Setting Goals

"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 3:14

Recently I was reading an article written from a Christian missionary publication explaining the value of asking questions.  It pointed out that in the book of Matthew alone, 99 questions are asked by Jesus.  This has prompted me to think specifically for myself, "What is my goal in being here?"  Ultimately, I could say that my goal is to bring glory to God.  Getting a bit more specific, I can say that my goal is to spread the gospel of Jesus.  I believe that these should be my goals, but more and more I am beginning to recognize the importance of setting specific goals that work toward the ultimate target of our Christian ministry on this earth.  As we are more than half way through this year, I am reminded of my goal of getting established in the northern part of the Laarim territory this coming dry season.  On most days I work to gain fluency in the Laarim language (something which will obviously take awhile).  I also recall my goal of reaching the Laarim people for Christ by sharing the word of God with them using their mother tongue.  Each goal has a timeframe.  My goal to see a Christ-centered church develop among the Laarim will very likely not happen within the next couple months whereas my goal to read and understand all the vocabulary in the 4th chapter in the book of John in the Laarim language may take only a couple weeks.

           

During my first couple months of staying in Loryok, I felt a lot of mixed emotions.  I did have moments of feeling encouraged and having the strength to keep moving forward, but there was on the increase the feeling that I was not managing the time allotted to me as well as I could be. I had my long-term goals in mind, but I was beginning to wonder if what I was doing on a daily basis was moving me closer each day to achieving them.  Doing ministry in a highly relational-oriented society means that much time is spent investing in relationships thus making progress from a western perspective more difficult to gauge. And I was aware of this, though I still felt that I was not working up to my potential.  Over the past several weeks I have begun to see that I needed to put some extra effort in setting daily and weekly goals that help me reach my longer-term goals in ministry among the Laarim.  As I have begun to do this I am beginning to see its benefits.  I have been able to accomplish more.  Praying and thinking about my goals has also helped me to better know what I should involve myself with when spontaneous needs, requests, or activities arise.   I am also able to enjoy my time of leisure and rest more knowing that I am being a good steward of the time God has given to me.

           

In my whole process of setting and accomplishing goals, I am aware that we must continually remind ourselves that God must be the center of it all.  This means that we do not try to fit God into what we desire to do, but rather we must allow Him to direct what we do.  Given that we have a human nature which is bent on going its own way, this does require that we take time to pray, listen, worship the Lord, and meditate upon His word, surrendering our lives to Him and trusting Him.  This puts us in a position which allows God to work through us, directing us to set goals in a way which will lead us to attain the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.   And as we set goals in this way, we then are able to answer the important questions that we need to regularly ask ourselves about our lives and ministry.

Seeing the Lord at Work

This last month that I spent in Loryok had some challenges, but there was much to be thankful for.  It was good to have Pastor David was back to Loryok after his spending of a few months home back in Kenya.  Although I had been battling a couple illness during my time in Loryok, there were only a few days that I felt the need to rest in bed for the entire day. I also thank the Lord for how He has been drawing my adopted Laarim father Joseph to Himself, even demonstrating to him His intervention in situations when we pray.   Joseph has been asking many good questions about God, how He works, the nature of sin, repentance, and forgiveness.  This has allowed David and I to share what the word of God says about each of these topics.  Recently, Joseph excitedly expressed that he felt he was really beginning to understand the word of God more deeply than he ever had before. 

On one of the days while I was in Loryok, a mother had come with her eight year old son who was gravely ill.  They came and stayed at the home of Joseph.  The boy could no longer walk or do anything for himself.  He was not coherent and he made a continual cry throughout the day and night.  When I learned of the situation I mentioned that I would like to bring Pastor David over so that we could pray for the boy.  Joseph agreed so I went out and came back with David.  Before we prayed, Pastor David took several minutes to explain to Joseph about God's sovereignty in all things, as well as why we pray for the sick.  He then read from the passage in James 5 about praying for the sick.  As Pastor David was sharing, the boy stopped crying.  We explained to the mother what we were going to do and we went into the room of the boy to pray for him.  As we were praying the boy was repeating some phrases that I could not understand.  After finishing praying, Pastor David and I left and returned to our homes.  The following day I came back to see Joseph and check on the boy.  Joseph greeted me with some excitement in his voice and said the he could really see that God had worked through our prayers.  He explained to me that the boy had been continuously crying throughout the previous day and night, but after we prayed for him, he remained quiet throughout that night.  Joseph informed me that the women on the compound were saying that we were witchdoctors who had come to treat the boy, but he explained to the women that we were not witchdoctors, but that we were employed by God to come do His work.  I have been blessed to not only see God working in Joseph's life, but to see the Lord using Joseph to reach his own people.  

