Topping the Tukel

Topping the Tukel

A tukel  (too-kul) in South Sudan is a round house or hut.  There is a tukel near the gate on the Baptist compound.  It is used mainly for scheduled and impromptu meetings, shelter from the rain and it is where John, our weekend guard, spends all of his time. 

As the rains come to South Sudan, a person begins to consider their roof; is it leaking … will it hold up for another year… should we re-thatch it? 

Our tukel roof had seen better days and we decided it would be good to replace the thatch to help keep John dry.  We already had enough grass to do the job.  Jerry, helped by a South Sudanese friend, had transported the grass to the compound earlier in the year.

But thatching is quite a process – let me tell you!





Dinka Rope

Besides the grass you will need:
*bamboo poles
*dinka rope
*strips of rubber thinly cut from automobile tires
*thick rolls of vine

First one must build the frame.  You have to know the diameter of the tukel to make sure the roof will fit.  After marking out the diameter in the dirt, the first four poles are set in position.  Everything will be built around these initial poles.

Other poles are positioned to fill in the gap until they are 10” apart at the bottom of the frame.  Dinka rope is used to tie the poles to thick vine at the pinnacle of the roof to hold it all together.
Split bamboo will be used to help hold these poles in position and hold the grass onto the roof.

The very top of the tukel is thatched on the ground for ease of reach and safety too.

The roof is then raised and placed on the tukel.  Several people came to help ‘raise the roof’.   (See the video below).  Thank you is demonstrated by giving a little bit of money (6 dollars) to one of those who helped.  In this case an elderly widow was very grateful for the generous reward. 

After the roof is put in place the major job of thatching begins.



Bundles of grass are placed strategically on the frame and the rubber strips are used to secure the grass to the frame.  The grass is secured from the bottom up.  This way, when it rains the water will run from the top right down to the ends of the grass at the bottom of the roof.

This is a labor intensive process and there is a need for cooperation from the community, exhibited by raising the roof. The Dinka live in community, their lives are intertwined with those around them.  Christ also lived in community and as He showed love to those around Him they saw, through Him, God’s love.

Pray that as we live, even for a short time, among the Dinka, that they would see the love of Christ through us and would understand God’s plan of salvation.

A church is born in South Sudan

“What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” I Corinthians 14:26

We wandered around a bit, asking people for direction and finally found it – the place where people are coming together with the desire to form a church.  They call this place Wutrial (Woo-ree-al).


We couldn’t reach the spot by car.  Planting season has arrived in South Sudan and as folks dig their fields they encroach on the road.  That’s okay – exercise is good for the body!  We drove as far in as we dare and left the car trekking ahead on foot.

Arriving at the spot, we were greeted by two young men and the drummers.  These two young boys were the designated drummers.  Since the new congregation doesn’t have a drum, creativity and ingenuity took hold; as a temporary fix they are using this 20 liter plastic container.  It is okay they say, but the sound does not carry.  The sound must carry to call the people to worship.

As the drum sounded out the rhythm, people began arriving from the surrounding huts; striding up dirt paths winding through the fields of groundnuts.  We gathered together under three big trees, some sitting on a few plastic chairs brought up from nearby huts, others using a large limb as a pew. 

With greetings given, songs were sung to rhythmic clapping and drumming.  Then the Word of God was opened.  Truth was shared… What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and not have God?  It is no good!  What good is it for a man to have ALL the cows in South Sudan and not have God? – No good – was the response.    We must give up our selfish desires, turn to Christ and follow Him.

This small group of men and women want to know more about living for Christ.  They want to learn to follow Jesus; however, there are challenges.  They have a New Testament in the Dinka language, but no one can read Dinka.  They have a New Testament in English, but very few understand English.  There is no one to lead them, no one to bring the Word of God to these who want to know more about Him.  This is not an isolated incident.  Literacy and the availability of the Word of God in an understandable language is one of the biggest barriers to the spreading of the Gospel in South Sudan.

Pray for God’s people to hear and obey His calling to come out from their comfortable lifestyle to bring the Word of God to those who are so hungry to hear.

Pray for creative ways to bring the Word of God to the people of South Sudan.

Pray that people will have the opportunity and dedication to learn how to read in order to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Exploring the South and West - Part 4

Homeward Bound

God’s abundant blessings flowed upon us during our trip South and West.  We saw varied communities and people. We were blessed with good weather and knew of the Lord’s protection every step of the way (through every mile and over every bump!).  We traveled down questionable roads passing through by God’s grace. 

A smile goes a long way, and we were welcomed everywhere we stopped and were received with gracious hospitality. 

The road was busy as we returned to Rumbek.  These two enterprising young men are selling an unknown substance (unknown to us anyway). We thought it might be honey, but on further inspection we decided that it wasn’t edible and it was oily, so it may have been used oil for the car.  You never can tell what will sell in South Sudan – we don’t throw anything out!  Well, maybe used car oil!

These folks are hauling firewood and other things they need.  Rural life is difficult. It takes a strong body and sheer grit to accomplish all that must be done.  It is always nice when someone wants to stop and take your picture – we left them laughing as we showed them the images… these digital cameras are really something – very entertaining!

Arriving safe and sound, but very tired… it is good to be home… and this place really does feel like home.  Thank you Lord for the abundant blessings you bestow on us daily.  We praise your holy name.

Thank God today for all He has given you.  Count your many blessings – it helps keep life in perspective.

Exploring the South and West - Part 3

Maridi (Mar-ri-dee)

One of the coolest things we have seen so far in South Sudan, we found as we visited Maridi. Not a very big town, Maridi would be the typical South Sudanese trading center, with one exception, there is clean water piped to the town center from a dam located on a hill a short distance from town.  It is the only place we know of with clean/treated running water in South Sudan.  This doesn’t mean the people don’t carry their water, they do; but they get it from water centers such as the one pictured on the right.  The times are set and the water flows.  Someone is present from the water board to write down your name and the amount of water you take.

The cost is 4-20 liter containers for 1 SSP (South Sudanese Pound) or about $0.25. 

Clean running water – ingenious!




We received a very warm welcome and met many wonderful people during our stay in Maridi.  However, we also heard from people living there about the presence of the bondage of divination. Not so unusual in Sub-Saharan Africa, divination and communicating with the ancestors is practiced in most countries; however, we understand Maridi is famous, as somewhat of an epicenter, for divination practices. Satan uses man’s desire for power and wealth, his desire to know the future; he plays on man’s unwillingness to walk by faith through trials and hardship and deceives man using other men who advertise miracles and healings through the power of divination.





Desperate people pay money to men like these who promise to heal their diseases.



Pray for the people; of Maridi, of South Sudan, and of Sub-Saharan Africa as they deal with challenges and hardship. 

Pray that they would search for the truth that comes only through Christ.  “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.”

Pray that Christians would have a ready word of witness and testimony concerning the wonders God performs in their lives daily.

Pray that all the peoples of Africa may know about and live in the abundant life which only comes through Christ Jesus.