"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

“But how are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?  And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Romans 10:14-15

Everyday I complain to myself because my feet are so dirty. Walking around in dirt all day long combined with sweat makes for some seriously dirty feet. The other day I read this verse and smiled because I imagined God calling my feet beautiful while they're covered in dirt as I share about His Son to those who have never heard.

I encourage you to share Christ with someone who's never heard. You won't regret it. It's such a joy to share what Christ has done in my life to the Sudanese...dirty feet & all.

Update from Sudan

Being in Sudan has been such a great joy. We’ve only been here for 2 wks but it already feels like a month. We’ve been blessed to experience quite a bit in short period of time. Last week we went to a ceremony of the opening of a bridge that was bombed some years ago. The bridge is part of the Pan-African highway & it connects Nimule to Juba (the Capital of S. Sudan). The rebuilding of the bridge was a big deal because it shows that S. Sudan is making progress towards recovery from wars. The bridge was 100% funded by USAID so the President of S. Sudan spoke at the event along with other dignitaries even a congressman from the US.

Achua Bridge

Chaplains at bridge ceremony

 We’re also planning an FRM-specific outreach called Love Covers. It’s an outreach for local schools that are in heavy need. We conduct an all day Bible study with games, crafts, singing & we give away back packs with school uniforms, mosquito nets, school supplies, underwear & t-shirts. Lately we’ve been surveying different schools in the bush to choose one that fits our criteria. Right now, because our budget is small, we’re looking for a school with about 50-100 students, a lot of need & good attendance. We’ll be doing random drop-ins at the school to check on attendance because we want to encourage the children to be in school everyday not just show up for the big event. 

Taking registration at school

You’d be amazed at what the schools look like here. Most have no buildings. The only building is usually the teacher’s office which isn’t building…it’s a Tookul (mud hut). The children sit outside under a tree in front of a shabby chalk board. All schools require uniforms but usually only a few children are wearing them because they can’t afford them. When I see the lack of amenities & supplies I just marvel at these teachers hearts. They must be so dedicated & passionate for these children. We’ll drive for miles in the thick bush & find a tiny makeshift school out in the middle of nowhere & yet these teachers make it happen without state-of-the-art amenities. 

School classroom

Learning how to use the flanel graph

 On Friday we held a children’s ministry workshop for the chaplains because most of the chaplains will go on from here to start their own churches & some are already Sunday school teachers. The best part of the day was when the chaplains had to do a presentation of a Sunday school lesson. We were a little worried at first because the guys were so frustrated that they couldn’t quite understand how they were to do a presentation. They had so many questions about how to prepare a study using the Inductive Bible Study technique & how to use visual aids with the teachings. It was really sad to see them struggle over things we Americans find so simple but their minds just aren’t as advanced.


Chaplains presenting

 In the end they were able to get through it & we were so pleasantly surprised by the presentations! The guys did soooo great! They went all out with their dramas, props, children’s songs, we were laughing the whole time. The one thing that seems to be a trend here in Africa is that mostly men are involved in children’s ministry, whereas in America it’s mostly women. I get hopeful every time I see a male teaching & loving on the children because I know that many of these children are lacking a godly male role model in the home. Children are the future & Africa is in dire need of God now & in the future.

Chaplains studying

 Finally, on Saturday we had an outreach with women’s ministry & we went out to a village in the bush called Longo. We pilled in about 100 people (women & chaplains) in the lorry & drove out to a village where military barracks are.

The event was planned by the women & for once the native women did all the teachings, not us Americans. I have such a heart to see the natives become leaders & pastors. Because I believe it’s more beneficial to have native missionaries I like giving the teaching privileges over to the natives. The women did so great, years of discipleship by Vicky has paid off. Their teachings went well & their testimonies were powerful. About 10 people prayed to receive Christ & it was a wild celebration. Later on in the evening the chaplains showed the Jesus film to the SPLA soldiers.

Women teaching & sharing their testimonies

Chaplains sharing with the children

Dancing & singing to the Lord!

We had an afternoon of much dancing & worship. I felt like I was part of a National Geographic episode! We were surrounding by about 150 people singing, banging on drums, hootin & hollerin & dancing their cultural dances. I have many moments here where I just sit back & think “I can’t believe where I’m at right now!”  Needless to say I’m loving Sudan! It’s not what I expected it to be like & it’s so much better than I hoped for.

