Newsletters

January 2014 Newsletter

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Conflict in South Sudan!

It has now been more than a month since fighting broke out against rival tribes in the capital of South Sudan. What started in the army barracks quickly spilled onto the streets, creating fear, panic and confusion among civilians. UN, embassies and NGOs all reacted pulling their expat staff from field operations and asking non essential personnel to leave immediately.

Having lived and served in Warrap State of South Sudan for 6 years during the last civil war, we are all too familiar with the aftermath this kind of conflict has on the innocent people who want nothing more than a peaceful existence. They have paid the high price of war with the lives of their loved ones and children. This past 8 years of peace has given some stability and we have seen an increase in missionaries moving into South Sudan. Our hearts are deeply saddened and burdened for the future of our beloved country.

This last week we sent a small team back to Tonj to reopen the medical clinic. We do have about three months medical supplies but the government clinic is out of medicine so our clinic is the only stocked pharmacy at this point. Getting our team back to Tonj took them from Kenya to North Uganda and then a flight to South Sudan to avoid the conflict areas. They arrived safely and ready to serve. As a small team supporting the community health workers and people of Tonj, they really need your prayers. I know they will get overwhelmed by the enormous needs that are escalating every day. Here are some specific prayer requests concerning the fighting and effects on South Sudan:

  • Pray for a peaceful, sustainable solution to come quickly to all parties involved in this conflict.
  • Pray for the civilians, especially those who have been displaced.
  • Pray for wisdom for our team on the ground that they would be both blessing and encouragement to the people of Tonj.
  • Famine is likely following the devastating floods of the rainy season and now the displacement of people. Pray food supplies would be given in abundance over the next few months.
  • Pray for safety for our team and wisdom for the leadership as we direct the ministry and make decisions that effect lives.
2014 Tonj Team

Furlough and Road Trip!

Our family is two weeks into our home assignment (furlough) and excited to see how the Lord will use this time stateside to benefit both our ministry and our family. The mission conference was a fabulous time of spiritual feeding, encouragement and meeting many new people. We do have a schedule for our time here and would love to invite you to help us share our story and ministry with churches, home groups, men and women’s studies and any person you feel would be touched. If you would be interested in hosting a small gathering, possibly for brunch or coffee and dessert at your home and giving us a platform to share we would be most grateful for that chance and would love for you to contact us.

We plan to be in the following areas/States in February, March and April: San Diego, Orange County, Indio, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Arizona,
New Mexico, Dallas, Houston, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Panama City, Florida. We are praying about visiting friends in Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina as well as Northern California sometime in May. As we will be driving we do have a lot of flexibility and we are open to the Lord’s plan and direction. We also need to keep up with home-school and would appreciate your prayers for the kids as we travel and make plans for.

“Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.”
– Psalm 27:3

Newsletters

December 2013 Newsletter

Christmas Greetings from the African continent! As many of you are now aware, our family was given a visa for Agum to travel to the USA and we will be at the Calvary Chapel Missions Conference in Murrieta, CA starting January 6th. We are so exctied to have this opportunity as a family to see everyone!

What We Want For Christmas?

Kuj Family

Christmas is coming fast and in this part of the world it is hard to know that Christmas is in full swing in so many other places. There are no frills and celebrations, lights, trees, gifts, food and for some even homes. Our family feels so fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the wonderful people of Tonj in South Sudan who are less fortunate, especially during this season. To bless others is truly a wonderful feeling and thanks to many of you we get to be a part of that firsthand every day. What we want for Christmas is to be able to serve this community for another year by providing transformational training workshops and medical care throughout 2014. Please pray for us as a family and ministry as we take a much needed break that it would not have a negative impact on those we serve.

A gift for Christmas!

To bring a smile and more importantly hope to someone else is priceless. In Deed and Truth Ministries is committed to the people of Tonj, South Sudan and we would like to give you the opportunity to be generous towards the Kingdom work. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to keep our clinic operating for another year. You can visit our website to donate. To help you know how your generous donation would be used here are some thoughts for Christmas shopping this year.

1. $10 provides a treated mosquito net to prevent malaria.

2. $25 provides a child under 5 with full immunization.

3. $50 provides for one Community Health Evangelist to attend training.

4. $100 provides for a Community Health Worker to serve the community for one month.

5. $150 a month provides a chaplain to cover our clinic 24 hours a day.

There are numerous other needs to keep our clinic in service and every gift, no matter the size is much appreciated.

Our family wishes you a wonderful Christmas as you celebrate the greatest Gift ever given, the birth of our Savior Jesus.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

