Early one Sunday morning, Kasu and I set out to visit a little village called Buldit. As we moved through springtime in Sudan, it was like walking in a botanical garden. The heavy rains were still a few weeks away, but everything was green. We passed a tree covered with little purple and green flowers that looked like 2-inch chandeliers. There were a few birds, but no animals or insects. It was quiet and still.

After some time, we reached the first hut. A boy gave us a big smile and then shyly ducked inside. We greeted the ladies next door. One was sitting awkwardly while the others crouched around her. The sitting woman was shaking slightly. We crouched to listen, but they were speaking Coma, so we could not understand. Kasu asked "Enti ayena?" (Are you sick?).

The woman switched to Arabic and told us how her stomach had started hurting badly yesterday, and she had not slept all night. Her abdomen was swollen. Sweating and shaking from the pain, she complained of slight fever and neck pain. We agreed to pray. I tried my best to pray in Arabic.

Gathering the Church

Moving on, we found the recently-built church, a little covering from the sun made of poles and grass with benches made of logs supported by forked poles. One young man was there already. Kasu's pulled a piece of plastic sheeting from his pack&mdahs;it was a gift to help rain-proof the church.

After an hour, about 20 people gathered. Kasu tried to get them to sing some songs he knows in Arabic, but they did not know them. So we moved to Bible teaching. Kasu taught first, doing rather well in Arabic. Then I taught about Jacob and Esau and about Jacob's dream. In spite of the fact that I could not remember the words for "ladder" or "dream," we got through it. I was able to weave in the Gospel by saying how Jacob was dreaming of a way to reach God.

The lady who was sick showed up and sat off to the side. Suddenly she announced: "I want to sing." And she started singing - then all the people joined in with her.

Afterwards, we went out to shake hands. We decided to pray over the sick lady. I asked if there were elders, but they didn't have any. So, I picked four of the older men and asked them to come and lay hands on her. I prayed, and then the oldest man blurted out: "I must pray." In his own language, he prayed for her. It was beautiful. Afterwards I told them that the Bible says when someone is sick we must call the elders and pray.

Spiritual Springtime

The Buldit church has been dormant since the Northern soldiers raided the village, burning the church and any Christian-looking literature they found. But today it is springing back to life. We are witnessing a spiritual springtime in Sudan.

Through the Rebuilding Southern Sudan: Church and Nation program, SIM is partnering with the Sudan Interior Church and ministering in education, health, clean water, evangelism and discipleship. Learn how you can partner with us.

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