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you would have thought that it was christmas morning for over 600 kids at irya primary school in Loa this morning. i was privliged to call each of the 94 kids that i have been teaching the last three days, by name, to the front of the classroom, hand them a backpack loaded with new clothes, school supplies and a mosquito net and give them a hug. most of these kids have never in there life had anything unused, everything has had a previous owner. more often than not, two or three previous owners by the time it makes its way up to sudan.

the gang...

a show of hands when they were asked how many decided to ask Jesus into their life this week. yes, God showed up in big ways!

in my classroom

love covers irya primary

God showed up. mountains were moved. and something much bigger than us, happened. kids heard the gospel, many for the first time. we left behind something much greater than a 600 backpacks and red t-shirts.

love covers iriya

looking into the face of a little person who doesn't know anyone cares. he has no concept of love. he has never had new clothes. his belly has never been full. he doesn't know life will ever be different.

today, i had the opportunity to look these little people in the eyes and tell them about a love so deep that it will change their lives long after i am gone. a love that cares. a love that clothes. a love that fills. a love that will never leave. a love that changes lives. today i looked into the faces of 94 little people who have lives that parallel the one above and told them about the love of jesus. one little boy in the back of the room raised his hand and asked if he could have this love. we prayed, right then and there. today 94 third graders asked jesus into their heart, confessed that they are messy, imperfect people in need of a big God. they believe in a God that cares. a God that loves. a God that clothes. a God that provides. a God that promises to never leave or forsake them. they believe in this, even though their circumstances have not changed.

for the next two days, i get to love on these 94 third graders. they have no idea that on day three, they are getting a brand new school uniform that is their size, new school supplies, a new t-shirt... all in a new backpack with their name on it. they have no idea that they have been prayed for, by name, for the last 4 months.

these 94 little people have no idea all of the blessings that God has in store for them, but they have faith in a God so big that loves them, and they are trusting Him. today as i walked away from the school they followed me and were singing (and by singing, i mean screaming at the top of their lungs) the words were in Madi but literally translated mean, "Jesus number One, number One Jesus, Jesus is number One in my Life". I will never forget these precious words.

home away from home

i am in juba this week... the capital of southern sudan. wes has meetings with the general, vice-president and possibly, the president of sudan. all important people that have the power to change things in this country. it is incredible to see the Lord open door after door to the leaders of this country. i truly believe this country can and will be won for the gospel of Christ.

far reaching ministries (FRM) started over 14 years ago with a calling placed on wes, my uncle's, heart to reach the people of sudan. he started a bible college for chaplains in the SPLA (southern people's liberation army) in a small town, just north of the ugandan border. today, over 300 men have graduated from the bible college, and are deployed around the country to different divisions within the army, reaching men, women and children with the light of the gospel. these men are trained to plant churches, develop weekly studies for both men and women's groups and begin a children's ministry. God is moving and i have a front row seat.

God's timing!!

i am here, and i am staying longer!! i arrived at the entebbe airport this morning and went immediately to the guesthouse in kampala. wes arrived a little after me and asked if i could extend my trip... no one needs to twist my arm :) there is a team coming in from san diego the day i am scheduled to leave, and they could use an extra set of hands. in addition to being with the team, i will have the chance to photograph the chaplain refresher course, as well as love covers (a vbs and clothing project in one of the schools nearby).
i leave early tomorrow morning for nimule... i can't wait to see everyone!

a different kind of independence day celebration

a fitting, though less traditional way of celebrating the fourth of july. ann and i took the train to normandy this morning and then a bus to the american cemetery and omaha beach. the cemetery was overwhelming as the crosses stretch on and on seeming to never end. name after name identifies the individuals that lost their lives for the freedom of our country. those that were unidentified or lost are honored by crosses marking 'a comrade in arms known but to God'. the beaches are drastically different from those on the french rivera in the south. there is a sort of understood respect for those that lost their lives on the beach 65 years ago.