Kuj Family, Ministry

Armed Bandits

“He will rescue us because you are helping by praying for us.” 2 Corinthians 1:11

Just as the early apostles depended on the prayers for safety offered by the churches, we also covet the prayers of the saints for our safety here in Sudan. 

Sunday the Lord delivered us from armed bandits.  Our family was driving to Rumbek, 100 miles away, to collect and escort some visitors back to Tonj.  The road was recently fixed and the journey would have been fast except we were ‘inconvenienced’ by a flat tyre that would not let us get going quickly.  One vehicle passed us, we struggled with the tyre change when 30 minutes later another vehicle came and this time stopped to help.  We were just 1 km from where people were killed a week ago, completely stranded on a rural road and trying as best we could to get moving again quickly!  We thanked our good Samaritan for helping us, prayed with him for his safety and continued on our way.  We encountered a few cattle herds in the road and then after 45 minutes came to a village where the army pulled us over for questioning.  They explained a car in front of us had been robbed by cattle herders at gunpoint just before we came through.  We knew immediately our Lord had protected us and delayed us with the flat tyre.  It is a wonderful reminder to allow the Lord to ‘inconvenience’ our lives as we really don’t see and understand all that He is doing for us.  Our trust needs to be completely in Him, giving thanks in all circumstances.

Kuj Family

Happy Anniversary!

We celebrated 11 years of marriage on July 1st.  The kids were so cute, we plotted and planned the day before to make it a surprise for daddy and they made us breakfast and set the table with freshly picked flowers and got out my ‘special’ teaset.  We felt very special, like royalty.

Kuj Family, Ministry

Hannah Teaches Sunday School

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Hannah both surprised and blessed us today when she offered to teach the Sunday school children.  We had canceled class this week due to lack of classroom space but some children still showed up and Hannah asked if she could lead the class rather than them go home.  Donato translated for her and she shared a story on Jesus’ miracles.  The Lord is really working in and through her young life.This was her first time and she did a fabulous job, well done Hannah!

Ministry

Fuel Prices Soar!

Fuel prices in Southern Sudan are out of control.  Today we paid $37.50 for a gallon of petrol to run our generator, which we were blessed to even find, as many places just don’t have any even to sell us.  With our solar system out for the past 2 weeks due to a storm, we are faced with paying these ridiculous prices.  As the world’s newest nation, rich in oil reserves and only 2 week’s away from celebrating independence and yet we are in crisis.  Food continues to be unavailable or very expensive also. 

Even though we lived here during 6 years of the civil war which equally had no fuel and food during those tough years, I realized today what it must have felt like to the locals when they saw their countries resources slipping away from them and were helpless to stop it.  In church we were reminded of the power of our Living God who is able to overcome these things and has even allowed these trials to test our faith.  Doesn’t God’s Word say, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”?  It truly is the peace of God that surpasses our understanding and enables us to perservere through the toughest times here.  As a staff, we would appreciate your prayers for contentment, perserverance and focus.  There are so many things to be thankful for despite the financial hardships surrounding us.

Kuj Family, Medical Clinic, Ministry

Matoch’s Surgery by Sabet Kuj

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems our life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Psalm 103:1-5

For those following the story of Matoch and praying for him, I would like to share with you that he has been to surgery this morning and it was a successful operation, taking place Kijabe Missions Hospital.

Matoch is a very brave boy and I admire that in him.  Yesterday, as the lab technician took some blood from his arm in preparation for surgery I notice how he didn’t even flinch or cry!  Sometimes I feel that he is much older than his 8 years.  He has been through so much and is so brave!

We had a nice morning on Sunday by going to church as a family with Matoch, attending the early service so we have  enough time to get to Kijabe later in the day, about a 90 minute drive from Nairobi.  After church Suzy prepared for us a delicious lunch.  Matoch is a good kid, very respectful and polite.  Even without any English he still managed to say “thanks Mum”, copying our kids and smiling.   It was a special time for Matoch with our family.

Jed and Suzy praying for Matoch

Suzy and I are so blessed to hear our children pray for Matoch before I drove him to the hospital.  The following day Jedidiah really touch my heart when he prayed out of blue for Matoch asking God to heal him and let him have a successful surgery.

I’m so glad Matoch is in the final phase of recovery from numerous surgeries and on his way to complete healing physically, mentally and spiritually.  Only our Lord Jesus can take away the unseen scars left on this child’s life.  His night terrors have already stopped and we are glad he was not in Tonj during the recent cattle raids that might have stirred some unplesant memories and caused more trauma.

Thank you for praying with us for Matoch and helping him to see the love of God. I believe with all my heart he will be an amazing witness of God’s love to the Dinka people in Tonj.

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