Staying with the People

Loryok

On November 22nd of this year, I traveled with Clement to visit the Laarim community where I would spend the next 12 days. We left Torit in a 14 passenger van and arrived to Loryok about three and a half hours later. Loryok is small town on the main road between Torit and the Kenya border. Clement and I stayed at the compound in Loryok where his sister-in-law lived. There were others who stayed there and none of them spoke English. This helped push me a little harder to learn Laarim. To learn new words, I spent time with the children. I pointed to or drew different objects and the children would give me the names of them.

Clement's purpose in coming to the community from Juba was to do a community check after having completed a draft of the book of John in Laarim. The community check entailed meeting with youth, men, women, and elders throughout different populated areas of the territory. They would discuss or correct any questionable grammar or words used as Clement or a designated person would read aloud from the Laarim book of John. It was encouraging to see a decent turnout of youth, women, and elders during most of the readings.

One of the challenges that I experienced during my visit was frequent begging. Many times a day I would be asked by strangers or acquaintances for money or clothes. During our visits to different villages, I would be told time after time, "We are hungry," or asked "What did you bring?" One of the youth helping Clement with the community checks noticed that I was struggling to give appropriate responses to their questions. Very kindly he wrote down the questions that people were frequently asking me, and some appropriate responses that I could give.

On one of our days I was feeling the need to do some physical work outside. I found the grass cutter and spent the next few hours slashing weeds in the front and back of the compound. While I was at work a soldier approached me with a smile on his face. In Arabic he asked me about what I was doing. After some brief words, he gave me a five pound note (about $1.50) and told me to get a soda. Later that evening, a woman at the shop on the neighboring compound gave me a soda commenting that I was doing a good thing by slashing the weeds.

To Kimatong

We had arrived to Loryok on Tuesday and it was now Saturday and we were ready to head to Kimatong up in the northern part of the Laarim territory. We purchased our food for the journey and packed our belongings. We were planning to hire motorbikes. The price had increased from 30 to 50 pounds (about $14) due to the cost of petrol. I had wanted to walk the 20+ km distance, but Clement insisted that we should use bikes with all the items we were bringing up. He assured me that we would be able to make the return journey by foot since we would be leaving some items in the village. The two riders loaded our items on their bikes and we headed off. I was being taken by Lopul, a Laarim youth whom I had met a number of times before. After departing, there was a lot of stopping and starting along the way as the bike Clement was on had some problems and the load on Lopul's bike was not staying on properly. A few hours later we were at the guesthouse in Kimatong.

That same day, there happened to be a celebration with dancing that was to take place in one of the villages just outside of Kimatong. We walked there and found hundreds if not over a thousand Laarim gathered to attend the even. It was quite a sight to see everyone together, dressed colorfully, singing, and performing their traditional dances. Afterwards, I was taken to a compound where a group of men gathered. Some elders stood up and gave speeches and blessings. Songs were sung and sorghum beer was passed around in calabashes for all to drink.

The following morning we attended Sunday prayers held at the primary school building in Kimatong. There were about 60 children along with a few youth, adults, and elders sitting in the back. The children enthusiastically participated in the prayers and singing. Clement led the service and gave me the opportunity to share. I spoke about the meaning of grace. In the afternoon, Clement and I packed up our belongings and left Kimatong for the village of Loribok where we would stay for the following six nights. We reached the compound of Clement's sister Nathuru, where she stayed with her husband and children. I set up my tent in a nice little area in the back sectioned off by a little fence.

In the Village

The following morning we got started on making a simple latrine and bathing area. As soon as I started digging the hole for the latrine some of the youth came and decided to take over the work. Others started working on the bathing area. The women went out to gather materials as the young men did the digging and setting up. By mid afternoon, a decent latrine and bathing area were ready for us to use for our time there.

On that same day, Clement's relatives were celebrating the full payment of the dowry from one of their family members. A bull was killed and the meat roasted by the relatives of the bride. Meat was passed around, speeches were given, and the bride's family performed some rituals to bless the groom's relatives. As the meat was given out, I enjoyed some parts of the bull more than the others. But I tried a little of everything that was served to our group.

