In less than one week I am planning a move to a small Laarim
town called Loryok, though more widely known in South Sudan as Camp 15. The town lies east of Torit and is also
situated on the main road connecting Juba and Kenya. Though the town is very small, Loryok's
population is quite diverse. Most of the
population is Laarim, but there are many others from various people groups and neighboring
countries living there, some for business and others placed by the
government. I only plan to remain in
Loryok for about six months as my goal still remains to get established with
Africa Inland Church missionary Pastor Joshua in one of the villages about 20km
north of town. I see my move to Loryok
as an essential step for making the transition to living in the village. Here in Torit I have found a few Laarim
language speakers that I have been able to meet with periodically for language
learning and practice, but my exposure to the language here is limited and I
have been progressing slowly. Being in
Loryok should allow me the time to focus on learning the Laarim language in an
environment where it is predominately spoken.
My desire by the end of the next six months is that I will be ready to
move to the village with a good enough grasp on the language that will allow me
to minister through teaching basic truths and telling stories from the Bible
using Laarim.
Currently
AIC's Sudanese missionary, Pastor Joshua, is making extended visits to Kimatong
in the northern part of the Laarim territory with the intention of eventually
getting established in the area with his family and planting a church. Church planting is not new to Pastor Joshua. He
has in the past planted a number of churches in and surrounding the Juba area
where he comes from. Recently, I went to
Kimatong and spent a week with Pastor Joshua.
I was encouraged to see him relating well and enjoying his time with the
people in town as we prayed together and he shared lessons and stories from the
Bible. Though he has been using Arabic
which is understood by many Laarim in Kimatong, Pastor Joshua is putting a lot
of effort into learning the Laarim language.
I look
forward to my move to Loryok though I see that it will be a difficult place to
live. My living space will be smaller,
the environment is a bit harsher, and Christians are fewer. Thankfully though, there is a fellow
missionary living in Loryok, Pastor David with Africa Inland Church. Pastor David is a Kenyan who came to South
Sudan years ago to work with the Laarim. He started in the southern part of the
territory and later moved up to Loryok. He
leads Sunday prayers under a tree with a small group consisting mostly of
children along with a few adults. I have
enjoyed my visits with him during my previous travels there.
Also in
Loryok resides Joseph, the aged father of my Laarim friend, Clement with whom I
made several visits to their village.
Despite his age, Joseph remains very active as an advocate on behalf of
the Laarim community. He frequently
talks about his desire to see the Laarim work hard to properly utilize their
own land so that they can become self-sufficient. I also see that Joseph has a love for
children as I have often found him sitting together with the young ones,
talking to, teaching, and instructing them. I look forward to talking with him
more.
Prayer Items
-Please pray that I will adjust well to living in Loryok.
-Pray that I will be able to focus well, build good
relationships, and learn quickly as I concentrate on the Laarim language.
-Pray for Pastor Joshua as he continues ministering to the
people of Kimatong. Pray that he will
find a place that is suitable for him and his family.
-Pray for Joseph as well as the many Laarim community
leaders to have a hunger for a personal relationship with Christ. Many of the elders in the community appear to
have some knowledge of the Bible, but few seem to understand the need to have a
saving faith in the Lord Jesus.
