A Story of Healing, Hope and Wholeness!

Mid-February a lady called Awien brought her 5 day old baby Adhel into our clinic. Adhel had developed a fever and stopped breastfeeding shortly after birth, and now had sunken eyes, doughy skin, and was barely breathing – her chances of survival were definitely low. Despite our strongest antibiotics, the next morning the child was even worse – her fontanel was bulging out in a way that Dr. Jono had never seen before, as the infection had spread to her brain (meningitis). Ted Miyake was visiting In Deed and Truth Ministries at the time and wrote, “The doctors here said even in the best hospitals in America, this baby would only be given a 50/50 chance of survival.” Knowing that we had nothing more to give medically, the IDAT team really prayed their hearts out, and “amath, amath” (slowly, slowly) over the next few days, the child became more awake, the fever subsided, and the fontanel swelling reduced. After a week, Adhel was breastfeeding and almost looking like a normal, healthy baby! It truly was a miracle and we’re all praising God for that!

Baby Adhel was released from the clinic after two weeks, so she could “witness” the baptism of her mom, Awien and grandmother, Adhiau!

During their stay, Sabet, the pastoral staff and other clinic worker ministered to this family, prayed with them and shared the good news of Christ’s offer of love and life, which they eagerly accepted. Inspired by the miraculous recovery of Adhel, both of these ladies made commitments to Christ, and without any prompting, asked if they could be baptized.

This is the real reason we do what we do and press on through hardships, heat and warfare. Is it a sacrifice? Not when you get to be a part of such eternal transformations; these moments are priceless and none of us would exchange them for anything. This is the fruit of much labor and preparation as one of our own discipled pastors had the honor and privilege of baptizing them in front of a crowd of witnesses.

“Great and marvelous are Your works, LORD God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” – Revelation 15:3

Kuj Family in USA!

It is sometimes hard to believe it is already March, one year later and we are still in America. Sabet returned to Tonj to bless and encourage the team there and work on securing more evidence for Agum’s citizenship case. The rest of the Kuj clan left California in mid-February and returned to Florida to ‘wait it out’ and spend time with Suzy’s mum. We have peace; we are praying for the Lord’s perfect timing, for favor, and we trust Him as we stand firmly on the Rock that is Jesus Christ.

Sabet should return by the end of March, and then he’ll drive from West coast to East coast with our van. Pray he can get all of the necessary papers while in Africa, so we can refile before our end of March deadline.

Prayer Requests!

• Pray for the team and all those eagerly awaiting our return.
• Pray our ‘home’ in Tonj is completed and ready for us when we return to South Sudan.
• Pray for our container that is currently in Mombasa port awaiting release from customs.
• Pray all exemption papers would be in place as the container moves from Kenya, through Uganda and into South Sudan. Sabet is hoping it arrives before he leaves.

Waiting for Agum’s papers!

Recently we received communication regarding Agum’s process where we learnt that the U.S. government is asking for a proof of legal custody from at least 2 years prior to the adoption. We are grateful to be in the U.S., but on the other hand we miss our ministry, team and home in South Sudan. Sabet is in South Sudan now and spending time apart even for a short period of time is hard for a family like ours. God is faithful though. We continue to wait upon His timing and trust that what He has started, He is faithful to bring to completion.

Clinic!

We rejoice over the fact we have a team that is so gracious towards us. They are continuing with ministry even in our absence. We are receiving good reports from our team — some of the patients at the clinic are getting saved and counseled by Dr. Jono and the team at the clinic. It’s a great and very important point we emphasize — and that is the reason having the clinic in the first place, to harvest those lost souls. We rejoice over that as we are reminded heaven rejoices over one repented soul that come to the Lord. Dr. Jono is very encouraged to see the Lord Jesus healing physically and saving eternally people at the clinic.

James and Gabriel!