Our visit to the community also happened to coincide with a time that many people were suffering from illnesses in the community. In response to the problem, people from the community agreed to meet together for traditional prayers, hoping that God would end their affliction. I wanted to learn more about this practice so Clement and I went out to meet with those who were holding prayers. We found an area where about 40 women were gathered together. After greeting the group, a women who introduced herself as Teresa stood up and explained that they had gathered because many people were sick. She said that they believe God had put the disease in the ashes as they cooked their food causing the sickness. Teresa then explained that they would take ashes from burnt goat intestines and then throw them into a riverbed. After she shared, I was given the opportunity to speak. I greeted the women telling them that I had come to live with the Laarim people, to learn their language, and to befriend them. I also said that I would be coming to bring the word of God to their people. After I finished sharing, the group applauded and Clement and I continued on our way.

During the times that I was hanging around the compound and there was little to do, I would sit down to practice language with those around the home. Sometimes there would be children or youth around and other times I could try talking to the women. Despite my struggle to understand much of what was said, all seemed to enjoy asking me questions, answering mine, and saying a few new words for me to learn. Although I have only just penetrated the surface, I feel that a good foundation has been started through these times for developing relationships with these people.

I the village I met Pio, an elder. During my very first visit to the Laarim community with a group in September, Pio had welcomed us and offered a goat to be roasted and shared with everyone. Again this time, Pio gave up one of his goats to Clement and I. The next morning, the goat was killed. That afternoon we were given the entrails, and in the evening we had some very tasty lean pieces of roasted meat. As we visited with Pio, he informed Clement and I that his wife had an illness that was causing her to go paralyzed from the waist down. We later decided to make a visit and pray for her. After praying for her healing, I felt prompted to talk to Pio's wife about Jesus. Clement interpreted as I shared about Christ's work of conquering death and bringing true life. Despite trying to use simple terms that could be easily interpreted, I left feeling that Pio's wife did not understand what I was speaking about. After our visit, Clement checked with the clinic in Kimatong to see if a vehicle could come to get her and take her to the hospital. We were told that Pio's wife would first need to be seen at the clinic before a vehicle could be brought up. From her home the walk would take about 45 minutes to the clinic and it would certainly be possible to have her carried on a stretcher. Sadly, Pio's wife refused to be taken on foot believing that she would be killed by spirits along the way due to some concerns related to her marriage with Pio.

After spending six nights in the village of Loribok, we left on foot in the morning. As we went on our way, others whom we passed coming up from Loryok often looked at me with surprise. They could not understand why a westerner would want to walk the 20+ kilometer hike. It was sort of entertaining to see the look of surprise on their faces. It was even more interesting was when I would greet them in the Laarim language. Some would laugh while others, including young women, would back away in fear or shock. They would often chatter excitedly among themselves seeing for the first time, a white person using their language.

After some stops and places where we had to wait for others along the way, we arrived to Loryok six and a half hours later. I stayed that night in town. The following evening I was able to board a crowded cab of a large truck loaded with goats in the back. We reached Torit that night.

I thank the Lord for a successful journey which allowed me to learn a great deal about the Laarim people, meet with many in the community, and get a boost in learning the language.

How you can pray:

-Pastor Joshua from an Africa Inalnd Church in Juba, South Sudan is looking to spend 3 months in the Laarim community starting in late January and early February. Please pray that he will receive sufficient support from the church of South Sudan to carry out these plans. I hope to work alongside him next year.

-Pray for the breaking of spiritual strongholds in the Laarim community. May their eyes be opened to see a God who loves them and wants what is best for them.

-Pray for me as I might be able to go back with Clement to spend Christmas and New Year's with the Laarim people. If we are able to go, we plan to have prayers in a several different areas of the Laarim territory.