This little boy was afraid of the "white people"

Pastor Michael giving an invitation


 

Chaplains singing in back of lorry

 

 

Riding in back of the lorry with about 100 people



Proverbs 31

 Today we visited a wife of a noble character. Lino was part of Class 3 of the chaplaincy program (currently Class 8 is in session). He is now on staff here with FRM as a training officer. His wife Martha saw us walking through the village this past Sunday and wanted us to come in her home to visit her. It was already getting late so we promised her that we would come back another day to pay her a visit. Today we had the pleasure of going into her home to visit with her. The culture here in Sudan is anytime there is a guest in the home it’s proper to serve them a little something. Usually, depending on what they can afford, it’s a warm soda and a small bag of cookies.

Lino & Martha

If their Tukul (mud hut) is big enough they invite you inside, they pull out their nicest plastic chairs or wooden stools for us to sit on, while they sit on the floor or the bed. They then send for some sodas and cookies to be delivered to us. The wife always drops to her knees to greet us with a hand shake. Then when the snacks arrive she again drops to her knees, brings a pitcher of water and a basin to wash our hands and then serves us. Also, the wife never partakes in the snacking. If they buy drinks and cookies she never buys enough for herself. We always feel so bad that we eat and drink in front of her but that’s just their culture. We sat inside talking with her, mostly asking questions about the culture of their particular tribe and praying for them. Lino told us that not only does she take care of her own family but she also cooks, cleans, and cares for the families that live around her. As we finished our sodas she came out with another round and it totally blessed my heart. Not because it was another soda but because of the sweetness in her heart. This may sound like something so simple but when you think about how little they have and how they can barely feed their families it’s a big deal. We have more than enough money to buy several rounds of sodas and yet they wouldn’t dare think about not serving their guests. 

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We’re told that it’s an honor for them to have white people in their home because most of these villagers never will; so they want to show their gratitude any way they can. Her hospitality melted my heart. I sat there with a big smile on my face just thinking about what a great wife she is and what an honor it was to be welcomed into her home for a warm soda and small bag of cookies! I just had to share this moment with you because it will probably be one of those sweet simple moments in my life that I’ll remember forever.

Lino & family

Compassion for Canaan Farms

As we were driving to Canaan Farms we picked up a Muslim lady that Vicky wanted to meet with because she wanted to know more about Jesus. After sharing with her the Gospel she decided she wanted to accept Christ. We then had the opportunity to visit families in their homes to pray for their needs. The different families told us their testimonies of how they ended up at the farm. All of them fled to Masindi to escape war-torn Northern Uganda. As we listened to their stories, it was evident that God is truly doing a healing work in their hearts through the help of the workers on the farm. Even though it’s been years since they faced terror from the LRA, the trauma that these people have experienced in losing their family members, has left many of them broken-hearted and in need of continued healing.

Mother with 2 disabled children

Later that afternoon we held an impromptu women’s conference at the tailoring school. We each shared our testimony and a short teaching. As we arrived at the building I realized I didn’t have my notes with me and immediately I got nervous because I didn’t have much time to prepare for my study and I didn’t know the content very well. I didn’t know what to do so I prayed so hard for the Holy Spirit to speak through me and guide me because I really had nothing to give. It was such an amazing powerful feeling knowing that God was doing all the work! I shared my testimony of how I became born again, taught Jeremiah 29:11, and gave them Jesus! I know my teacher Arie would have been proud! I love it when I have to totally depend on God to accomplish things; it always turns out so much better than when I do it in my strength. I was blessed to be able to share with them, they were blessed that we’d come from America to share the love of Christ with them; but the greatest encouragement was to hear my translators tell us how blessed they were to translate our teachings. Our translators, Martin and OJ, told us that they learned so much from us. Because they have to pay extra attention to what we’re speaking in order to translate, they often learn more than if they were just sitting in on the teaching. They were also felt more of a connection with us when they heard our testimonies. Most Africans think that in America the streets are paved with gold, sickness is non-existent, and we have no struggles. When shared of our struggles that we’ve experienced, they were able to relate to us more. Of course my struggles pale in comparison to theirs, but at some point in our lives we were all in darkness with empty hearts and in desperate need of a Savior.

