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Todd’s Rant

Hello Prayer Team,

This e-mail is a bit of a rant.  So if you are not interested in my editorial comments and prefer only my update reports, put this message in the trash unread.

There is plenty of Kingdom work and social/economic work to do in and around Yei, Sudan.  Despite the existence of well meaning aid organizations, there is no sense independent thinking or self sufficiency.  The people appear completely dependent on others to come, provide and do the work for them.  Take, for example, the pastor that told us that his neighbors laughed at him for working hard to cultivate his land.  They sat watching him work while they played cards. However, when the crop came and it was bountiful, only then did they see the value of working their own land.

Then there was the man we talked to about micro finance.  He told us that it is a bad thing.  It should be avoided.  The reason, if it does not go well, the borrower losses all of their assets (home and land).  He had not seen anyone be successful with a loan.  “We are not good with business,” he told us.

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Yei Update #2--From Todd

We have departed Sudan and arrived in Uganda for one day before departing for home.  Our time in Yei, Sudan was a blessing for each of us.  We heard from our national partners that it was a blessing for them as well.  One leader thanked us saying, “We have been ready and willing to plant a church in this place for sometime.  Thank you for showing us the way and helping us start.”

I was able to make a separate day trip to the town of Tore.  Located some 48 miles away via some of the worst roads I have ever experienced (and I have been on some bad ones).  The trip took more than three hours one way (our driver said we would be there in one hour-the lesson-multiply by 3 for all costs, distances and times here in Sudan).

During the drive, our pastor shared that Tore was a stronghold for witchcraft.  He shared that the Sudanese church members in Yei are fearful of going there.  (So our team of oblivious North Americans was perfect to go!) The last group of Sudanese that went to explore Tore for the Gospel all suffered from stomach illness until they were prayed for by the other church members.  Most of the townspeople are unreached.  The main tribe is Avukaya.  Most carry some charm that they have purchased from one of the witch doctors (they have specialists for various ailments and demon possessions).  The witch doctor has so much power that when the Gospel was presented to the county commissioner, he asked if he would die if he threw away his charms.

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Great Photos

The wonderful Emily Harrison’s fine work.

See them all here: http://kapoetasouthsudan.shutterfly.com/

Yei Update #1--From Todd

[from Todd Szalkowski]

A quick update from Yei, Sudan.  Our 11 North Americans, joined with our South Sudanese brothers and sisters to begin the work of planting 2 new churches [African Inland Mission churches] and strengthening 1 church [Pentecostal].

The team is well.  Conditions are challenging [heat, dust, sun].  But they did install a flush toilet at the ECS Guest House [I prefer the squatty potty].

We have seen fruit from the trip here last November.  One baby that I personally prayed for, that was given less than one week to live by our doctors, recovered fully.  Praise the Lord.

Also, a woman that accepted the Lord, not only continues in discipleship today, she also evangelized here whole family.  She also shared with many of her neighbors.  All of them were in attendance for worship on Sunday.

The work is going well.  People are responding at a high rate.  We are discipling using story telling and the people are…

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Final Kapoeta Update

Hello from Team Kapoeta!

“With the Lord a day is like a thousand years.” Today has seemed like at least a few years. However, time is extra short tonight, so I’ll summarize as quickly as possible. It’s hard to believe this will be my last report.

Answered prayer: Robert Gunn is back at 100% Thank you!

This morning was spent in house to house evangelism. As before, three teams went into the villages throughout Kapoeta. Now our total for newly professing converts for our time here stands at 333!

This afternoon was a high point for the children’s training. The kids there have reached a new level of commitment, and all of those attending today now identify themselves as Christians.

Also this afternoon, one of the translators and I were assigned to visit the three “Internet cafes” that have been set up in the area (think two or three dirty computers with paper sign: “check e-mail 1 Sudan pound 5 minutes"). Two of the three establishments were inoperable, and the other required a 30 minute wait. Pastor Lokuuda and Pastor David and I spent some time discussing a business of this sort, which may be a good source of revenue for the church community. The two major obstacles being 1) a reliable land line connection - which may be available soon since MTN has some infrastructure currently under construction and 2) someone with technical expertise to help them with initial setup - I think a Dell network engineer with a unique gift for focus and problem-solving would do the trick.

Kapoeta Update

Hello from Team Kapoeta!

There is a fairly prominent theme in scripture in which things that appear to be catastrophes actually work out for the good (benestrophes?). This shows up in the betrayal of Joseph, the young men in the furnace, and, of course, in the crucifixion of Christ. Robert Gunn likes to call these “Romans 8:28 Events.”

We had a couple of Romans 8:28 Events today. Robert and I were both down with GI problems (I fully recovered by the afternoon and Robert is well on his way - Thank you for your prayers!). This left some of our Sudanese boys to carry on without us. Perfect. They are ready. Somebody said once that 50% of teaching is providing opportunities to use what has been taught. 

Hyde Park Team Departs

via Bill Rossback.....

Just a quick note on the Team’s progress.  They left Austin yesterday morning after a minor airline problem.  They were originally scheduled to fly out on Northwest non-stop to Detroit but Northwest had an aircraft issue so the Team was re-booked on American to Detroit via Dallas.  They had very little time in Detroit before their flight to Amsterdam but made it and left as scheduled.  Please pray for their continued success and safety while travelling.

Unless I get an earth-shaking, special report, I will be sending updates out first thing each morning about this same time. 

HIV/AIDS Cube

The great Tim Kimberling edited this: http://vimeo.com/4067727

Snowball

I’m beginning to experience a snowball effect with e3 Sudan. The little ball we started pushing is now the size of a pumpkin. We’ll see if it crushes me in a few years. (That’s a joke) Random updates in short bullet points below. Implied is a desire for you pray over these:

** Heather Sumner - Living in Sudan for the next year. Working with David and Missy Williams and key folks on the ground to get our Microfinance operation up and running. Big undertaking, we appreciate the prayers.

** Doris - Doris is a great member of our staff. She was in line to be a loan officer for the Microfinance effort. In September, she got pregnant and they discovered a mass in her uterus that can’t be removed until after she delivers. She’s been very sick. Last week, we learned she is HIV positive. Her husband is in the army and travels a lot. You fill in the blanks. Pray for her, and us. We have no health plans for the Sudanese, no insurance. We’re praying through what the future looks like.

Container Made It!

Well this six week project only took about eight months!!! But the container finally made it about two weeks ago. Thanks to Stephen Huber for these photos.