Undeserved Blessings

Living in town, in the epicenter of the local community, affords easy access for my friends, neighbors, and just about all of Mundri to visit me in my home. I have numerous visitors, mostly in the afternoon and evening hours, but pretty much anytime I am home, regardless of time of day. Just ask my teammates Andrew and Heidi, whom both live in small homes next to mine.  As such, finding or making time to be alone and write is not always easy. (I’ve noticed that since Heidi moved into town central, her blogging has decreased drastically…maybe Heidi can comment on that!).

I love having visitors and friends in my home. I take delight in knowing that they would take time to come visit me, that they feel comfortable in my home, and that my closer friends realize that they always have food and a bed waiting them if need be.  The conversations within my home have covered the spectrum; no topic has been left untouched. The honesty and clarity with which my friends express themselves has been encouraging and challenging. Encouraging in the sense that we have conversations about God-related things often and my friends are ever confirming my place within their community, and challenging in the sense that my friends convict me to be more honest and open with them through their displays of truth and candor.

My love for the South Sudanese has continued to grow, and honestly, I had no idea how much I would love so many people here. A true gift from the Lord.

A few days ago I was in Uganda visiting a Ugandan friend and his seriously ill, aged father. The “Old Muza” as I have come to lovingly refer to the father, a man in his 80s, told me that it is obvious that I love Africa and Africans, and it is a gift from God that I am happy on African soil, as many white people would not be. I think the Old Muza is absolutely right, it is an immense and underserved blessing. The past three years of my life, spent in Uganda/Sudan/South Sudan, have been full of undeserved blessings.