21 August 2012

The Realization of Dreams

   It is not often we meet people with a rugged determination sufficient to overcome the most difficult obstacles - to meet someone who has overcome them his entire life, borders on the miraculous.  Perhaps by illustrating one such obstacle, these thoughts will ring with authenticity.

   A farmer is forced to cultivate crops on land far from home.  In fact, the land on which he lives is not even his own.  He is a refugee in another country.  Although he receives food rations from government organizations, it is insufficient to feed his growing family.  So in order to supplement the food supply, he farms in "no man's land" apart from the camp.  It is the only available real estate.  In getting there, he must cross a swift river, teeming with crocodiles and traveled by snakes.  He will risk his own life to grow crops.  He will risk his children's lives if he does not.  And so he swims to work, works his fields, and swims home each night.  Welcoming him back to the village are the frequent funeral processions that signal another devastating crocodile attack.  During the night, he will dream of home, his REAL home in Sudan.  His mind will journey the paths he knew as a boy and lead him to school.  He has always wanted to finish his education.  He has always dreamed of studying the Bible and becoming a pastor.  But with the noises of dawn, the present reality returns.  Morning comes and the swim awaits.

   Would this man ever realize his dreams?  What other obstacles would he encounter?  How could he continue to overcome such overwhelming challenges?  Read about the amazing journey of my friend, and stories from the eleven years that I have known him, in the "Under The African Rain - Summer 2012 Prayer Letter"... coming soon to an inbox near you!  : )


03 August 2012

Toothaches, Parasites, and Crowded Conditions

  It started with a speedboat ride on the choppy Nile River to the State Capital.  Prayers that they would have enough fuel, and that paddling against the current would remain unnecessary, were answered.  From the docks to the airport, to board a flight that would bounce about in rain-filled clouds to the Nation's Capital.  It's the kind of journey that stimulates nausea even in stomachs of cast iron.  Another flight, this one lands in Kenya's queen city.  It "mercifully" ends with a perilous taxi ride on streets as wild as the touristy game parks.  One of our friends recently traveled hundreds of miles and crossed an international border to have a root canal.  And while my details might be slightly embellished, I'm not sure which was worse, the journey or the procedure.  Other than the obvious fact that dental care in South Sudan is so limited, it struck me just how desperate it was for this friend to get treatment.
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  Under the microscope, a specialist in Nairobi examines micro-organisms to trace a previously undiagnosed illness.  She holds a PhD in medical parasitology and offers diagnostic and consultancy services.  To those who serve faithfully in South Sudan, she may be as necessary as fuel in a car or oxygen in the lungs.  One does not function properly without the other.  Her patient today is another friend of ours who has suffered for weeks with a parasitic intestinal infection.  It's truly amazing to consider that such a small organism, beyond perception in our natural vision, could inflict such harm.  If left untreated, it could certainly kill the host.  It struck me again how desperate our friend was for treatment.
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  The flood plains to the West of Blue Nile State are overwhelmed with displaced people.  And while UN tarps protect most from the frequent rainfall, they do not prevent the other ills of rainy season.  Patients move from clinic to clinic, infected time and again with sickness beyond their control to prevent.  Shortages of food supplies and medicines create desperation among people who are normally very tranquil.  Basic supplies are simply unavailable.  Children die of malnourishment.  Organizations move to stem the tide, but seem only to tread the waters of this massive human need.  And again it strikes me, the great desperation for treatment.  But in contrast with the previous accounts, it strikes me in a much more profound way. 

  The frailty of the physical human body is shared among all those who live.  It is the common experience of cancer patients, car accident survivors, Olympic weightlifters, blue collar and white collar workers, missionaries in South Sudan, and everyone else who walks the earth.  We are all extremely weak.  But this comes as no surprise to the Biblically literate.  We are told that “all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass” (1 Peter 1:24).  We wither.  We fall.  But the same passage tells us that “the WORD of the LORD endures forever.”  Beyond dental procedures, above microscopic investigation, further than mere physical provision, this WORD of God is the only lasting supply for a world so desperate for treatment.  This is our hope for all who read, all who pray, and all who endure such trials.  May the Living Word be your sustenance today.

23 July 2012

The Car Drama

A few weeks ago I mentioned that we found a suitable car for our time in Kenya. Well, it's been a bit of a waiting game since then. We've had to wait for the relevant authorities to finish processing the car's log book and send it back to the dealer. We put a down payment on the car to reserve it but were advised to wait for the log book to be returned before paying in full and bringing the car home. Today Nate found out that the log book was sent to the wrong address and is currently lost! The car dealer is now trying to chase it down through the postal system. Please pray that he'll locate it and that we'll be able to bring the car home soon. It will be really helpful to have it so we can go and see the accommodation out at the seminary and also as my prenatal appointments increase in frequency over the coming weeks.

