The greatest thing for us to remember is that, HE chose us, not the other way around. And in choosing us, HE created us for HIS purpose and plan, not for our own goals and ambitions. Why is this truth so difficult to trust in? We can understand it but walking in it, taking steps of daily faith, are much harder to do. “Not my will by Thy will be done.” For our family, that means being in the USA while we wait on the Lord for Agum’s citizenship. Surely HE must have another plan when immigration did not receive our last filing. Yes you heard it right, our March filing was not received and this has set us back another 3 months!?? Can our Lord really have a plan and purpose in this delay?

“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33

The overwhelming disappointment and feeling of defeat was met with quiet stillness from our Lord. WAIT, is all we have heard… just wait.

Part of my daily time with the Lord is spent ‘Practicing being in His Presence” as Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach experienced. Moment by moment devotion and trust. I want to have that intimacy and oneness with my Savior that just doesn’t come automatically. Waiting and seeking Him and not my will has been a growing and yet awesome discipline. Our confidence is in His timing, His plan, His purpose, His will. Thank you Jesus we can find rest and peace in you. When none of it makes sense, it really doesn’t matter because You hold all the jigsaw pieces of our life and You have the perfect and completed picture in Your Hands. Thank you for the opportunity you give our family every day to trust You more and grow in our faith, and be used by You to make a difference in this world.

Changed Lives, Change Lives!

We believe as we invest in people for eternity and their lives are changed, they share their experiences with others whose lives are then changed. Take Peter Malok, a South Sudanese community health worker, who has been working with our ministry for over 5 years. He gave his life to Christ and despite pressure to follow culture and tradition, lived his life by his Christian faith. He was spiritually taught as well as medically trained. Last year we were able to send him, along with 3 others, for Clinical Officer medical training in Kenya. This has not been an easy road and he still has 2 years to go but he can see how much his life has changed over the past 5 years and how God has used Peter’s story to encourage others.

When the students returned to Tonj during their summer break, our entire IDAT team took a day off to celebrate their return and reconnect with them. In the midst of the desperation and despair in South Sudan, these young men are a beacon of hope, joy and excitement. Peter shared his testimony with our current medical team and talked about how God is alive and answers his prayers. God is raising up a new generation for South Sudan, changing their lives and equipping them so they can invest back into their own community and change lives for eternity. We are so proud of them.

Santina’s Story

Santina is a young mother who attends our church, Calvary Chapel Tonj. Every Saturday she joins a women’s group from the church and visits homes in the community, sharing the gospel. For Santina to earn a living in a small town like Tonj can be very challenging, especially if she wants to continue to set aside time for her family’s needs and serve the Lord. Every day in the clinic we have over 100 women and children waiting to see a doctor. We gave Santina the opportunity to sell tea to the waiting patients at our clinic. Santina has embraced this opportunity as a gift from God, doing something she loves and turning it into a ministry. She listens to these women, prays for them, encourages them and tells them about Jesus. It is amazing to watch Santina selflessly pour out her life for others, spending time with those that have been admitted and caring for the carers of the patients, often mothers of little ones afraid their child might die. As a mother herself she can understand and minister in a way that our pastors and chaplains cannot achieve.

Please pray for Santina, for our family, our team in Tonj and for our medical students in Kenya.