James is one of our community health workers and God’s grace has been so evident in his life. He was sharing with me how the Lord used him to bring his whole famly to the Lord when he went to visit with them over the Christmas break. James shared how the Lord started to burden his heart about his family and their salvation, knowing they worships idols and witch crafts. Knowing they were in dark place, he took Pastor Santino and called everybody to a meeting where pastor Santino shared the message of the gospel. Santino said it was James’ seriousness about the gospel that made them take to his sharing seriously and accept the invitation to accept Jesus and be baptized. James continues to show growth spiritually in our clinic and the church through serving.

On my way to Sudan, I was able to meet with Gabriel, one of our students in Kenya. I was encouraged very much talking to him. Now that he has been away from home and work for 2 years he can’t wait to finish and continue serving in the clinic in a new capacity, equipped and trained as a clinical officer.

Peace!

Peace talks in South Sudan looks hopeful. Another agreement deal was signed just few weeks ago to cease hostilities and by April both parties are supposed to come up with a unity government that will bring both sides to rule the country and hopefully put an end the turmoil this new nation has seen the past year. Please pray that this hopeful initiative will bring a lasting agreement that will hold and a true peace that is much needed will come out of it.

Board member Visit to Tonj!

I am very excited to have Ted Miyake, one of our boards members, visiting Tonj later month. Ted and I will be meeting with our staff and missionaries discussing the vision and strategies for this year. I am confident his visit will encourage our team in Sudan.

“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” – James 5:11

Prayer Requests

• Pray the obtaining of Agum’s legal custody papers prior to adoption
• Pray for Ted’s visit to be a blessed one
• Pray and praise for Macleod kids safety from scorpions and snakes

Happy New Year!

January 3rd marked the one year anniversary of our family being stateside. It has been an incredible journey of walking by faith and not by sight as we continue to trust Him with the timing of Agum’s citizenship. We are doing great despite the challenges of moving around, home-schooling and supporting our ministry operations on an 11 hour time difference! We feel the presence and peace of God as we face every day not knowing what tomorrow brings. We are enjoying this unplanned adventure and every extra day we get to fellowship and be part of God’s amazing family here in USA we feel blessed. He has poured out His love through so many of you and sustained us. He has been our source of life during this season of our lives. He is El Shaddai – our God Almighty! We are so grateful for the way you have responded to the Holy Spirit leading you to care for our family. Thank you all so much, we appreciate each one of you and especially your prayers for us during this time.

We had an amazing time in Florida with Suzy’s family over Christmas and New Year and returned to southern California for the annual Calvary Chapel Missions Conference. This was an incredible week of refreshing our souls, waiting on Him, seeking Him for 2015, reconnecting with fellow missionaries from around the world and overall being filled. Our cup runneth over and we are ready for whatever this year of ministry brings our family.

“One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” – Psalm 27:4-5

God’s Plans for IDAT in 2015!

We are so grateful for His provision for In Deed and Truth Ministries in 2014. We raised over $20,000 through our prayer walk and we’re excited get back to Africa and start a new class of discipleship and a New Year of serving the Lord.

Dr. Tom returned to USA and was blessed with a wife. He is praying and seeking the Lord as he serves IDAT stateside for a season. Dr.’s Jono and Destinee return this month with their family and the remaining team, including a new clinical officer, Simon.

Here are a few prayer pointers for 2015:

• Calvary Chapel Tonj was birthed about 5 years ago but with our absence we have not experienced the fruit and growth we would have liked to see. We have purchased land and feel this would be a good year to establish the church formally. Pray for Sabet as he works through the details of this. We need worship leaders, Sunday school teachers and anyone who feels called to church planting to contact us for either long or short term service.
• Completion of the new medical clinic. Last year’s insecurity delayed our truck coming in for several months. We are ready to get this project completed.
• Bible Training Center for Pastors class will begin in 2015 as soon as our family are able to return to Tonj. Pray for each student that the Lord would select them and make them known to us. Pray for teachers to assist Sabet with this 3 year commitment. If you’re interested in teaching please email us for more details.
• Development of our Community Health Evangelism Program. We are looking to partner churches overseas with villages around Tonj. If your church is interested in a mission trip to South Sudan this would be a fantastic program to get involved in. Adopt-a-Village can transform both an entire community in South Sudan and your church body. Email us for more details.
• Training is a big part of our ministry and we are delighted to give the opportunity for 5 South Sudanese students to attend medical school in Kenya. Pray for their spiritual walk and integrity to be intact as they are away from all things familiar. Pray for continued training and discipleship of our community health workers in Tonj.
• Pray we could host our fifth Cataract surgery outreach in November. Over 800 people have had their sight restored and many have had their hearts restored to Him who created them. This is one of the highlights of our year and so we ask you to pray for each surgery to be provided. It costs $75 per patient and we hope to do 200 surgeries in 2015.
• Every year we have opportunity to provide our medical team with much needed rest by bringing in volunteers to cover them during the months of June, July and August. If you have a medical skill and a few weeks or months to serve the Lord this summer, please pray about a short term trip to Tonj. Email us to get started on this life changing journey.
• One of our greatest needs is for a logistics person to work from Kenya or South Sudan and organize our flights, food, medicine and teams coming and going every month. We are looking for a minimum one year commitment. Email us for more info.

Prayer Walk!

God is so good! We had a fabulous time of fellowship and praying for our ministry. From coast to coast and half way around the world people gathered for a specific time of prayer.

“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” – Col. 1:10

We acknowledged this ministry belongs to God and we trust in Him to supply all of the needs for this upcoming year. Collectively, we prayed His Kingdom would dominate in Tonj, South Sudan. We asked for an effective and powerful ministry among the Dinka people. Specifically we lifted up our discipleship training of indigenous pastors and the new class we want to start in 2015. This was a positive start for funding toward the Bible school starting next year.

A big thank you goes out to all who walked and prayed in Tonj, Panama City Beach, FL and Del Mar, CA.

Cataract Team is Back!

We are excited to host another cataract surgery for the fourth year in a row. The eye medical team, from World Gospel Mission and Tenwek Mission Hospital in Kenya will spend a week with us serving the community of Tonj and surrounding villages. These fast paced operations result in restoring sight to more than 40 patients a day. Over 600 people have received sight in the past 3 years. Our favorite part is when the bandages come off the next day and the patient can see! There are no words to describe witnessing a person once blind but now with sight, amazing! Our team has been gathering and screening potential patients for the past few months. Hopefully this will allow the eye team to get straight into surgery from day 1. We estimate this week of surgeries will cost over $15,000 but for 200 patients to regain sight that is only $75 per person! If you feel called to partner with us in transforming a life spiritually and physically please donate online under cataract surgery to designate your donation.

Our pastors will be on hand to pray with every patient and share the gospel. May His grace abound to many.

Cataract Testimony

Angok Aken is 67 year olds and just celebrated his one year since he was blind and is now able to see. Before his cataract procedure last year one of our pastors shared the story of our Lord Jesus being out on a boat with His disciples. A raging storm and wind rose up and when they were about to drown, Jesus stood and rebuked the wind and the waves. The storm ceased and the waters were calm. “Where is your faith?” Jesus asked. The disciples marveled that even the wind and waves obeyed Him. When Angok heard this story he jumped up and said, “That is a real God who can talk to wind and waves.” That day he asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. Then he received his surgery and his eyes were open, both physically and spiritually. After one year he has stopped drinking alcohol and smoking. His reason: he doesn’t want to dirty his body anymore because Jesus now lives in him. It has been a year but he said he will never forget the day Jesus came into his life and changed it forever.

Sabet in South Sudan!

On this recent trip God answered a prayer from after 13 years. In the beginning of our ministry Suzy and I faced a lot of opposition, resistance to the gospel and even our lives being threatened. In 2001, two men planned to ambush us on the road but the Lord redirected us that day and the army arrested those men. We began praying for them. During this trip I went with a group from our church in Tonj to a prayer meeting. I was rejoicing it was in the house of one of these men and his wife. They personally asked me to pray for them and their transformation. They said women from our church had been visiting them and praying for them. I was amazed and humbled at how God is working as this man and his wife bowed and prayed, acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord of their life. Yes, the gospel is going out like never before in Tonj and we praise Him for His work in South Sudan.

