FROM SUDAN WITH LOVE
WHY SUDAN? Alcoholism is epidemic in southern Sudan after 22 years of war and a shattered economy. WHY ME? In the Fall of 2005, I was hopelessly numbing out my pain with alcohol. On Dec. 27, 2005, in absolute desperation, I walked into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. In January of 2006 I got to Step 3, "Give your life and will to God." Life hasn't been the same since. This June-August, I will share the Gospel of Jesus and alcoholism recovery to the men of Sudan.Friday, June 19, 2009
Second Update from Tuesday night
Subject: Sobriety in Sudan
Friends-
I can't thank you enough for your prayers and beg you to continue.
UPDATES:
Saturday night, we were given one hour on the local radio station to tell about God's healing from alcoholism in my life and about the alcohol recovery group that is starting. We just finished our second meeting and it was incredible.
Please take 10 seconds and pray for these people by name - for God to keep them sober for the next 24 hours until our next meeting (tomorrow at 3pm...and we'll continue to meet daily, except Sundays):
Akudi'
Rose K.
Rose (the moonshine brewer)
Joseph L.
Scopas
Henry
Emmanuel
Peter M.
Moses M.
Big Kenny
Alex J.
Kenny S.
Julius
There is one man that normally is so drunk he can't even speak or stand - doesn't matter if it's 10am - he's completely out of his mind every time I try to talk to him. He's an old crippled soldier. As of today, at Step 2, he's been sober 36 hours. He walks 2 miles with a bamboo staff to attend the meetings in 100 degree heat and made a commitment to remain sober another 24 hours. His eyes are clear for the first time since I arrived and he smiles with joy as he hugs me. I tell him, "Matat pura! Do jullio and kitana boo't." (Praise God. You are my friend. Good job). He laughs at my Kuku and says, "Tenate parike." (Thank you very much).
We handed out 4 bibles today to people who asked for them - so that they could read throughout the day when they are idle and tempted. They were so excited and proud of them (thanks First Baptist Kajo Keji and all of our US donors).
Eight people completed Step 2 today. Their faith, humble confessions and stories of pain are inspiring.
You can see the fellowship of the group already forming. The first meeting was pretty heavy, but today there was a sense of victory in the sobriety of 24 hours.
The group is very open to sharing their struggles and the destruction that alcohol has brought into their lives. We are going to celebrate communion each day this week and then will have communion every Monday moving forward. Our communion is in the style of the Corinthians...no little wafer, each person gets two or three little sweet rolls for a meal we share together, remembering the Savior, Jesus. Many alcoholics lose their appetites because of the addiction and this serves as a great way to also re-introduce food.
After the meeting, Pastor Edward Dima of First Baptist Kajo Keji came and welcomed the group members individually. Kajo Keji is a small community and a drunk's life here is no secret. For the local pastor to greet and love them is a powerful and beautiful thing.
Please keep praying and I'll keep telling you how God is at work in mighty ways.
John
--------------------
Friends-
I can't thank you enough for your prayers and beg you to continue.
UPDATES:
Saturday night, we were given one hour on the local radio station to tell about God's healing from alcoholism in my life and about the alcohol recovery group that is starting. We just finished our second meeting and it was incredible.
Please take 10 seconds and pray for these people by name - for God to keep them sober for the next 24 hours until our next meeting (tomorrow at 3pm...and we'll continue to meet daily, except Sundays):
Akudi'
Rose K.
Rose (the moonshine brewer)
Joseph L.
Scopas
Henry
Emmanuel
Peter M.
Moses M.
Big Kenny
Alex J.
Kenny S.
Julius
There is one man that normally is so drunk he can't even speak or stand - doesn't matter if it's 10am - he's completely out of his mind every time I try to talk to him. He's an old crippled soldier. As of today, at Step 2, he's been sober 36 hours. He walks 2 miles with a bamboo staff to attend the meetings in 100 degree heat and made a commitment to remain sober another 24 hours. His eyes are clear for the first time since I arrived and he smiles with joy as he hugs me. I tell him, "Matat pura! Do jullio and kitana boo't." (Praise God. You are my friend. Good job). He laughs at my Kuku and says, "Tenate parike." (Thank you very much).
We handed out 4 bibles today to people who asked for them - so that they could read throughout the day when they are idle and tempted. They were so excited and proud of them (thanks First Baptist Kajo Keji and all of our US donors).
Eight people completed Step 2 today. Their faith, humble confessions and stories of pain are inspiring.
You can see the fellowship of the group already forming. The first meeting was pretty heavy, but today there was a sense of victory in the sobriety of 24 hours.
The group is very open to sharing their struggles and the destruction that alcohol has brought into their lives. We are going to celebrate communion each day this week and then will have communion every Monday moving forward. Our communion is in the style of the Corinthians...no little wafer, each person gets two or three little sweet rolls for a meal we share together, remembering the Savior, Jesus. Many alcoholics lose their appetites because of the addiction and this serves as a great way to also re-introduce food.
After the meeting, Pastor Edward Dima of First Baptist Kajo Keji came and welcomed the group members individually. Kajo Keji is a small community and a drunk's life here is no secret. For the local pastor to greet and love them is a powerful and beautiful thing.
Please keep praying and I'll keep telling you how God is at work in mighty ways.
John
--------------------
posted by John A. Elmore # 10:31 AM 
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