Journeying forth ...

Journeying forth…

“All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the LORD and he rules over the nations.”         Ps 22:27-28

We are on our way out of South Sudan.  Our research is finished … which isn’t to say that we know it all or that all researching of South Sudan is complete.  However, we have looked at many places west of the White Nile and are writing up our recommendations for personnel placement and ministries.

In the previous post, we talked about the journey to Kapoeta and meeting the Toposa people.  We secured our vehicle in Kapoeta with the IMB family ministering there and flew out on an MAF flight (Missionary Aviation Fellowship).   

This was an unforgettable exit from South Sudan.   Upon hearing the single engine prop plane overhead, we hop in the car and head for the airstrip.  Stopping near the plane on the grass/dirt strip located near the center of Kopoeta town, we proceed to carry our few pieces of luggage over to the small aircraft. 

On airstrips like this one, the pilot will buzz the field before landing to ensure that the goats and cattle scatter away from the landing area and that the people stand a safe distance away. 

 

 As the engine noise dies away and the propeller stops, people begin to crowd in closer trying to catch a glimpse of those fortunate enough to come and go on this wonderful mode of transport.

The two pilots, upon exiting the plane, glance over the structure and proceed to help load our belongings.  Many gather around the plane interested in the activities, the sights and sounds of air travel -- dreaming that one day, perhaps they would be boarding this small plane and flying to distant places. 

 

After the luggage is secured we gather around in a circle, and one of the pilots leads in prayer.  HOW COOL IS THAT!!!  MAF pilots are missionary pilots -- flying goods and missionary personnel to remote areas and sharing God’s love to the ends of the earth.  After prayer we board the plane while the pilots make sure the spectators move back to a safe distance before starting the single engine propeller craft.

 

The flight was great – uneventful – which is great.  

We are now back home in Nairobi, finishing reports, cataloguing pictures, writing recommendations and replanting -- for a time -- ourselves in this place.  Having seen and learned much, we still have more to tell; so the blog posts about South Sudan will continue for several weeks yet.  There is much to do and more prayer is needed for the people of South Sudan so that --- “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord”

Exploring the South East

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10.  
Things change, the plans of men fail, but God is constant.  We see life through a cloud, dimly – without understanding -- as the threads of our lives are woven through the tapestry of the Master’s plan.

We remained in Rumbek longer than we had planned in order to take some visitors to Wau (Wow - this is how we pronounce it), South Sudan’s second largest city. At the last minute, however, they could not come and we made preparations to close up the house in Rumbek and begin our final trip to the southeastern area of South Sudan.

This would be our longest driving adventure.  Day one we would head south on the 12 hour trip to Juba (Joo-Bah); day two, driving 9 hours southeast to our destination of Kapoeta (Kah-pwoh-etah). 

Stories abound of insecurity, raids by bandits, and shootings on the road which we would travel. A police commissioner was murdered last month as he journeyed down this lonely road on which we now find ourselves. We gratefully acknowledge God's protection and your intercession for safety on our journey.

A shocking sight -- as we crested a small hill, we spotted an abandoned tank -- this would be the first of three tanks spotted before reaching Kapoeta.

Along with visiting this area of South Sudan; we were to deliver our vehicle to a missionary family living outside of Kapoeta, ministering among the Toposa people.

What a wonderful opportunity of fellowship we enjoyed.  Privileged to walk with them to an evening Bible study in a nearby village; we witness their dynamic ministry as they pour themselves out to the people of the area in Christ-likeness.

The Toposa are Nilotic people, cattle keepers like the Dinka. We found them to be friendly and hospitable.  Toposa women enjoy making and wearing beaded jewelry much like the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania.




Toposa women remain traditional in their dress unlike the men who have adopted a more western style. Nakedness is often seen as Toposa don’t feel the need to follow the clothing culture adopted during the colonial era. 

The skirts Toposa women wear are short (atypical from much of Africa), very full and colorful -- sewing panels of differing fabrics together. The skirt, tied by a string at the waist sits under wide beaded belts. It is quite unique from anything else we have seen in Africa.





As you pray for South Sudan, remember the Toposa people.

Pray they would hear and accept the witness of God’s Word.



Pray the Toposa would seek peace with God and live at peace with their neighbors.

Pray specifically for the Toposa living in and around Kapoeta as this family goes stateside for several months. Pray that those who have accepted the Way, the Truth, and the Life would be faithful to live out and proclaim their witness.

AudiBible

The TWR workshop was beneficial in so many ways.  One subject about which we received good information was the area of digital devices which play audio programs.  We knew of the existence of these devices; we had heard about them several years ago when they first came on the scene.  At the time, however, they seemed very expensive.  In addition, they were programmed from the factory with mostly English programs and they were not solar powered, so batteries would be needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the workshop we found these devices have improved.  Some are now solar powered, they are durable and easier to use; additionally the repertoire of programs and available languages for these programs has expanded greatly.

A Great Commission Christian group named ACROSS (African Committee for Rehabilitation of South Sudan) is producing programs for these devices and providing the programs in many South Sudanese languages.

Illiteracy is a big issue in South Sudan.  Over 70% of South Sudanese are illiterate according to the statistical yearbook.  This is especially true among women.  Remote areas have difficulty getting radio reception and people have less opportunity to hear the gospel story. 