In just a couple days from now, I plan to head back out to Loryok to again share life together with the Laarim people as I resume language their learning.

Prayer Requests

Please pray that the Lord would continue to draw Joseph closer to Himself, working in him and using him to reach the community. 

Please pray for my partner in ministry AIC Pastor Joshua from Juba who is still planning to return to Loryok.  Pray for the Lord to stir up hearts within the congregations of Africa Inland Church to  support him and other missionaries to carry out the work of God among the unreached.

Please pray for the Lord to put a deeper hunger in the hearts of the Laarim people for Himself and His truth. 

Please continue to pray for my health and for wisdom in caring for my body. 

Living in Loryok

            In mid-April, I moved out to my new temporary home in the town of Loryok, South Sudan where I have been concentrating most of my efforts on learning the Laarim language.  For a number of reasons I have found my life in Loryok to be more difficult than it was living in Torit, yet I feel that I am learning to depend more upon God to give me the strength to take each step ahead.  There are no other westerners living in the area, but I am thankful that there are two missionary pastors who have committed to working with the Laarim people in the area.  There is Pastor David from Kenya who has been in Loryok for several years and more recently my ministry partner Pastor Joshua from Juba.  Initially Pastor Joshua was planning to move immediately up to Kimatong in the Northern part of the Laarim territory, but due to some logistical challenges he has found Loryok to be a better fit for the time being.

            At the moment that I am typing this, I am enjoying a break in Kampala, Uganda staying with my friend Ryan a fellow Omahan and missionary serving in Kampala.  Being an urban environment, Kampala certainly has its own set of needs and challenges for missionaries serving here, but it has been a great place for me to get some R&R.   Running water, hot showers, electricity, and a seemingly endless variety of food and types of restaurants are all things that I have been enjoying here and it has been very refreshing.  Soon I will fly back to South Sudan to resume my work there.  To be honest, I do feel a bit of dread when I think of going back to all the challenges that come along with living in Loryok, but I do look forward to being with the people there that I am growing to love.

            A typical day in Loryok for me begins with having coffee or tea and spending some time in prayer and in the Bible.  I then go out to find people I know in town who speak Laarim.  When I find that person or group, I can use the time to practice speaking and listening as well as collecting new Laarim phrases and vocabulary words.  If I cannot find someone who is wanting to speak Laarim, or if I start getting tired of all the interactions, then I eventually go back to my house to review vocabulary I have collected.  On most days, I am visited at least once by children who want to play UNO or another card game, so we may play several games together as I try speaking Laarim to them.  I also typically get together with Pastor Joshua and our "Laarim father" Joseph at least once a day to visit and to pray together.  Though I have not begun leading groups or teaching since I am working to get a better grasp on the Laarim language before I do so, I have been finding some good opportunities to pray for others and to talk about the Christian faith.   

            Just before this last time that I left Loryok, I was blessed by a visit from a group of leaders with Africa Inland Mission accompanied by Africa Inland Church's missions coordinator. The group with AIM included the international director with his wife, the couple leading Central Region, and the couple which will soon be leading the South Sudan unit.  Together we traveled to the north part of the Laarim territory, meeting with some elders and visiting some of the populated areas. These leaders in AIM took the time both to listen to the Laarim people as well as my own hopes, thoughts, and concerns. I am so appreciative of them as they show a commitment to serving the Lord through serving us.  The best way that I can describe them are as genuine servant leaders.

            Neither Pastor Joshua nor I know exactly when we will begin ministry in the villages of the Northern Laarim territory.  Though our current goal is to get established there during the dry season late this year or early next year, we are confident that the Lord will make the way in His perfect timing.   

