Category Archives: Mission Trips

HSE Team

Kristina’s Blog!

Chibaak friends & family! I pray you are experiencing fullness of joy in Jesus this week! He is beautiful and awesome, and He only does wondrous things! This is Ajok (a.k.a. Kristina), and I am so excited to share with you what God is doing. I’ll begin by explaining my new Dinka name.  Every Dinka man and woman is named after a cow that best “resembles” them.  You see, cows are extremely significant in this culture.  They are used to pay for brides, a sign of wealth/status, and also can be the source of contention and tribal conflict.  Our first day in Tonj, our whole team was renamed by the pastors from the discipleship school.  I have no idea how they decided so quickly and so unanimously on which cow to name us after, but it was quite entertaining:)  Ajok is a cow that is black from the shoulders up and white on the bottom.  Like i said, I don’t understand the rationale, but I love it just the same:) 

It’s hard to believe that it has already been a week since we left San Diego for the far reaching plains of Sudan.  We have been in Tonj now for five days, each day full from sunrise to sunset; yet somehow one never feels rushed or anxious despite there being much to do.  The cadence of this culture is far from Southern California’s frantic pace, and it is lovely.  Every morning begins with breakfast and group devotions before we go our separate ways.  I was blessed to share my testimony and a word of encouragement with the pastors, team, and staff this morning.  Today marked the last day of the semester for the pastors, and they will begin their journey home (some several days away) to their families and churches.  I had the blessing of sharing my testimony and a word of encouragement with the pastors and staff this morning.  They have been diligent in presenting themselves as workmen who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:14), and I exhorted them to cling to Jesus, who alone holds the words of eternal life (John 6)! These men are heading onto the battle field once more, so please pray that their ministries will bear fruit as they teach the truth of God’s word! The pastors have really enjoyed Leo and David teaching them this week; they are hungry for a deeper understanding of Scripture and excited to be fed the “meat” of the Word! 
After devotions, I have been heading to the clinic every day along with Kristi & Natasha.  The clinic is really quite amazing.  People walk for miles, sometimes days, to reach the clinic, and then may wait all day to be seen.  Most are young moms with sick babies, others are school boys with tropical ulcers on their legs, some are pregnant mommas, and countless others are in various stages of malaria.  Over the last few days I have been rotating between the four different areas of the clinic.  The school boys I mentioned line up on a bench each morning for daily wound care.  I have fallen in love with these sweet boys with their big smiles and laughter as I greet them in Dinka and review each of their names: Abraham, Marco, Angelo, and Yosef ( I can’t remember the others right now).  Their wounds look so painful, yet they grit their teeth and bravely endure us cleaning and repacking the dressing.  I look forward to seeing them, and I wish I could talk and joke freely with them!  
In the prenatal room, I have been assisting with examining mommas, who although are around the same age as me, are pregnant with their 5th, 6th, or 7th baby!!!  The women here are married as young as 13 and begin having children right away. Most are one of several wives and are considered more like property than a companion.  They are the hard laborers of the family, working all day, often to be beaten by intoxicated husbands at the end of the day.  Sudanese women have a high suicide rate…  I desperately want them to know they are valued and precious in God’s sight, and they are loved with an everlasting love!  Please pray for these women to know the love of Jesus as we minister to them.  
I will end this blog with the Scripture, “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  I witnessed this very vividly today.  Our first patient was a young mother who delivered a stillborn baby in the middle of the night and arrived with the baby wrapped in a dirty blanket.  We tended to her physical needs and Suzy was able to pray with and console this broken hearted woman.  I praise God for the comfort of knowing her baby is with Jesus, but my heart hurts for her pain and sorrow.  Pray that she will call out to the Healer and Comforter and find rest in knowing Him!  As the day proceeded, I spend time in the exam room with John Paul, the clinical health officer, who treats his patients with much compassion and dignity (as well as humor!).  A woman named Susannah came to the clinic today.  I can’t really explain how it began, but John Paul opened up the conversation to talking about the Lord.  He asked me to continue, and as I shared the gospel with her, you could literally see a transformation taking place in her.   At one point she smiled, threw her head back, and clapped her hands.  She was hearing the best news of her life for the first time–that she was loved, forgiven, and could have a relationship with the Son of God.  She told us she walked two days to the clinic, but hearing about Jesus made all of the struggle in her journey go away.  She said she wanted to be close to God but didn’t know the way!  I shared Scripture with her, encouraged her, and asked if she wanted to invite Jesus into her heart.  She was so eager and gripped my hand tightly as we prayed.  My heart is overwhelmed with joy for Susannah.  Her faith is real and tangible and beautiful.  Please pray that she would be rooted and grounded in her walk with God.  She doesn’t read or write, so pray that God’s Word would be inscribed on her heart as she hears His promises spoken to her! 
I wish you a beautiful day as you walk with the Lover of your soul!  The generator will be turning off any moment, so good night dear friends and my beloved family.  The frogs and bugs say hello as well–they are my faithful companions tonight:)  Be ready in season and out of season and preach the gospel with all boldness and faith!
Love,
Kristina
HSE Team, Pastor Training, Uncategorized