Filming Among the Laarim

As we have been planning and praying about how to approach ministry among the Laarim, my future team leader Jonathan has been looking into ways of bringing other coworkers of the gospel to this people group. Not long after Jonathan had mentioned to me his hope for other missionaries to come, he discovered that a friend of his with a group based in Capetown, South Africa was making a film. They were looking at ways that the Lord was working among the people throughout different areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and exploring opportunities for future ministry. Jonathan, seeing this as an opportunity to create awareness of the needs of the Laarim people invited his friend to come and visit their territory at the end of October to do some filming. Not only did the friend agree to come, but he decided to make the filming among the Laarim a separate project that could potentially be used to recruit missionaries to the area. Certainly this was an answer to prayer.

Jonathan, the filming crew, and my Laarim friend Clement, who is working to translate the Bible into Laarim, and I arranged to meet in the town of Loryok (also known as Camp 15) located on the main road which crosses the state. Clement and I took public transportation from Torit and reached Loryok 4 hours later than intended, since we had missed the first vehicle going out. In Loryok we met up with Clement's aged father, Joseph, who is quite a remarkable man. Despite his age, he continues to be very active frequently traveling and attending meetings on behalf of the Laarim community. After greeting one another and introducing ourselves to those who received us, we gathered into three vehicles, and departed for the town of Kimatong where the filming would take place. All went well with the filming and Jonathan's friend was able to get the needed interviews. Due to time constraints and our hope to leave Kimatong by early afternoon, Jonathan and I would be interviewed later in Nagishot where Jonathan was based.

Journey to Nagishot

Rather than returning to Torit after my visit to Kimatong, I would join with Jonathan and the filming crew to travel to Nagishot, a village up in the cool and rainy Didinga Hills. I was in need of some R&R and this was the perfect opportunity for me to take a week away. Our plan would be to drive south to Chukudum, a town at the base of the Didinga Hills and stay the night there before heading up the Hills the next morning. When we arrived to Chukudum several hours later, due to a number of factors we decided to make the journey to Nagishot on that same day. It was already approaching five o'clock so we needed to get moving. What followed was the most difficult journey by road I had ever experienced. I was on the back of Jonathan's pickup with Morefu a Didinga friend of his. Standing up on the back of the truck gave us a distinct vantage point allowing us to see if Jonathan was straying off the road in the tall grassy areas so that we could redirect him when necessary. Traveling with three vehicles meant that each obstacle had to be crossed three times before we could continue. One of the vehicles had a winch that saved us on a number of occasions. The vehicles got stuck multiple times throughout the whole journey and before we reached halfway, it started to rain. There was a lot of digging, gathering rocks, and pushing vehicles out of mud all in the cold rain. Thankfully someone had given me a nice waterproof jacket to wear at the beginning of the journey, but unfortunately I could not get it zipped up no matter what I tried. What could be a three hour journey under ideal conditions took us over nine hours. At 2:00 am we arrived to Nagishot cold and soaking wet. All my belongings were wet as well. I was given some heavy blankets and was brought into a tukul (mud hut) with a nice big comfortable bed for me to sleep in.

The next morning, I stepped out of my tukul, and walked out the compound gate to see all the beauty that surrounded me. There were, green rolling hills, a small forest in a valley that lay ahead of me, and mountain peaks in the distance in every direction. It was quite different from anything I had ever seen before in South Sudan. Thankfully the next eight days of fellowship, resting, praying, reading for enjoyment, sitting around a fire at night, and exploring the land was just what I needed to be refreshed and restored.

Getting Back to Torit

When my time there was finished, I left on foot early in the morning with Morefu, who guided me and carried my other bag. Two and a half hours later (the foot path is much shorter than the road for vehicles) and about 3,000 feet lower in elevation, we reached Chukudum where I could board a vehicle heading up to the main road. I could then hopefully catch another vehicle going to Torit within the same day. It did not take long to find a vehicle in Chukudum, so I quickly boarded and we headed off. Before leaving town the vehicle was stopped by police and taken to the station. After about an hour the vehicle was released, but it began to rain and the driver decided to wait until the rain cleared up. We ended up leaving nearly three hours later, thus making it unlikely for me to be able to reach Torit that same day. Our vehicle arrived to Loryok that evening and I would need to find a place to sleep. As soon as I exited the vehicle, one of the Laarim youth, Henry, recognized me and called out my name. After explaining to him that I needed a place to stay, Henry welcomed me to stay with him and some of the others. I was surprised by the number of youth staying there that I had already known. I enjoyed the rest of the evening visiting with and meeting others in the town.

