Tonj Update!

We are happy to announce the team arrived safely back in Tonj after taking a few weeks rest in Nairobi. They are ready to work through until Christmas break, so please be praying for their stamina, safety, health and most of all their spiritual well-being. Dr. Tom has started his summer break in Florida, so volunteer, Dr. Jan Zijp from the Netherlands, is serving in his absence. We are so thankful to Africa Inland Mission being able to assist our team by getting them and the ‘stuck’ medicine from Nairobi to Lokichoggio in northern Kenya and then onto South Sudan without going through Juba.

Thank you for praying for the Lord to make a way. He is clearly in control and completely turned a difficult situation around for the good of everyone. Firstly, our medicine finally made it to South Sudan. Secondly, because we pulled all our professional medical personnel from the clinic due to lack of supplies and exhaustion, the authorities in Tonj responded by promising to supply us with medicine from the Ministry of Health! These drugs will only cover certain issues but if they help us only with malaria medication it will save us thousands of dollars in purchasing and flying medicine to Tonj. This has been an ongoing struggle for years to try and get them to help us, so we are praising Jesus for this breakthrough and pray it will develop into a sustainable solution.

One thing is for sure, they missed us when we were not on the ground and this has strengthened our reputation among the Dinka people. What we thought would be a disaster, the Lord worked out for good.

Our South Sudanese staff did an amazing job in the absence of the IDAT team, they continued to minister to patients and treat them for malaria as well as determine those needing referral. Mostly offering hope in a hopeless and dying world.

The Kuj’s Update!

We continue to wait on the LORD for the process of Agum and Sabet’s U.S. citizenship. Please pray for favor with immigration officials to complete these applications quickly so we can start our preparation for going back to South Sudan. The kids had a few tears when they knew we were staying longer than planned. They miss the compound, their family, friends and dogs!!!

Lord willing, Sabet will be able to leave by the end of August but Agum’s paperwork might take longer. We are looking toward the bigger picture that our life belongs to Him and we desire to lay our life down and serve Him for the long term. This process will make that possible!

We are so grateful to the LORD for the many blessings He continues to pour out on our family day by day. His provision is amazing and goes beyond what we have even asked for. Horizon Christian Fellowship blessed us with a week at Forest Home Family Camp. A great time of being spiritually fed, making new friends and having so much fun!!! On return the kids were invited to attend the Walking on Water surf camp, again another amazing experience for our children to learn how to surf and have Godly fellowship. This ministry is truly touching lives for Jesus! We were so blessed to be given an opportunity to share with them.

Now with our plans changing and being here a bit longer, this July Sabet is attending the Calvary Chapel pastors conference and Suzy is heading to Canada for some Community Health Evangelism training. We continue to seek His guidance and plan for our return to Africa and pray we will be better equipped and ready for whatever He has in store for us back in Tonj.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” – Colossians 3:23-24

The Container Is Here!

We are excited to have an opportunity to send some larger items to South Sudan that would be an amazing blessing to both our family and ministry. If you are able to help us with this need either by purchasing or donating items there is a downloadable list of all the things we are praying will be donated along with drop off details. If you’re not in the San Diego area sending in a love gift would really help out with the cost of purchasing our solar unit ($10,000) or with shipping the container ($20,000). We are hoping to complete the filling of the container by the end of August.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for the team to adjust to being back in South Sudan and protection over the compound and their health.
• Pray for Dr. Tom to get rest and for Dr. Jan as he fills in for a couple of months.
• Continued prayer for our citizenship issues for Sabet and Agum.
• The container to be filled quickly.

Tonj Update!

A few weeks ago Pastor Kibe, along with our pastors Juda, Santino and Joseph, were invited to minister in the local prison and to hold a service there every Sunday between 9-10am. This is a great opening for the Gospel message in the main prison in this area. In the past, we were the ones to request to go in and share the Gospel, but now the prison officials have invited us.

We also gave some Bibles to the prison staff and inmates whom had asked for them on the first day we went to preach there. They said they spend most of their time doing nothing, but now they will be reading the Bible. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit will guide and minister to them and many may be drawn to Him. The first week Kibe preached from Psalm 1.

Our team has been very busy from January until now; they have been smaller in size than usual with us being gone and limited medical supplies. We felt it was necessary for them to take a break for a month in Kenya so we minimized the services we give for this short-period while the essential professional team takes their rest.

I want to acknowledge our local team in Tonj who are holding the fort while everyone is gone – Albino and the entire IDAT team, especially the Community Health workers, have been so faithful and wonderful in getting on with day-to-day operations in our absence. Pray for their strength and wisdom as they continue to serve this month.

