A Family Furlough!

We have now been stateside for more than a month and adjusted quite well to the very different lifestyle here than we are used to in South Sudan.

Our greatest joy has been catching up with friends and churches after five years. The opportunity to share our ministry work and needs has been incredible and we are looking forward to more doors opening in churches and bible studies.

Our kids have also had a chance to share their mission experience with the Awana kids from Suzy’s home church, Horizon North County. Hannah (12) talked about her ‘field trips’ being spent in the medical clinic praying for children with wounds and learning to take blood pressure. She has quite a few unique medical experiences from seeing a cataract surgery and actually being present during a birth last year. Agum (10) shared about our Sunday school and how we invite kids to church and play ‘Kids Games’ with them. Jedidiah (9) shared how he has his own spear and bow and arrow. He loves fishing with his Dad and has slaughtered a chicken and goat (with some help).

The Road Trip!

By the time to receive this newsletter we will have started our road trip. We will be leaving from Indio, CA to Phoenix AZ, Las Cruces NM then Austin TX. We’ll pass through Houston TX, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama before arriving in Panama City Florida on March 13th. If you live in any of those areas we would love to see you. Our kids are so excited about the trip and we would just ask you to pray for us as we attempt to home-school on the road.

Tonj Update!

As a small ministry we are still very involved in the daily needs of the compound despite being so far away from South Sudan. Following the recent political upheaval, Sabet is monitoring the security situation daily. The capital Juba has reopened but firmly enforced government restrictions has now caused us not to be able to easily pass our medial supplies through Juba. Please pray we can find a solution to this before supplies diminish completely.

With the limited professional staff on the team Dr. Tom has been unusually busier than normal. He recognizes the fruit we are now experiencing from having spent hours training nationals to be skilled and competent Community Health Workers (CHW) who can support him and the two Kenyan nurses. Together they make a great team that brings glory to the Lord Jesus. As well as translating the CHW’s provide essential medical support and are learning the importance of including Jesus in everything they do. Many confidently pray for patients. Please keep the Tonj team in your prayers.

Calvary Chapel Distinctives!

Pastor Kibe is a Kenyan sent out from Calvary Chapel Nairobi to serve alongside us in Tonj. He is covering for Sabet while we are on furlough. One of his goals for this year was to go through this book by Pastor Chuck Smith called Calvary Chapel Distinctives. It teaches the call to the ministry, church government, the rapture of the church and the priority of studying the Word of God.

It is going really well with great discussions on how it fits into the African culture.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD” – Psalm 127:3