GRADUATION DAY

GARY:
With lots more sweating eyes, we concluded the school today. So much to encourage them with, but so much more they encouraged and blessed us. I started off by debriefing our time at the desert camp yesterday. We let them know what an amazing work they had done but I wanted to know what they thought. If you could have seen them, the impact would be greater, but hopefully their words can give you an idea of what God did in their hearts both at the camps and the conference:

- Earlier in the week, I had taught the class about the importance of meaningful, appropriate touch. One student experienced this first-hand. There was a child crying and no matter what she told the child, she would not stop. She finally picked her up and the child fell asleep in her arms. She knows the child will remember that God was there.
- The need to go back again to let them know they are not forgotten. (Little did we know that we were teaching them evangelism and apostleship!)
- "I did not know these camps were like this and they are so close to us."
- Revival in Sudan would start with this group of people.
- God moved more in this conference than anything else they have attended before
- One group prayed for a demon possessed man who was delivered and accepted Christ as Savior!
- The children are the future of the church and the importance of reaching them when they are young
- "We preached well." (They sure did!)
- We as teachers were a great example to them of our genuine love for children that is whole-hearted
- God did infinitely more than we could have asked or imagined
- Importance of crossing churches and denominations, working together and being in unity to do God's work throughout Khartoum and Sudan
- One man travelled 3 hours each way and said the conference exceeded his expectations

Needless to say, our hearts are full. There was another time of prayer and healing. God has done a phenomenal work in all of us. I truly do believe this group of young people are like the first disciples who are filled with His Spirit and will do a great work for the Kingdom. We are off tonight for the trek back home. Check the blog next week as I will be posting some pictures. Thank you for all your prayers and support - know that God did more than we could have imagined.

MICHEAL:
Just returned to hotel from a graduation celebration, or I should say a graduation CELEBRATION! We opened with a wonderful worship time ( duh, ya think?). Gary then spent some time asking them to express their thoughts regarding the Desert Camp ministry the day before. Their responses were so encouraging. Even though some of them have grown up in Khartoum, they were not aware of the incredible needs in the camps. This information is just not allowed. Will speak more to this when I'm home. They were all excited to see these children respond to the message of salvation. They were excited that all the teams from all the different churches worked together as one. They were all excited about the opportunity to hug, touch and love on these children who are so neglected and abandoned. They were excited to return on their own as groups and minister in the camps. Did you get this last one? They were excited to return on their own and minister in the camps. Their hearts for ministry to children were enlarged significantly. It was just such a positive Spirit directed experience for all of them despite the overwhelming nature of the numbers and facility. I later told them that there were not many teachers I knew in America who wouldn't have just given up before even beginning. I told them what a marvelous lesson of what God can do when we face what seem to be impossible teaching situations and continue to do what He has called us to do. What a great lesson for me of little faith who at the beginning felt overwhelmed by the circumstances of trying to teach this many kids in that setting. One of the students (Tom, Billie and Ginny remember the little hunched back guy named Louis?) said that this conference had changed the whole spiritual climate of the church in Khartoum. No pats on the back; Vergil, Gary and I just showed up with some information that half of which we didn't even use. The Lord did some powerful things in these lives. At that point Pastor Joseph broke down in tears and the Spirit again ministered to all of us for the next hour. A little deeper into that pain, a little more of His light exposing the darkness, a little more wholeness in preparation for ministry.

Vergil then shared his heart for Sudan and the people he had come to love this week. They love Vergil. They even gave him a Sudanese name which I will allow him to share. He told them that from what he has seen this week, the church in Khartoum is very close to having the ability of doing their own conferences. I continued with that thought and told them they were all leaders. From the past year to this they have matured so much as was evidenced in the Desert Camps. I went on to tell them again they were all leaders, but among them were leaders of leaders who surely would be doing their own conferences all over Sudan very soon. This is such an encouragement and blessing to Rosemary. I talked about the conference theme, 'Be strong and courageous for you shall lead my people into the inheritance I have promised them.' I then brought out the T-shirts and they began cheering. Then I showed them the back where the teams from both this and last year signed them along with Rosemary, and their cheers and excitement rose another level. I called their names one at a time, they came up shook hands with Joseph and I and then Gary anointed them with oil and he and Vergil commissioned them to go forth as strong and courageous leaders for Christ. Rosemary had a hug and T-shirt at the end. As soon as they got their T-shirt they left only to return a moment later wearing it. Soon there was a room full of blue T-shirts with the conference theme written on the front. Oh yes, the room was also full of white gleaming teeth visible in these beautiful smiles. Rosemary had some closing remarks -- they love Rosemary so much because they know it is her love for them birthed this conference. Afterwards we went outside and got s ome great group pictures with everyone in their T-shirts. They had lunch and we had purchased some biscuits (cookies) for their desert. It took about an hour to leave with good-byes and pictures. Anytime someone wanted a picture and began to pose with you, a dozen other people were suddenly in the frame.

It was an amazing conference in that the Lord did some deep work in the teacher's hearts. Vergil and Gary were just outstanding and everyone was so appreciative of their teachings. The Desert Camp ministry was a real turning point for them and how they view ministry to children in Sudan and their own gifts towards that endeavor. Their hearts were so touched and broken by these children. To see these teachers who by my standards have nothing be so concerned with the hardships in the camps was so humbling. It was a conference which was truly headed by Christ and His Spirit was at work in our hearts from the opening prayer the very first day. I guess this last statement would summarize the conference for me.

Final Blessings, but Really Big Ones, From Khartoum,
Micheal

VERGIL:
Today was a great day. We got to hear from the students about how much they enjoyed ministering in the desert camp. They were very grateful for the experience and they plan to return and do more outreach. What more could you ask for? They got it! We gave our final exhortation to the teachers today and parted ways. It was a long good bye. There is no doubt in my mind that the students will take the message to the street.

Rosemary is the greatest missionary I've ever known. She has so much wisdom. Her approach to missions is right on. She just tries to lay the foundation, the people carry it on. For example, we did not go to churches and teach (except for my sermon on Sunday), we trained teachers. The goal of missionaries should be to build indigenous churches.

Now, I must get all of my papers done and study for my final. There is always something.

Hey, be thinking of names for a church. I'll see you in a week.

For His Glory,
Vergil