-Praise the Lord that both Pastor Joshua and I have been able to get established in Loryok among the Laarim people.

-Pray that we would remain united in purpose and spirit, and that we depend upon the Lord as we strategize and work to reach the Laarim people.

-Pray that the Lord would help me to focus as I put my efforts into learning the Laarim language.  

-Pray that the Laarim would have a growing hunger for truth and for the Lord.

A Step Closer

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.     

Joy in the Midst of Struggle

Philippians 4:4-8

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again I will say rejoice!  Let your gentleness be made known to all men.  The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things."

I find Paul's letter to the Philippians to be a great encouragement to believers in any circumstance.  By encouragement I not only mean an uplifting or comforting feeling, but a realistic look at the ultimate future with confidence of a good outcome, though there may be great difficulties now or in the near future.  Whether I was reading this passage in Philippians as a teenager in high school, or having just read it again a couple weeks ago I find it incredibly encouraging that the Lord calls and enables his people to rejoice, to pray and give thanks, to have peace, and to meditate on what is good no matter what may be or what may come. 

In the ministry that I believe the Lord has called me to, I would be dishonest if I said that I never face doubt or fear.  There are sometimes questions that arise in my mind such as, "Is God really calling me to live with the Laarim to bring the Gospel to them or am I just chasing after my own idea?" or "Am I really prepared or able to carry out this difficult task?" I sometimes get anxious when I think about these questions, though these questions in themselves are not bad.  But I am reminded of the words of God through Paul in Philippians to be anxious for nothing and to present our requests to God.  When I go to Him in prayer, I am reminded of His faithfulness.  Whether I am facing difficult questions, ambiguous situations, or difficult times, I can rejoice knowing that God sees my needs and will meet them in His way.  The anxiety comes when I try to figure it all out through my own understanding and forget to look to Him who is the author and perfecter of my faith.  I would not be here if I did not believe the Lord called me to this work and I am excited about living with and ministering among the Laarim people. But even if my direction were to unexpectedly change, whether it be from outside circumstances or a strong conviction that God was calling me elsewhere, I know that the Lord will enable me to give thanks and have internal peace.  Or if I found ministry among the Laarim to be far more difficult than I would have imagined, I would still be able to continue rejoicing in the Lord, meditating on what is pleasing to Him, and moving forward.

After a month in Uganda, I am back to South Sudan.  I was welcomed by a missionary family of five who just moved back to South Sudan after spending a few years back home.  I had met them previously and had been looking forward to their coming.  It is nice to have some company on the compound.  While I was out Uganda, the temperature in South Sudan dramatically increased and I came back to temperature highs ranging from 100-113 F. Needless to say getting good sleep is a bit more difficult.  Like in Nebraska, the "winter" here leaves little green until the rains come, which here is usually in mid-March.

I made my last visit to the Laarim territory during Christmas and the Sudanese church in Juba is sending out their missionary, Pastor Joshua to make a month long visit in March.  I will likely be joining him soon after he departs.  A couple days ago I felt that we were struggling to move forward, but I am hopeful about this planned visit.  I am seeing the importance of both patience and persistence: seeking and waiting on the Lord along with considering and trying different strategies.  Having some time out in Uganda has been refreshing and helped me to renew my focus.  Knowing that the church here, the Laarim people, and I are being prayed for by believers around the world is a great encouragement.  I have much to be thankful for.  

Please continue to pray for:

-Effective partnership between AIM missionaries and Africa Inland Church and their missionaries. 

-Wisdom for us as we continue to consider strategies for reaching the Laarim people.

-A continual dependence on Jesus for all that we are doing.           

Staying with the People

Loryok

On November 22nd of this year, I traveled with Clement to visit the Laarim community where I would spend the next 12 days. We left Torit in a 14 passenger van and arrived to Loryok about three and a half hours later. Loryok is small town on the main road between Torit and the Kenya border. Clement and I stayed at the compound in Loryok where his sister-in-law lived. There were others who stayed there and none of them spoke English. This helped push me a little harder to learn Laarim. To learn new words, I spent time with the children. I pointed to or drew different objects and the children would give me the names of them.

