Category Archives: Mission Trips

HSE Team, Mission Trips, Teams

Farewell To Africa!

Here as I am somewhere over Iceland flying back to the USA, the last week certainly has illustrated Gods hand in all that goes on. Things got very busy, and hence this is a lengthy blog to fill in the gaps

Sunday evening we were able to do our last scheduled outreach to a village some 15 very bumpy miles away (the drive took nearly 45 minutes). This village was made up of men and women and their families who were training to be prison guards (or wardens as they are known as here). These were a village that were very disciplined in their training, but were concerned that because it was guards who put Jesus to death, that theirs was not an honorable job. That is was people in their job that killed Jesus. This was shared to me on the way to the village, and Sabet asked me to share a message addressing this concern before showing the Jesus film. So out the window for the message I had sort of prepared based on Gideon and his faith in the power of God, and instead, God gave me a message loosely based on the vineyard owner coupled with a description of Jesus being our propitiation because of the Fathers love.

This turned out to be one of my favorite outreaches we did in our very short time in Tonj. They loved the worship from Josephine (with Emily on Cajon), and then loved even more as she launched into “Praise the name of Jesus” sung in Dinka. Time for the silly songs bought out all the children who marched out singing a welcoming song in perfect formation. Then everyone got into the songs, and then followed by the Jesus film.

Sabet bought a young couple to Josephine and Kristina with the young wife who was having “disturbances” and could not sleep, wanting healing. Josephine recognized that she did not know Jesus, and as she accepted Jesus into her heart, the demonic oppression that was tormenting her had to leave. God had our team there at just the right time with a mind to trust in Him. After she became peaceful, her husband also accepted the Lord. Hallelujah

However, with the potential for my short message coupled with the Jesus film portrayal of the crucifixion to still leave some confusion in the minds of these wonderful people, I offered to come back on Tuesday night, the night before we were to leave, and discuss with them what the Bible has to say about soldiers and guards. They readily accepted.

Unfortunately the Devil always keeps pressing, and on the way home Stacy succumbed to the “bug” that has been sweeping the compound

Monday bought Dennis (the other medical officer) back after a break, and also bought Gordon (the logistician from Nairobi) to Tonj along with about 800kg (1700lbs) of supplies, some of them electrical for Dave and myself to continue with the Solar.  Mondays as always were very busy in the Clinic.

Tuesday bought the news that Dave also got slammed by the “bug”. The clinic was “closed” for staff training, and Kristina accepted the responsibility for any “emergency” walk ins. Needless to say, she was kept really busy. I managed to get the Solar System to a somewhat improved state, and ready for a more efficient use of resources. The team all tried to contribute as much as we could before our imminent departure.

That evening Sabet, Josephine and I returned to the Prison Wardens’ village. We had been told to expect roughly 45, but over 60 turned up. We gave out Bibles, and had to disappoint as we did not have enough on hand. The study went really well, covering the centurions in the gospels, the garden of Gethsemane, the Phillipian Jailer, and closing with Romans 13 1-5. God moved mightily in the hearts of these wonderful people who want to serve Jesus in all they do, and not compromise because of their work choice. We could all learn many lessons from this, and strive to serve Jesus in our Whole life, not just the parts that are convenient to us. After we were treated to another stirring performance by the village children, who showed us clearly by their actions they knew who to believe in. And to top it off, the young husband from Sunday night came to tell us after the teaching that his wife was sleeping soundly, and had no more “disturbances” Praise Jesus

Time to fly out Wednesday morning and Natasha succumbed to the “bug”. Not a pleasant thought to ride in a small plane with your body trying to rid itself of “stuff”. But on the plane she hopped. However by the time we arrived back in Nairobi, Josephine had developed a massive migraine, Natasha was no better, and neither would be unable to continue on the flight back to San Diego.

And as always, God opened the door, provided a way to delay our flight by providing Dr Bransford, an American surgeon who’s spent the last 32 years serving the people of Kenya, to give the airlines the confirmation of sickness they required to change our flight without the huge penalties that normally would result.

Leaving the people of Tonj, and the Kuj family, and all the compound and medical centre is a bittersweet thing. We know Gods work will continue, after all, he doesn’t really need us, but He chooses to, and to no longer be hands on is a sad thing, but then the knowledge, that Jesus taught us  that First when we Pray…  We have been blessed beyond measure to be just for a moment in time able to come alongside “In Deed and Truth”. And we look forward to the time we meet again, either here on this earth or in Heaven forever.

