More Sudan Snapshots

There was a lot that went on in Sudan that wasn't really covered in that first post! 

The girls made some really fun friendships and we met some really great people that may not be "offical" ministry, but they are dear people and happy memories to us that we want to share with you!

This is the girls with Wilma.  She is a lady working at the compound where we stayed in Lui and she loved our girls. She helped clean and cook and we LOVED her staple foods...BEANS AND RICE!!! She sweetly though would wait until all the others staying at the same compound were gone each day and then sneak the girls a handful of bananas!  Thanks Wilma for a yummy stay in Lui!

Our backs are aching!!!  We praise Jesus for the double jogging stroller He provided while we were in America. We use it every morning almost in Arua, but due to the weight and size limitations of traveling on small mission planes and the cultural oddity of the big thing, it didn't make the trip to Sudan.  So...both girls found our arms and backs the best way to travel.  About a half day into the five days, this got OLD!

Thankfully everywhere we went, there seemed to be eager helpers wanting to touch, carry, hug, greet and generally just be with the girls!

This precious lady took stock from her store to share with us!  Both girls were given little cakes and biscuits from this sweet ladies' store on the main road in Lui.

The Lui market was a bit lacking compared to the variety and vastness of the Arua market.

We LOVED being with Auntie Joy Phillips!!!

She was great fun...here Elsie Jayne is telling her a fabulous story about our cousins Isaiah, Michael and Mattie although Auntie Joy doesn't know them and the story was totally made up.  It seems Daddy might not be the only story teller in this family!  We just need to keep working on learning bible stories! :)

 

Dr. Steve Manchester was in Lui when we arrived having come a few days early to offer his services at Lui Hospital. He is working at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya and is now on the WGM Sudan Board.  We had lots of fun with Dr. Steve (here he is playing frisbee with Elsie Jayne) and he helped us keep the "American myth" alive that doctors give lollies or sweeties!  It's been really hard on Elsie Jayne being back in Arua, that the doctors don't give you candy!  Dr. Steve helped us out and shared suckers with the girls for the plane flight from Lui to Tonj to keep the belief alive!  Thanks Dr. Steve!

This is the pediatric ward at Lui where Dr. Steve (more importantly than giving lollies) gave Lucy some tummy medicine. Seems that giardia medicine only is about 80% effective and she needed to be re-treated after lots of tummy sickness including vomitting the morning we left home for Sudan! 

A week without any "extra" toys is really good for us every now and then. This is my wrap used to tie the girls on my back so often, but during hospital chapel, used as Elsie Jayne's baby doll. The imagination is not lacking!

The Coppedges in Sudan!

These next couple of pictures are to help you catch the vision of the airstrip in Mundri. We drove there from Lui to catch our flight out.  And this is where we flew in from Arua.  On the way in we were on an MAF flight and the pilot leaned back and asked the guy in the next seat to check the road for cars.  It seems the airstrip is crossed by the road....so you have to be sure there are no cars, or bicycles, or people around as you come in to land!!!

Joy Phillips, our fearless leader...attempting to keep motor bikes and people off the airstrip as our pilot lands.

A cool car that a kid brought up to us at the airstrip while we were waiting!  It's made from a juice bottle and the tires are rubber circles cut from old flip flops.

Elsie Jayne with her buddy that had a great 4-wheel drive sort of safari vehicle he had made!

 Those are Dr. Steve's lollies and a missionary pilot in the making!  Elsie Jayne really enjoyed listening in to Pilot Jerry's conversation during take off and landing.

Lucy was just happy to enjoy the candy!

This is Joy with  her friend Nicola, who willingly was our Rumbek tour guide and is working with the church there in health services.  She was such a blessing picking us up from the airfield and taking us to a lovely Ethiopian lunch!

Two of our families' heros!  Dr. Steve and Pilot Jerry!     

One of the sweetest love gifts from Jesus was going to Tonj and seeing the clinic and Bible school there with In Deed and Truth Ministries.  We also had the great joy of enjoying the missionary family that is there and their kids' toys!  We are thinking a sand box may need to be on our Christmas project list!!!

Hannah holding Lucy in Tonj, Southern Sudan.

Elsie Jayne REALLY enjoyed her time with Agum, in Tonj.

Can  you tell we had fun!?

Jediah, Elsie Jayne, Agum and Hannah

Going back out to the plane in Tonj, the "security" officers who had been at the airfield, told us of a cobra they had killed in the night.  Better to see it dead than alive I guess...

Our stop over for re-fueling in Akot was another gift from Jesus. This is where we had stayed last October as we had traveled to Sudan and Elsie Jayne really was eager to stay in her tent in Sudan. We didn't get to sleep here again, but at least she got to see the place which was quite satisfactory!

Moments before both of them just fell over, literally from sheer exhaustion, the girls enjoyed Mary Poppins in the Juba airport...not a place we recommend you detouring through on your next holiday... :)

We fly home to Arua in the morning!

Not sure all the new week holds (Elsie Jayne turns three on Wednesday), but so thankful to be heading back home!

Thank you for your prayers and love.