I am so grateful to the Lord for how He allows His peace to rule in our hearts as we continue to follow the path which He sets before us. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will direct your paths," It is a reminder to me that no matter what I face, Christ can be glorified through my reliance on Him.
Nearly two years ago, my father had been diagnosed with chordoma, a slow growing bone cancer. They performed surgery and removed the tumor. About a year later, they found that the cancer had returned. Despite this difficult news, I knew the Lord had called me to Sudan and was at peace about going out into the field so I headed out to Sudan. At the beginning of March this year, I received news that the cancer had spread more extensively than previously thought and that my father's health would likely deteriorate quickly. By the recommendation of the doctor, I decided to return early and arranged a flight to return to Omaha on March 19th. I am now back in Omaha and with my family.
During my last couple months in Sudan, ministry was going well. I was teaching three young men computer skills as well as teaching one individual English grammar and vocabulary. Although I stopped teaching the intermediate English class at AIC since all my students who expressed interest were busy at school preparing for exams, my beginner's English course was going fairly well. The learners, which mostly consisted of adult women who had started with little to no English really seemed to enjoy the class. Also, the weekly Bible study that I was having with Barnabas, Odiya, and Abema was going well. At our final study together, the three of them agreed to continue to meeting after I left. Although I knew my ministry in Sudan would be coming to a close for the moment, I felt the Lord preparing me for future ministry there.
With the more time that I spent in Torit, there was one people group, the Toposa, which captured my attention. Like most states in South Sudan, Eastern Equatoria consists of numerous people groups, each with their own language and culture. The Toposa is possibly the largest people group in Eastern Equatoria State and still remains largely unreached. They are pastoralist nomads, often being on the move throughout the year. I first encountered the Toposa in Torit as the boys would bring their cattle and goats into the area for grazing. In Toposa society, it is the boys who have the responsibility of tending and herding their livestock. Generally, men have the least amount of work to do as their main responsibility is to keep track of their livestock. The women, on the other hand, have the responsibility of caring for the rest of the needs at home. This includes, rearing children, maintaining a clean compound, preparing food, and drawing water from the nearest source and carrying it home. Tension with neighboring tribes is common among the Toposa and cattle raiding is commonly practiced. Recently though, I was encouraged to hear that some Toposa have gone to villages of neighboring tribes to make peace with their former enemies. It is our hope and prayer that all groups involved would adhere to these agreements.
Visit to the Toposaland
With the little time that I had left in Sudan, I decided to take a trip east of Torit to visit some of those who are involved with ministry among the Toposa in order to see what opportunities there may be for me to work among them in the future. My first stop was in Kapoeta about 150 km east of Torit. Without being able to notify him ahead of time, I went to visit James Lokuuda, a Toposa pastor who works with language translation and leads a growing church in Kapoeta. I also went out to visit one of the nearby villages where James had recently planted a church. After two nights in Kapoeta, I took a small bus to the town of Narus which is a couple hours drive east of Kapoeta. There I stayed with AIC pastor James Nyika and explored the area with some of the Kenyan and Sudanese missionaries. The trip went well and I made some good connections with the people. I am now seriously considering future ministry in that area. The environment of Kapoeta and Narus is a bit more harsh than Torit's. The land is much drier and the rivers flow with water only when there has been rain. While Torit is developing rapidly, there is little construction going on in these areas. I also got the impression that political clashes and acts of violence are more frequent as well. Despite reports that Christianity dominates these areas, most people in the area do not have knowledge of the Gospel. Biblical names are commonly given to the children, yet Christ is not known among them.
On my return journey from Narus to Torit, our bus stopped at a borehole. As Toposa children outside curiously came near the vehicle and looked in the window, they noticed me and just stared and smiled. I smiled back and greeted them in Toposa. One of the boys came up to the window and I asked him his name. He responded with "Marko" and then I told him my name. I felt awkward in not knowing what to say next, but he just stood there and continued to smile at me. As Marko was looking at me, the question arose in my mind "Without the Gospel where will these people be?" I was caught up in emotion and had to hold back tears. No more words were said and we soon departed, but I can never forget the curious and innocent look on that child's face and wonder what his future will hold for him.
When I reflect upon my entire time in Sudan, I feel that it was a success. My Juba Arabic language is now at a level where I can communicate fairly with the native speakers. I also developed good relationships with the locals and missionaries. I was able to challenge and encourage the Christians to draw closer to the Lord. And I also helped contribute to the growth of career-related skills in individuals through teaching of language and computer. I feel that the connections and relationships that I built with the people of Sudan will be beneficial for future ministry there. I believe that I will be returning to Sudan soon, but for the moment I feel that the Lord has called me to take some time to seek His face about my next steps. As of now, there are some pressing prayer needs for the nation of Sudan.
Prayer Points:
-This month, national elections are intended to take place for the entire Sudan. Pray that it would be a peaceful process and that the elections would be conducted with fairness.
-Next January, the Southern Sudanese will vote to either remain part of the Sudan or become a separate nation. Pray that the will of the people would be heard and carried out. Pray that both the North and South would be committed to finding a peaceful means of working out all the details of whatever decision is made.