To God be the Glory, great things He has done.

 

HSE Team, Mission Trips, Teams

Kristina’s Blog!

 
Kristina Holding New Born She Helped Deliver

Hello everyone! It’s Kristina again:)  This last week has been very full and God is constantly showing Himself strong on our behalf!  Friday morning dawned very early this past week.  I woke up at 5:30 to get ready for a journey to the town of Wau (pronounced Wow), which is only 70 miles away.  However, the road to Wau is a very bumpy dirt road with many potholes/craters:), so it takes about three hours by car.  The ride was an adventure in itself, but Sabet skillfully guided the Landrover along,  dodging as many potholes as possible.  Sabet and Leo needed to buy wire for a project here and said Natasha and I could go along.  The reason I wanted to go to Wau is because it is a predominantly Muslim city.  For those of you who know my love for Muslim people, this makes perfect sense, right?  It happened to be a huge Muslim holiday on Friday:  Idd el Dhahia, which commemorates the day Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice Ishmael according to Muslims and was spared when the ram was sacrificed instead.  As we approached Wau, I could see Muslim men and young boys in droves walking, apparently to and from prayer.  We passed one area where there was at least a thousand seated together, all in white garments listening to a guy on a loudspeaker.  I was told there would be many sacrifices in the city that day.  I know God has a plan to continue revealing Himself to these people, and I want to be used to share Jesus’ love with them! Although I was not able to speak to them that day, I prayed for them, asking God to open their eyes to the truth of His Son!  The Lord is faithful, and He continues to fill my heart with love for Muslims.  They are the largest, most unreached people in the world, and they desperately need to be set free by the blood of Christ, our perfect sacrifice!   On a different note, I think I am going to write a book entitled, “On the Road to Wau.”  Doesn’t that sound appealing??   This trip inspired some good stories for a bestseller:)  If you want to pre-order a copy, just let me know!  

We just finished eating dinner Friday night when a woman came to the clinic in labor!!  It was her fifth pregnancy, but she was concerned that something was wrong because her labor pains were different from her others.  We thought the baby would come quickly because it was her fifth, but as the hours began to tick by, it was apparent this baby was in no hurry:)  Finally around 12:30am, I was walking laps with the mama and Sheena (here for 2 months) outside in the dirt when all of a sudden her water broke and within seconds the baby was being born outside! Thankfully, Sheena had a headlamp on, so we were able to see the baby coming in the dark.  I bent down and literally caught her!  We finally got both mom and baby inside and settled for the night.  It was amazing, and words cannot describe what a blessing this was!  I hope this was the first of many babies that I help deliver.   One thing I cannot help stop thinking about is how vastly different our cultures are– how we can be spoiled and complain about the smallest things and the people here have relatively nothing but are content.  There is so much joy in having a thankful heart. I want to grow in having contentment in “whatever state I am” as Paul wrote. In this season of our lives (and I know we’re each in a different place), I pray that our hearts are full of gratitude, that we would “proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day”(2 Chron. 16:23).  If you know Jesus, you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing from on high (Eph 1). 
     We only have a few days left here, and I praise God for showing me His heart in Sudan, for challenging me to go deeper in my walk with Him, for expressing His glory through this culture and the beautiful Dinka people, and for teaching me that everything comes down to loving Him and loving others.  Without His love, we have nothing and can do nothing, but through His love, we have been set free to live an extraordinary life and possess the greatest treasure of all!  
     Be encouraged that God is on the throne, He loves you with an everlasting love, He has an infinite measure of grace for you today, and He longs to show us His glory!

 

HSE Team, Mission Trips, Teams, Uncategorized

God Loves Achol!

