Summer '10

Outreach to Malony

This is Daniel writing on June 24. Today I went with half of the medical clinic staff to a village 45 minutes outside Tonj called Malony.  There has been a lot of construction in the last couple years, and we were able to drive 2/3 of the way on a paved dirt road.  We had to off-road the last third to the village.

This was the first time we had ever done an outreach in this village, even though our government-paid security guard lives in it.  His name is Dut, and he is quite silly and very fun.  I worked in the pharmacy again.  I also was able to share the gospel using an “evangecube” which was translated into Dinka.  A surprising number of children and adults knew some English—even enough for a complete conversation.  I made friends with a boy named Michael and with the headmaster Barnaba.  Barnaba took to liking me, and offered to pay 50 cows for the dowry of my first Sudanese wife.  He said, “you will stay here, and you will become Sudan.”  He was very kind, and very thankful to have me share the gospel with the children and adults.  Michael asked me for my Christian name, and I told him it is “Daniel.”  Then I shared the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, and the children really enjoyed it; especially the part when God shuts the lions’ mouths.

It eventually began raining and we had to close the clinic.  But we had a puncture in one of the vehicle tires and had to wait for Sebit and our driver to be fixed.  There was a portable metal room at the village that In Deed and Truth had brought a few months ago to use as a temporary medical facility, and we took shelter in it.  A Sudanese mother and her children joined us inside for the hour we had to wait.  She had a delightful young girl perhaps 3 years old.  While sitting in a chair I held out my hand to her and she came close to stand by my legs and eventually hug them.  But she soon began reaching up to climb into my lap, so I picked her up and played with her for a while.  She was very calm, and she eventually fell asleep in my arms for a half hour.  I had much of that time to pray for her.  She will likely grow up and not remember me, but I was happy to pray that she grows up to know her heavenly Father’s embrace as she today knew mine.

It is very hard to believe I had been here only two full days.

Medical Clinic

Twins!

Today Priscila and Hargins delivered twins. The delivery was a bit challenging due to one baby being breech and the mother not cooperating. Fortunately, the two boys are tiny, but healthy and very cute.

Medical Clinic

Blog By Garrett Suchecki

My first week in Sudan was awesome! I had a great time getting to know everyone and finding my groove in the clinic. It is totally not what I expected, but not in a bad way. I just think that there is no way that anyone could anticipate the way that the culture, available resources and God’s hand would mesh so well to create such an awesome place. I came here primarily to work in the clinic, and that’s where most of my time has been spent. I spent Friday the 7th shadowing Dennis and then on the following Monday, the tenth, I began my autonomous work in the clinic. I was set up with my own exam room and translator and began seeing patients. During the regular clinic hours I mainly focus on pediatric patients who range in age from just days old to around 14 or 15 years. Additionally, I assist with any emergencies come in. My first week was a busy one, we had many routine and emergent patients. I did a lot of suturing! It had been a few months since I had last sutured, but it’s like riding a bike, you never forget. I love being able to share my stateside experience in emergency treatment; However, I think I am learning much more than I am sharing. Aside from my clinic duty, I was able to attend church service on the 9th and even deliver a devotion last Friday. Both were great experiences; I really enjoyed the conversations I had with some of the churchgoers after the service. The ultimate cap to my first week was the outburst of gunfire in celebration of SPLA Day. It was a little bit scary at first, but both Sabet and Suzy soon reassured us that it was strictly celebratory and we were in no danger. I am so thankful for being able to be here, and for all of the people back home who supported me financially and continue to support me.

Pastor Training

The Pastors Are Back!

We have just finished our first week of the fourth term of the Pastors Training School here on the IDAT compound. The pastors came with excitement and we were blessed to be here to teach them. The school did not start on Monday as scheduled due to the fact that our vehicle that went to pick them was on the road for two days because of getting stuck in the mud. But on Wednesday we opened the school with almost all the pastors present. This term we will be studying the books of the 12 Minor Prophets in our Old Testament Survey Class and continuing with the Foundation Bible Course in the other class.

Thanks to the generous donations of God’s people in the States, we were able to provide ox ploughs so that the pastors could get their cultivation done in time to be here for the pastors training on May 10th. Without these ox ploughs they have had to plow the ground by hand hoes and it was time consuming for them and very hard labor. So they are really blessed to have them.

Please continue to pray for the pastors as they dedicate this time to studying the Word of God so that they are better equipped to minister to their people and go out and preach the Gospel.
—Joe and Nancy Losee

News From The Field