The following morning I found that Clement's brother, who is a member of the state parliament, happened to be visiting the town. I had been recently trying to contact him and this served as the perfect opportunity to meet with him and talk a little more about ministry among the Laarim. We had a short, but nice visit. Soon after I was able to board a vehicle and return to Torit. Looking back I now thank the Lord for that extra day in Loryok He gave me to meet all the people I did. It was a simple reminder to me that God knows what is best for us.

Back to Torit

After being away for over a year, I am thrilled to be back in Torit. Even with the influx of Southerners back to their homeland and the new status of South Sudan as an independent nation, Torit feels very much the same as I recall from my last time here. As I usually walk through the town everyday, I enjoy running into friends or acquaintances and taking a moment to chat with them. My time in Torit has been great, but I believe that I will be here only for a season as I feel the Lord calling me to work among the Boya/Laarim people. In the meantime, I had been seeking out people here in Torit who are from the community and I was successful in finding a good number of Laarim youth. They agreed to meet with me and have since been doing a wonderful job helping me with learning the language. It has been great getting to know them and learn bits and pieces about the Laarim culture through our time together.

Visit to the Laarim Community

(The name Laarim and Boya refer to the same people group. I have previously referred the people as the Boya, but Laarim is the more widely recognized name.)

In September I made a visit with four others to the Laarim community. The team consisted of my unit leader Phil, my future team leader Jonathan, Pastor Joshua from Africa Inland Church, and Clement, a Laarim man working with language translation.

For Jonathan and I, this was our first visit the area. From Torit, traveled east for about 3 hours on the main road to the town of Loryok. In Loryok, we met with Joseph, the father of Clement. He was a pleasant, elderly man who was quite talkative and had good English. He went into much detail about his vision to see the Laarim community changed for the better through the assistance of the government, NGO's, and missionaries. After a short time in Loryok, we headed north with Joseph to our next stop in Kimatong. In Kimatong we were met by elders along with others in the community. We sat down together and talked about our desire to send missionaries to the Laarim people. Phil briefly shared a simple message about the problem of sin affecting all tribes and people, and how Jesus is the One who can fix our broken foundation resulting from sin. Many of the Laarim people in the group shared their hopes and desires. Although some referred to hopes for physical development of the land, there was a great emphasis on the need for missionaries to come to plant a church and teach the Bible. After our meeting in Kimatong our group headed up to Napak, the northernmost village of the Laarim. Here we met with community leaders and the chief as well as others who were visiting the area including an advisor to the governor and two county commissioners who were from neighboring counties to the Laarim. Again we shared with the elders about our desire to work with the Laarim people. The elders responded positively welcoming us to come. We then returned to Kimatong and stayed the night there. The following day we went out to see the airstrip and also made a visit the village where I have been invited to stay. We first stopped at the airstrip which had not been used for a few years and would need to be cleared. Driving along the path, Phil checked the odometer and found the length to be sufficient for a 12 passenger caravan. We then went to visit Kerenge, Clement's village between Kimatong and Napak. We again met with the elders of the area and they expressed their hope that missionaries would be sent to their people. After the meeting, they took us to the location where I could temporarily stay until a house would be built for the missionaries who would come. We then returned to Kimatong where a goat had been slaughtered and prepared for us. After sharing the meal, we headed back to Loryok where we dropped off Clement. We concluded our journey by making a short visit to Farasika in the southernmost part of the Laarim territory, quite a distance from Kimatong. There we were encouraged as we found a small group of youth who meet and pray together regularly being led by a couple Kenyan missionaries.