Dave’s Blog!

 

God is so very gooooood.  Wow has he been working mightily in Sudan.  Today was just yet another amazing day.  It started off super early as I woke up at 5 to get some extra time with the Lord and to prepare for the final day of teaching with the local pastors.  This is a picture we all took today as we celebrated God.

 Its not that hard to wake up early here as the roosters, howling dogs, cows and many critters are faithful to wake you. 

The Holy Spirit spoke powerfully through Kristina as she led devotions this morning.  She had some amazing words from scripture to encourage the pastors.

I have been so blessed to be here and see what God is doing with these wonderful pastors.  They are such and inspiration as they seek the Lord so diligently.  The Holy Spirit is working powerfully in us all as we listen intensely to His words.  They call me teacher however I call them teacher as I have learned so much from there diligence in the Word.  They are so hungry and thirsty for Him.  It definitely humbles me as I have taken for granted all the wonderful teaching and learning opportunities in America.  We have so many resources.  But here in Sudan they are starving to be taught the word as there are limited options to learn.   This is the main reason why I chose to come here is because God has put on my heart the importance of discipleship.  As I have experienced over the last year,  being immersed in the Word is so very essential to our relationship with the Lord.  This is why teachers of the Word are so very powerful.  It is a gift from God to help us grow and know Him better.  I am so very thankful for the time spent at HSE and to my teachers who have sacrificed so much to help me grow.  I was truly blessed to have the time at HSE to learn so much.

Most of the pastors come from far away.  There hunger for the Word brings them long distances to learn.  Some over a hundred miles and no they don’t have cars…..  Some will stay here at the training center while in school and then go back to their families for break.  They are away from their family for months at a time.

Today was the final day of school before break and it was a joyous yet sad day as I have grown attached to many of them.  They are all so very pleasant and kind.  They are so genuine and loving.   We embrace in hugs daily and our souls have become intertwined.  They are so beautiful and amazing.  I thank God for the ability to meet and grow closer to Him with these amazing men of God.  These are my friends, my fellow warriors and my eternal brothers.  I hope to see them again soon.

One of the pastors lost a child today due to a miscarriage so we have been in prayer for Him.  If any of you read this please pray for Judea and his wife Rebecca.    

Leo has been doing most of the teaching as God has truly blessed Him with this gift.  The students were so very happy to have such an amazing teacher of the Word.  I learn from him daily as the Lord speaks powerfully through Him in teaching.  I see how tired he is every night as He spends so much time preparing and loving these young pastors.  He gives all he has to pour into the pastors.  They could not stop asking questions as Leo was able to answer them all.  He has been a wonderful gift from God to us all.  They will miss him dearly. 