-As for me, pray that as I seek the Lord, I would have discernment in hearing His voice for the next steps of my life and ministry. Above all things, I never want to forget the importance of living for Jesus. That means, not living for a successful ministry, or many of the other good things in this life, but rather valuing my relationship with Christ above all so that my life brings glory to Him.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Renewed Vision for the New Year
After having spent a wonderful Christmas with friends in Kijabe, Kenya and then having spent two weeks in Uganda, I am glad to be back in hot, dry, and dusty Torit, Sudan. I had a good time meeting AIM other missionaries at the Central Region Conference in Jinja and one of the highlights of my adventure was rafting on class five rapids near the source of the Nile in Uganda.
As of now, I have spent eight months in Africa and less than four months remain for me. Initially upon my return to Sudan, I intended to start teaching English classes at Torit Day Secondary school where I previously taught. Though both the headmaster and deputy master expressed their support of the idea, I had a difficult time getting things moving at the school. Due to the short amount of time that I had left here in Sudan, I decided to approach AIC about the idea. They immediately expressed their support and we got started soon after. I am now teaching two adult English classes, one for beginners and one at the intermediate level on the AIC church compound. Russ, who is an AIM missionary, has been great in helping me get things started and encouraging me in doing the class. I have found some challenges in the attendance not being consistent, but things appear to be improving as there are a few individuals coming regularly. Along with leading the English classes, I am also continuing to work with individuals on computer skills here at our compound.
Taking some time out of Sudan has also given me a renewed vision to investing in and working with the church body as well as being intentional in sharing Jesus to those with whom I interact. I began asking the Lord to lead me into and show me opportunities where I could speak His truth to the people that I interact with on a daily basis. About a week later, two young men that I see nearly everyday on separate occasions began asking me questions about sin and salvation. Both times I was able to share about what the Word of God says and encourage them to put their trust fully in Christ’s work on the cross. Though I have not yet sensed any major changes in the lives of these individuals, I am praying that the Lord would continue working on their hearts.
I am also thrilled that two young Sudanese men, Abema and Odiya have joined Barnabas and I in our weekly Bible study. It has been our desire to include in our Bible study Sudanese who love the Lord and want to grow in Christ. Both of these young men have a love the Lord and a desire to see their peers come to know Christ. I am also teaching Odiya computer skills and he has been coming to the intermediate English class regularly. I am looking start working with Abema as well.
One of the greatest challenges that I am now facing in Sudan is the high daytime and nighttime temperatures. The heat takes a great deal of energy out of a person here. I find that I often need a nap during the hottest time of the day. I am still spending most of my nights sleeping in a mud hut and the temperature inside often remains in the upper 80’s to lower 90’s into midnight. Often the only way for me to cope through the night is to lay a wet sheet over myself to keep cool. To make things more difficult, nights are seldom quiet here. Sometimes, there are overnight prayers and singing with blaring speakers from a nearby church, or other times one may hear drumming all night at a neighboring compound. In Lotuka culture, drumming is said to be a way of expressing grief and when an individual passes away, people from the community will come to the compound to drum, dance, and kick up dust with their feet from night until morning. I have found earplugs to be necessary for me to sleep some nights.
Despite the fact that sleeping in a mud hut without electricity is not easy during this season, I am still finding my nights at Taban’s place worthwhile as I have also developed a good friendship with Lodule, an 18 year old Sudanese who came from Juba almost a year ago to run the shop on the compound. I spend most of my evenings with him at the shop. Because he has no English, we converse in Arabic and I find after each month that passes that I am able to communicate a little bit better with him.
Please pray for:
-my time with Lodule. Pray that he would be drawn closer to Christ through our conversations.
-the English classes. Pray that the Lord would direct me in leading the classes as well as for the students who are coming.
-our Bible study and that we would continue to grow in Christ through our time together.
-restful nights and energy for us all to keep going strong during this season.
-our safety and protection.
As of now, I have spent eight months in Africa and less than four months remain for me. Initially upon my return to Sudan, I intended to start teaching English classes at Torit Day Secondary school where I previously taught. Though both the headmaster and deputy master expressed their support of the idea, I had a difficult time getting things moving at the school. Due to the short amount of time that I had left here in Sudan, I decided to approach AIC about the idea. They immediately expressed their support and we got started soon after. I am now teaching two adult English classes, one for beginners and one at the intermediate level on the AIC church compound. Russ, who is an AIM missionary, has been great in helping me get things started and encouraging me in doing the class. I have found some challenges in the attendance not being consistent, but things appear to be improving as there are a few individuals coming regularly. Along with leading the English classes, I am also continuing to work with individuals on computer skills here at our compound.
Taking some time out of Sudan has also given me a renewed vision to investing in and working with the church body as well as being intentional in sharing Jesus to those with whom I interact. I began asking the Lord to lead me into and show me opportunities where I could speak His truth to the people that I interact with on a daily basis. About a week later, two young men that I see nearly everyday on separate occasions began asking me questions about sin and salvation. Both times I was able to share about what the Word of God says and encourage them to put their trust fully in Christ’s work on the cross. Though I have not yet sensed any major changes in the lives of these individuals, I am praying that the Lord would continue working on their hearts.
