Hello friends and family!
This is my first post from Sudan! After eight days and over $400 in overweight baggage fees later, I have arrived safely and have begun to adjust. The trip here was long but full of blessings. I spent two days in London where I spend time with a very pretty South African girl named Simone. We had a good time doing tourist stuff like the London Eye, Camden Town and just walking around London and talking.
After London, I flew to Nairobi, Kenya where my college friend Steve Myles met me at the airport. Steve works for Samaritan's purse in Sudan and just happened to be on R&R when I was coming through Nairobi. We had a lot of fun hanging out together, go-cart racing, going to the Nairobi Game Park, and going out to eat at fun Nairobi restaurants. My go-cart was extra slow so when Steve tried to lap me, I rammed him and put him on top of the tire wall :) We also had a great time eating at this restaurant where the serve you ten types of meat, including camel and crocodile. the camel was super tough but the crocodile was really good. The game park was also a highlight, and for a small tip to one of the park employees, I got to go into the cage with the Cheetah and pet it. Awesome!
After Nairobi, Steve and I both ended up being on the same flight to Entebbe, Uganda. I had one night in Entebbe so Steve and I went to the Botanical Gardens and ate dinner at the Imperial Garden Hotel. Steve and I both stayed at this hole-in-the-wall bed & Breakfast in Entebbe. The place was OK except when I tried to take a shower and when I touched the nob to turn on the shower, I got shocked! I called Steve over to check it out and when he touched it nothing happened. He thought I was just messing with him until I grabbed his arm and then grabbed the handle. The shock was so bad the lights dimmed... Steve believed me then :)
Steve and I parted ways in Entebbe and I made the short hop to Sudan. Steve went on to go rafting some class five rapids in the Nile and bungee jumping (I may have to do that during my R&R).
Things were a bit hectic when I first arrived in Sudan. Kajo Keji First Babpist Church, the mother church and base for e3 in Sudan, was finishing up a missions conference in which over 700 people attended. The conference ended today and things have calmed down a lot.
Since arriving in Sudan, I have eaten all but two means with my hands, taken one basin shower, and been given a Kuku name: Wani (Pronounced wann-nee).
I am starting to adjust. Thank you for all your prayers. I can confirm that they are being answered and God's hand in my life has been very apparent as I have gone through this transition.
I look forward to sharing with you more stories and news very soon.
Love,
Stephen