Dear friends and family,

We serve a loving and compassionate Father, who knows us so intimately and longs to draw us close to Him. I want to encourage you tonight to draw close to Him, let Him hold you, and surrender to His embrace.  I was reading in John tonight about Jesus washing His disciples feet.  John writes, “having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love…” (13:1)  The full extent of His love… Is that not beautiful? Jesus has demonstrated not just a portion of His love, but His complete, eternal, and unconditional love without reserve.  
I cannot remember the first moment I experienced love, but I know God first poured out His love into my life through my parents, and I became secure in the Father’s love as a little girl.  For a child not to experience love from those who are meant to care for them and make them feel safe is devastating.  Some of you may have experienced hurt or abuse  from someone you trusted, and I pray you have been healed by coming to know the full extent of God’s love for you.  I want to share a story about a little girl I met yesterday named Achol.  I believe she experienced true love for the first time last night.
Achol lives in a small village very close to where we are staying.  Yesterday we were invited to lunch by a lovely woman named Elizabeth who helps serve at the compound.  I will tell you more about that later. On our way home from the village, Sabet (the missionary) was informed there was a little girl who needed help.  That night, she was brought to the clinic by neighbors, badly beaten and eyes full of fear.  My first glimpse of her was seeing her small frame sitting in the exam room with tears streaming down her face.  Her collar bone was broken, her back had been cut, her hands were swollen, and her spirit was wounded.  She is about nine years old.  Her story is that her mom passed away, her dad is a drunk who takes no responsibility for her, and her only other relative is her aunt who abuses her, forces her to do hard labor, and doesn’t feed her properly.  We sat with Achol, put her arm in a sling, and just loved on her.  One  man translated as I shared Jesus with her and she gently put her hand on top of mine.  Then Suzy and her three children (Hannah, Jedidiah, & Agum) came to the clinic with one of Hannah’s dresses.  As Achol put on her new dress, I saw this downcast, hurting little girl transformed.  She was like a different person with the biggest smile and eyes shining.  Hannah and Agum then put their arms around Achol and walked back to the compound to have dinner with us.  The sight of these three girls arm in arm was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Achol eyes were feasting on the food on the table before she ever took a bite.  I think it was the most food she has eaten in a while.  She just kept smiling.  After dinner, Sabet (Suzy’s husband) took her home and confronted her aunt about the abuse.  She admitted to “disciplining” her but denied abuse.  Sabet warned her that if the abuse continued, further action would be taken.  I know that God is directing Sabet in this situation.  He understands the culture and is led by the Spirit.  I wanted to keep Achol here, to know she is safe, to protect her from ever being hurt again.  Achol was the last thing on my mind as I fell asleep and the first thing in my prayers as I woke.  I couldn’t believe it when I saw her at morning devotions today with the same bright smile on her face.  At one point during the devotion, our eyes met, I smiled, and she smiled the most beautiful smile back…my heart melted.   
I don’t know what is going to happen with Achol, but I know that the Lord makes “everything beautiful in its time” (Ecc. 3:11). I don’t know why Achol has been inflicted with so much pain and abuse at such a young age, but I know that God is faithful, and He is a defender and Father to the fatherless.  Going back to John 15, Jesus tells Peter, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand” (v.7).  I believe His Word and trust that He sees Achol and wants her to know the “full extent” of His love.  He has not forgotten her.  I saw fear replaced by love in Achol’s eyes last night.  I saw love poured out from the Father into her heart.  I saw the full extent of His love for us in that He found us broken and bloody, destroyed by fear and hopelessness. He cleansed our wounds, wiped away our tears, clothed us in robes of righteousness, and wrapped His arms around us.   
“There is no one like the God of Israel, who rides on the heavens to help you and on the clouds in His majesty.  The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Deut. 33: 26
I ask that you please pray for Achol.  Pray that she is safe, that she remembers she is loved by the Father, that she cries out to Him when is afraid, and that she experiences the full extent of His love over and over and over again.  Pray for her healing and that perfect love would remove fear from her heart.  Pray for her aunt to come to Christ and for God to do a miracle in her family.  Pray for wisdom for Sabet and Suzy if further intervention is required.  
Thank you for praying.  Remember that “the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). 
I love you all, (especially Daddy, Mommy, & Natalie:)!  There is always hope in Christ, so take heart and be encouraged that the “full extent” of His love has been given to you!  
Love,
Kristina 
HSE Team, Mission Trips, Teams, Uncategorized

Natasha’s Blog!

Team

Words cannot trying express how faithful the Lord is, especially to this team, and today has been no exception.

This morning I (Natasha, a.k.a Ajak) did devotion about what the Lord has done in my life and how He saved me. During devotion Achol showed up and joined in, she`x the orphan girl from the clinic last night, who had run away from her abusive Aunt. She was all smiles, and I believe that for the first time she really experiencing love.