I am also thrilled that two young Sudanese men, Abema and Odiya have joined Barnabas and I in our weekly Bible study. It has been our desire to include in our Bible study Sudanese who love the Lord and want to grow in Christ. Both of these young men have a love the Lord and a desire to see their peers come to know Christ. I am also teaching Odiya computer skills and he has been coming to the intermediate English class regularly. I am looking start working with Abema as well.
One of the greatest challenges that I am now facing in Sudan is the high daytime and nighttime temperatures. The heat takes a great deal of energy out of a person here. I find that I often need a nap during the hottest time of the day. I am still spending most of my nights sleeping in a mud hut and the temperature inside often remains in the upper 80’s to lower 90’s into midnight. Often the only way for me to cope through the night is to lay a wet sheet over myself to keep cool. To make things more difficult, nights are seldom quiet here. Sometimes, there are overnight prayers and singing with blaring speakers from a nearby church, or other times one may hear drumming all night at a neighboring compound. In Lotuka culture, drumming is said to be a way of expressing grief and when an individual passes away, people from the community will come to the compound to drum, dance, and kick up dust with their feet from night until morning. I have found earplugs to be necessary for me to sleep some nights.
Despite the fact that sleeping in a mud hut without electricity is not easy during this season, I am still finding my nights at Taban’s place worthwhile as I have also developed a good friendship with Lodule, an 18 year old Sudanese who came from Juba almost a year ago to run the shop on the compound. I spend most of my evenings with him at the shop. Because he has no English, we converse in Arabic and I find after each month that passes that I am able to communicate a little bit better with him.
Please pray for:
-my time with Lodule. Pray that he would be drawn closer to Christ through our conversations.
-the English classes. Pray that the Lord would direct me in leading the classes as well as for the students who are coming.
-our Bible study and that we would continue to grow in Christ through our time together.
-restful nights and energy for us all to keep going strong during this season.
-our safety and protection.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My Experiences as a Teacher
Six weeks after I jumped into the middle of the school’s final term at Torit Day Secondary School, we have now finished lectures, given the final exams, and completed grading them. Although I faced a number of frustrations, I feel that the experience I gained from teaching there was invaluable. The Lord has again reminded me through this experience that He is faithful to use us as we choose to trust and obey Him. I honestly felt that teaching a class of 50-60 students without any formal teaching experience was beyond my capabilities, but the Lord brought me through. It was even a relief to know that most of the students were very happy with the class and my method of teaching.
Despite the success of the experience, I was saddened to find out that some of the students are seriously struggling in class due to their inability to understand, read, or write English well. I found it a bit humorous in some cases while I was grading the exams. According to one student, a disciple is a “flower” of Jesus. Another student listed the three parts of the Trinity when I asked for three reasons why people were angry with Jesus during His ministry. Due to the many who are struggling to understand English, I feel that the Lord may be leading me to start a class at the school which would be for students who wish to improve their English over their four month break from school. Teaching a class in which students voluntarily come is much more appealing than attempting to lead a class where some of the students who do not want to be there are continually disruptive.
The other parts of the ministry that the Lord has given me are going reasonably well, though I have had little time to work with my English or computer students. Things have seemed to wind down a bit, and I have decided not to pursue working with any other individuals until next year since I will be leaving Sudan for three weeks on December 22nd. I will be spending time in both Kenya and Uganda before I return to Sudan in January.
The homestay with Taban is going fairly well, though I had found the language learning a bit more difficult when I started teaching. Every evening, I found my mind shutting down and no longer wanting to converse in Arabic. Taban has decided to start digging the latrine on his compound that I plan to help him with and I was encouraged to see that some of his neighbors have also come and helped with the work. When I see neighbors or individuals working together for a common purpose without demanding anything in return, even with something as seemingly small as digging a latrine, I am reminded that there is hope in this place despite all the problems.
Upon my return in January, I am also looking to teach computer skills to Taban and William, another young man from church. Both are active members at Africa Inland Church and both have a desire to acquire more job-related skills. Also, Matai who I will be sponsoring to attend secondary school in Kenya is planning to head out soon and I am in the process of contacting the school and making arrangements for him.
I am really looking forward to seeing how the Lord will direct this second half of my term in Torit, but I can tell that it is time for a break. I am glad that I will be spending Christmas with my friends in Kijabe, Kenya.
How you can pray:
-For safety in our travels. Nearly all Central Region AIM missionaries will be going to an AIM conference in Uganda from the 6th to the 10th of January.
-For Matai as he is getting his passport and arranging for transport to Kenya. Pray also that everything would go well as we arrange for him to attend school there.
-That I would follow the leading of the Lord regarding teaching an English class for the secondary students over their year-end break.
-For continued peace in this land.
-For our continued health and protection.
Despite the success of the experience, I was saddened to find out that some of the students are seriously struggling in class due to their inability to understand, read, or write English well. I found it a bit humorous in some cases while I was grading the exams. According to one student, a disciple is a “flower” of Jesus. Another student listed the three parts of the Trinity when I asked for three reasons why people were angry with Jesus during His ministry. Due to the many who are struggling to understand English, I feel that the Lord may be leading me to start a class at the school which would be for students who wish to improve their English over their four month break from school. Teaching a class in which students voluntarily come is much more appealing than attempting to lead a class where some of the students who do not want to be there are continually disruptive.
