Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Salaam alaikum min Sudan! Peace be with you! I’m in a rather consonant ("corresponding in sound, as words") mood, so hope you will bear with me and the ‘b’ in my bonnet.

Biding my time After enjoying a wonderful Christmas holiday in Germany, I returned to Khartoum and waited somewhat patiently for the return of my passport and new stay visa. Finally, after three years of only receiving six-month visas, I was blessed with one for twelve months! This seems to be the new government policy for those of us here at the invitation of churches, if the visas are granted at all. Internal struggles have created problems for some, but PC(USA) and Nile Theological College folks haven’t been affected. We eagerly await the return from furlough of Betsy McCormick and Barry Almy (before Easter) and pray that they will also receive year-long visas..

Bidding them welcome The Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, and Nile Theological College hosted a visit in January by folks from Shenango Presbytery (partnered with Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, or SPEC), Trinity Presbytery (partnered with Presbyterian Church of Sudan) and our area coordinator from the Worldwide Ministries Division. They brought open minds, good humor, energy and enthusiasm (even for riding a local bus to visit NTC) and quite a lot of books for the NTC library. Thanks to the new librarian there and the help of many people, the library is now computerized and has over 6,000 volumes. The visitors were taken to many churches, centers, and projects during their ten-day stay. They listened and questioned and talked and shared. Some of them later traveled to El Obeid and others visited the prison ministry. One evening they all crowded into my small home for fellowship and conversations about teaching in elementary schools and about Bible translation. The evening of their departure they attended the opening night of the SPEC General Assembly and the centennial celebration of Presbyterian mission to Sudan. Think that they all had a fulfilling time here and felt the celebration was a fitting way to end their trip.

Bounding for joy Music continues to be an integral part of my life here, both as observer and participant. Recently there was a wonderful concert combining the skills of British, Ghanian, and Sudanese percussionists, pipers, dancers and singers. I’m still playing weekly for the Khartoum SPEC Sunday morning worship and monthly for the KIC evening service. I’ve also begun to record some of the Arabic songs, a few of which are new Sudanese hymns. The Shenango folks brought the cables I needed, so now I can hook my electronic keyboard to the computer, then play and record a tune which appears on screen as sheet music! Saturday mornings I also continue to lead a time of music, Scripture and prayer at NTC. Our Monday Bible study group, taking a very in-depth look at Colossians, is following with great joy Paul’s instructions found in Colossians 3:16.

Binding together In addition to the Shenango and Trinity visits, the Khartoum SPEC Center for Biblical Studies hosted a fifth leadership seminar (in conjunction with Wheaton College) with over 170 participants from almost all of the denominations and visitors from churches in Chad and in Eritrea. Again, I had the pleasure of leading the sessions of singing in English. The administration of NTC has also begun steps toward forming a fellowship of the seven theological colleges and Bible schools here in Khartoum. Please pray that these ecumenical efforts will continue to bear fruit. Their witness to Christian unity is very important in light of internal conflicts in many of the churches.

Bending in prayer Pray for the faculty and staff of NTC. Pray especially for Joseph, the other NTC English teacher, who was detained in early December after a meeting of opposition leaders (just before elections). As of today, almost all of them are still in detention. One of the NTC staff members was able to see him briefly in January, but there’s no indication when or if a trial will be held or when they might be released.

Pray for the NTC students. Classes were delayed by two weeks so that they could complete their registration and payment of fees. Please keep praying for a long-term solution to finances there. They were all able to pay tuition, but some are still having difficulties with housing and transport. These worries make it very hard to concentrate on their studies. The juniors had a concentrated course in library research, culminating in papers I have also looked at for grammar problems. Now they have a full load of theological courses, including Greek, as well as English and Arabic once a week. The senior English class is optional, but almost all of them attend. Even at this stage some of them still need help with basic grammar. I just wish I could make articles and commas and non-restrictive clauses more exciting!

Please continue to pray for the country and all the people of Sudan…for peace and justice and renewed hope in the future. Pray for the churches and Christians…for peace within, for spiritual growth, and for their witness as God’s children. Please pray for those of us who are here as PC(USA) mission workers thanks to your prayers, nurture, support, and blessing. Thank you! ‘allah yibaarikakum…

Peace,

Sue Ellen Hall

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 49