South Sudan Crisis update!

The news that is coming out of South Sudan government from their meetings with the opposition in Ethiopia and Kenya the past few weeks has been very positive. The two rival leaders, the president and his former vice president, have met twice. They both expressed their commitment to end the present conflict, as a matter of fact, they took a landmark step in the latest meeting in Kenya and laid out the basis to form a national transitional government in 60 days. That was met with huge applause from the neighboring countries and the US government.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

The Kuj’s Update

We have been on another road trip, this time to northern California. We visited Santa Rosa Calvary Chapel The Rock. It was the first time for our family to visit the area. It was so wonderful to meet the senior Pastor, Ross; the Missions Pastor, Jim; and all the rest of the staff. They have been supporting the work in South Sudan for the past few years before even meeting us. The biggest blessing is how God used our testimonies to bless the church and the church and their love for God to bless us. We give the glory to God for what He has done.

Some of you have received the prayer update regarding Agum’s citizenship; we praise God for connecting us with an immigration lawyer that told us Agum is a US citizen based on her adoption and Suzy’s citizenship. All we need to do is to change her status and apply for a passport. We cannot describe the amount of relief we felt when we heard this news. Pray for all the applications that have been submitted and the time that they require to finish, that God would have His favor on us and accomplishing everything without taking too long.

Prayer Requests!

• Pray for the tax exemption papers from an official in Juba for our supplies for the medical clinics and the compound in Tonj that is ready to leave from Nairobi
• Pray for proper rest for our Kenya staff before returning in July.
• Pray for our local staff as they stand in the gap for this month of June in the absence of hey staff
• Pray for Agum’s application for citizenship
• Pray for Dr. Jan Zip who would cover Dr Tom
• Pray for Pastor Kibe wedding’s plans, Kibe and his fiancé come from different tribes and usually that presents an issue

South Sudan Crisis!

The escalating violence across many states in South Sudan has created a lot of challenges for our team. We are praying fervently for a way to get life saving medical supplies into the field.

Our medical clinic is in great demand and has almost completely run out of drugs. We are so grateful we have been able to stay open this long when other medical facilities have closed. We are assessing the best way to support the team on the ground in Tonj as Sabet is working through the night to secure shipments and clear papers. It is exhausting both mentally and physically and we ask you to join us in praying for a miracle. The red tape has brought a marked increase in cost as we now face paying $12,000 to purchase and deliver one ton of medical supplies from Kenya to South Sudan.

For only $12 you can provide one kg of life saving drugs, which is about 50 doses of malaria medicine, purchased, cleared and flown directly to Tonj, South Sudan.

If you can help with this urgent need please go to our website and donate to the medical clinic.

Kuj Family’s Furlough Update!

Our time on the road was so blessed with many stops and visits to old and new friends and family. We drove from California to Florida up to North Carolina and back to California in 7 weeks, doing over 7,000 miles. Thank you to everyone who provided a bed and meals for us during that time we are so humbled by the love, care and blessings poured out on our family. Our goal was to get back to CA in time for Horizon Prep’s Spirit Run Fundraiser where our kids were participating in raising money for the medical clinic in South Sudan.

It was an incredible blessing to attend the Good Friday and Easter Services at Horizon, our sending church family. Sabet was honored to open for Easter service in prayer.

“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”
– Nahum 1:7

Tonj Update!

Despite the lack of medical supplies and increase security risk, our team is doing well on the ground in Tonj. They continue to see patients in the clinic, praying for them and trusting the healing power of the Lord Jesus is being manifested in amazing ways. All the glory goes to Him.

Pastor Kibe had a wonderful time teaching Bible stories (STS Training) to the church in the village of Kulu. It’s encouraging to see God‘s people owning the tool of STS and digging into the stories with such great hunger. The blessing for the IDAT team is seeing the Gospel message through God’s Word spread in the most remote of villages. The leaders of Kulu work with us in CHE, this village has seen not just how to memorize Bible stories, but how to contextualize it to their lives in the village and be transformed, starting with their mind and then their attitude and hearts. The beautiful thing is this transformation is starting with moms right in their homes knowing God’s Word in the simple form of stories.

Prayer Requests!

• Pray for the container we are trying to fill and send to South Sudan from the US.
• Continue to pray for easy logistic for meds and supply to Tonj from Kenya and Juba.
• Pray for our team in Tonj, Dr. Tom, Kibe and the rest of the team that they will be strengthen and encouraged.
• Pray for our second road trip to northern California visiting with churches and friends.