was overwhelming. The question that I came home with was how?

What came to mind though was a couple of folks who would be willing to trust God for the Overwhelming. the Impossible. Someone who would be willing to plunge up to their fears and even beyond that God might transform his people and grow his church in Southern Sudan. I think five years ago there was something in side me that relished the difficulties. There are difficulties: no running water, no good roads, no reliable electricity, no support network, nothing but Need... Need dressed in deep black skin, a t-shirt with a torn collar, wearing broken flipflops. Nothing but Need herself...and God.

Whereas before there had been an almost youthful pride in the challenges, somehow this time, I didn't feel like that was the solution. More than Zealous Ambitition, Southern Sudan needs a teachable spirit clothed in humility. Keep your eyes open, the impression I get is they are hard to come by.

So we are left with the only guarantee we can offer as being Himself. Ultimately that is all we have whether in Sudan, America or Uganda. So there is no guilt, no pressure, no shame but coming home, I felt let I couldn't help but to extend an invitation to all - "Sudan is hard. Nothing is easy." But you are invited.