The other parts of the ministry that the Lord has given me are going reasonably well, though I have had little time to work with my English or computer students. Things have seemed to wind down a bit, and I have decided not to pursue working with any other individuals until next year since I will be leaving Sudan for three weeks on December 22nd. I will be spending time in both Kenya and Uganda before I return to Sudan in January.
The homestay with Taban is going fairly well, though I had found the language learning a bit more difficult when I started teaching. Every evening, I found my mind shutting down and no longer wanting to converse in Arabic. Taban has decided to start digging the latrine on his compound that I plan to help him with and I was encouraged to see that some of his neighbors have also come and helped with the work. When I see neighbors or individuals working together for a common purpose without demanding anything in return, even with something as seemingly small as digging a latrine, I am reminded that there is hope in this place despite all the problems.
Upon my return in January, I am also looking to teach computer skills to Taban and William, another young man from church. Both are active members at Africa Inland Church and both have a desire to acquire more job-related skills. Also, Matai who I will be sponsoring to attend secondary school in Kenya is planning to head out soon and I am in the process of contacting the school and making arrangements for him.
I am really looking forward to seeing how the Lord will direct this second half of my term in Torit, but I can tell that it is time for a break. I am glad that I will be spending Christmas with my friends in Kijabe, Kenya.
How you can pray:
-For safety in our travels. Nearly all Central Region AIM missionaries will be going to an AIM conference in Uganda from the 6th to the 10th of January.
-For Matai as he is getting his passport and arranging for transport to Kenya. Pray also that everything would go well as we arrange for him to attend school there.
-That I would follow the leading of the Lord regarding teaching an English class for the secondary students over their year-end break.
-For continued peace in this land.
-For our continued health and protection.
Friday, November 6, 2009
A High School Teacher?
I have to admit that over this past month, I was beginning to wonder whether I was following the path of ministry which the Lord had set before me, or if I was going off track. I have been working one-on-one with Peter and Matai on computer skills, and with another young man, Salla, on conversational English. Although the sessions have been and still are going reasonably well, I had found myself sitting around the compound with little to do if one of them did not show up for the agreed time. I also have found that 2 hours a day and 5 days a week on computer can be quite exhausting for a learner, thus explaining why I did not have someone to teach everyday. As a result of the lack of attendance, I began to feel a bit idle and discouraged. Realizing the amount of free time I had, Phil encouraged me to begin pursuing another ministry in addition to what I was doing. As I had been thinking and praying about it, the Lord brought to my mind a conversation I had with my roommate, Juma, in which he was encouraging me to come and teach at his secondary school as some of the other previous missionaries had done. Initially I told him that teaching in school would not fit me well. In fact, I did not feel that I could be a capable teacher and the thought of teaching a class of high school students frightened me. But I could not get the idea out of my head and the thought of it strangely began to appeal to me, though I felt incapable of doing it. And although I had no formal experience of teaching in a classroom setting, I began to want to do it so I went before the Lord and began to seek him about teaching. As I told the Lord that I just wanted to be obedient to His calling regardless of what it was, I began to feel that teaching was His will for me and that if I would step out in faith He would be faithful to use me in the classroom. So I went ahead and visited the headmaster of the school, and then went to the director of secondary education who approved me to teach as a volunteer at the government secondary school. The day that I was to start, I was reminded of Philippians 4:6 which tells us to be anxious for nothing, but to present our requests to the Lord with thanksgiving. I went to the Lord and prayed in this manner and soon after, my heart was filled with the peace of God as promised in verse 7. As I went to school and began teach, it felt as if I had been doing it for years and the students were amused when I would throw in a little Arabic from time to time during the lecture. So I am now a part-time teacher of CRE (Christian Religion Education) and find it enjoyable as well as a challenge which encourages me to keep looking to God for His strength.
This experience has led me to be thankful to the Lord for the times that He gives us tasks or puts us in situations which are beyond what we have prepared ourselves to handle. I have seen how quickly in my own life, pride has come into my heart when I began to look back at MY OWN accomplishments and successes that I may or may not have carefully calculated. Such pride always seems to be followed by discouragement, with the next mistake made, thus causing me to realize that I am not all that I thought I was. There have been times at the market where I had been feeling pretty good about having a conversation with a local in Arabic as others stopped to listen and admire my skills. And then in the next moment someone says something to me that I can not even understand and I am unable to answer or worse, I give a response that makes absolutely no sense and I embarrass myself. I am beginning to thank the Lord for these times of humiliation which bring me back to the realization that it is the Lord who works in us, rather than us offering something acceptable from ourselves to God in which we can boast to others about. As Oswald Chambers writes, “We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.” It seems that the Lord has been working on teaching me childlikeness in these past few weeks.
A Month on Our Own
Phil and Linda got back from their visit to the United States in the middle of October, and while they had been gone, we at the compound really learned to appreciate having them around. Despite all the obvious work that Phil and Linda do, there are the many unnoticed tasks which need attention such as making sure our gardener and laundry helper are fed and paid. Also, guests frequently come to visit the compound with needs, requests, or issues that need to be addressed. And then there is the maintenance of the compound which requires a lot of attention. We have found that just taking care of the needs here is a full-time job.