We had two miracles happen today.  A woman in the clinic and a male friend of Sabets came to receive Jesus.  There eternal life started today and it is beautiful.  We rejoiced as we have 2 new brothers and sisters in the kingdom.  God worked through Kristina to touch the heart of the lady in the clinic.  She is writing a blog tonight as well so I will share about Sabets friend.

I walked into the kitchen and Sabets friend Richard was there.  We had met him the previous day at the market.  Sabet and Suzy had been sharing with him and bam the Holy Spirit guided him into the truth.  He prayed intensely to God and received Jesus that very moment.  He stayed for lunch and we had the opportunity to fellowship.  Richard is a wonderful man.  He is actually from Sudan and moved to Australia 11 years ago and is now back to get married.  Funny to meet a Sudanese man with Australian accent.   He is from Tonj and his dad is a politician locally here.  We had some awesome talks about the Lord and His truth about marriage and relationships.  It was so amazing.  The Holy Spirit was just pouring into Richard.  We also talked about money and read some scriptures on what God holds valuable.  We had some amazing fellowship as the Lord worked powerfully.  He is going to bring his fiancé to church on Sunday.

I learned some interesting things about the culture here.  Apparently when you get married you give the father of the bride a certain number of cows.  This is not to buy the woman but to show gratitude to the father for raising such an amazing daughter.  Richard must give 150 cows which cost about $500 each.  Wow that’s an expensive gift. 

The culture here is wonderful and I have enjoyed the beauty of it.  There is however some disturbing stuff such as multiple wives being very common here as well as the witchdoctors and many false gods.  But that is why we are here.  To share the truth of the love of God.  His Word will not return void.

We had a few people go down with stomach illness today.  Emily was in bed all day as last night she became ill.  Please keep her in your prayers as she recovers.  Mark one of the brothers here has also been feeling sick along with Suzy.  We ended up canceling our outreach tonight in order to rest up. 

We all have been working so hard throughout the day and then in the evening going for outreaches into the villages.  The outreaches are another amazing story but I will let another teammate share as I will not do them justice in describing how amazing they have been.  I mean they are absolutely wild. 

Today has been a wonderful day of prayer as I have been praying with many of the pastors and with my teammates.  The worship has been absolutely amazing as the Lord has spoken powerfully through Josephine.  We begin the day with devotions, prayer and worship.  What a blessing to begin every day in such a way.  I feel like I am back at HSE…..  

I am getting tired so I will wrap up this novel with a few words.  I have truly enjoyed every minute of this trip.  There has been many spiritual attacks but the preparation in prayer  and all your prayer back home has extinguished all the fiery darts.  I feel at home here and definitely could live here.  The people are amazing and so loving.  Suzy and Sabet are so very wonderful as the light of the Lord shines so bright through them both.  I have learned so much from them and am so thankful to the Lord that I am here and able to serve them.  This trip is a gift from God to grow closer to Him by pouring out His love on the wonderful Sudanese people.  God is so faithful and will never disappoint.  Thank you Father for this wonderful opportunity to serve, praise and give you glory.      

HSE Team, Uncategorized

Love Never Fails!

Today was my turn to lead devotion and as always God’s timing is perfect.  I shared my testimony of being delivered from demon possession.  I had been brought up in the church and baptized as a child but spoke how this had no power and was a false hope.   The Pastors here at the school were being taught this very weak about true baptism.

There were many babies today in the clinic with malaria.  Every day the people come, waiting for many hours often walking many hours.  Wounds are bandaged, medicine given, with opportunities to smile opening the door to why we are here, to bring the Good News of our Savior, to tell them about Jesus who many have never heard about.  To know a God who loves them with a dying love, so strong it was willing to suffer for them, die for them to bring Salvation for them.