Women's Conference

We ended the conference with praying for any lady that needed prayer. Most of the prayer requests I had were pretty much the same-sick children, no school fees, drunkard husbands who beat them, no money, and separation of family because of war. As I was praying with them I learned a few things. First, I was humbled and honored that God would even chose me to pray for and counsel these ladies. I learned that the problems I think I have are really not problems compared to theirs. I was overwhelmed and my heart was broken as I heard the horrors that these women have gone through. At times I had no words to pray all I could give were tears. I felt really terrible thinking that the only complaints I have are that I eat beans and rice all the time, I have to bucket bathe, that my neck hurts, that I miss the comforts of America and my family and friends, that the internet is so slow here or non-existent, that it’s windy and dusty and I always feel dirty, all the while there are people here suffering with things I can’t even imagine and will probably never have to suffer with. It made me sick to think that I sometimes let the those meaningless comforts throw me of course and forget what this life is all about, serving Christ and not serving self. Lastly, I learned that I’m still lacking in the faith I have in God’s power. I continually prayed over women and children to be healed. As I was praying I was questioning myself, do I have enough faith that God can perform such a miracle as healing someone with malaria or typhoid without medication…well I’m not sure? Although I desperately want to see Him do it, I’m wondering if my lack of faith is hindering that performance of a miracle. Just as I’m thinking that my faith is growing by leaps and bounds, I’m forced to check myself again.


Tukul (mud hut) that we slept in



Inside the Tukul

Masindi-Canaan Farms

 John-severly handicapped boy that lays all day on the ground in front of the door so he can see outside

Cattle on the farm

Richard, Susan & baby Abbi- owners of the Farm

Chaplain Martin singing with the local children- Martin & I prayed for a few of these kids to receive Christ

Canaan Farms-Uganda

Our first stop in Uganda was in a town called Masindi to visit a ministry called Canaan Farm. Far Reaching Ministries has partnered with Uganda natives, Richard and Susan Angoma who own the farm & ministry. After doing a few home visits, it was evident that it is a place where healing the wounds of war takes place in the heart of the people. The ministry incorporates a tailoring school, bamboo jewelry making ministry, literacy program, and agriculture training.

     The ministry started about ten years ago at the time when the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) was terrorizing people in Northern Uganda. People who were running from the LRA requested to stay on the Canaan Farm. It is owned by Richard’s family and located in the Kiryandongo District. Richard was living in Jinja at the time, and when he came to visit the farm he found that the people had been traumatized by what they had experienced from the evil attacks of the LRA. He then felt a burden to come and help these people. After praying about it, the Lord led him to move to the farm and minister to their broken hearts.

     He ministered to them through evangelism, discipleship, and agricultural training on the farm to empower them to be able to farm their own land someday. The people sell the crops that are harvested to generate an income to support themselves. Richard lead a fellowship and prayer group to help meet the spiritual needs of the people.

      Many of the people who came to live on the farm had medical needs as well as spiritual needs. Money from the crops was used to buy medications for the sick. When Susan, a Registered Nurse, came to work on the farm as a volunteer she developed a burden and vision to help with the physical needs of the people so she started doing medical outreaches which are still taking place today. Currently there is a building project in effect for a medical clinic that will opened next year. She is praying for a doctor and a few nurses to come and serve at the clinic.

     Richard and Susan’s vision is to empower people to be able to generate an income for their family while also healing the war wounds of trauma. Besides training people in agriculture, the tailoring and bamboo jewelry ministry was also developed to help provide people with an income.

     The bamboo ministry started when Richard saw that the people needed a way to earn money in between crops. From the bamboo, earrings, napkin holders, and bracelets are made and then sold in America. The income generated from selling the items goes back to support the people. Through the Rabuna Fi Ministry of Far Reaching Ministries, the jewelry items are sold to raise support for the ladies providing them income for their families.

      The tailoring school started about two years ago and trains people to go on and start their own tailoring businesses. Tailoring school is everyday and includes a Bible study. When they graduate they’re given a sewing machine to help start a business. It was discovered at the tailoring school that some students were illiterate which led to the development of the literacy program. In this program students learn how to read and write in English and Acholi and they practice using the Bible.

