How I'm praying for my friends in South Sudan

I find that every morning in my prayer time, the first thing on my heart is South Sudan. I also find that almost every Scripture seems to make me think of our friends in South Sudan and turns into a prayer for them. This morning I want to share a few verses and passages that have been very meaningful to me this last week as I pray them for our beloved brothers and sisters who are daily struggling in South Sudan:

1. Zechariah 2:13 - Be silent before the Lord all humanity for He is springing into action from His holy dwelling.
      This verse immediately stuck out to me because I find myself often thinking to myself, what is the Lord doing? It is easy to wonder where God is and why He isn't coming to the rescue of His children. But this verse reminds me: He isn't just sitting idly by. He is springing into action! I just can't see it and I don't see His plan. I need to trust. The verse says: Be silent. To me that is like saying: Be still. Wait.

2. Isaiah 54:10 - For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
       This is God's promise for the future glory of Jerusalem and yes, we do have this to look forward to.
Verses 13-14 also seem so pertinent to South Sudan: "I will teach all your children and they will enjoy great peace. You will be secure under a government that is just and fair. Your enemies will stay far away. You will live in peace and terror will not come near.

I have also begun praying for the soldiers, both government and rebel groups. The verse I prayed this morning was from Isaiah 55:6-7:

     Seek the Lord while you can find him. 

Call on him now while He is near.

Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong.

Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them.

Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.

Our recently graduated students from Gideon Theological College

And for our dearly beloved friends who are clinging to the Lord during this time of turmoil:

Isaiah 33:6 - In this day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.

Isaiah 50:10 - If you are walking in darkness without a ray of light, TRUST IN THE LORD AND RELY ON YOUR LORD. 

We're Here - in the US of A!

The day we flew out of Kenya we got to spend the morning visiting some of our closest friends from Melut, South Sudan. They have come to Nairobi to be in a safe place and so all the children can get an education. We are so thankful for good closure before we left to come across the ocean!

We had very smooth travels across the ocean. The boys did amazing on the 4 1/2 hour flight, then 14 hour flight, and the final hour and a half flight!

After a few days of debriefing at SIM Headquarters in Charlotte, NC we are now in Columbia, SC our home base. We're staying with very good friends and enjoying some much needed rest...and fun!

Yes, this is what we need!

Our Next Move

Our house in South Sudan

 By now many of you have heard that we are heading back to the States this morning for an early home assignment. Life in Melut is just not stable enough for our family to return at this point in time so we're going to make the most of this season and come back to the States. As you can imagine there is a mixture of emotions that we are all feeling. We have had time to sit together as a family and discuss why we can't go back to Melut right now and why we're going back to the States and what we will do there. Our boys seem excited to go back and see their cousins and their best friends who live next door to us in SC.

The pictures I've posted here of our two different homes show the great gap between our two "worlds". Though we are excited and eager to reconnect with family and friends and enjoy so many of the wonderful things about America, our hearts are still sad about what has happened in South Sudan over the last two months. We were not able to say proper goodbyes or pack our house. We just have to go.

If you think of us in the next few weeks please pray for our family as we transition back to life in America. Pray that we will be good ambassadors to share with the churches in the States what is happening in South Sudan. Can't wait to see so many of you. See you soon!

Our house in South Carolina

Precious Time with Family

Somehow God coordinated events in our family so that we could be in Kenya at the same time that Eli's brother Caleb, his wife Krista, and their new little baby, William passed through for a week. And not only that but Eli's parents also joined us! Our days have been full - holding baby William, playing in the pool, and catching up.

There is a pool at our guesthouse so we swim almost every afternoon

William: 7 weeks old

Josh got to hold his baby cousin

Time with Uncle Caleb

Our 2014 Spiritual Life Conference

The boys with their MK friends

This year our Spiritual Life Conference with our whole SIM South Sudan team couldn't have happened at a more perfect time. A month after all pulling out of South Sudan due to fighting and unrest, we spent 5 days together in a beautiful place - worshiping the King, praying, encouraging one another, and hearing from the Lord through a great pastor, Steve Harling.

The kids enjoyed sitting at the "kids table" at almost every meal

 Our conference was held at Brackenhurst, a beautiful conference center amidst Kenyan tea fields. We ate 3 meals a day plus two tea breaks complete with cookies, muffins, or doughnuts. Yes, we were spoiled this week!

A team came from Tennessee to teach and love on our children while we were in sessions all morning. At the end of the week all the kids performed a few fun songs for us.

A team also came to lead our worship. One day my dear friend and teammate, Amie Cross, did sign language to the hymn, "It is Well with my Soul" and it was so powerful and moving for all of us.

