Day Four in Nimule (Journal Entry)

This afternoon I helped James, Francis (another pastor from S Sudan), and a couple of others to finish the extra “Love Covers” bags so we can take them to village of Pageri tomorrow. With these that we’ll be taking there will have been about 1000 given out to the children of Pageri and Loa. They are a backpack with six exercise books, a package of pencils, a pencil sharpener, two pens, three pair of underwear, a school uniform, a “Love Covers” t-shirt, a blanket, and a mosquito net. WHAT A BLESSING FOR THESE KIDS! Wes and Vicky were telling me that when they did the main event last week with the teams from Maranatha Chapel and Calvary Chapel Gulf Breeze that they were just surrounded by all the kids cheering and smiling as they drove into town. The kids surrounded the cars and escorted them into the school area. They were jumping onto the cars etc. I will go with Lino, Michael, Gifti and others tomorrow to distribute the extra 60 bags or so for some kids who were not originally registered. We will also give the t-shirts to 145 kids that did not get theirs in the bag last week. Additionally, I will be teaching the weekly women's Bible Study at Maranatha Chapel in Pageri. Normally Vicky teaches it but she and James had to travel to take care of some administrative things. I'm really missing the family the last couple of days. It’s so nice to talk to Carrie every day and the kids as well. For some reason Jada really gets to me. When she comes on the phone and tells her mom “me do it!” and then says “hello, I love you baba” I just want to die. I miss her so much! Not to say I don’t miss Carrie and the boys, but Jada, and even Caleb, are my little babies still and I feel like I’m missing their lives. I don’t like being apart from them like this one bit! If I knew I’d be seeing them in a couple of weeks it would be better, but knowing it will be a couple of months makes me want to cancel the rest of my trip! I know better, and instead make it that much more a matter of prayer.

Lord, I pray that Carrie and the baby are healthy and doing well. Lord, help me not to worry, but to carry everything to you in prayer with thanksgiving.

I was just thinking of how fun it would be to have my good friend Bond here and spend some time doing ministry with him. I miss doing ministry together with him.

This morning the four Michigan ladies left. I was wearing my comfy cammo pants when we drove them to the airstrip. When we got there a matatu (minivan / public bus) pulled up with a man named Ross (American) who runs an orphanage. I squatted down to play with some of the kids from the orphanage that had come with him, and when I did the crotch of my pants blew out completely! It was terrible. Nobody noticed except for maybe one of the kids. I covered it with my shirt the best I could. Then I had to go to the passenger side of the Land Cruiser and open the door and roll down the window so that the body of the door covered my mid-section and I could still talk through the open window. It was so funny. Right now the sewing teacher at the FRM compound is working on the blow-out to see if he can repair it. Those pants are so comfortable! Of course the comfy ones are the ones that blow out! I need to stop writing now so I can do my own personal devotions. I haven’t done them yet today and I need to be vigilant!

8:13 pm - At dinner tonight, Michael, Vicky, Lino and I talked about rats and snakes. These are the two things that Vicky hates the most (just like Carrie!). They told me about the rats here nibbling on people at night. They told me that when they are sleeping the rat will nibble on the edges of the feet, toes, or fingers, especially if the person has not washed well and the scent of food is on them. Michael said that it didn't hurt or wake you because they would take a small bite and then blow on it. He made a little rat face and then the motion of gentle blowing. I almost died laughing at the idea of a rat taking a little bite of my heel and then blowing on it so it would feel all better and I wouldn’t wake up! They kept talking about it and demonstrating the rat's actions and at one point I fell out of my chair laughing. Watching the expression on Michael’s face as he explained it and picturing the rat doing what he said was so funny. Vicky told a few rat stories from her life and then we switched to snakes. It was hilarious. Her and Carrie are cut from the same mold when it comes to rats and snakes.

This is video of Michael and Gifti demonstrating how the rat will bite and then blow.