By the way, Nate has been officially accepted to his M.A. in theological studies program! We look forward to moving out to the school and to attending orientation at the beginning of September.

19 July 2012

Sowing Seeds of Peace


                The swirling winds now gust from the southeast.  Dark clouds gather ominously and greet the arid landscape with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder.  Rainy season has descended upon South Sudan.  Almost every day brings fresh rainfall.  The farmer that has faithfully sown will await his harvest.  Through the veil of raindrops, our eyes perceive another kind of sowing done by farmers with a very different goal.  Theirs is a deeper, more glorious labor and, therefore, brings anticipation of spiritual fruit.
                This gospel farmer sows seed widely into the soil of human hearts.  And as he labors, he does so with the acute awareness that his character creates the environment in which the quality of the seed is evaluated.  The Word of God tells us that, “The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18).  The work must be done by the peace-maker; it must be done with gentle admonition, a soothing embrace, and by comforting, healing hands.  It is only then that he labors confidently, knowing that he distributes the seed whose “fruit is righteousness.”  This is increasingly evident in South Sudan, where clouds of desperation are being pierced by the blazing sun of spiritual life and groves of righteous fruit are being cultivated. 
                It is our hope, despite the difficult field, to emphasize the effectiveness of those who faithfully sow Gospel seeds into communities where a tenuous peace hides massive suffering.  It is our goal to exalt the Lord Jesus, by whose Word alone does true peace exist.

04 July 2012

Celebrating Independence


                Early in the morning, a high school marching band will lead a glorious processional of bright red fire trucks, marching war veterans, flag-bearing horseback riders, candy-throwing circus clowns, and a roaring convoy of army tanks.  The warmth of the summer sun betrays the fact that it is early July.  As morning becomes afternoon, children with painted faces will bounce through inflatable castles.  They will enjoy pony rides, snow cones, and sugar-coated “elephant ears” of fried dough.  And fathers everywhere will struggle to light a charcoal fire for the evening cookout.  The summer sun will finally fade into the West, and the “rocket’s red glare” will be our nighttime amusement.
                If this scene on the landscape of your mental horizon seems very familiar, it is probably because you’ve spent seemingly endless summers celebrating your national Independence Day this way.  The first days of July bring to most Americans a deep sense of patriotism.  To live in a nation that values liberty, gained at the great cost of battles fought and lives lost, is a great privilege.  For many, knowing independence has been a way of life.  In our work, our family lives, our vacations, holidays, and our daily routines, we breathe the air of freedom without knowing it. 
    On July 9th, the people of South Sudan will observe the first anniversary of their own Independence Day.  The scene will doubtless be much the same.  Parades will march down city streets, celebrations will hold sway over the daily grind, and young and old will sit around charcoal fires to tell the great patriotic stories.  But certainly the day’s events will not be taken for granted.  The newfound freedom will be like a refreshing breeze in what has been a stifling political atmosphere for many years.
    It is here, in these very moments of celebration, in America, South Sudan, and throughout the world, that the Christian must be wary.  For if anywhere we bite temptation’s apple, in its oldest, most deadly form, we do so in regard to our independence.  Man’s great sin has been described by Saint Augustine as “the result of Pride, of the movement whereby a creature (that is, an essentially dependent being whose principle of existence lies not in itself but in another) tries to set up on its own, to exist for itself” (C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, Chapter 5).  To have political independence is a wonderful gift.  To have spiritual independence is to inherit Hell.
    As we reflect on our own spiritual condition, binding our soul to the Savior as if sheep to a Good Shepherd, let us reject the notion of spiritual independence and plead for the strength of submission.  Let us embrace our creaturely role: to seek living water from a source of everlasting abundance and thus be liberated from our slavery to corruption. 
    Prayer for the fledgling Republic of South Sudan is still a desperate need.  Alongside their momentous gains, there exist the birth-pains of a newborn nation.  Much of their infrastructure was tied to the North.  And with the severed channel of supplies, there are dangerous food shortages, overwhelming sickness met by small stocks of medicines, and life-threatening conditions among refugee populations.  On July 9th, South Sudanese will celebrate the joy of political independence.  May they also know the glorious freedom of the sons of God (Romans 8:21).  This is our prayer.

26 June 2012

Orality

One of the great things about living in Nairobi is all the different training opportunities that pop up. This past weekend I (Amy) had the opportunity to attend a one-day workshop on "Orality" or making disciples of oral learners at the Navigators Kenya. We had also had an afternoon of training on orality during our team's discipleship seminar in April and I jumped at the chance to learn more. We had facilitators from Malawi and Nigeria and a culturally diverse group of participants. We spent a good part of the day telling and re-telling the story of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4--first the facilitators to us, then a group discussion demonstrating the effectiveness of questions such as "What was your favorite part of the story and why?", "Which character do you most identify with?" in drawing out important truths, then us to each other in small groups, and then each person to the whole group. The facilitators wanted us to see that the best way to learn to tell stories well is to practice telling stories and I could certainly see how we all improved the more we told the story.