We also had a fun skit/talent show afternoon. Our Kenyan friends got up to sing and dance, including Debbie. :)

 One night we made a fire in our room and cuddled up next to it while Eli read before bed. It was a special time to spend as a family since we'd been busy all week.

Our teacher, Steve Harling, shared Elijah's story from 1 and 2 Kings, challenging and encouraging us in our journey of faith.

I close with this picture of our Melut team. Two couples are missing because they are with Pioneers so were not at our conference. The couple on the far left are hoping to join us later this year. We are saddened that for now our team will spend at least the next 6 months in different areas since it is still not safe to return to South Sudan. Please pray for our whole South Sudan team as we pray and pray about what comes next for all of us and for our dear brothers and sisters in South Sudan.

While We Wait

Well, I have tried to write on my blog multiple times in the last few weeks and part of the problem is that our internet has been bad, plus the website won't let me post pictures, but honestly I think most of the reason is that I just don't know what to write. There is so much swirling around in my head even now, but for your sake I will try to put some thoughts and information down for you.


We arrived in Kenya on January 13th and have enjoyed re-connecting with other missionaries and teammates with our organization. We attended a very encouraging time of prayer on Saturday morning this weekend with missionaries from all different organizations who have been working in South Sudan.


We also had a very good Melut team meeting this afternoon where we shared updates on what is going on in Melut from what we gather from emails and phone calls with our South Sudanese friends and colleagues there. And we talked about our risk thresholds and where each of us stand as far as knowing when we are comfortable to head back into South Sudan.


There have been some disappointments this last week where fighting got worse not better in the capital of our state, Upper Nile. We have been so heartbroken by the horrific stories we hear and how it is affecting all our dear friends. Food is now becoming a serious problem since many markets, shops, and homes have been looted.


Just this weekend we hear news that a ceasefire agreement has been put into place between the two sides so please pray with us that this will be the first step in South Sudan returning to peace. It will still take a lot of time to "heal" and return to any kind of normalcy.


This week we're attending SIM South Sudan's Yearly Spiritual Life Conference. Every year we go to a beautiful location in the tea fields and spend five days with our team fellowshipping, praying, worshipping and hearing reports of what God is doing in SIM's different bases. All of our plans are in the air as we wait to see what will happen each day in South Sudan. For now we wait and pray.

2013 Reflections...by photos

2013 started out with the construction of our own home in Melut, South Sudan. Building began on January 23 and I remember the joy Eli and I shared on the day he took this photo with those iron poles in the ground because we knew this house was God's house and would only move forward to completion because of Him.

We welcomed in the new year with Bethany's parents, Skip and Ruth Sorensen, who joined us in Melut for 3 weeks to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with us. Dad helped Eli with quite a few projects around campus despite the heat.

Towards the end of January we welcomed little Nyangat to our GTC family, daughter of John and Julia.

The highlights in February were welcoming two new families to our team: the Crosses and the Heskas. These prefab houses were both built this month!

Orientation meeting under a tree

Eli and I were thrilled to have others join our team.

In February we also celebrated the new GTC boat arrival and dedication.

Construction continued to progress on our own house.

In March we began the final school year for this batch of students at GTC.

 
At the very beginning of April we moved into our new house and our campus had a special time of prayer and dedication.

A bright spot of our year: our growing team

 

At the end of April we flew to Kenya to enjoy a week on the beach with Eli's parents.

We then met up with more Faders in Nairobi and spent a few precious days together.

In May our beloved Principal of Gideon Theological College, Rev. Philip Eisa went to be with the Lord suddenly and we attended his funeral in Mabaan county.

In June the rains began and our boys joined with their Sudanese friends to plant their first garden on their own!

In July our three homeschooling families joined together to do fun classes together twice a week: art, music, public speaking and even a few science experiments.

In August I walked through a very difficult time with one of my closest South Sudanese friends when she lost her baby boy in child labor.

In September we experienced a great miracle when God preserved the life of one of our student's wives during a very strenuous labor and delivery. We rejoiced when both baby and mother were able to return home safe and healthy.

In October God gave Bethany an extraordinary gift by opening up the way for her to travel to Bali to spend a week with one of her close friends and attend a Thrive Women's Retreat.

Later in October we were saddened to lose another of our own at GTC - Elizabeth William. Another funeral in our community was a hard blow but we each experienced God's grace, love and comfort.

At the beginning of November we showed the Magdalena film (Jesus story) to women/ friends we had in the community. One of my (Bethany's) favorite moments of the year was watching Mary, a wife of one of our students, share beautifully from God's Word.

November 30th was probably the happiest day of the year: graduation for our students at GTC. It represented God's faithfulness and goodness, carrying all of us through, despite challenges and hardships.

GTC Graduates 2013

On December 11th we packed up our house and flew to Uganda to celebrate Christmas with Bethany's family. We left 5 days earlier than planned as we were very eager for a break and to be with our family. Little did we know that on December 15th, the day before we were supposed to originally travel through Juba, horrible fighting broke out in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan!

