Summer 2009 saw a team of engineers from Scotland travelling to Doro in Souther Sudan. One of the team was Andy MacGillivray, refelcted on his experience...
I was based in Doro, Southern Sudan, as part of a team of eight from Glasgow, serving with SIM. Our primary objective was to assist in the construction of a new medical centre as the present one operates in the shell of a bombed out hospital, with the doctor and nurse often seeing over 50 patients a day. Without our work, there would have been no hope of the building having a roof, as the costs for getting the work done within Sudan would have been too high.
Our team knew each other prior to heading out to Sudan, but the experience of being in the climate and culture, and of course close contact, led to us becoming closer as a team and to stirring up one another 'to love and good works' (Hebrews 10:24). Even more of a blessing was the fact that we were supported by a fantastic organisation (SIM) whose motto is 'By prayer.
In an environment where it is easy to see (from a human perspective) the hopelessness of certain situations, it is so powerful to see God at work, bringing hope. We all experienced God's work in real and meaningful ways.
On one particular Saturday evening, we had a time of worship with some locals around a campfire. Three members of our team could play guitar, so we sang worship songs in English, and the locals then sang in Mabaan (their first language). There were a couple of songs we sang simultaneously in Mabaan and English, which was such a beautiful worship experience!
Definitely, Sudan is one of the most difficult places I have been. In terms of remoteness and being out of my comfort zone, it was right up there. I was definitely aware of spiritual warfare during the weeks in Doro. Prayer was our constant weapon.
Seeing God's answers to prayers were real highlights of my time in Doro.
When the generators broke, we prayed. God's answer was in the provision of a generator from an NGO in the neighbouring market town. We were allowed to keep this until we left Doro.
When the supply of Plumpynut (a food high in calories and nutrients provided to malnourished children to enable them to gain weight to a more healthy level) at the nutrition village was running out, we prayed. God's answer was in the provision of five crates, delivered right to the door, having been shipped first to Malut, and then taken by land rover across to Doro. Things like this just don't happen overnight in the harsh remoteness of Sudan — unless God is at work...!
There was such encouragement from discovering truly how powerful prayer can be. There is no limit to God's grace, and experience from Sudan has shown me how vital prayer is in the life of a Christian.
Although Sudan is a tough place, there are missionaries, local pastors and members of the community with a real heart for their nation and their people. I believe that God can use even one or two people to bring about great change, and I have been blessed to meet a couple of Christians who have powerful testimonies and who are now living as examples of Christ, with a desire to see the country return from darkness. Their enthusiasm and passion really rubbed off. I'd go back to Sudan tomorrow if I could...
