April 3, 2010
…who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Isaiah 46:3-4
This weekend is special; it is the weekend we remember the wonder working power of our Lord Jesus Christ. The creator of life gave His life for the WORLD! He not only sacrificially gave His life, but He even conquered death and rose again. Who does that?! Well… Jesus!!!
Remembering the reason why I am even on this earth I am reminded of the Great Commission. Jesus before He ascends into heaven says to His disciples, “Go ye into all of the world and preach the gospel.” Now, as Christians today we take this as a commandment as we should also with a servant like spirit go preach the gospel to the whole world through words, actions, and relationships. ECTC is a sending institution. We prepare pastors and missionaries to go back to their people and to other people throughout all of Sudan- many different tribes and tongues. ECTC recently has just sent out four missionaries (which they are financial sponsoring) into the schools of Melut and Ikotos. Two more men will be going to Aweil. I am privileged to be friends the four men. I was able to talk to them before they left and listen to the huge hearts God have given them. The two men going to Melut are going to work in a primary school which heavily Islamic. Their hearts are to build relationships and love these people that are from a different tribe then themselves. The other two going to Ikotos are going to an area that they are from. God has given them a huge heart for their people. I am so excited to see how God is going to use them in the primary school and the community that struggles with cultural clashing with Biblical truth. Please, pray for these six men as they go into the unknown only following the immense peace God has given them for these areas. All people, all tongues going into the entire world and preaching the Gospel! I am so excited that ECTC actively believes that we are all one body, serving one God, no matter what tribe, language, or culture. This is a HUGE message for Sudan where tribalism is the cause for the majority of wars and government corruption. How amazing is the purpose of God?!
Seventh Months, two school terms, and second R&R. I have been here for a while. It is kind of strange, some days I feel like I have been here forever and other days I feel like I just arrived. Yes, I have had my struggles, but I was reminded the other day when I was chatting with Tara on G-chat. She said some days I do not miss Goli, but all days I do. I feel the same… some days I do not love Goli, but all days I love Goli. Some of you will understand that feeling, others will think I just made a grammatical error. Just go with it, ok…
First term finished on Wednesday and we will begin second term on April 26. I only have one more term at ECA and three more months in Sudan! Time has flown and I am going to miss my Sudanese family. Yesterday, I was shown how much I will miss my home here. Yesterday it started raining and there was a group of thirteen compound children that were running to find shelter from the rain. They ended up in my house! Those of you who have seen my house will know that thirteen children plus me in my house is very TIGHT! Think women’s bathroom at Hope Church and cut that in half that is the size of one room in my house where fourteen people were for almost two hours. We had fun, though, we colored, drew, and listened to kids Bible songs. We sang “Lean on me, when you’re not strong…”, “Zacheus was a wee little man…”, “The wise man built his house upon a rock…”, and “I may never march in the infantry…” . Thank you, Jesus, for rainy days and lots of fun!
I am leaving on R & R/ cautionary leave to Kampala, Uganda on Thursday. During my cautionary leave I have the amazing opportunity to go on a trip to Karamojong, Uganda to go visit a missionary couple and the Ik tribe. I am so excited to see the amazing things that God is doing in that place, with that tribe. I also will be attending the Central Region Short term conference that I and another short termer (Amy from Canada who is working in Kampala) have the privilege of organizing. Because, of elections in Sudan there are some concerns for political and social instability. Africa Inland Mission and my Sudan country leader has decided that the best option is for all AIM Sudan team members to take a precautionary leave of absence from Sudan for the month of April. I will be out of Sudan until AIM deems it ok for me to return.
Elections… remember, elections in Southern Sudan will be held April 11. To remind you, from my March Newsletter and last prayer letter, because of the Peace Agreement in 2005 Southern Sudan will have its first general elections in April 2010. Please, pray that God’s hand will guide this election process and Southern Sudan in general. Please, pray that God will rise up leaders that seek after His heart and can lead in faith. Please, pray that God will squash LRA threats, other rebel activity, tribal fighting, corruption of the Southern government, power struggles and tribalism within the Southern government, and the determined spirit of Northern Sudan to infiltrate the South with Islam(by any means). There are many different reports about the elections and not all positive. Please, join the church of Sudan in crying out to God for this country. Pray that God's protection will be upon them and sustain the spirit of hope. Please, lift up their arms in prayer, just as Hur and Aaron lifted up the arms of Moses so Joshua could win the battle. Brothers and Sisters! My Sudanese brothers and sisters are fervently praying for God's peace to come over this nation and they are getting weary(as they have been praying for a long time) and exhausted and are in the midst of a serious battle! Please, hold up their arms, as they are fighting on the frontlines of this Spiritual battle in Sudan! Hold up their arms in prayer, so that God can use their willing hearts to overcome the enemy and prevail(He can do it without them, but pray with us, please)! Hold up their arms!
Our team is planning on getting together on April 11(first day of voting), from 2- 5pm(those of you in Missouri it is 5-8am), and praying for Sudan and the elections. We would like to invite you to lift up this country’s future and safety to the Lord at the same time we are. I realize it is early, but Southern Sudan needs us to hold up their arms.
I wish you all a happy Easter and pray that you are reminder of Christ cruel death for our sins and how He conquered death in order to give us His grace!
Praises:
· I apologize, I should have done this months ago. Around September and October I asked you to pray for Francis Taban and his family. He was the man whose baby son died. In January, Francis’ wife, oldest son, and daughter all moved to Goli to be with Francis. Praise the Lord! This family is now together and living strong together.
· Safety that we currently have in Goli.
· Rain! We received rain yesterday and it cooled us down a little bit.
· Christ selflessly dying for our sinner selves and conquering death!
Prayer:
· SUDAN!!! Please, pray for elections, safety, hope, security, faithful men and women standing up for truth!
· Safety for my friends who are staying in Goli and in other parts of Sudan while elections are going on.
· Please, pray for the Southern Sudanese government. Please pray for the corruption and tribalism within the government.
· Please, pray for me. I have been sick for the past two weeks. I have no more energy and am definitely ready to go out for a break.
Only Because of God’s Amazing Grace,
Danielle Olson