Richard and Susan Angoma have vision to continue evangelizing and discipling the families who came to the farm. At the same time, they want to continue to see these families become empowered with the practical skills they need to get back on their feet again. While partnering up with Far Reaching Ministries to accomplish this vision, they have already seen many families to come to a place where they are farming on their own land and growing in their relationship with Christ. Please pray for the work of Canaan Farms to continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a place where there is much need for healing restoration in the lives of the people.

A Historical Night

Last night we were in the middle of a Bible study with Pastor James and all of a sudden Vicky comes in the room with a very serious look on her face and says, “James, gunshots…go arm the guards…girls stay in here!” You could hear an insane amount of bullets being fired and people yelling; immediately we started praying. As the shots started to get closer we hit the ground and turned off the lights. While we were praying, I’m thinking we need to run to the bomb shelter and then James comes back into the room and says, “It’s ok they’re just celebrating, they announced the results of the election, the South won!” We get up off the ground and Vicky comes back in the room, with a gun in her hand, to check on us to make sure we weren’t terrified. The South won the referendum by 98% and has seceded from the North, praise God! The entire surrounding neighborhood was celebrating with firing guns, playing drums, singing, yelling, blowing whistles; it sounded like New Year’s Eve to the extreme. We tried to resume our Bible study but we were so distracted with all the guns firing right next to us as history is being made. I gotta admit I was freaked out, but it was fun to see all the guards get excited at their future freedom, even they wanted to fire their guns but Vicky said no way not in the compound! Literally, all night long the Sudanese were celebrating. It was hard to sleep throughout the night with random gun shots going off and people yelling playing drums but we are excited that the South will no longer be oppressed. Just for reassurance, we are all good and safe; apparently the Sudanese always fire guns when celebrating. But please pray for continued safety, on Feb 14^th the final announcement will be made which could lead to rioting. Here in Nimule there have been no problems but I’m not sure what the other areas of Sudan are facing. In June the new borders will be laid and at that point war is expected to break out. That was quite an experience for my 2^nd night in Sudan!

Safe in Sudan

I’ve made it to the South Sudan. Nimule is the town that FRM is based out of and has been working in since 1999. The compound is much nicer than I expected. It covers about 2 acres of land. There is no grass just dirt but I’m thankful that there are many trees here. It’s very dusty and about 90 degrees. The compound is home to the FRM staff, the Chaplains and everything that is needed to perform the ministry. The compound houses the chaplains’ living quarters, Bible college room, the church, ministry offices, food hall, Sunday school rooms, recording studio and our living quarters. Around the grounds you’ll find many chaplains, security guards, locals fetching water from the well, cooks, and our dog Sally.

For those of you that don’t know, Far Reaching Ministries’ (FRM) primary focus is the Chaplain’s Corp here in the Sudan. Wes Bentley trains up men to be Chaplains in the Southern Sudanese Army know as the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The men go through a year long program of Bible School, literacy training, and boot camp to prepare them go out to the front lines to minister alongside the SPLA soldiers. Vicky Bentley is the CFO of FRM and runs all the ministries here in Africa. Along with that she runs the Sudan portion of women’s ministry. Monday-Saturday is women’s ministry from 9am-2pm. The women have a literacy school and a tailoring school where they make purses, shawls, jewelry and many more crafts that are then sold in the US at women’s conferences. These next two months we are working alongside Vicky to help her with administration tasks, teaching the women’s Bible studies and learning the ins and outs of missionary life and running a successful ministry. 

I’ve been through so much this past week since I’ve arrived in Uganda, not so much physically but emotionally. I’ve heard horror story after horror story, driven through areas where the LRA slaughtered entire villages, driven through former IDP camps, seen babies sitting in the dirt naked, seen naked handicapped children laying on dirty concrete floors and became friends with a 22 yr old former LRA child soldier. Martin the chaplain that traveled with us shared his life story with me as we sat next to each other on the drive up. His story is no different from all the other stories, fled to an IDP camp to avoid the LRA, lost his mom, disowned by his father when he was a teenager, lived on the streets with his siblings, survived on food thrown out in the trash, no hope, and then he found FRM and became a Chaplain. My mind and my heart our overwhelmed right now. I’m not sure what to think or how to start processing everything. My heart is being broken to the things that break the heart of God. But in light of all the sadness we stayed with 2 different ministries that FRM is partnered with that are doing amazing amazing work in Uganda. There is a little light of hope that is rising through these 2 ministries.

