I have been on the move over the past couple of months as never before and I don't yet see myself getting settled in anywhere any time soon. I have been in Torit for the past week and a half and I am looking to go to Loryok before the end of the week. It was great to spend Christmas back home in the US with loved ones and I was happy to see everyone. God used many people to encourage and minister to me. God also used my trip to the US to help to remind me of the temporariness of this life. I hope I am able to clearly explain what I mean. About a year and a half ago I left for Africa. I left the place that I had lived in for the previous ten years and at that time I had a seven month old niece and a nine month old nephew. This last December I came back to Omaha and stayed in a different home that I was not familiar with. At our family gatherings, my niece and nephew who just starting to crawl when I left for Africa were now talking and running around the house. I also had two new nephews who joined the family since I was gone. What felt strange is that upon my return to the US, the past year and half in Africa felt like a dream during which no time had passed. Yet there were so many changes around me. This experience forced me to think about how short our lives are on this earth and it challenged me to consider my priorities in life.
I am reminded of Psalm 103:15, 16 which reads:
"As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more."
When I began thinking about the worldly things that would sometimes drive me or give me fulfillment, I felt a sense of emptiness in it all. It was not the material wealth of the world that appealed to me, but things such as status, success and recognition in my work, and being liked and respected, that would sometimes draw my attention away from God and onto myself. The things I listed are not bad, nor is it wrong to appreciate them, but it was as if the Lord was showing me that depending upon them for fulfillment will only lead to regret. I was reminded that the only thing that ultimately matters is living to please God. It is sobering for me to think that the end of all things on this earth are inevitable and every one of us will one day stand before God for judgment.
To some this reality may be scary, but in Christ there is also the reality of hope and anticipation for the future along with joy for each day that we live on this earth. For those who know Christ, having experienced His forgiveness and rebirth in Him, there is such joy and hope. There is a peace knowing that we are free to enjoy what the Lord has blessed us with on this earth. And if the Lord takes anything that is dear to us or if He calls us to give something up, He who is the author and finisher of our faith and works in us to will and to do according to His good pleasure will not leave us without help, but will enable us to continue in obedience. Though walking in obedience to the Lord may not be easy or painless, it will never be too hard because the Holy Spirit that God has given to His own will not leave us, but rather will help us through it all. For those who know Christ, I hope this is an encouragement to you. For those who do not, I pray that you will come know Him through faith, (believing in Him and that He is who He says he is in His word) and in repentance, (laying your life down to follow Him) knowing that even our best efforts are not good enough and it is only through his death on the cross and resurrection that there is forgiveness of sin and salvation.
In Africa
After my visit back home over the Christmas season, I arrived to Africa landing first in Nairobi, Kenya. Upon arriving to Kenya I pursued getting my South Sudan visa renewed. The process took longer than expected and I remained in Kenya for the next two and a half weeks before I had my passport with my South Sudan visa in hand. Though I was eager to get back to South Sudan, I enjoyed getting to spend nearly a week of my time in Nairobi with Deb, a fellow missionary from Omaha who has been in Kenya for over ten years. It was a lot of fun going around meeting her friends and getting to see a couple of the sites around downtown Nairobi.
I woke up on the morning of my flight to Torit feeling quite unwell and having the one problem that you don't want to have when you are going to be on a flight without a lavatory. I got on the flight anyway and after a miserable three and a half hours in the air, I finally landed in South Sudan. I was feeling pretty sick when I arrived, but thankfully I was able to get well rested and felt great the following day. As I prepare to go back to Loryok, one of the goals I am settings is to find an individual who will willingly work with me in translating a set of Bible stories that I plan to use for teaching the Laarim. I am also hoping that within the following month, I will have a clearer idea of when I will be able to move up to the village of Kerenge in the Boya Hills. This last month has been a very busy time for the AIM South Sudan missionaries with nearly everyone traveling out for different reasons. Once our team members get settled back into their locations, I will likely start working on the plans with my unit leader for setting up a place to stay in the Boya Hills. I have been away from Loryok for over two months now and I am really looking forward to being back with the people there. Though I can't say I am looking forward to seeing what my house will look like after leaving the rats, termites, bats, and wasps in charge of it while I have been out.
-Please pray that the Lord would provide someone who could assist me in translating the Bible stories into the Laarim language.
-Pray that the Lord would raise up believers among the Laarim who will be committed to reaching their own as His written word is made increasingly available to them.
-Pray for wisdom for my South Sudan unit leader and me as we seek to follow the Lord's leading for my transition to the village of Kerenge in the Boya Hills.