So we bought five of these players and had them programmed with peace building messages, some literacy training and the New Testament all in Dinka. (Dinka is the language of the people who live in and around Rumbek.)

We charged it up with the sun and took one to church with us on Sunday.  It was well received.

Concentrating on the message from the audiBible, these women and children are excited to have the Bible read to them in their own language.




We thank God for new technology and the audiBible.

 As people  hear the Bible spoken in their language, pray that they would learn more about God and His love for them.

Pray that many would come to know Christ, His sacrifice on the cross for their sins, and by faith believe.

Communicating the Gospel across South Sudan

We were privileged to attend a TWR (TransWorld Radio) workshop in Juba recently.  Knowing the cost of flights from Rumbek to Juba, we opted to drive; even though we knew it would be a rough trip – as it turned out, it was much harder than we imagined. 

The main route to Juba has been impassible for a week or so.  The all season road  washed away with a portion of it under water.    Another route has temporarily emerged as the major transit route to Juba from Rumbek – where there’s a will, there’s a way! It was a rough, but doable, trip in March with the Fusion team.

We hadn’t a clue what this alternate road would bring so we decided to leave after church on Sunday; we wanted to be there in plenty of time for the meeting.  

Rain began to fall and darkness was approaching as we entered the small trading center of Mvolo.  (You might remember the name from previous posts, the area where the bridge was out earlier in the year)

The plan was to sleep at the NPA compound where we stayed on a previous trip.   No rooms were available however, so we slept in the car in the safety of their compound. Leaving before dawn the next morning, we knew that we had a long day ahead of us. 

We made it, albeit a couple of hours late for the beginning of the meeting. Traveling from Rumbek to Juba took 7 hours in March; now it takes 12 ½ hours. 

 It was worth it however!  

Meeting for three and a half days with likeminded Christians, mostly South Sudanese, who have a heart for sharing the gospel story and discipling believers across South Sudan and beyond was very uplifting.  

Apart from the good information obtained from the meeting, we enjoyed spending time in fellowship; networking with other Great Commission Christian groups – hearing stories of the work to the glory of God and discussing the great task before us as we listed the tremendous needs in South Sudan.

 

Thursday afternoon closed our time together and as everyone left for their home areas, Jerry and I hit the market. We would leave at 5 a.m. the next morning, attempting to return in one day. But first we would get some items which have been missing from our diet. Bananas, potatoes, onions and avocados were on our list. We also found some tomatoes and a cucumber – these will make a pretty nice salad! 

Back in March we hadn’t seen all of the furniture and carpentry; as South Sudan progresses and Juba grows, it seems more is available and life may become a bit more comfortable.

The roads were drier as we returned, unfortunately just as rough; but we made it in 12 ½ hours again, so we were pleased – tired and a bit stiff, but happy to be back in Rumbek.

 

We thank God for those who attended the workshop. 

Pray that this initiative would grow and out of this small beginning programs would be developed which would bring people to Christ and help them grow in their knowledge of God and their love for Him.

Pray that the lines of communication would remain open and strong between these Christian organizations; that our only purpose would be to see the people of South Sudan know and love Christ for the glory of God. 

The Upper Room

A construction style which we have found unique in South Sudan, a Sudanese friend dubbed “the upper room”.  We have not seen this type of structure anywhere else in Central, Eastern or Southern Africa.  However, as we have not been everywhere yet, we will not say it is unique to the Dinka of South Sudan, we will just say it is unique!

Upon inquiry as to why the Dinka would make the effort needed to construct their house in such a way, we were met with a myriad of responses.

Many said for safety and security – from predators, both man and beast.  We have heard hyena at night at the house and we have been told that leopard frequent our area; with the reports of cattle raiding and inter-clan violence, we can see the logic of this reasoning.

Others said it was a place to keep smaller livestock like chickens and goats out of harm’s way at night and a place for small children to be kept  safe and out of mischief. 

Still others commented that putting the harvest of groundnuts and grains like sorghum in the upper room secures it, for a time, from insects and other pests including the smaller livestock (unless you put them in there!), which may erode the  year’s harvest .

We just think it is cool!  We’ve seen beds out on the upper platform during the really hot months of January-April, allowing folks to sleep outdoors in the cooler air -- by bringing up the ladder one can sleep in relative safety. 

While this is not a picture of an upper room, we thought it an interesting take on the esteem given livestock in South Sudan.

While walking through a small compound the other day, we happened to glance into a hut. Seeing the exalted position this goat seems to have taken, finding a place of rest at the foot of a bed, was in a way surprising to our knowledge of African culture in general and yet not so surprising as we learn more of the Dinka culture.  The Dinka prize their livestock. In other countries it is the owner’s responsibility to keep his livestock out of the road and away from traffic.  Here the driver is responsible if he hits an animal --whether that animal runs into the road or is lying in the middle of the road – the driver pays the owner of the beast.  So be aware!

Differences in culture make for a unique and colorful world.  As we learn more about the cultures of South Sudan, we see the beautiful tapestry that God is weaving.  Today’s world is an intermingling of different cultures. However at times culture comes in direct opposition to God’s word.  Pray that God would allow each of us to be open to other cultures, but in doing so be ready to confront aspects of culture, especially our own, which conflict with God’s word.