Category Archives: Uncategorized

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 
Uncategorized

Emily’s Blog!

Dear friends and family back in California!
What a blessed time it has been so far!
This is Ameer (pronounced A-mare) or Emily as you know me.
I have been sick, as you know, for the past 4-ish days. I am still not feeling one hundred percent but that is just because I have a sore throat and cough.
Today has been a packed and exciting day!
First off I led devotion about our conduct and how it reflects our character. Then, in devotion, because mum (Josephine) has been sick and unable to lead worship, we sang in Dinka with the other workers on the compound. It was truly blessed!
Then, we all went off to our various duties.
Dad (Leo) went to work on the solar system in an attempt to get it in a state of usability.
David went to work on mechanical and technical issues with the other Sudanese and Kenyan men.
Kristi, Kristina, and Natasha went to work in the Medical Clinic with John Paul and Sheena.
And finally, I went to work in the Pharmacy with Peter.
It was a reasonably slow day in the Clinic so Kristina came to help me with some cleaning and sorting in the Pharmacy. We have a Stock Check on Saturday for the Pharmacy so we needed to do some organizing and also because it was pretty dusty and dirty and messy in there.
Lunch was chickpea soup with the delicious Tonj Bread.
We all then went back to our duties and then the women gathered for the 3:00 women’s study on 1 Peter with Suzy. I wanted to rest so I went to read but the children, Agum, Hannah, and Jedidiah, found a way to distract me. Soon, the orphan girl named Achol came over and wanted to play as well.
It was a great time of fellowship and I learned some more Dinka words.
God is so good to bring us here to Sudan!
He continually shows me that although we may go through many trials and hardships, it is all for our spiritual growth and that we may trust and lean on God more.
Thank you for all your prayers and please pray not only for us but for all these beautiful Sudanese people.
In His Great Love,
Ameer

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, 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.