Mission Moments in Pictures

“Trip to Sudan: A Dream Come True”

By Erica Harms

With only a thatch roof, walls made of dirt, and a rusty twin-sized bed missing its mattress, a Darfur refugee stole my heart. She welcomed me into her home with a cup of coffee, ironically served in a little china glass. The two hour process it took for her to heat the coffee beans, grind them by hand, and flavor the final product gave me a chance to hear her story. That afternoon conversing with this lady in 120 degree weather was a dream come true for me.

“Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.” Psalm 86:8-10

For ten years, she and her five children have been living behind these dirt walls with no electricity or running water. Although she is married, her husband cannot afford to drive back and forth to work every day, so he only comes home on the weekends.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to visit the people of Africa just like that. When the opportunity arrived for me to go to the Sudan last March, I didn’t hesitate. Our team spent two weeks in Khartoum, a city with more than 12 million people, primarily working with a relief organization. I learned two lessons during that time that still burden my heart.

First, I learned how important short term volunteers can be to the ministry of those living on the field full-time. The couple that I worked with does what they promise the government they are there to do, and as a result have earned a positive reputation with government officials and others throughout the entire country. Their faithfulness to put into action that which they say they are there to do allows folks like me access to not only encourage them with the familiarities of home but also to more boldly proclaim the truth.

Second, I learned about God’s heart for Muslim people. God didn’t call me to travel all the way to Sudan because He loves those people so much that He wants them to know about Himself, although He does. He called me to Sudan because He loves me so much and wanted me to experience His heart for the nations. The feeling I had when I awoke to the sound of the call to prayer every morning at 5am was dark and eerie, but it was an incredible reminder to pray for the people I was among.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Five times a day, Muslims stop and ritualistically pray toward Mecca. With Psalm 86:8-10 on my mind, the only thing I knew to pray was that the people around me would know the one true God.

Every Friday night in a large cemetery on the outskirts of town, a sect of Muslims known as the Whirling Dervishes congregate for demonic worship. For an hour, they chant “Allah, Allah, Allah” while dancing and smelling incense. I saw one man whipping himself, another biting himself, and some just circling the crowd that was gathered. At one point, a dead body was laid in the center of the circle while folks continued to chant to their false god, children included. I left there with a renewed sense of urgency to fulfill the Great Commission.

I genuinely believe that when God calls an individual to go on a mission endeavor, He also calls individuals to financially and prayerfully support that one. From the depth of my heart, I say thank you for supporting the Margaret Lackey state missions offering, which not only allowed my dream to travel to Africa come true, but also sent the light of Christ into one of the darkest places on earth.

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