Clement's purpose in coming to the community from Juba was to do a community check after having completed a draft of the book of John in Laarim. The community check entailed meeting with youth, men, women, and elders throughout different populated areas of the territory. They would discuss or correct any questionable grammar or words used as Clement or a designated person would read aloud from the Laarim book of John. It was encouraging to see a decent turnout of youth, women, and elders during most of the readings.

One of the challenges that I experienced during my visit was frequent begging. Many times a day I would be asked by strangers or acquaintances for money or clothes. During our visits to different villages, I would be told time after time, "We are hungry," or asked "What did you bring?" One of the youth helping Clement with the community checks noticed that I was struggling to give appropriate responses to their questions. Very kindly he wrote down the questions that people were frequently asking me, and some appropriate responses that I could give.

On one of our days I was feeling the need to do some physical work outside. I found the grass cutter and spent the next few hours slashing weeds in the front and back of the compound. While I was at work a soldier approached me with a smile on his face. In Arabic he asked me about what I was doing. After some brief words, he gave me a five pound note (about $1.50) and told me to get a soda. Later that evening, a woman at the shop on the neighboring compound gave me a soda commenting that I was doing a good thing by slashing the weeds.

To Kimatong

We had arrived to Loryok on Tuesday and it was now Saturday and we were ready to head to Kimatong up in the northern part of the Laarim territory. We purchased our food for the journey and packed our belongings. We were planning to hire motorbikes. The price had increased from 30 to 50 pounds (about $14) due to the cost of petrol. I had wanted to walk the 20+ km distance, but Clement insisted that we should use bikes with all the items we were bringing up. He assured me that we would be able to make the return journey by foot since we would be leaving some items in the village. The two riders loaded our items on their bikes and we headed off. I was being taken by Lopul, a Laarim youth whom I had met a number of times before. After departing, there was a lot of stopping and starting along the way as the bike Clement was on had some problems and the load on Lopul's bike was not staying on properly. A few hours later we were at the guesthouse in Kimatong.

That same day, there happened to be a celebration with dancing that was to take place in one of the villages just outside of Kimatong. We walked there and found hundreds if not over a thousand Laarim gathered to attend the even. It was quite a sight to see everyone together, dressed colorfully, singing, and performing their traditional dances. Afterwards, I was taken to a compound where a group of men gathered. Some elders stood up and gave speeches and blessings. Songs were sung and sorghum beer was passed around in calabashes for all to drink.

The following morning we attended Sunday prayers held at the primary school building in Kimatong. There were about 60 children along with a few youth, adults, and elders sitting in the back. The children enthusiastically participated in the prayers and singing. Clement led the service and gave me the opportunity to share. I spoke about the meaning of grace. In the afternoon, Clement and I packed up our belongings and left Kimatong for the village of Loribok where we would stay for the following six nights. We reached the compound of Clement's sister Nathuru, where she stayed with her husband and children. I set up my tent in a nice little area in the back sectioned off by a little fence.

In the Village

The following morning we got started on making a simple latrine and bathing area. As soon as I started digging the hole for the latrine some of the youth came and decided to take over the work. Others started working on the bathing area. The women went out to gather materials as the young men did the digging and setting up. By mid afternoon, a decent latrine and bathing area were ready for us to use for our time there.

On that same day, Clement's relatives were celebrating the full payment of the dowry from one of their family members. A bull was killed and the meat roasted by the relatives of the bride. Meat was passed around, speeches were given, and the bride's family performed some rituals to bless the groom's relatives. As the meat was given out, I enjoyed some parts of the bull more than the others. But I tried a little of everything that was served to our group.

Our visit to the community also happened to coincide with a time that many people were suffering from illnesses in the community. In response to the problem, people from the community agreed to meet together for traditional prayers, hoping that God would end their affliction. I wanted to learn more about this practice so Clement and I went out to meet with those who were holding prayers. We found an area where about 40 women were gathered together. After greeting the group, a women who introduced herself as Teresa stood up and explained that they had gathered because many people were sick. She said that they believe God had put the disease in the ashes as they cooked their food causing the sickness. Teresa then explained that they would take ashes from burnt goat intestines and then throw them into a riverbed. After she shared, I was given the opportunity to speak. I greeted the women telling them that I had come to live with the Laarim people, to learn their language, and to befriend them. I also said that I would be coming to bring the word of God to their people. After I finished sharing, the group applauded and Clement and I continued on our way.