During our time without Phil and Linda here we also had problems with rats, snakes, and monkeys entering the house. Monkeys may be cute out in the wild, but in town they are a nuisance. Numerous times they had torn our screen windows, entered the house, and stolen food. Also, they do not hesitate to bite if they feel threatened. As a result of the continual problems, the wildlife protection services has now given the people the right to fight back if threatened or harassed by these creatures. Rats were also causing serious problems as well and the little things were impossible to catch. Here and there we would find a tomato nibbled on or a something chewed up overnight, but we finally declared war when a mother rat pushed the door up on one of our trunks full of food, entered, and gave birth to six babies. I ended up throwing out nearly half of what was in the trunk because it was spoiled by the rats. We tried traps and poison, but nothing worked. We finally brought a cat from the church compound to our place and we have not had a rat problem since.
How You Can Pray:
1. Pray for me as I am teaching at the secondary school. There is a lot of needed wisdom and patience when teaching in such an environment.
2. Pray that the students’ hearts would be open as they are learning about the Word of God.
3. Pray for Peter, Matai, and Salla who I am working with one-on-one. Pray that the Lord would use our time together to bring glory to Himself.
4. Pray for peace at Taban’s compound where I am doing my homestay. Although Taban and his wife Bakita are doing well, there has been some turmoil due to a conflict between some other individuals there.
5. Pray for our safety and protection and pray against any work of the enemy which would try to take our eyes off the Lord.
This experience has led me to be thankful to the Lord for the times that He gives us tasks or puts us in situations which are beyond what we have prepared ourselves to handle. I have seen how quickly in my own life, pride has come into my heart when I began to look back at MY OWN accomplishments and successes that I may or may not have carefully calculated. Such pride always seems to be followed by discouragement, with the next mistake made, thus causing me to realize that I am not all that I thought I was. There have been times at the market where I had been feeling pretty good about having a conversation with a local in Arabic as others stopped to listen and admire my skills. And then in the next moment someone says something to me that I can not even understand and I am unable to answer or worse, I give a response that makes absolutely no sense and I embarrass myself. I am beginning to thank the Lord for these times of humiliation which bring me back to the realization that it is the Lord who works in us, rather than us offering something acceptable from ourselves to God in which we can boast to others about. As Oswald Chambers writes, “We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.” It seems that the Lord has been working on teaching me childlikeness in these past few weeks.
A Month on Our Own
Phil and Linda got back from their visit to the United States in the middle of October, and while they had been gone, we at the compound really learned to appreciate having them around. Despite all the obvious work that Phil and Linda do, there are the many unnoticed tasks which need attention such as making sure our gardener and laundry helper are fed and paid. Also, guests frequently come to visit the compound with needs, requests, or issues that need to be addressed. And then there is the maintenance of the compound which requires a lot of attention. We have found that just taking care of the needs here is a full-time job.
During our time without Phil and Linda here we also had problems with rats, snakes, and monkeys entering the house. Monkeys may be cute out in the wild, but in town they are a nuisance. Numerous times they had torn our screen windows, entered the house, and stolen food. Also, they do not hesitate to bite if they feel threatened. As a result of the continual problems, the wildlife protection services has now given the people the right to fight back if threatened or harassed by these creatures. Rats were also causing serious problems as well and the little things were impossible to catch. Here and there we would find a tomato nibbled on or a something chewed up overnight, but we finally declared war when a mother rat pushed the door up on one of our trunks full of food, entered, and gave birth to six babies. I ended up throwing out nearly half of what was in the trunk because it was spoiled by the rats. We tried traps and poison, but nothing worked. We finally brought a cat from the church compound to our place and we have not had a rat problem since.
How You Can Pray:
1. Pray for me as I am teaching at the secondary school. There is a lot of needed wisdom and patience when teaching in such an environment.
2. Pray that the students’ hearts would be open as they are learning about the Word of God.
3. Pray for Peter, Matai, and Salla who I am working with one-on-one. Pray that the Lord would use our time together to bring glory to Himself.
4. Pray for peace at Taban’s compound where I am doing my homestay. Although Taban and his wife Bakita are doing well, there has been some turmoil due to a conflict between some other individuals there.
5. Pray for our safety and protection and pray against any work of the enemy which would try to take our eyes off the Lord.
Monday, September 28, 2009
New Opportunities
After three months of focusing on building relationships and language learning in Torit, new doors of ministry have opened for me. Since I have come, I have been building a friendship a young Sudanese man, Matai who is staying with some relatives here. In return for a place to sleep and receiving meals, Matai has been expected to run his uncle’s bar in the Torit market area. If he is not at the bar during the day, it is usually because he is running errands for others. During the times that I have visited Matai while he is at work, I have continually been impressed with his positive attitude, his love for God, and the respect that others have for him. He also has a determination to succeed and a desire to complete secondary school. Recently, Matai approached me about sponsorship for school. Initially, I responded by telling him I would not likely be able to do so. A few days later, I felt an impression during my prayer time that the Lord would have me sponsor him. I continued to pray and I felt a peace come over me about the whole situation. I since have made the decision to help Matai find a good Christian school in Kenya and I am currently in the process of looking for one. Recently, Matai has found another individual to help share the workload with him at the bar so that he does not have to spend the entire day there. This has enabled Matai to come over to the AIM compound where I am now helping him learn computer skills. Several times each week, he comes and spends a few hours on the computer to practice typing. I am continually praying that the Lord would show me ways to help mentor Matai and encourage him in Christ.