Many people suffer here, especially the woman.  I was asked to come to the clinic and speak and pray with a woman who had been beaten with a stick by her blind husband.   She was so badly wounded she was unable to eat for 4 days, keeping nothing down and now she had been brought here in great pain.  I had no words to say to her but I came knowing Jesus did.  I waited while they tried to find an interpreter and held her hand, looking into her eyes.  Eyes that had no hope, a depth of pain I knew that came from being hurt and abused by people who shouldn’t but should be protecting you.

I heard Jesus tell me He would interpret and began telling her that there was a God who loved her and the hope that was available to her about God’s Kingdom and heaven.  I prayed and trusted Jesus was having her understand.  Peter came to interpret and I told her about Jesus, who had also been beaten for us and died but had beaten death and risen again.  He wanted to offer her life that continued after the body died.  But she needed to forgive to receive forgiveness.  God wanted her to have His pure love.  He wanted her to know the hope she had and she didn’t reject anything I said.

But her nephew who had brought her wanted to take her to the next village 70 miles away.  They were going to wedge her between two men on a motor cycle.  It seemed hard to believe she would survive the trip.

The courage of this woman was amazing.  My heart was filled with desiring to honor her and give her dignity.  I knew God was going to honor her in His Kingdom.  We have been saved by virtue and glory (2 Peter 1) for worth and glory.  I felt later Jesus told me this woman had died and was with Him now.  1 Corinthians 13 – Love never fails, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, love is the greatest.

HSE Team

Leo’s Blog!

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Children Running

Hello from another magnificent day the Lord has blessed us with in Tonj. Today we had a full day, which started even before the day began.

Josephine and I had such a powerful time of prayer with an overwhelming  burden for the people of this town and for Suzy and Sabet in the wee small hours of the morning. The war is won or lost in prayer, and it was amazing how the day developed.

It started with combined morning devotion with the Pastors and the In Deed and Truth staff. It was such a blessing to have Josephine lead a time of worship, followed by a devotion based on Matthew 26:31-46.

Then Dave was off working on a roof structure, Kristina, Natasha and Kristi were off to work in the clinic, Josephine and Emily to the Pharmacy, and I was off to teach the Pastors. It was such a blessing for all of us to be able to serve in this wonderful place alongside people who have truly died to self, forsaken all and wholeheartedly walked after Jesus.

In the afternoon, Suzy held her first women’s bible study after a long break, hosting 4 women from the town, of who had walked a considerable distance. All the women in the team participated, with another powerful time of worship, and culminating in a time of laboring in prayer. I was off to repair some of the Solar Fridges, and Dave Drown took the last lesson, studying through the book of Nehemiah in a session full of passion which truly ignited the pastors.

And then, we went off on our first outreach of our time here at a nearby tribal village with the Bongo tribe. This was amazing, with some children coming out of the bushes, seemingly from nowhere, having heard we were going to have a special night, and were running after our Landcruiser. We set up in a little clearing (which the tribe had prepared) with a screen tied between two poles, set up our PA, and preceded to minster to nearly 100 people in the middle of seemingly deserted grasslands. Josephine led a number of songs of worship; I got to share a message about the prodigal son, the team sung a few children’s songs, and then showed the Jesus Film in the Dinka language.

It has been such an unbelievable time here. We have all developed such a love for the people here. The Sudanese are truly a special people that God loves deeply, and we need to reach them all for the kingdoms sake. To see the work that Suzy and Sabet have established and continue to develop is a marvelous testimony to the power of Jesus Christ. To God be the Glory, the Great things He has done.

Josephine Leading Worship at Jesus Film Outreach

Mission Trips, Rancho Del Rey Church, Teams, Uncategorized

Final Blog!

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Construction of New Medical Clinic Building

Hello everyone,

 

It’s our last night in Tonj! Can’t believe our African adventure is drawing to a close.