During the times that I was hanging around the compound and there was little to do, I would sit down to practice language with those around the home. Sometimes there would be children or youth around and other times I could try talking to the women. Despite my struggle to understand much of what was said, all seemed to enjoy asking me questions, answering mine, and saying a few new words for me to learn. Although I have only just penetrated the surface, I feel that a good foundation has been started through these times for developing relationships with these people.

I the village I met Pio, an elder. During my very first visit to the Laarim community with a group in September, Pio had welcomed us and offered a goat to be roasted and shared with everyone. Again this time, Pio gave up one of his goats to Clement and I. The next morning, the goat was killed. That afternoon we were given the entrails, and in the evening we had some very tasty lean pieces of roasted meat. As we visited with Pio, he informed Clement and I that his wife had an illness that was causing her to go paralyzed from the waist down. We later decided to make a visit and pray for her. After praying for her healing, I felt prompted to talk to Pio's wife about Jesus. Clement interpreted as I shared about Christ's work of conquering death and bringing true life. Despite trying to use simple terms that could be easily interpreted, I left feeling that Pio's wife did not understand what I was speaking about. After our visit, Clement checked with the clinic in Kimatong to see if a vehicle could come to get her and take her to the hospital. We were told that Pio's wife would first need to be seen at the clinic before a vehicle could be brought up. From her home the walk would take about 45 minutes to the clinic and it would certainly be possible to have her carried on a stretcher. Sadly, Pio's wife refused to be taken on foot believing that she would be killed by spirits along the way due to some concerns related to her marriage with Pio.

After spending six nights in the village of Loribok, we left on foot in the morning. As we went on our way, others whom we passed coming up from Loryok often looked at me with surprise. They could not understand why a westerner would want to walk the 20+ kilometer hike. It was sort of entertaining to see the look of surprise on their faces. It was even more interesting was when I would greet them in the Laarim language. Some would laugh while others, including young women, would back away in fear or shock. They would often chatter excitedly among themselves seeing for the first time, a white person using their language.

After some stops and places where we had to wait for others along the way, we arrived to Loryok six and a half hours later. I stayed that night in town. The following evening I was able to board a crowded cab of a large truck loaded with goats in the back. We reached Torit that night.

I thank the Lord for a successful journey which allowed me to learn a great deal about the Laarim people, meet with many in the community, and get a boost in learning the language.

How you can pray:

-Pastor Joshua from an Africa Inalnd Church in Juba, South Sudan is looking to spend 3 months in the Laarim community starting in late January and early February. Please pray that he will receive sufficient support from the church of South Sudan to carry out these plans. I hope to work alongside him next year.

-Pray for the breaking of spiritual strongholds in the Laarim community. May their eyes be opened to see a God who loves them and wants what is best for them.

-Pray for me as I might be able to go back with Clement to spend Christmas and New Year's with the Laarim people. If we are able to go, we plan to have prayers in a several different areas of the Laarim territory.

Filming Among the Laarim

As we have been planning and praying about how to approach ministry among the Laarim, my future team leader Jonathan has been looking into ways of bringing other coworkers of the gospel to this people group. Not long after Jonathan had mentioned to me his hope for other missionaries to come, he discovered that a friend of his with a group based in Capetown, South Africa was making a film. They were looking at ways that the Lord was working among the people throughout different areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and exploring opportunities for future ministry. Jonathan, seeing this as an opportunity to create awareness of the needs of the Laarim people invited his friend to come and visit their territory at the end of October to do some filming. Not only did the friend agree to come, but he decided to make the filming among the Laarim a separate project that could potentially be used to recruit missionaries to the area. Certainly this was an answer to prayer.