The same day that I agreed to teach Matai on the computer, another young man, Peter, approached Philip Byler asking if he could have someone teach him computer skills. I have agreed to work with him also and I now spend a couple hours each weekday at the AIM compound working individually with these two men and I am enjoying it.
I have also been meeting about twice a week with Barnabas, a Kenyan believer who really has a desire to be a witness for Christ to the Sudanese in Torit. Barnabas came to Torit a couple years ago to do construction work. He even helped build the bedrooms for Catrin and Verena on the AIM compound last year. Barnabas stays with his wife in a tukul (mud hut with a grass thatched roof) which he rents from a Sudanese family. After his work slowed, Barnabas has now taken up the job of delivering water in Jeri cans with his bicycle to families and businesses. This job has allowed him to save up money for when he will return to Kenya. Barnabas and I have been going through the book, the Calvary Road together and we pray with one another that the Lord would continue to use us to reach out and spread the Gospel among the people here. Just recently another Kenyan man, Albert, has joined the two of us.
I have also started an extended homestay with Taban Patrick’s family. I had such a great experience during my one-week stay just after arriving to Sudan that I was looking forward to going back. I am hoping to really improve my Juba Arabic during this time as well as build some good relationships with the youth who stay on or nearby the compound. As a way to return the favor to Taban’s family for allowing me to stay with them and eat meals together, I am planning to help them dig a latrine on the compound and cover the cost for the materials to shelter it.
So far, I have found the homestay to be a bit of a challenge, but a good one nonetheless. It is not easy to stay with a family where only a few of the members speak English. Moving in with Taban’s family has really been a big step for me. I now share a reasonably comfortable tukul (mud hut) with Taban’s brother Juma. For protection from insects, I sleep inside a small single-person tent which fits nicely inside the tukul. In the morning, we have tea and mandazis (like a donut, but not as sweet). Lunch and dinner usually consist of cooked maize or sorghum meal which is used to dip in stew made from greens, cowpeas, or okra. A couple times a week, we have eggs. My first week there, I found that my stomach could only tolerate small portions of the food and I began feeling weak and ill. Furthermore many Sudanese do not drink enough liquids (about two cups a day along with tea in the morning) and I at that time was only getting that amount. I have now started eating lunch at the AIM compound and bringing extra water to drink and I am now back to full health. I also spend my Saturdays back at the AIM compound and return to Taban’s after church on Sunday. On the days when I have not gotten back to the AIM compound, I have opted to bathe in the Kinyeti River which runs from the mountains rather than bathe in the bathing shelter at Tabans, which is used for urinating and has large gaps in the grass walls.
Things have yet to get started with the prison ministry, and being as busy as I am right now, I am considering delaying until next year. Luka, the prison guard, and I were supposed to start a few weeks ago, but on what was supposed to be the first day of the class, I discovered that Luka had been sent out to be part of a workshop. I really believe that Luka desires to get started, but I have gone to see him numerous times at the prison only to find that he has been sent out somewhere else at the moment. I do believe that in the Lord’s timing, we will get the Bible class going.
As I think about my time here, I am really at peace with the direction that God has taken things. I find that every day leaves me with countless opportunities to encourage, pray for, and show kindness towards others. Despite all the apparent drawbacks of living in Sudan, and missing my family and friends, I am still overjoyed to be here where the Lord has placed me.
Please pray for:
-Matai, who I will sponsor and with whom I spend a lot of time mentoring and also training on the computer. Pray that our time would be fruitful together and that he would grow closer to God through this time.
-The time that I spend with the youth on Taban’s compound. My Arabic is still limited and I am doing my best to relate to them as I continue to learn their language.
-Our safety and protection as missionaries. Phil and Linda are in the United States until mid-October so Catrin and Joan (a newly arrived AIM missionary) are staying on the compound by themselves.
The same day that I agreed to teach Matai on the computer, another young man, Peter, approached Philip Byler asking if he could have someone teach him computer skills. I have agreed to work with him also and I now spend a couple hours each weekday at the AIM compound working individually with these two men and I am enjoying it.
I have also been meeting about twice a week with Barnabas, a Kenyan believer who really has a desire to be a witness for Christ to the Sudanese in Torit. Barnabas came to Torit a couple years ago to do construction work. He even helped build the bedrooms for Catrin and Verena on the AIM compound last year. Barnabas stays with his wife in a tukul (mud hut with a grass thatched roof) which he rents from a Sudanese family. After his work slowed, Barnabas has now taken up the job of delivering water in Jeri cans with his bicycle to families and businesses. This job has allowed him to save up money for when he will return to Kenya. Barnabas and I have been going through the book, the Calvary Road together and we pray with one another that the Lord would continue to use us to reach out and spread the Gospel among the people here. Just recently another Kenyan man, Albert, has joined the two of us.
