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Update from Sudan

Before you plant seed, plow the ground. For us, the seed is the Gospel and the plowing is prayer. This team spent all Saturday prayer walking their areas--four of them. Sunday they worshiped, today (Monday) they went out to sow seed. Meanwhile, the microfinance project is beginning to take shape and the women’s conference kicked off. Here’s a few highlights:

Emily and the Kiddos

As so many of you know, ‘the kids’ are usually among my favorite people on the trips I go on. This trip has certainly been no exception. Last Friday, we went out to a place called ‘Limi’ to teach the area women our usual lessons. But, this day was unique in that we also were going to be doing a children’s program for a large group of children from two areas. I was excited, to say the least. During our first week, we were given a schedule of locations. When I saw the ‘children’s program’ listed in our schedule, I knew that day would be among my favorite.

Emily’s Report from Sudan

Hey Everyone,

Well, two weeks have flown right by us as I approach the third week of my time here in Africa. I hope you are doing well, and that God is doing great things in your life. Since I last wrote you all, we have started the women’s ministry and classes, and have already begun the exciting preparations for a large scale women’s conference in September.

Every other day, we travel to a village within the county we’re in. Usually the trip to the village is quite an adventure. Usually we ride on motorbikes, perched precariously behind a driver. It’s exciting and even a little bit frightening at times, but it fits in well with our great adventure. We are quite a sight I’m sure, especially since I have reason to believe that Heather and I are the only western women in the county. Children race from their roadside huts, yelling ‘gelitat!’ the local word for ‘white person’. It’s very exciting for them, and I’m sure it’s very humorous as well. I usually wave at them as we pass, that seems to make them laugh more.

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Those Missionary’s Reports

Reset/Background Info: We sent five missionaries to four locations this year. Since sending those first five, an American family has sponsored a sixth missionary, and we’re vetting two more for sending now. About a month or so ago, they all came off the field and back to Kajo Keji for a time or refreshing and this is what they reported:

Heather Reports In

Well, adjusting to life here has been easier than I expected.  After one week, I have become accustomed to using a latrine with a local cockroach audience and showering with a flashlight as my only light.  The Kaya family is so hospitable and warm and have gone out of their way to make the Americans staying with them feel comfortable and welcomed.  The bathroom and shower are what I would call a combination of Western and African accommodations.  We also have internet access and electricity at night from a generator.  So, I’m very grateful for the conveniences we have been blessed with. Emily and I are getting along great and everyday it seems that God reveals another reason why he has put us together on this journey.

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On the Field

Heather

Emily

Stephen

Tomorrow, Emily (red) and Heather depart for Sudan. Heather is interning with e3 for college credit. She’ll be in Sudan until the first of November. She and Emily will be training women and children in basic healthcare and sanitation. They’ll also begin a .... Click below to read more.

Mega Conference

Last year David Kaya told me he wanted to hold a pastor’s conference. We talked about how these guys were slugging it out day after day. They were preaching, supporting their families (Sudan churches rarely tithe), counseling and shepherding their flocks. They were tired and needed a time of refreshment. In November, we put on a conference for them. We put them up, fed them, and a few leaders preached both words of encouragement as well as the reminder to preach and teach sound doctrine in their churches. We had about 80 pastors show up. It was from this conference that our missionaries self-selected to leave their hometowns to plant new churches.

Now we’re doing it again, and we need your prayer to undergird the event. Boy do we need your prayers, why? Well, word got out.

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Francis From Sudan

So here’s a crazy, God story for ya. Bob calls me a week or so ago. Bob is a retired oilman who had spent one assignment in Egypt. While in Egypt, he hired a Sudanese refugee to help him out. That refugee’s name is Francis. Bob and Francis really hit it off, and Bob’s looked in on him over the years. The same years that brought Francis, along with his wife and son (now he has three), to America. Once here, Francis worked hard, became a citizen. Heck, he’s even bought a house. The American dream. All with a disfigured hand that was broken badly in Sudan and not repaired very well.

On Their Own

Today is special for e3 in Sudan.

Today, David Kaya, Samuel Malish, Kato Everest and a host of other Sudanese are in Yei. (Sounds like the word “yeah.”) Today, they kicked off a church-planting trip, and they are asking for us to join them in prayer. They are asking the Lord to establish three new churches.

There is no American team with them.

Kaya Family - May 2008

The Kaya Family.
From left to right: Taylor, Cathy, Ruth, David, Mike, Nancy, Gloria