They read into the promises of God to his people in Babylon to return them to Jerusalem after seventy years of captivity as a parallel to the experience of Sudan. For forty-five years God has been punishing them, they believe he will deliver them in time, according to his sovereignty. This week I have been reading in Zechariah about the beginnings of restoration, and thinking about the long, hard task ahead for this place. The task of building the church in a place where, in 2001, there are no schools and no education and no infrastructure seems daunting, if not impossible. Most of the educated population is in exile, scattered around the world in refugee camps or large cities.
Swallows flit in and out of the church where the teaching is being held.
The air is oppressively heavy. Bright hot sunlight streams in through openings where mud walls have washed away. Rough log benches are hollowed by termites. Thatch from the decaying roof wafts down overhead. A young woman stands in front, leading us in worship to the rhythmic beat of drums and the few notes of a hand fashioned whistle.