They're home!

The team arrived at LAX this afternoon. They were all very tired and glad to be home. They all said it was a great trip and are glad for the experience. Kevin will share briefly about the trip on this Sunday and more extensively next Sunday, Feb. 22. Don and AJ are also planning to come and share on the 22nd. They appreciated everyone's prayers and are excited to share how God moved and worked on the trip.

Wednesday update

I received a message from Kevin today. The MAF flight from Sudan went well and they had a relaxing day in Kenya. They've taken lots of showers, went to a coffee shop, ate at a nice restaurant (with crocodile and ostrich on the menu!) and had some sleep. He said that they're packing for the flight to London. He's thankful for everyone's prayers.

Monday night update from Sudan

I just had a call from Kevin. It is Tuesday morning in Sudan and they were packed and ready to head to the airstrip to meet the MAF plane for their flight to Kenya. He said they had a busy day in Bor on Monday. They were able to get the information to establish a Free Methodist ministry, met with some people interested in helping, and visited a potential site for a new ministry. They are all exhausted. He asked for prayer for strength and safe travel.

I also had the special privilege of talking to David, a boy who I became friends with on our last trip. It was his first time to talk on a phone! I can't image what he was thinking, being able to hear my voice but not see me! It was great to hear his voice, and I look forward to going back to see him and the other kids.

Thanks for your continued prayers!

Sunday night update

I had a call from Kevin tonight (Monday morning in Sudan). He said that the team is "emotionally drained, physically drained, but spiritually pumped." Some, including Kevin, are having back pain, and they are very tired. They are going to spend Monday in Bor to see about registering a Free Methodist church, then leave Tuesday morning for Kenya. They have really felt and appreciated everyone's prayers.

Kevin called this morning (Sunday evening in Sudan) and said they had a great Sunday. He spoke at two services this morning and had a lot of good fellowship.

Here is the email update from Amy today:

Today there is just a brief update :) Don left a message while I was in church this morning.

The team got up this morning had breakfast & then Dale, Jim went with Samuel Teimuge to the local Anglican church where Dale gave the message. The rest of the team fellowshiped at another local church in the area. Don mentioned that the worship time was very special.

The team was suprised when they were invited to a third service. Many of the local community had come together and were requesting to hear more from each of the team members. Everyone shared about 15 minutes with the people that had gathered. Overall it was again a very powerful morning. In the afternoon Don, Samuel & Julius met again to discuss plans for ELI Sudan. Later in the afternoon everyone met as a team and had some time to debrief together.

Tomorrow the team will be off to Bor for a visit and then will begin to prepare for their departure on Tuesday.

Saturday update

The team visited a local cattle camp this morning where they met around 80 people that are currently living among 400 to 500 cows. Then met with the people that are living at the camp and encouraged them. The elders from this camp came forward and sang a beautiful song to welcome the team and then they proceeded to show everyone how they make their fire in the camp.

Kevin and Samuel stayed behind this morning to continue teaching with the pastors. When the group returned from the cattle camp they joined Kevin with more teaching from the Old Testament. During this second session Samuel, Don and Julius met with Stephen Reech to talk about goals and strategies for 2009.

After lunch Diana and AJ had games ready for the children and then team was called to continue more teaching with some of the pastors. This time ended with very memorable moments of testimonies from the pastors on the impact of the teachings over the past few days. Dale & Don were able to meet with some key pastors and explain how the hand powered MP3 players work and how they can now hear the Old Testament in their own Dinka language. Quite an amazing moment and such a blessing.

Tomorrow morning church will begin at 7:30 am. AJ and Dale will be preaching at two of the local churches.

The team is in great spirits and appreciating so much your faithful prayers.

Friday night update

I just had a call from Kevin. It is Saturday morning in Sudan and they are all in good spirits. This was a very light-hearted phone call with messages from the team:

The team wants everyone to know that it was 118 degrees while they were teaching. They want to let everyone to know that Jim has started sucking his thumb at night because he misses his wife. And Jim wants everyone to know that he ate goat intestines. AJ wanted to let everyone know that while Jim and Dale were playing "Fear Factor" he was spending time and bonding with the kids.

The team also sent a message to Doug: "You need to get out of Santa Barbara and get into real ministry." But seriously, Doug, they appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Kevin said that the team is working together really well and that the trainings have gone very well. Kevin is teaching one more session today (Saturday) while the rest of the team is going to a cattle camp. I could hear them all laughing and joking in the background. They said everyone slept well last night and was looking forward to the day.