Today after the girls worked in the medical clinic and the boys worked with the pastors, something really fun happened: we heard our chartered MAF plane fly overhead!! We all cheered when the plane went by because first, it was loaded with MUCH needed medical supplies and personal items (and a team of two new short-term American missionaries) and second… well, you don’t hear many planes flying overhead in Tonj, so you cheer when something like that happens!!

After greeting our friends, we began unloading and unpacking the huge number of boxes and action packers that had arrived. It was like Christmas morning as we ripped open the boxes: Amoxicillin! Multivitamins! Paracetomol! The clinic pharmacy’s drug stash has been running on fumes for days, so it was awesome to know that the meds would now be replenished.

Another exciting event happened today: the guys erected the first trusses on the NEW medical clinic building! Wow, what a milestone event for the compound. It’s exciting to walk around the area where the rest of the clinic will be built. God is going to do BIG things here!

Well… since this is our team’s final blog, we wanted to briefly share some of our trip highlights:

–Hearing “Yar!” (Stacie) and “Maquay!” (Mike) as we stepped out of the plane in Tonj. We were also greeted by a crowd of 50-75 smiling faces cheering “Cheebak!! Cheebak!!” And yes, who could forget Mark (one of the long-term American missionaries currently at the compound) standing there in his BVDs with cow dung ashes on his face (like those from the cattle camp) and doing an African victory dance!?

–Tiffany’s Florence Nightengale effect on the male wound care patients… just ask her about her numerous marriage proposals, especially from one eager patient who had to return day after day to get his dressings changed!

–For Alicia and Sheena: the great honor of helping to deliver a baby… on their first day in the clinic! (P.S. No other babies born at the clinic since then! Guess that was our one and only one all week).

–For Tim and Mike: the privilege of teaching the pastors about the Old Testament… and of course answering their thought-provoking questions.

–At our outreach events, laughing with the kids (and their parents) as we taught them the hand movements to our various silly praise songs.

–Hearing (and pretending to understand and sing along!) African praise songs during morning devotions and at church.

–For Sheena and Alicia: Jumping, dancing and singing in the dark with 2 dozen African kids while at an outreach. We didn’t know exactly what they were saying, but it was clear they were praising God!

–At morning devotion time, being challenged by fellow teammates to follow Christ with all our hearts.

–The two snakes. Enough said.

–For Alicia: the privilege of sharing her testimony and giving the Gospel presentation to a local tribe.

–Watching the Jesus film (in Dinka) on a makeshift outdoor screen, in two different remote African villages, surrounded by 100-200 locals wearing glow sticks as bracelets!

–Trying to sleep while donkeys brayed, people shouted outside, people drove by playing LOUD Arabic disco music, local dogs had vicious nightly brawls, the Army marched outside doing practice drills and chants, cows mooed, people played their drums, howling animals of some sort, and of course, one extremely obnoxious rooster repeatedly crowed his obnoxious chant (and NOT just at the sunrise).

–Of course, the crazy Indiana Jones-ish three hour ride (each way) to the Cuibet outreach and all our adventures (and conversation) on our journey.

–Sitting down at breakfast, lunch and dinner to a yummy meal cooked by the one and only Huggins! Let’s just say there may be starvation in Africa, but no one on our team starved while here!!

–The almost daily rainstorms (sometimes with lightening and thunder!) which deliciously cooled off the compound’s sweltering heat at night (usually…)

–Sharing our rooms with uninvited guests (lizards, frogs, bats, rats, spiders, spiders and more spiders). Alicia and Tim alone counted 35 Daddy Longlegs spiders in their room one night, and those were only the ones they could see!).

And of course, the great honor of sharing Christ with our words and our actions each day.

We look forward to telling you more stories when we see you in person!!

In God’s Service, Mike, Amy, Tim, Alicia, Tiffany, Sheena and Stacie

P.S. Don’t forget that we’re leaving two of our team members behind here

–Stacie and Sheena! They still covet your prayers… and will have even MORE Sudan stories to tell when they return! Thanks for remembering to pray for them!