I'm really excited about learning this method of sharing the stories of God's Word and pray that the Lord will open doors for me to use it, among women in South Sudan someday, or even sooner perhaps. Please pray with me about ministry opportunities the Lord may have for me here in Kenya while Nate is studying.

On that note, our family has so much to praise the Lord for. Early last week, Nate was able to complete his seminary application by collecting all of the various documents needed from his Bachelor's degree, etc. Thank you so much to each of our prayer partners and supporters that sent feedback about this. All of the feedback was very supportive and encouraging and has helped to confirm the Lord's will to us. Now we are waiting for his application and student visa to be processed, and hope to apply for accommodation on campus so our whole family can be part of this experience. Please continue to pray through this process with us.

We also praise the Lord for providing a good deal on a car that's in great shape, for our time in Kenya. This will enable us to live out at or near the school and get into the city when we need to as well as make things like grocery shopping a lot easier, especially with 2 kids! By the way, the pregnancy is progressing well and we're just starting the 3rd trimester. We're really excited to meet our son!

09 June 2012

Exploration in South Sudan


The Nile River is the longest river in the world, running more than 4,000 miles (6,500 km) in length.  During the last week in South Sudan, I got to see a couple of those miles as I traveled from Malakal (pictured above) to different locations in Upper Nile State (pictured below).

The highlight of the trip was the arrival in Melut to see the campus of GTC (Gideon Theological College).  Other SIM teammates have recently arrived to start ministry.  Their website is located here with some great photos.

24 May 2012

The Peace of Sudan

I've recently written an article for the SIM Website about the "Peace of Sudan".  Please have a look.


The photo at right was taken by a teammate in Malakal, Upper Nile State of Sudanese returning to the South from northern cities.

11 May 2012

Sudan: Blue Nile Attacks - YouTube

Check out this brief video about Blue Nile State. Our house is shown early on in the footage (at 0:07), and then at the very end (around the 3:00 minute mark).

15 April 2012

Back in Nairobi!

We made it safely to Nairobi on Wednesday night! Thanks for praying for us--we needed it! It was a very long journey with very little sleep but we felt God's presence helping us along the way. He provided helpful airline staff and all of our luggage arrived intact! Karina traveled pretty well but had a rough few days of jet lag and homesickness to start with. She seems to have adjusted now and has really enjoyed getting re-acquainted with some of the other missionary kids on our team. We're hoping we all get a good night of sleep tonight and we're very excited about the coming week. Tomorrow we'll travel out of the city with the rest of the SIM Sudan team to Brakenhurst, a beautiful retreat center where we have our Spiritual Life Conference every year. It is always a refreshing time with good messages, worship, lots of time for fellowship, and fun for the kids. We're looking forwarding to re-connecting with teammates, meeting new ones, and continuing to seek the LORD's direction for our ministry in Sudan. Please pray for this over the coming week!

10 April 2012

Nairobi, here we come!

Well, this is it! Our last night on this side of the ocean. Tomorrow afternoon we drive 4 hours to Toronto, then fly through the night to London, England, and then on to Nairobi, Kenya. We're excited and feel pretty organized and ready. Please pray for our journey, that Karina will have a good time with it, sleep well on the flights (us too!), and that our luggage will arrive safely with us. To all our friends and family in Jamestown area, thank you for your love and support while we've been here!

15 March 2012

Situation in Sudan & South Sudan


The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee had a hearing yesterday on Sudan and South Sudan. George Clooney testified about a recent trip he made to the Nuba Mountains and much mention was made of Blue Nile State as well. Late in the hearing, it is noted that Church Organizations are vital to the ongoing efforts of relief, raising awareness, and development in the region.

You can link to the site by clicking here. The hearing is 2 hours and 12 minutes, but is very interesting and extremely educational. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

01 March 2012

NBC Rock Center with Brian Williams


There was a fascinating story tonight on NBC. It was unique for a US news program to so powerfully share the graphic suffering of South Sudanese people. Read the article soon by clicking here.

09 February 2012

Newsweek Magazine



This week's edition of "Newsweek" has a fascinating cover story. I would encourage anyone to read it - particularly because it contains factual, insightful, and relevant information that few in the Western World ever encounter.

02 February 2012

Bombed House




The first picture is our daughter's room shortly after our house in Sudan was finished. The second is a picture of her room (from the outside) after bombs had been dropped on our house last week.

Please continue to pray for the Sudanese people who have lost homes during the recent conflict in Blue Nile State. We can certainly feel a little of how difficult it is for them.

Some of our belongings were recovered as an answer to prayer. But the students who went to retrieve items (from our house and the High School) were bombed as they traveled. An eyewitness reported bombs dropped "a few meters away" and "four more bombs dropped" in our village today (02 Feb. 2012).