Friday update

Here is the email update I received today from Amy
Friday's Update

The team enjoyed some yummy mandazi (a version of a donut) & chai for breakfast this morning. Everyone had a pretty good nights sleep but there was a barking dog that we will have to hear more about :) All of the seminars are really going great. It has been amazing for the team to see and experience the hunger that the people have for teaching and the word of God. It was between 100 and 105 degrees today but Don shared that there was a breeze that brought relief throughout the day. In the afternoon the team enjoyed time under a shade tree just sharing more one on one with the pastors about evangelism and more about their own personal stories. The team is enjoying some delicious food. Tonight they had fried talapia fish with ugahli, chicken stew and rice. AJ and Diana worked again today at the school collecting stories for student profiles. Some great pictures have been captured of the students at the school. It was an amazing sight today to see the kids all eating their lunch that is provided for them. Early tomorrow morning the team will take a 3/4 of a mile hike to the cattle camp to visit with the people who are living there and also to talk more about how these people can be reached. Your faithful prayers are appreciated so much as the team moves into a busy weekend with the seminars finishing and church services on Sunday.

2nd Thursday update

Kevin called this evening with the following update:

The teaching is going well. They have challenged the pastors to learn to read so they can read the Bible and learn for themselves rather than relying on what others have told them. The pastors know nothing about the Old Testament as they have never had it in their language. They are very open and hungry to learn.

Here are some specific prayer requests from the team:

• The weather is getting hotter and the mosquitoes are getting worse
• Dale is still having some pain in his leg and did not sleep well, so pray for rest and pain relief
• Kevin has not been sleeping well
• AJ reports that "the comfort zone is shrinking as the passion for the kids is growing." He says that he has seen and heard too many machine guns for his comfort

Kevin said the machine guns they heard were from people scaring gazelles away from their water supply. He said there was a funny incident when a hawk swooped down and tried to take Jim's hat. They seem to be in good spirits and are excited about how God is working with the pastors and others who have come to the trainings.

Thursday update

Here is an email I received from Amy today:

Thursday update from Sudan:

The weather was between 100 and 105 today. The team is doing well, drinking lots of water & in good spirits. The first full day of ministry is now coming to a close. Some of the details from the day:

There were 75 people that came today for the seminars. More than half of them being women. The team really experienced today the incredible hunger the community has for Bible teaching. All of the various seminars were very well received.

Samuel Teimuge did great job teaching and sharing about community development.

Diana worked at the school all day today. There were 220 children at the school. After 2 1/2 years of studying on the ground and having stones as their benches and the ground as their desks the children received wooden benches and desks today for the very first time. Imagine the excitement!

The team heard several of the heartbreaking testimonies today from some of the children at the school. They also visited a local cattle camp where people had just arrived from a refugee camp and where attempting to settle for the first time in the area.

Continue to pray for the team as they share in their various seminars tomorrow and as they prepare for ministry over the weekend. We praise God for His faithfulness and for the opportunity to bring God's love and hope to the people of Southern Sudan.

2nd Wednesday update

I had a call from Kevin tonight (Thursday morning in Sudan). They are getting ready to start the training. Along with the Sudanese pastors, several other people have arrived for the training. The team is doing well. Kevin has not been sleeping well and asked prayer for rest. Dale asked for prayer for problems with his leg. AJ said, "All is well. I have interacted with several children and will go to the school later today. I am not the camping type, and this is no lake Tahoe, so I am a little overwhelmed and challenged." Over all things seem to be going smoothly and as planned, praise God. Thanks for your prayers!

Wednesday update from Sudan

This is an email I received today from Amy Rogers, Don's wife:

Hi friends,

A message was left on my cell this morning with an update for you. The team had a great flight from Nairobi to Eldoret today. They had a brief stop in Eldoret to pick up food items, water and Stephen Reech's wife who was able to travel to Sudan with the team.

They have had a great flight into Sudan and when they landed Stephen Reech was waiting for them with a truck and also a car that was hired to transport the team and their luggage. The temperature today was around 95 and it is very dry. Everyone is in good spirits and will sleep good and be ready for the busy day tomorrow. All the tents are set up and the team was eating dinner outside by the moonlight when Don called.

School is in session tomorrow so there will be lots of activity around where the team is staying. Many opportunities ahead to continue to build relationships with the students and friends in the community. The schedule for the next few days looks a bit like this:

THURSDAY
AJ - will be teaching in the morning about Salvation
Jim - will be sharing about the Old Testament
Lunch
Dale - will be teaching about a Sheperd's Heart
Samuel Teimuge one of our Directors from Kenya will be finishing the sessions out on Thursday.