I have also started an extended homestay with Taban Patrick’s family. I had such a great experience during my one-week stay just after arriving to Sudan that I was looking forward to going back. I am hoping to really improve my Juba Arabic during this time as well as build some good relationships with the youth who stay on or nearby the compound. As a way to return the favor to Taban’s family for allowing me to stay with them and eat meals together, I am planning to help them dig a latrine on the compound and cover the cost for the materials to shelter it.
So far, I have found the homestay to be a bit of a challenge, but a good one nonetheless. It is not easy to stay with a family where only a few of the members speak English. Moving in with Taban’s family has really been a big step for me. I now share a reasonably comfortable tukul (mud hut) with Taban’s brother Juma. For protection from insects, I sleep inside a small single-person tent which fits nicely inside the tukul. In the morning, we have tea and mandazis (like a donut, but not as sweet). Lunch and dinner usually consist of cooked maize or sorghum meal which is used to dip in stew made from greens, cowpeas, or okra. A couple times a week, we have eggs. My first week there, I found that my stomach could only tolerate small portions of the food and I began feeling weak and ill. Furthermore many Sudanese do not drink enough liquids (about two cups a day along with tea in the morning) and I at that time was only getting that amount. I have now started eating lunch at the AIM compound and bringing extra water to drink and I am now back to full health. I also spend my Saturdays back at the AIM compound and return to Taban’s after church on Sunday. On the days when I have not gotten back to the AIM compound, I have opted to bathe in the Kinyeti River which runs from the mountains rather than bathe in the bathing shelter at Tabans, which is used for urinating and has large gaps in the grass walls.
Things have yet to get started with the prison ministry, and being as busy as I am right now, I am considering delaying until next year. Luka, the prison guard, and I were supposed to start a few weeks ago, but on what was supposed to be the first day of the class, I discovered that Luka had been sent out to be part of a workshop. I really believe that Luka desires to get started, but I have gone to see him numerous times at the prison only to find that he has been sent out somewhere else at the moment. I do believe that in the Lord’s timing, we will get the Bible class going.
As I think about my time here, I am really at peace with the direction that God has taken things. I find that every day leaves me with countless opportunities to encourage, pray for, and show kindness towards others. Despite all the apparent drawbacks of living in Sudan, and missing my family and friends, I am still overjoyed to be here where the Lord has placed me.
Please pray for:
-Matai, who I will sponsor and with whom I spend a lot of time mentoring and also training on the computer. Pray that our time would be fruitful together and that he would grow closer to God through this time.
-The time that I spend with the youth on Taban’s compound. My Arabic is still limited and I am doing my best to relate to them as I continue to learn their language.
-Our safety and protection as missionaries. Phil and Linda are in the United States until mid-October so Catrin and Joan (a newly arrived AIM missionary) are staying on the compound by themselves.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Learning to Live in South Sudan
Finding a well-defined ministry as is often expected of missionaries entering the field can be difficult in areas like South Sudan where planning and structure, as we know it in the West, hardly exists. I am learning, as one missionary in Uganda told me, that although many emphasize the need to be flexible in Africa, accepting the fact that your work may often seem ambiguous is probably more important. After spending nearly two months in Torit, I could not agree more. I have not yet begun working in a defined ministry here.
Yet, there is some positive news regarding a good ministry opportunity. A little over a month ago, I had met Luka, a prison guard who had been leading a church service in the prison for inmates. I was amazed by Luka’s heart to reach out and preach Christ to the prisoners, as well as his desire to minister to others who are hurting and in difficult circumstances. Luka and I had been looking into the possibility of teaching a Bible class to some of the inmates so Phil and Linda soon found us some Bible teaching material geared toward prisoners. About a month later after not hearing from Luka for awhile, I feeling a bit discouraged. But, he has since contacted me and said that he had been out of town visiting some of the other prisons. Now that he is back, Luka seems more eager than ever in getting this class started. I recently visited the Sunday service at the prison and seeing the hunger that these inmates had for the Lord has made me all the more excited about getting started with this class. I am now waiting to hear back from Luka as he gets everything approved by the directors of the prison.
In the meantime, the Lord seems to be putting me in circumstances and places everyday where He gives me opportunities to encourage and pray for individuals. I also find that I am able to learn a little bit more of the Juba Arabic language every day. Often I walk down to the marketplace where I am frequently greeted and invited to sit down with one of the shop owners or people wandering around the area with little to do. Many times as I am invited to sit, one of the people will bring me a soda free of charge, even though I may have never made a purchase with them. We then usually end up talking about life in America or Sudan, etc. in a conversation that usually ends up being a mix of English, Arabic, and sometimes Swahili. Through these times, I have met a number of people who have opened up about their hardships and prayer needs and I have been able to pray with them and give them a word of encouragement. Other conversations arise where I am able to speak about what it means to know Jesus rather than just identifying oneself as a Christian.
Recently, I had met Mohammed, an Ethiopian former M who has been suffering from joint pain. He has had me pray for him and his health a number of times because he said that he feels better when a Christian prays for him. Although he speaks no English and limited Arabic, he insisted on coming to Church with me on Sunday. We attended Africa Inland Church together the following Sunday and just last week he came again with another Ethiopian man. He is hungry for the Lord and really wants to learn the Bible, yet I have not found someone who speaks his language and is willing to regularly help disciple him or at least interpret for him. Everyday that I see this man, he looks healthier and stronger, and every time he attributes his improving health to the Lord Jesus.