Jonathan, the filming crew, and my Laarim friend Clement, who is working to translate the Bible into Laarim, and I arranged to meet in the town of Loryok (also known as Camp 15) located on the main road which crosses the state. Clement and I took public transportation from Torit and reached Loryok 4 hours later than intended, since we had missed the first vehicle going out. In Loryok we met up with Clement's aged father, Joseph, who is quite a remarkable man. Despite his age, he continues to be very active frequently traveling and attending meetings on behalf of the Laarim community. After greeting one another and introducing ourselves to those who received us, we gathered into three vehicles, and departed for the town of Kimatong where the filming would take place. All went well with the filming and Jonathan's friend was able to get the needed interviews. Due to time constraints and our hope to leave Kimatong by early afternoon, Jonathan and I would be interviewed later in Nagishot where Jonathan was based.

Journey to Nagishot

Rather than returning to Torit after my visit to Kimatong, I would join with Jonathan and the filming crew to travel to Nagishot, a village up in the cool and rainy Didinga Hills. I was in need of some R&R and this was the perfect opportunity for me to take a week away. Our plan would be to drive south to Chukudum, a town at the base of the Didinga Hills and stay the night there before heading up the Hills the next morning. When we arrived to Chukudum several hours later, due to a number of factors we decided to make the journey to Nagishot on that same day. It was already approaching five o'clock so we needed to get moving. What followed was the most difficult journey by road I had ever experienced. I was on the back of Jonathan's pickup with Morefu a Didinga friend of his. Standing up on the back of the truck gave us a distinct vantage point allowing us to see if Jonathan was straying off the road in the tall grassy areas so that we could redirect him when necessary. Traveling with three vehicles meant that each obstacle had to be crossed three times before we could continue. One of the vehicles had a winch that saved us on a number of occasions. The vehicles got stuck multiple times throughout the whole journey and before we reached halfway, it started to rain. There was a lot of digging, gathering rocks, and pushing vehicles out of mud all in the cold rain. Thankfully someone had given me a nice waterproof jacket to wear at the beginning of the journey, but unfortunately I could not get it zipped up no matter what I tried. What could be a three hour journey under ideal conditions took us over nine hours. At 2:00 am we arrived to Nagishot cold and soaking wet. All my belongings were wet as well. I was given some heavy blankets and was brought into a tukul (mud hut) with a nice big comfortable bed for me to sleep in.

The next morning, I stepped out of my tukul, and walked out the compound gate to see all the beauty that surrounded me. There were, green rolling hills, a small forest in a valley that lay ahead of me, and mountain peaks in the distance in every direction. It was quite different from anything I had ever seen before in South Sudan. Thankfully the next eight days of fellowship, resting, praying, reading for enjoyment, sitting around a fire at night, and exploring the land was just what I needed to be refreshed and restored.

Getting Back to Torit

When my time there was finished, I left on foot early in the morning with Morefu, who guided me and carried my other bag. Two and a half hours later (the foot path is much shorter than the road for vehicles) and about 3,000 feet lower in elevation, we reached Chukudum where I could board a vehicle heading up to the main road. I could then hopefully catch another vehicle going to Torit within the same day. It did not take long to find a vehicle in Chukudum, so I quickly boarded and we headed off. Before leaving town the vehicle was stopped by police and taken to the station. After about an hour the vehicle was released, but it began to rain and the driver decided to wait until the rain cleared up. We ended up leaving nearly three hours later, thus making it unlikely for me to be able to reach Torit that same day. Our vehicle arrived to Loryok that evening and I would need to find a place to sleep. As soon as I exited the vehicle, one of the Laarim youth, Henry, recognized me and called out my name. After explaining to him that I needed a place to stay, Henry welcomed me to stay with him and some of the others. I was surprised by the number of youth staying there that I had already known. I enjoyed the rest of the evening visiting with and meeting others in the town.

The following morning I found that Clement's brother, who is a member of the state parliament, happened to be visiting the town. I had been recently trying to contact him and this served as the perfect opportunity to meet with him and talk a little more about ministry among the Laarim. We had a short, but nice visit. Soon after I was able to board a vehicle and return to Torit. Looking back I now thank the Lord for that extra day in Loryok He gave me to meet all the people I did. It was a simple reminder to me that God knows what is best for us.