FRIDAY
Kevin - teaching on leadership
Jim - Old Testament
Dale - church structure
Don will have the wrap up for Friday

SATURDAY
The team will be taking a trip to visit one of the local cattle camps in the morning.
Samuel & Julius will be spending the morning sharing about community development

SUNDAY
The team will be divided and will share in three different local church services and then in the afternoon will participate in an open air crusade

MONDAY
The team will drive to Bor and see more of the surrounding area, the River Nile

Diana and AJ will have the opportunity to share with the students at the school through the week and collect stories for our student sponsorship program.

TUESDAY
The team will depart for Nairobi, Kenya

WEDNESDAY
The team will have the day in Nairobi to rest and debrief and prepare for the journey home the next day

THURSDAY
International Flights home

Thank you so much for praying for the team. God is faithful and we look forward with excitement to all that God is going to do in the coming days in and through each one of the team and the community.

Tuesday update

Kevin called from Nairobi Tuesday night. It was Wednesday morning there and they were loading the truck to head to the airport for the MAF flight to Sudan. Jim was doing much better with his allergies and most of the team had a good night's sleep. They are thankful for your prayers!

Arrived in Kenya

The team left from LAX on Sunday afternoon. They arrived in London about an hour late and then had to sit on the runway for an hour. The airport had just re-opened after being closed for a snowstorm. Their connecting flight to Kenya was one of only 20 flights that were able to depart from their terminal. They arrived in Kenya a little later than planned, but they were able to rest at the missionary house and prepare for the flight to Sudan Wednesday morning at 6:00. They requested prayer for Jim who was having problems with allergies and nose bleeds.

February 2009 Sudan Team

1	Sunday	6pm Depart LAX to Nairobi, Kenya
2	Mon	12:30 arr London - 7:25pm depart London
3	Tues	7:10am arrive Nairobi -
		Overnight in Nairobi
4	Wed	MAF from Nairobi to Padak, Sudan
		Truck Ride from Padak to Kolmarek (one hour)
5	Thurs	Kolmarek
6	Fri	Kolmarek
7	Sat	Kolmarek
8	Sunday	Kolmarek
9	Mon	Kolmarek
10	Tues	MAF from Padak, Sudan to Nairobi
11	Wed	Team in Nairobi Nairobi
		Overnight in Nairobi
12	Thurs	9:50am Depart Nairobi - 4:05pm arr London (overnight)
13	Friday	11:15AM Depart London - 2:45pm arrive LAX

The challenge

The STUDY
Read the parable of the lost son from Luke 15:11-32 and then reflect on or discuss the following:

1. Why did the younger son experience all of the trouble?
By exercising his freedom he chose to flee the “kingdom” of the father where all his needs were met and he was protected from harm. When we leave God’s kingdom(rules and laws) we place ourselves outside of his covering.

2. When did all of the trouble end for the younger son? What do you conclude from this?
The ‘wrath’ or trouble ends when the boy repents and returns. The purpose of wrath is to bring about repentance, once a person repents and turns there is no longer a need for wrath. What we see is that even troubles are a gift of God to bring us back home.

3. Who is this story really about? What does it show you or teach you about the main character?
The story is really about the father. Through the story we see the heart of the father. His concern all the time was for the life of his son. And with joy and open arms he awaits the son to return from death unto life. And so with God he awaits for us to repent and turn from our sin and enter into a life full of hope and joy.

4. Why do you suppose God allows us to experience “wrath”?
Continuing the theme from above God uses wrath as a means to bring about repentance. He is not “getting even” or “letting us have it”, in fact most of the time the wrath we experience is simply the consequences of our own sin.

5. Are you in a place where you need to return to the father? What is preventing you from doing that?
Application and response question.

The Life Challenge

Personal and Small Group Guide
for the week of July 1st, 2007

the PASSAGE
Romans 1:8-15
the LIFE lab
Does your passion in life have anything to do with sharing God’s love with others?
If not, your challenge is pray about this. Ask God to give you His “heart” and that you will begin to see this world the way He sees it. Share with someone or your small group and have them pray for you as well.
Do you truly feel you understand ALL that God has done for you? Are you driven completely by your own goals or out of gratitude for His grace in your life?
If you struggle with perfection and trying to measure up, your challenge is to be honest before the Lord. Spend time with the Lord being completely honest about your shortcomings. Allow God’s grace to “be enough.” Share with a trusted friend or your small group areas where you struggle. Allow them to pray for you and minister God’s grace into your life. It is hard to share God’s love and grace until you have experienced it for yourself.
Do you hold prejudices that hinder your ability to share God’s love? Is there a person you have “written off?” Are there groups of people you don’t like to associate with?
If so, prayerfully take a step out of your comfort zone. Take time to set aside pre-conceived notions and seek to get to know someone who is “different” and frankly makes you a bit uncomfortable. Try to focus on what you have in common rather than on differences.

