These words were the last song we sang while we were camping. We stood on the dry ground of the desert and proclaimed that this land was ready to recieve her king. The truth of these lyrics have never rung so clear as they did in the land and with the people we were camping with last week.
Last week we packed up a caravan of cars and about 55 of us headed out for the nine hour journey into the deserts of eastern sudan. We went to a area which is rarely visited by outsiders with the intention of building relationships with a people who are known to be one of the most closed people groups in the world. We had no idea what to expect accept that God was bringing us to this place in order to help his children return home. This people group is completely unreached; in the Sudan there are almost 100,000 members of this people group without there being one known Christ follower. So we were headed into unharvested fields.
The first day we spent time in praying and worshiping GOd. We were all completely unable to fathom what God would do with the week ahead of us. Over the course of the 5 days we spent in the desert we saw amazing things happen. The people received us with open arms and open homes. We spent hours in different families' tents talking and eating and laughing. More importantly than just having open homes, the people received us with open hearts! We were able to openly share the gospel with more people than we could count. People were asking for prayers for healing and for needs. I have never before seen a group of people so hungry and open to hear about Jesus before.
We spent our days sharing the gospel, and praying for people in their homes. Then in the afternoons and evenings these people would come to our campsite and hang out until late at night. Many many people would stay and listen to our prayer and worship services, and would sit and listen to sermons and readings from the word. Amazing discussions were had and this land that was once so dark began to awaken to the light of the boss.
On the last night we were in the desert, we had four ladies visit us. Myself and a few other ladies hosted them and began to share about Jesus. The night before another member of our team had told them the story of the bible and these ladies had returned thirsty for God. We began to share, with the help of a translator. We told stories from the bible and began to very simply tell these ladies about the Jesus' love for them and their need to recieve it. After a few hours of talking, and sharing these woman decided they wanted to recieve the gift of Christ. And in the light of the stars and moons, these woman bowed their heads and prayed to God for forgiveness and accepted his gift of the Holy Spirit. We were truly blown away by how God moved and I am still unable to fully comprehend the significance of this moment. These four woman are the first known Christians in their whole people group. We rejoiced with them, sang with them, and gave them gifts which will hopefully allow them to grow in the knowledge of God.
Leaving the desert was hard. Leaving a place where you have seen God move so evidently is difficult, and leaving a people who have called you sister and so openely seeked out Jesus is nearly impossible. It is harder to be in Khartoum now, because peices of my heart are still scattered over the desert in eastern Sudan. My heart is in the homes of the women whom I shared with, my heart is in the little girls I got to love, and my heart is with this people group who now have light where all once was dark.
Thank you for all you prayers over this trip. Each of your prayers were powerful, and we felt them as they carried us throughout the week. Please continue to be praying for the seeds planted in the desert. Pray for seeds to take root and that new faith springs forth. Please pray for the four women who committed to God. Pray for strength to hold onto their new faith and reject their old sinful ways. Also pray for wisdom of our team leaders has they begin to plan on the best way to disciple these women. Thank you again for all you support, it is felt.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing...
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