There’s so much I want to share with you about my journey through Uganda but I’ll have to post a little at a time because we only have electricity for 3 hrs a day and I have to ration the charge on my computer; plus we have to walk down the road and stand outside the UN compound to use their internet. I’ll be adding posts about my week as time allows.

Prayer Requests:

Pray that we would process everything we experienced this past week and that God would show us why He took us through those experiences.

Pray that we would get acclimated to life here in Sudan (the busy work schedule, the ministry team, and ministry projects)

Pray that God would start preparing our hearts for the women here in Sudan

Pray the God would equip for the large load of Bible teachings I’ll be doing.

See you in Sudan

We leave tomorrow morning to start our trek up to Sudan. We'll make a stop at a farm in Masindi for a few days. Far Reaching has a ministry project there & we'll be teaching the women. We'll then head to Gulu for a couple of days to work with another ministry project. We should then be arriving in Nimule, Sudan on Saturday. Please pray for safe travels & a fruitful work with the ministries along the way. We will not have reliable internet access once we're in Sudan but I will update this blog every chance I get.



In Kampala, Uganda








Far Reaching Ministries Kampala Guest house

 

Our view from the porch

 

We're soaking up the beauty here before we head into the 120 degree desert of Sudan where the trees are minimal & concrete walls are plenty.

Saying Goodbye to Nairobi

Our last weekend in Nairobi was jam packed with saying our goodbyes, completing a verbal book report, teaching at women's ministry, celebrating a birthday, team dinner, packing, teaching Sunday school, participating in a youth concert, Bible study with Arie, and getting about 4 hours sleep before flying out to Uganda.

On Saturday afternoon we went to Kibera to say good-bye to the women from our hair salon Bible study. We were in the middle of teaching them Colossians & since we're leaving we won't be able to complete the book. But praise God that Mildred our interpreter has a decide to go into the salon and complete our teaching for us.

 


Kibera slums where I taught at the hair salon & school.





I was asked to teach on Saturday one last time to the women. I was frustrated at first because I was given a few hours notice to prepare for the study. But I decided to trust God & walk in faith that I could complete what He called me to do. I later realized that it was a blessing to be chosen to teach these ladies one last time. It gave me another opportunity to share Christ with them. After missing the opportunity at the school on Friday I wasn't going to make the same mistake this time around. After the teaching I shared my heart with them as far how I'm going to miss them & how much I enjoyed getting to know them. I encouraged them to walk in faith & give their lives fully over to God because He is faithful. I was moved to tears staring at their faces & realizing what a privilege it was to be called by God to teach them. I think I was more blessed than they were.


Teaching 1 John 5 for women's ministry at church

 
 This is Freddy, he plays keyboard for worship team & will be teaching 1 John at the Bible college this semester. It was his 29th birthday & he was so excited that we got him a cake & sang to him. In all his years this was the first time he's ever had a cake & had "happy birthday" sang to him. The next day he told me that that night was the sweetest night for him & he went to bed smiling! I love the simplicity of the Africans.

This Sunday I was a Sunday school teacher continuing on with teaching Creation. The students sang extra songs for me since I may not see them again.  

Children's ministry worship

 

Kibe & Christina



 This is Damarius & her children. She's one of the familiar faces from women's ministry. 

After church on Sunday we hosted a youth concert. We had an open mic contest & shared the Gospel with about 100 youth.

Nicholas & Bernard-Children's ministry leaders.

A great lesson I have learned with this whirlwind of a weekend is that I can't live in the future. I can't walk around with the mindset that I'm going to have tomorrow or a "next time" to do anything. I have to take advantage of every opportunity to share Christ's love with people. I may never see some of these people again. In a place like Africa, anything could happen to them or me. Although my desire is to go back to Nairobi in April to finish up what we started there, God's plans our greater than mine & it's a real possibility that Sunday was my last chance to say goodbye & show them love. May we all come to the understanding that tomorrow is promised to no one.