As you accept these challenges, keep track of what happens! You will be given opportunities to report.

Flip the SCRIPT ¯
The STUDY
Read the parable of the Good Samaritan as found in Luke 10:25-37 and then reflect on or discuss the following:

1. What was motivating the Samaritan man to act the way he did?

2. Why does Jesus use a Samaritan as the example in the story?

3. From reading the text, is it possible to “love God” and yet carry a dislike or bias against certain groups of people?

4. Again from the text, what do you think God values more, right beliefs or right actions, or both? Why do you think this?

5. At the end of the passage Jesus gives a command, “go and do likewise”. What does he mean? How can you keep this command?

The CONNECTION (Into Next Week)
1. Where does faith come from?

2. Do you ever feel like you have to do good things so that God can be happy with you? What is the problem with trying to earn God’s favor?

3. Would you say that your faith is evident to others by the way you live?

We encourage you to “blog-back” your responses at www.kevinrobertson.blogspot.com OR email to pastorkevin@marinachristian.org.

Monday small roup

Life Lab

The Monday night small group (which is now meeting for the summer at 1:00 PM on Sundays in Room 1) had a very good follow-up discussion on “the Life Lab” questions. No one seemed to be struggling with belief. Most people struggle with “calling.” A lot of the discussion centered around, “What is a calling?” and “What obstacles keep us from following our call?” We pretty much came to the conclusion that our general “calling” as Christians is pretty clear; Be disciples who go and make disciples. A couple of brave souls took up the challenge. One person shared that she used to have a calling when she was younger to help people. She shared that her friends in need always sought her out for support and prayer. However, she felt that as she got older she walked away from her calling and God eventually “lost her number.” Two or three people in the group encouraged her to take one simple step to go back and find that calling again. Another person in the group said that his one step toward walking more in his calling was to find local “non-Christian” open mic nights where he could get involved and get to know people. The group promised to hold him accountable for taking that step.

Called Out

the LIFE lab

Do I believe the gospel? (In other words do you believe that Jesus is God’s Son, He came in the flesh, died and rose again, and that only through Him can we receive grace and reconciliation)
If you struggle with belief, your challenge is to discuss it this week with a pastor or in your small group.

What is my calling? Am I doing it? How does my calling relate to my faith in Jesus Christ?
If you are not in step with your calling, your challenge is to share with someone or your small group one thing you will do this week to bring yourself more in line with what God has called you to do. Ask that person or your group to hold you accountable.

Do I see myself as “set-apart” for God’s “big picture?” Am I serving His purposes or my own?
If you feel like you are more interested in serving your own purposes, the challenge is to repent. That means to ask God to forgive you for being “out of step” and to turn around and go God’s way. What specifically do you need to stop doing? What specifically do you need to start doing?
As you accept these challenges, keep track of what happens! You will be given opportunities to report

The CONNECTION (Into Next Week)

1. What percentage of your time do you spend with people who would identify themselves as church going Christians? What percentage of your time do you spend with people who do not attend church regularly and who would not identify themselves as Christian?

2. How does that balance of time fit with our calling as believers?

3. Would you say that “the gospel” is evident in your life to those who would not identify themselves as Christian? Would they see it as attractive or as a “turn off.”

We encourage you to “blog-back” your responses at www.kevinrobertson.blogspot.com OR email to pastorkevin@marinachristian.org.

In November I stepped on the scale, took a deep breath, looked down, and the numbers shocked me “214.” You have to be kidding! I have been wanting to weigh less than 200 for three years and it’s not happening. Why? I’m not fully committed. I eat less once in a while, I’ll walk periodically, but I'm not fully committed. In January, I decided "what ever it takes." As of today, I weigh 186. I became FULLY committed and the results showed. As a pastor I put a lot of prayer and energy into putting the messages together. I have 30 to 40 minutes each Sunday to share with you what I believe the Lord has put on my heart. But the question I have to ask myself is “Is the church fully committed in becoming Christ-like?” Do we have the attitude of “what ever it takes” when it comes to our walk with the Lord?

That is why today we started a our summer series called "The LIFE challenge." My goal is for the series to be more participatory. That we as individuals will take the responsibility of our spiritual lives and take the steps towards where God wants us to be. This summer I want to challenge you to participate in the services, interact in the small groups, and to encourage you to “blog back” your honest thoughts. My prayer is that all of us will continue to grow in our walk with the Lord and that we can lift one another in prayer.