Growth

Ministry here seems to have its months of being in routine and out of it.  I have experienced much transition over these last few months.  Many of the changes have been good, but the frequent adjustments do take energy and add a degree of stress.  Yet I praise the Lord for the many wonderful things he has brought about.

December was the beginning of school holidays and we had two Laarim students, Angelo and Lotao, stay with us over those past six weeks.  For Christmas we joined together with some adults and children in the community to share the Christmas story and have a time of singing and prayer.  At the end of the program, we passed out sweets and biscuits for everyone to enjoy. 

In mid-January we had a team of youth come out from Torit for evangelism in the area.  It was a bit of a surprise to the team to find fewer people in villages because of dry season and lack of food in the area. But those who remained in the villages heard the gospel as our group went home to home to share the message.  During the dry season, many people migrate to different areas where there are larger sources of water and food for themselves and for their cattle.  They usually return in April after the rains have come and they begin planting.

On the last day that the team was with us, I had the privilege of baptizing two Laarim youth, Lotao, and Loboi.  It has been a great joy to see them growing in their love for Jesus and take this step of obedience.  I have known Loboi for several years and would see him regularly during my visits to Torit.  I have seen Loboi over time grow in his boldness for Christ.  Over this last year, I have spent much time with Lotao in the village and have seen him rapidly grow in his love for Jesus, knowledge of the Bible, and his ability to share the good news with others.  Lotao has started attending school in Farasika, which is at the southern end of Laarim territory.  There he will be staying with a couple of Kenyan missionaries who are teaching at the school.  We will miss always having him around, but we trust that the Lord will continue to grow him and use him as he continues to be discipled by the missionaries there.

In our village there are a couple of boys who have been regularly coming to us to hear a story or message from the Bible.  It is exciting to see them increase in their understanding of God's word and desire to learn more.  I am looking to spend more time working with them over these coming months, but I really need to keep improving in my Laarim language ability to effectively lead these young men who have no English.

Andrew, my fellow missionary, continues to improve in his ability to communicate in Laarim.  He continues to work hard at the language and he has even begun sharing simple Bible stories and having discussions with the listeners in the Laarim language.  Praise God for Andrew's progress!  Recently he has agreed to start teaching at the nearby primary school and lead devotions there.

I am also thankful that our leaders for the team, Phil and Linda, have arrived. They  eagerly began the language learning process and seem to be enjoying it.  For these coming months, Phil and Linda will be settling in, building relationships and taking time to observe before they assume the team leader role.  Phil was serving as the South Sudan unit leader for AIM when I first came out in 2009.  Later he took on leadership of the Central Region which includes South Sudan and five other African nations. Now he is here to lead our team.  Praise God for their arrival!

I am also thankful for Clement who is working with the housing setup and preaches on Sunday mornings at two of our building locations.  Clement is Laarim though having grown up away from home, he had not learned the language.  Over these past months he has been learning how to communicate in the Laarim language.  Clement loves Jesus and really desires to see his people come to Christ.

How you can pray.

-Please pray for Phil and Linda as they are learning language, culture, and building relationships.  Pray that God would guide them through these few months as they observe, learn, and transition into role of team leaders.

-Please pray for Andrew to continue to progress in language as well as fit in well to his teaching role.  May Christ use him to impact many lives at the school.

-Pray for the Laarim students, Angelo, Loboi, and Lotao that they would continue to grow in the love for Jesus and obedience to him.  Pray for Lotao to adjust well to his new environment in Farasika.

-Pray for the boys who continue coming to our place to hear the word of God.  May they come to faith in the Lord Jesus.  Pray that I would continue growing in my ability to communicate in Laarim so that I may train them well to be disciples and disciplemakers.

-Pray for Clement to continue well in his work as well as communicating the gospel as he preaches on Sunday mornings.  Pray for him to keep growing in his ability to communicate in Laarim.