After nearly eight months in a Khartoum jail and an additional week of detention in the Sudanese capital, to South Sudanese pastors are finally home.

The two pastors arrived in South Sudan on Wednesday from Khartoum. They appeared to be in good health and were welcomed by the top leaders of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. They were taken to an Evangelical church in Hai Jebel for a thanksgiving service.

“This is a great day for our pastors,” one church member shouted.

Yat Michael was arrested on December 14 of last year after preaching in a church in Khartoum North. His colleague, Peter Yein, was arrested in January when he delivered a letter to the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowment inquiring after the whereabouts of his fellow pastor.

Both of the church leaders were charged with spying, which is punishable by death, along with other crimes.

They were released from jail on August 5 after a court found them not guilty of the charges, but they were detained at Khartoum International Airport when they attempted to leave the country. Airport authorities told them they were barred from leaving the country. It is not clear why the decision was reversed today.