I have also been developing a close friendship with Patrick Taban, a Sudanese believer who attends AIC. Toward the end of June, I did a one week home stay with Taban so that I would get some good practice in Arabic and also would be able to experience life with a Sudanese family on their compound. Taban lives on the compound with his wife, brother, sister, and mother, as well as a friend of his and his family. The time went so well together as I had found many people with whom I could practice Arabic that I am considering doing another stay with Taban and his family for a longer period of time.
I have also been grateful for the fellowship that we have here on our compound. Verena, who is a theological educator, has gone up to Melut in Upper Nile to teach in the university there, so I remain here with, Phil, Linda and Catrin. Nearly every evening, we have dinner together and a time of prayer afterwards. It is wonderful being part of the family here, though I do frequently think of and miss my family back in the U.S.
The longer I have stayed here in Torit, the more I have grown to love this place. Although we face frustrations, misunderstandings, and hardships every day, I cannot thank the Lord enough for bringing me here to minister and experience life with the people of Sudan.
Prayer needs
-Pray for Mohammad to grow in his faith and that the Lord would provide someone who speaks his language and is willing to disciple him.
-Pray that the Lord in His timing would open up the door for the Bible class to get started in the prison.
-Pray for divine connections as we continue to building relationships with the people of Torit and that the hearts of the people would be receptive to the Lord as we spend time with them.
-Continue praying for good health and our safety. I have been getting sick frequently, but I have fully recovered each time.
Yet, there is some positive news regarding a good ministry opportunity. A little over a month ago, I had met Luka, a prison guard who had been leading a church service in the prison for inmates. I was amazed by Luka’s heart to reach out and preach Christ to the prisoners, as well as his desire to minister to others who are hurting and in difficult circumstances. Luka and I had been looking into the possibility of teaching a Bible class to some of the inmates so Phil and Linda soon found us some Bible teaching material geared toward prisoners. About a month later after not hearing from Luka for awhile, I feeling a bit discouraged. But, he has since contacted me and said that he had been out of town visiting some of the other prisons. Now that he is back, Luka seems more eager than ever in getting this class started. I recently visited the Sunday service at the prison and seeing the hunger that these inmates had for the Lord has made me all the more excited about getting started with this class. I am now waiting to hear back from Luka as he gets everything approved by the directors of the prison.
In the meantime, the Lord seems to be putting me in circumstances and places everyday where He gives me opportunities to encourage and pray for individuals. I also find that I am able to learn a little bit more of the Juba Arabic language every day. Often I walk down to the marketplace where I am frequently greeted and invited to sit down with one of the shop owners or people wandering around the area with little to do. Many times as I am invited to sit, one of the people will bring me a soda free of charge, even though I may have never made a purchase with them. We then usually end up talking about life in America or Sudan, etc. in a conversation that usually ends up being a mix of English, Arabic, and sometimes Swahili. Through these times, I have met a number of people who have opened up about their hardships and prayer needs and I have been able to pray with them and give them a word of encouragement. Other conversations arise where I am able to speak about what it means to know Jesus rather than just identifying oneself as a Christian.
Recently, I had met Mohammed, an Ethiopian former M who has been suffering from joint pain. He has had me pray for him and his health a number of times because he said that he feels better when a Christian prays for him. Although he speaks no English and limited Arabic, he insisted on coming to Church with me on Sunday. We attended Africa Inland Church together the following Sunday and just last week he came again with another Ethiopian man. He is hungry for the Lord and really wants to learn the Bible, yet I have not found someone who speaks his language and is willing to regularly help disciple him or at least interpret for him. Everyday that I see this man, he looks healthier and stronger, and every time he attributes his improving health to the Lord Jesus.
I have also been developing a close friendship with Patrick Taban, a Sudanese believer who attends AIC. Toward the end of June, I did a one week home stay with Taban so that I would get some good practice in Arabic and also would be able to experience life with a Sudanese family on their compound. Taban lives on the compound with his wife, brother, sister, and mother, as well as a friend of his and his family. The time went so well together as I had found many people with whom I could practice Arabic that I am considering doing another stay with Taban and his family for a longer period of time.
I have also been grateful for the fellowship that we have here on our compound. Verena, who is a theological educator, has gone up to Melut in Upper Nile to teach in the university there, so I remain here with, Phil, Linda and Catrin. Nearly every evening, we have dinner together and a time of prayer afterwards. It is wonderful being part of the family here, though I do frequently think of and miss my family back in the U.S.
The longer I have stayed here in Torit, the more I have grown to love this place. Although we face frustrations, misunderstandings, and hardships every day, I cannot thank the Lord enough for bringing me here to minister and experience life with the people of Sudan.
Prayer needs
-Pray for Mohammad to grow in his faith and that the Lord would provide someone who speaks his language and is willing to disciple him.
-Pray that the Lord in His timing would open up the door for the Bible class to get started in the prison.
-Pray for divine connections as we continue to building relationships with the people of Torit and that the hearts of the people would be receptive to the Lord as we spend time with them.
-Continue praying for good health and our safety. I have been getting sick frequently, but I have fully recovered each time.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Arrival In Torit
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.
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.
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