I will drive by faith, and not by physics, natural laws, or any kind of logical reasoning

So I have found a new favorite pastime: Near death experiences in Sudan.

And of course by that I mean "Driving a motorcyle here."

Many of the places me and Anthony have to travel here are up to five miles away. The first time we just walked. The first time I also almost passed out.

Many people here drive motorcyles. There are not any normal brands, just ones like "Senke" or "Xingxaiong". They are not exactly suited for the terrain here... But then I don't think anything save a mountain goat on crack cocaine with a death wish is suited for the terrain here, so I guess it makes no difference.

I am kidding, of course. Kind of.

It's not that bad, it's like this:

Take a motocross track. Now throw multiple bombs on said motorcross track. Now let a large herd of dinosaur walk a couple laps around said motorcross track. Then pour 4 swimming pools on it, and let natural lakes form. Next tell a bunch of people to walk around the track. Then take some of those people and secretly tell them "The object of this game is to jump in front of motorcycles! Go win!" Next put some really old men on bikes, attach 10 foot poles sideways on their backs, and set them loose. For good measure, tell them that if they hear a horn, they need to swerve towards it.

Oh, then throw in a bunch of blind dogs who think they will be the victors in a clash between them and a frieght train, and train them to hate... everything.

Now drive a motorcyle five miles on the track and see what happens.


So anyway... Me and Anthony rented a motorcyle to use. He drove to the first school, and then, after I told him I am very good at this and I drive them all the time in the US, he let me drive to the rest of them.

Now, I don't know why I love dangerous things so much. There is some kind of amazing joyful feeling I get from doing things I know could possibly hurt me very badly. I think if I were being hunted through tall grass by velociraptors on ATVs (my greatest fear) my main problem would be laughing too much. Of course stuff is scary when I first start, but then I reach the point where I realize that I don't have to fear death, it just becomes so comical and thrilling. I have actually had some of my closest times with God in these moments, when I see death for what it is and, seeing it's power is gone, laugh. I really hope that there is some deep, godly character trait that causes me to be like this instead of some stupid immature one (like most things I do are the cause of). I don't know what trait that might be...

I have to go, because this place is closing, but I want to leave you with a quote (which I will translate)

Context: Me and Anthony were in front of a large class of highschoolers telling them about the conference happening in a week, and how there is a Karate team there. Translations in ( )

Anthony: You know! There is there even a Boxer group of students! They play... what do you call it? Kung foo! They are shoot a log and make it to peices! They can shoot you and you will make to peices! They are born again christians!
Student: But... How can a born again be a Karate?
Anthony: Because they are born again!

Apparently the student was satisfied with that answer... Personally I didn't see the logic.

The culture here is so amazing though... while we were doing one talk, the principal raised his hand and asked:

Principal: But how will you be feeding 1000 people?
Anthony: You see because in the bible it say "The sparrows get what they need to eat". And we are better than sparrows! Jesus will feed us!
Principal: Ahhhh, ok!

Like the principal accepted that as an answer. I was picturing the same thing happening in the Public School System in america...

Got to go! Place is closing! I have a funny picture for you but I will post it later!

My birthday is tomorrow!!!! I get to turn 18 in SUDAN!! WOOOOO!!!!!


Justin