Last week I safely arrived into Torit, Sudan after nearly two weeks of traveling and visiting friends. After landing on the Torit airstrip on a connecting flight from Juba, I was greeted by my host missionaries Phil and Linda Byler whose home is just behind the landing strip. The home is on a small compound which belongs to Africa Inland Church.
Although Torit is considered an intense area for ministry, there were a few pleasant surprises for me that I would have not expected. The water which our house pumps from the ground below is drinkable without needing to be treated or filtered. Also, in the market place, the prices on most items are reasonable and non-negotiable making it easy for us Westerners to shop.
On the other hand, I now understand why we are encouraged to take a two-week break every three months. The best way to describe Torit from the perspective is that Torit is a place where everything is broken. Every system in Torit whether it is the school, hospital, or relationships between the people groups never seems to function as intended. For example one of my fellow AIM missionaries, Catrin, who has come to work as a nurse in the hospital has been unable to start because the nurses are on strike, demanding that they receive a pay raise.
Many of the locals have little trust toward outsiders, thus making it difficult for missionaries or anyone else to build genuine friendships with the people. The problem of alcoholism is evident to anyone who would walk the streets in the market place. Occasionally, tempers flare and fights break out. Sanitation is poor also and garbage is often thrown in the streets. Few places even have a latrine so many of the people just “do their business” outside, some even on the walking paths.
Yet despite it all, I have had a wonderful first week here as I am getting to know many of the people. Every single morning I am awakened at 6:00 by the chants of the police recruits doing their training right outside our compound. Rather than getting annoyed by it, as I would have expected myself to be, I actually enjoy it. I love walking through the market place and chatting with the people, which gives me the opportunity to practice my Juba Arabic. To get more practice, I am staying with the family of Taban, who is a Juba Arabic speaker. I have just completed my LAMP (Language Acquisition Made Practical) course which emphasizes the importance of language learning through building relationships and gives strategies on how to do so. These first few months are geared toward language learning, but within the next couple of weeks, I am looking to start working with Luka, a Sudanese man who ministers in the Torit prison. If everything works out, I will be leading a study in the prison which outlines the basics of the Bible beginning with Genesis. Currently, the largest part of my ministry has been through building relationships with the people and it is my prayer that The Lord would use me to speak into the lives of them however He wishes.
Prayer needs
-Pray for the people of Sudan. Many of the people in Torit identify themselves as Christians, but are filled with bitterness and mistrust toward other people groups.
-Pray for the local churches and their leadership. Pray for unity among the believers and against bitterness and division which frequently attempts to work its way into the Body.
-Pray that we would continue to rely on the Holy Spirit to lead us to the right people and to give us the right words to speak as we serve.
-Pray for our safety and protection.