Looking Forward

So what are the next steps? It depends on some factors. Pastor Joshua from Africa Inland Church has said that he may be able to start ministry among the Laarim in November. If this is the case, then there is the possibility that I could go to work alongside him, possibly moving into the community around the same time he does. If Pastor Joshua does not go out in November and Africa Inland Church decides to send missionaries out at a later time, then I would likely make 1-2 week visits periodically to the community until the Lord raises up one or more coworkers for the Gospel. Clement has said that I could stay with his relatives during future visits to the community. These visits would not only assist me in my language and cultural learning, but would allow me to develop relationships with the people living in the community before I am able to get established there. It would also help to assure the Laarim community that we are committed to sending missionaries.

Prayer needs

Continue to pray for the Lord to raise up the appropriate missionaries who will bring the Gospel to the Laarim people.

Pray for wisdom for AIM and AIC (Africa Inland Church) as we plan to partner together and get established among the Laarim people. May we continue to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Pray for me as I continue learning the Laarim language and culture here in Torit and as I go into their territory.

Pray for the Lord to prepare the hearts and minds of the Laarim as they prepare to receive us. Pray the same for us as we prepare to live among them.

In Africa

South Sudan Becomes Independent

Last month, on July 9th, South Sudan attained independence and became the world's newest nation. With much excitement and hope the people in South Sudan celebrated their independence. Sudanese around the world joined with their communities to celebrate as well. Remarkably, there were no major incidences of violence reported in South Sudan during the celebrations despite the concerns that many had.

Africa Based Orientation

On July 15th I arrived to Nairobi Kenya along with a group of others singles and families who were going out to serve as long term missionaries with AIM. A few days later we headed out on a bus to Machakos, Kenya for three weeks of ABO (Africa Based Orientation). A typical day at ABO included breakfast, followed by prayer and devotions. After devotions we usually had a representative from one of AIM's mobilizing regions to share about the missionaries and the work being done in their specific region. Prayer for the region followed. Being in South Sudan, I am part of AIM's Central Region which also includes the countries of Rwanda, Uganda, CAR, DRC, and Chad.

After talking about the regions we had a lecturer for the day to discuss a subject. Topics include staying healthy, security, religion in Africa, cultural differences, worldview, ethnomusicology, HIV/AIDS, and others. Most of the lecturers who spoke about religion or African culture and perspectives were themselves from Africa. Although I was initially not looking forward to the orientation, I found many of the sessions to be interesting and helpful for understanding why things are done the way they are in Africa. Although Africa is an enormous and diverse continent with thousands of people groups, there are many surprising similarities among them. No doubt there are exceptions, but much of what we were taught I observed to be true among the different people that I have known and worked with from many African countries. Here are a few examples:

Because Africans in general will do their best to avoid shaming themselves or bringing shame upon someone else, they tend to be very indirect when communicating criticism or sensitive information. Another difference is that personal property is seen very differently in Africa than in the west. If something that belongs to me is not being used and someone else has need of it, then there is often the expectation that I should share it until I need it again. The wellbeing of the community is often valued over the right of one individual. Therefore the one who is perceived to have more is expected to give more.

These differences often make it a challenge for missionaries or westerners coming to work among a people who's worldview and culture is very different from their own. Having an understanding of these differences helps missionaries not only to cope, but to be a more effective witness for Christ when working in such a culture.

Heading to Torit

Currently, I am at Matoke Inn in Kampala Uganda where I have spent nearly a week. This is one of my favorite places to come through and relax while in Africa. The compound is full of trees and plants that attract a variety of species of beautiful birds and butterflies. It has been great getting to see Phil and Linda here whom I stayed with in Torit. Phil was my former unit leader in Sudan, but he has since taken leadership of the entire AIM Central Region based in Kampala. Tomorrow morning I will fly from Uganda to Torit, South Sudan, my next destination. There is much that I am excited about. I look forward to coming back to the church, seeing friends from my previous time in South Sudan, as well as connecting with the Boya people living in Torit and beginning the language learning. If things go as planned I will make my first visit to Boya territory in mid September with Phil who will be coming up to South Sudan for a short time and Clement, a Boya Christian. There will likely be challenges ahead, but I know that the One who calls us is faithful to carry out His good work in us as we walk with Him.