 Kristi, Kristina and I worked in the Clinic with the medical staff, and today, under Suzi’s leadership worked on creating a more efficient way to work.  When I was sitting in with John Paul (the doctor here) I was given the opportunity to talk to a young lady called Mary about Jesus, and that He loves her so much. She told me that she knows Jesus, that she was baptized as a little girl. John Paul helped me, and encouraged her to really know Him, and that He is calling her to a relationship with Him. We invited her to come to church on Sunday, and we prayed.  Kristina also was just shining the love of Jesus through her gentle and friendly work with the wound care children. Kristi has been a complete blessing to the Medical Clinic, using her organizing skills to serve alongside. We’ve had many fun/silly times together, and I have lost count of how many times we have been laughed at by the Sudanese for our misunderstanding etc.  I have really enjoyed working with these wonderful women and the staff there, I have learnt so much.

Today the boys and Stacie were doing a lot of physical labor, cleaning out the storage room. Dad (Leo) has been very busy since the Pastors left, fixing all sorts of mishaps around the compound; he is soon going to be moving the fridges into the storage room. Please keep the guys in your prayers specifically, that they wouldn’t  get injured and would have the wisdom to fix all the problems here.

 Emily is feeling a bit better today but unfortunately last night she was suffering from Malerone side effects, and we were up with her last night. Coming back from the clinic today I was informed the Mum (Josephine) was sick, and throwing up, please keep her in your prayers. She has been such a blessing to the People here in Tonj, through her music, her wisdom and encouragement.

Today dinner was a huge treat to everyone here; it was rice and chicken peanut sauce. We eat so well here, very blessed by the kitchen staff.       Who would ever imagine that we would eat as well as we do here in Africa. For desert we had jell-o, and Stacie and I are certain that it was raisin flavor (perhaps not). Either way, we are so blessed.

Well I m off to bed now, praying that I will finally get a full night, it has been so hot her at night.
Signing off, In the Faithfulness of Jesus
Ajak

 

HSE Team

Sunday Service

Sunday Church in Sabet & Suzy’s Compound

Hello from Tonj. We are so blessed and humbled to be here. To be alongside those who have given up their lives to follow Jesus is so exciting.

Saturday morning started with the Pastors preparing to return home for semester break. Some of the pastors had been away from their families for 4   months, as they immersed themselves in the study of His word. To see them dressed in their best clothes, proudly wearing their Pastor Collars and their crosses was delightful. Emily has been quite unwell, and a number of the pastors prayed over her, and she gingerly made her way to say Oh-ga-be-Yuk (goodbye), and to see their smiles as they came and wanted to see how she was and get their photos taken with her, was so lovely. And then they piled into the Landcruiser, 14 grown men, plus the driver, to head off on an all day drive. It was truly humbling their commitment to the call God has placed on their lives.

Then we had a Sabbath. It has been go-go-go since we arrived in Africa, so some time with the Lord was truly a blessing. Being a 24/7 medical clinic, of course there was some interruption. We were also as a team able to come together and spend some much needed time of prayer.

As we prepared for another outreach, since one of the Landcruisers was off on Pastor transport duties, we had to send some guys to set up the PA, projector, screen and DVD player, and then come back to pick the rest of us up and take us there. But of course, this being Africa, we needed to be flexible. On the way we came across a large group of people around an elderly lady on the ground. She had been knocked over by a man on a bicycle. So we loaded her into the back of the Landcruiser, took her to the clinic, and then finally got to the site for the outreach. Turns out she had a dislocated hip, and the medical officer, John Paul is still deciding the best course of action. By the time we got to the outreach, numbers were continuing to increase, and by the time Josephine began some worship over 300 people were there. Many prayed to receive Jesus, and then sat to watch the Jesus Film. By the end of the night over 500 people came out.

Sunday there is a church service held in the compound. It was a blessed time with a wonderful time of worship and digging into the word. We looked at Acts 20:17-35 and were reminded to stay focused on Jesus and committed to the call he places on each of our lives, and to share Him with ALL we meet. It was a great opportunity after service to fellowship and pray with a number from the local community.

Then after service we were in for a very special treat. One of the Sudanese women, Elizabeth, who works in the compound, invited us to visit her house. This is a great honor. After a brief walk we were ushered into her house, a round Sudanese grass roofed mud and straw hut about10 foot in diameter. And it was amazing. It was so cool. It was well into the upper 90’s outside, and yet in the hut would have been at least15 degrees cooler. She fed us Kissera bread (made from sorghum) and a beef stew thing which we ate with our hands. Elizabeth did not eat with us, which is the Sudanese way, but after she came in and shared some of her pain with us, and so we were able to pray for her and over her. After this, another 2 woman invited us to their houses, and then into another house as well. It was a very full, but blessed time.