Medical Clinic, Ministry

Maloney by Dr. Tom

Since we were not able to go to Maloney for several months due to severe flooding it was a great blessing to start going again regularly on Wednesdays.  The word is out and this week we saw more patients then we have ever seen in the past.
Patients waiting in the shade for clinic to start
Patients waiting in the shade for clinic to start
The day started bad, my first patient was an 18 day old that had been sick for a long time. The infant was malnourished and very lethargic. The skin was grayish in color and I knew the infant would probably only live a few more hours but we tried to see if we could help turn things around and I know there is always hope for God can do anything. Sadly, the infant died after about two hours. When I first saw the infant I hated seeing him for I knew all the organ systems of the body were already shutting down. They say in trauma cases there is the golden hour where if you can catch the person in the early stages of shock and get IV’s and all going before the systems start shutting down you have a good chance of survival. This child had long passed that golden hour. It is heartbreaking to see a little one die and listen to the mother’s cry.  We thank God for Pastor Santino who was able to step in and minister the love of Jesus to this family and share the hope we have in our Savior.
Dr. Tom assessing patients in Maloney
Dr. Tom assessing patients in Maloney
During the next 6 hours the clinical officer Sharon, myself, a hard working team of Community Health Workers and a missionary nurse from Texas named Amy saw over 250 patients. I love seeing the patients in the early stages of malaria when they respond so well to therapy. We saw many children with high temps from malaria and Pneumonia  and many bootie shots were given to get things turned around fast.
We headed back to Tonj about 6:30 PM and had to push the LandCruiser to get it started. On the way home the CHWs were in good spirits laughing and jabbering all the way home yelling boom- boom  every time we hit a bump and it is almost impossible not to hit a bump for in some places the whole road is one big bump.
One reason I believe the CHWs are so chipper on the ride home is because they are exhausted to the point of giddiness and they are proud of the amount of good we are able to do on the days we go to Maloney.  They laugh and giggle and tell me that my sons (boys) are hungry (no time to stop for lunch) and need some bread and they enjoy eating their peanut butter sandwiches.
Pray for Maloney and the continued outreach there to bless that community.
In His Love
Tom
Medical Clinic, Ministry, Mission Trips

A Call to Missions! by Amy Brewer

God gave me the great opportunity to work with In Deed and Truth for three months. From the start of my trip, God had every step planned out. I lived my entire 27 years of my life in the state of Texas until January of last year. In January I ventured out to live in cold Colorado for a short season to live closer to my brothers, sister in law & nieces for a time. I had known about IDAT for a few years from their website and getting updated by their blog. I had never really considered serving in Tonj. But, for some reason I can’t explain except for God’s always greater plans- I emailed the stateside coordinator Jeamette at this time to see if they needed a nurse’s help. In just a day or so she emailed me back & said where in Colorado are you? We were close enough to meet in person and we did so the very next week! At this time I had only been in Colorado a few weeks. God had this meeting in mind way before I even considered moving to Colorado!

Amy

Fast forward 6 months later I’m on a plane headed to Africa! I was scared and anxious not knowing what to expect! After arriving in Tonj, South Sudan I immediately knew my life would never be the same again. Serving the Dinka people in the clinic and by having the opportunity to be apart of Community Health Evangelism has truly given me a joy I can’t explain. Seeing people walk for days many times barefoot and always with limited food & water to be seen at the clinic is humbling. The Dinka tribe has so much strength and culture. They welcomed me into their lives and sometimes homes with open arms. God gave me strength each day to love on another person. The need in South Sudan is so great. I have seen this now and it cannot be ignored. I’m so thankful IDAT has been there so many years. God willing they will continue to do awesome things for the kingdom in Tonj, South Sudan. The ministry and clinic is truly a bright light. To me it is just like the city on a hill. So many people receive medical care and most importantly the loving Gospel message from Tonj and even villages far away.

Dr. Tom

Many of the Dinka tribe’s stories are heartbreaking and makes you wonder what could God’s plan possibly be? One of the stories that I will never forget happened in my first few weeks in Tonj. The ambulance had gone out to pick up a patient from the outlying village Thiet. When they arrived at the clinic the story came out. The woman had been in labor for a couple of days & pushing for hours at home in her village. Many woman had tried to help her get the baby to be delivered. When nothing was working one of the men out of desperation used a spear to stab the baby’s head & literally drag the baby out. The baby passed away immediately & the mom was near death when she arrived from blood loss & the trauma. The next day she was taken to Wau for a blood transfusion and recovery. I’m not sure how long it will take this woman to get over the trauma from something so heartbreaking. I pray and ask God frequently to give her peace and understanding. I ask God to give me understanding! This horrible situation has caused my faith to grow. I have realized that I will not always understand, but need have faith that God is always just & good.

Lepers Colony

The difficult lessons and people I met in Tonj is something that has changed my life forever. My time there was truly in God’s plan. I feel blessed and full of joy thinking about what God showed me. He is great, just and full of compassion. He knows what the Dinka people need more than I ever could. He is in control of everything. He uses all to His glory and I count myself blessed to be used by Him. Everyday in Tonj wasn’t perfect by any means. I learned very hard lessons in a place so far from my family & everything that is familiar. I had to rely on God in ways I never thought possible. Sometimes I prayed to Him to just get me through the next hour. I would pull through then ask God please come be by my side this hour. Being in that kind of unity with The Lord is what He wants. I pray that God will continue to work in Tonj and maybe He will send me to serve the Dinka people again!

Medical Clinic

A Blessing to the Community by Nurse Sham Musyoki

In Deed And Truth Ministries clinic exists to bless the community of Tonj and Glorify God though our good works.  We not only provide a wide variety of health services which include  immunization, maternity services and curative services to pregnant mothers, breastfeeding mothers and children under the age of five years, we also pray for every patient and believe the Lord brings each and every person to us for that purpose.

Each Community Health worker has been trained specifically by In Deed and Truth to work alongside our doctors and nurses.  As we focus more on prevention measures like immunization and health awareness we have seen this area of our ministry grow rapidly. South Sudan has one of the world’s greatest infant mortality rates with most children under five not vaccinated at birth putting them at high risk to the many deadly diseases affecting our area.  We praise God for the opportunity to be a part of helping these little ones and saving lives daily.

 

Clinic under the tree
Immunization Clinic under the Mango tree

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