-Praise the Lord for a peaceful celebration.

-Please pray that I will find a friend in Torit who comes from the Boya community and will be able to help me with the language learning.

-Pray for our upcoming planned trip in September to visit the Boya community so that we would connect well with the people.

-Please pray for wisdom for the leaders in South Sudan to properly govern the new nation peacefully.

Soon to Be in Africa

In a couple weeks from now I should be on my way to Kenya for orientation! These past few days I have been cleaning out my room. It has been a tiring process sorting through all my old books, papers, photos, clothes, etc. Many forgotten memories come back to the forefront of my mind as I look at each I item I had put away into my closet or file cabinet years ago. One fascinating aspect of the whole process is how it has enabled me to look back over the past ten years of my life and to see how I have grown as Jesus has faithfully led me up to this point. I tend to get discouraged when I try to observe spiritual growth in my life from day to day, but when I look at the past three, five, or ten years I am reminded that growth is a process and not an instantaneous observable change. Recently I was encouraged by Philippians 1:6 which reads, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." There will probably be circumstances I face in the future that I am not yet perfectly prepared for or mature enough to handle, but because our God is faithful I am at peace knowing that He prepares us for each step ahead.

This season of preparation has truly been a good one with many meaningful memories being made. I have been thoroughly enjoying these final moments (for possibly the next few years) with friends and family who offer me their support and encouragement. Several weeks ago, a commissioning service was held for me by the Sudanese congregation. I did my best to preach in Juba Arabic and after I shared, a couple of the church leaders came up to pray for me and offer words of encouragement in English. I was then given an Arabic/English Bible and a large sum of money to go toward my mission. I often feel that I have been more blessed by the Sudanese church than I have been a blessing to them. In the same way, the outpouring of love, support, and encouragement I experience from my sending church, Emmanuel Fellowship has equally blessed me. I believe these experiences allow us a little glimpse of what heaven is like.

Across the ocean, the nation of Sudan needs our prayers. July 9th is to be the day which South Sudan officially gains independence, yet little has been resolved regarding the border areas in dispute. Though not likely affecting the safety of AIM missionaries, violence continues to plague these areas lying on the North/South border. In Eastern Equatoria State, my plans to work with the Boya people still remain unchanged. I have been corresponding with Clement, a Christian Boya man who works with Laarim language (language of the Boya people) translation. I look forward to meeting with Clement in South Sudan. I am hoping to make a few visits with him to the Boya community before permanently relocating there. Also, I am still praying that the Lord would raise up another missionary that I would work alongside to reach this people group.

Please continue to pray for me in these areas

-An end to the violence plaguing the border between North and South Sudan

-For the Boya people to be ready to receive the Gospel

-For strength and the ability to focus during my preparation for Africa and ministry. I have three 8 hour days of motorcycle lessons next week and 3 week orientation in Kenya once I arrive to Africa.

-Also, Praise the Lord that my monthly pledge support target has been reached!

May the Lord bless you!

Seeing everything come to life this spring makes me hopeful that I will not have to endure cold weather again, at least for a while. It's already less than two and a half months before I am scheduled to depart and I am getting excited. More financial support has come in I am and currently at about 87% of my monthly support target. It truly has been a process of learning to trust God to provide. One thing that has amazed me is how so many have expressed their support, surrounding me with prayer and encouragement as I share about what I believe the Lord is calling me to. It is humbling for me to recognize that all of this is not because of what I have done or am capable of doing in my strength, but rather because of what the Lord is doing as we together step out in faith.