Prayer Requests!

• Pray for provision of the 2015 Discipleship Training for Pastors class.
• Pray for every patient coming to the cataract clinic that this would be both spiritually and physically life changing.
• Pray for our CHE (Community Health Evangelism) training this month.
• Pray for the flood victims.
• Continue to pray for Agum’s immigration application.

Back in Tonj!

Today was a very special day, I was able to return to Tonj after being gone for almost 9 months. The welcome I received from the church showed great love for me as their pastor and the bond we share together in Christ. They celebrated the new arrival of the Macleod family and warmly welcomed the return of Dr. Tom.

The children from Sunday School sang special songs; it was so awesome! They can really teach us adults in the church how to worship God biblically with spirit and joy. It is custom in the church here to welcome visitors with songs and prayers.

I was blessed to hear the reports from our church elders about the activities within the congregation. Christina and Victoria, two of our church women, who along with the rest of the ladies from our church have been serving through evangelizing the community with home visitations. They have been praying and fasting for transformed homes as well as holding prayer meetings every Saturday. These have been deep, spirit filled meetings, fasting and praying for homes to be transformed, focusing on different homes every week. The prayers during the corporate prayers during Sunday service were spirit filled and deep, it was awesome to see God in the middle of our meeting, Sunday was a long service but for sure was a spirit led and filled.

Shukran Dr. Jan!

Dr. Jan Zijp from the Netherlands used his summer vacation time to cover while Dr. Tom took his 3 month home visit to the USA. Jan is known as the Tonj river swimming doctor! Living and working conditions are much harder in South Sudan than what he is used to in the Netherlands but he stayed strong spiritually, sharing Jesus’ love with his patients. So many were touched by his love for the community, the way he identified with the local people, taking tea with them, visiting their homes and praying with them. He not only impacted the clinic on his trip but left a part of him with the church and town as well.

Medical students!

In Deed and Truth is committed to raising up Godly leaders through discipleship, mentoring and education. Our desire is to pass the baton one day and see our ministry run by South Sudanese who love Jesus. It is our greatest joy to witness this transformation first hand and to pour blessings of opportunity on those sincere in their faith and commitment to serve the Lord. In 2013, after 4 years serving in our medical clinic and being discipled in our church, we enrolled Gabriel Gojo in medical school in Kenya.  He is now in his second year of three years for clinical officer training and impressed us all getting As in his exams.

This has been such an inspiration to our other community health workers and this fall we were able to send four more.

One answer to prayer was for Marco Maluth, the Lord’s answering to prayers after one of the original candidates dropped out. We had sent his application for next year and were totally surprised when they offered him a placement for this year. The timing of my flight enabled him to be flown immediately back to Kenya.

Now we need to pray as all these students must pass exams to stay in school. Pray for these young men who represent the next generation of our ministry leadership.

Testimony and Baptism!

Akol is a young man we have helped for a few years with his diabetic needs. We purchase and store insulin for him. His younger brother Chan sometimes visits with Akol and has met with one of our clinic chaplains, Pastor Santino. One day while they were chatting Pastor Santino felt led to share the gospel with him. The power of the Holy Spirit came upon them and Chan repented and prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Before Chan had believed in witchcraft powers, trusted in charms and had bought from the wirtchdoctor. When he got home he shared with a friend what Santino told him about Jesus and that he no longer trusts in the charms but in the Son of God.  His friend also believed and together the boys burned their charms. This story really encouraged me on my return to the field, hearing how the Lord is using the pastors and continuing the work He began in me.

I had the great joy and privilege of baptizing Chan in the Tonj River together with Pastor Santino. Jono and his daughter came to watch and this drew a crowd, so we shared the gospel again and Chan’s decision to follow Jesus.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” – Acts 3:19

Prayer Requests!

• Pray Jono and Destinee will get settled in
• Pray for the upcoming cataract surgery outreach
• Pray for the Prayer Walk on November 1st
• Pray Agum’s immigration application would be approved