Koisan

Tuesday July 24th. Wow! Have you ever had an all doors are closed day? That was the way Tuesday felt. Whatever we set out to do was not to be, even the internet failed. By 4 pm I had a lump in my throat that would not go away and depression clung to my heart like a demon. I turned to Peter and said, “Let’s worship God. It’s is the only thing that is going to feel good right now.” We sang together and prayed for about an hour. We went across the street (dodging taxis, busses, and trucks) to the shish-kabob place for dinner. They are out. Ugh! We order a 6” chicken pizza and take it home. It is pretty good (praise God!). We eat it while watching bad 1980 American movies with Arabic subtitles. This is not good. I go to bed thanking God that His mercies are new every morning.

Upon waking depression is upon my heart. Ugh. I spend time with the Lord, calling out to Him in faith, though I can not sense His presence. He tells me to pray. I pray. I pray for Sudan. I am encouraged that I can call upon Him though my emotions have created a miserable fog.

I started working on the PC to fix the issue. While I was working on this, my friend Ismael came by. I share with him how I am feeling and the encouragement God is in His word. I am remembering Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son, and how divided his heart must have been, yet obedient was he until his hand was stayed by an angel. We pray. We pray together. It is sweet. Ismael is reminded of Elijah running afraid from Jezebel’s threat of death, and how God gave him two things: food to strengthen him for an incredible journey and a reminder that he was not alone. Ismael then tells me that several weeks ago he was discouraged in his ministry and ready to quit. He said that my prayer for him and talking with him gave him new life from God, and that if God had me come to Sudan for no other reason, he is grateful to God for this. This lifts me, and brings tears to my eyes.

I relate a story to Ismael. Several years ago (before many kids) I took Jeanne out to a Japanese restaurant in Orange called Koisan. I had never had Japanese food and wanted to try it. We were seated across from each other and appetizers were brought right away. Our smartly dressed waiter stood next to another waiter with his hands behind his back behind us and off to the right, near the wall. He and the other waiter looked on, just beyond our tables, into the distance, where we were in their periphery. I was not sure what to do with the appetizers. I did not know if they were soup to be sipped from the bowl or a dipping sauce. My waiter sensed my query and was immediately at our table to ask if he could help, and just as swiftly returned to his post. Watching. Waiting. I am reminded of Tony’s verse. Psalm 123:2 wherein the servants eyes are upon the Lord. Watching. Waiting. Ready to serve. I realize that this is where the Lord has me. Koisan.

My visa extension is not processed in time to travel to Darfur, and the next opportunity will be after my flight out. So I called and arranged to fly out tomorrow (this airline only flies out of Khartoum on Thursdays), but was unable to obtain a paper ticket, as most businesses close at 3:30 (nearly everyone has banker’s hours here, except bankers. They are out by noon). So I am at the mercy of the airline tomorrow morning at 3 AM. Please pray for me. God's Koisan.

Thank you for your prayers, and your encouraging comments. I have so appreciated both.

Love in Christ,
Todd