Here we are, safe and sound, with our family, while war is waging in our beloved country. We never expected this when we left Melut. We are thankful for God's protection over our family but our hearts are breaking for many of our friends who have suffered through this time of unrest and fighting.

Our boys have LOVED special times with their Uncle Stan who flew from the States. They've spent a lot of time wrestling, having nerf gun fights, water fights, and learning how to be a real man from their uncle.

So here we are: the Fader Five. 2013 has been the most challenging year of our lives so far and yet so rich. Eli and I have both grown so much in our faith and love for the Lord, our children are thriving, our marriage is stronger and sweeter, and we love our South Sudanese brothers and sisters more than ever.

Please pray with us that peace will return to South Sudan. Pray for all the believers in South Sudan to be shining lights and voices of Truth during this difficult time. And please pray that our family can return to the place where God has called us.

Happy New Year ---Kulu Sana wa Entu Tayibiin!

A Very Meaningful Christmas

Our family in front of the tree on Christmas Eve

I'm finding it hard to put into words what has been going on inside my heart this Christmas. We had been planning to come to my parent's house in Uganda since last Christmas when my parents came to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with us in our home in Melut. After graduation and a week of tying up loose ends around campus, we were the final missionary family to leave Melut on December 11th.

Little did we know that just a week later fighting would break out in South Sudan. We are so grateful to be with my parents, to have loved ones to cry with and pray with. At the same time our hearts are breaking for our friends who are waiting every day to see if the fighting will come to their area. We are also very sad that our team had to pull out of South Sudan. We wish that we could be with them.

On December 22nd my Dad preached at their local church here in Mbarara, Uganda from Hebrews 3. The point that God really drove home to me that morning was to Fix my Thoughts and Focus on Christ. As we've been reading Advent passages with our boys, the meaning and power of Christmas has come alive to me in a very new and special way this year. When we first heard news of unrest beginning in Juba, South Sudan, my immediate response was, "No! Please No Jesus!" and then I remembered that Jesus, that precious, innocent, and perfectly pure baby who we celebrate this season is Sovereign King over all the earth and He sits on the Throne, in control of EVERYTHING! The encouragement that the Lord has been speaking to my heart this week is:
1. Do Not Worry
2. Do Not be Afraid
3. Stop thinking of the What-Ifs
4. Just Trust Him one day at a time

I am so so thankful that we are in a safe place where we can process this very crazy last year and pray about the year to come. We don't yet know what 2014 holds for us but we know that we serve a Mighty God and we are determined to obey and serve Him whatever that looks like and wherever that might be this year.

And now for a few fun Christmas photos:

Josh was our little elf who passed out the gifts

Christmas stockings filled with all kinds of goodies

At the Christmas service a Birthday cake was brought forward for Jesus and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and all the children came forward to help serve it to the congregation. The service was beautifully focused on Christ and concluded with an amazing Ugandan singer who sang a special song with three of her children - complete with traditional dancing.

Please pray with us for the unrest happening in South Sudan

Dear All,

I am writing from Uganda where we arrived on December 12 to celebrate Christmas with Bethany’s parents and brother.  We flew through Juba and spent an afternoon walking around the town with the kids; all seemed to be peaceful.

We are saddened at the news which has come out in the past week.  We have tried calling many of our friends who are either in Juba or in Melut but we believe the mobile networks have been shut down during this time as we have not been able to get through.  The news which has come from the media is conflicted and speculative.  In light of this, I will not try and give my slant on what is happening.  Instead, I ask that you would take a moment now and pray for the people and nation of South Sudan.  

 

1.) Pray for peace and safety for the majority of citizens of South Sudan who simply wish to live out their lives.  There is a common African Proverb that says “When the Elephants fight, it is the grass who suffers.”  

 

2.) Pray for courage and wisdom for the Church.  Ministers, Pastors, Priests and Christians will have a great opportunity to calm the nation through their words and through their actions.  The opposite is also an unfortunate possibility.  Please pray that these Ambassadors of Christ would use their positions and relationships to preach love and forgiveness during this time.  

 

3.) Pray for a crisis of identity for the people of South Sudan.  Especially at times like this, people’s true allegiances are revealed.  Will people choose to live out their allegiance to their tribe, their nation, their God, or their personal ambitions?  Many Southern Sudanese will have to make tough choices and actions in the next few weeks about whom they will serve.  Pray that they will find their true identity in Jesus Christ and do what He requires of them.  

 

Thank you for praying these three prayers with us.

In Christ,

Eli

 

P.s. For those who would seek our perspective on what is happening (albeit, flawed and limited) please do not hesitate to write us.