At the end of April, I went down to visit my brother and his wife in southern Mississippi. We had a great time together. I also had the opportunity to share for a brief time at the church they attend about my plans to serve with AIM in South Sudan. It was a good experience. It amazes me when people I've just met for the first time commit to pray for me or offer support.

My days are becoming less structured now as more tasks, events, and gatherings come along the way during these last couple months I spend in the U.S. I am actually enjoying this season of variety.

Prayer requests

-Please continue to pray for me as I work through the necessary details for going out into the mission field. Also, I am still in need of more pledged monthly support within the next few weeks before I have clearance for departure and my plane ticket can be purchased. As I let the need be known, I pray that the Lord would guide those He is calling to be regular financial supporters.

-Pray that the Lord would pave the way for the Gospel to go forth and penetrate the Boya community where I am looking to eventually get established after my return to Torit in South Sudan.

-Please continue to pray for peace during this time of transition in Sudan. South Sudan is to gain independence on July 9th this year and many of the key issues between the North and the South have not yet been resolved.

It All Belongs to Jesus

Though it has been over a year, I still have new memories and thoughts that come to my mind as I reflect upon my previous time in Sudan. Recently I had been thinking about my attitude. In any ministry, frustrations will come through interruptions. Even when I would determine in my mind to have a good attitude, it seems that the Lord would in one way or another allow my patience to be tested in an unexpected situation. There would be times where I would have a quiet evening or an afternoon to myself at the missionaries' house. I would sit down to have lunch or dinner and immediately a visitor would show up. Knowing that the most appropriate response would be to welcome them in, I would allow them in with a smile on the outside, but angry on the inside not wanting to be disturbed. At other times while I would be out at the market, a stranger or someone I hardly knew would greet me saying they would like to talk to me about something. I would try to patiently listen while they would spend the next few minutes talking about their hope to start a business or open an orphanage thinking that maybe I would like to be part of it. On the inside I would be thinking, "this person only wants to selfishly use me for his benefit." Very quickly I would find myself judging the motives and attitudes of others because I was upset that "my time" was being wasted.

Not long after such an interaction would I be reminded of my selfish attitude the Lord was calling me to repent of. Instead of making up my mind to not get upset the next time, I believe the real issue that I am learning to deal with is the need to recognize that my time and plans are not nearly as important as I make them out to be. After all, like everything else my time and plans actually belong to the Lord. He will see that my true needs are met in one way or another as I trust Him.

Appreciating Differences

I remember a time in Torit that I had gone over to visit my Kenyan friend Barnabas in his mud hut that he was renting on the compound of a Sudanese family. Some of those who lived on the compound were heavy drinkers and the environment was not a pleasant one. This was to be one of my last visits to see Barnabas since my time in Sudan was coming to a close. Occasionally we would talk about the difficulties of living in Sudan and I would sometimes mention the differences that frustrated me, but this time I distinctly remember our conversation taking a different direction. We began sharing what we loved about Sudan and its people. I was there as a missionary and Barnabas was there for business and both of us grew to love the people and the place that the Lord had led us to.

One thing that continually impresses me about the Sudanese culture is the way the people care for one another's needs. It is a common practice for Sudanese to welcome a relative, a friend, and sometimes even an acquaintance to stay with them if they are in need of a place to stay. When I asked my language helper Taban if I could stay on his compound with him and his family in Torit, he agreed without hesitation and without demanding anything in return. For the appropriate ways that I did offer help to the family in return for hosting me, they openly expressed appreciation. In Sudan, unexpected visits are almost always welcome. Even when I would stop by a family's compound to ask a quick question, I would be welcomed to sit and eat with the family. In Sudan, like in much of the developing world, relating well to one another is often more important than accomplishing a particular task on a scheduled time. People just enjoy being together.

I find that there are some aspects of Sudanese culture I prefer over American culture. On the other hand there are many things that I prefer to do the American way. Though I sometimes tend to judge cultural difference as one either being superior or inferior to the other, I pray that I would learn to see that most are simply nothing more than what they are: differences.

Barnabas and his wife Immaculate

Taban with his wife, daughter, and mother