January 2011 Update - Sudan's Referendum, Rwanda, the next few months and prayer requests.

Happy New Year!!! And what a blessed New Year this has started out to be! While the world looked towards the January Referendum with measured trepidation, bracing for the “inevitable” worst, Sudan surprised the nations – taking a road that in the past, was less traveled.

Leading up to the Referendum, thousands of Christians from all parts of the world joined together, holding Sudan up in prayer and these prayers to our faithful Father were certainly answered. By almost all accounts, the Referendum was conducted in a peaceful and mostly fair manner.

Most believe that separation will be a nearly unanimous vote. The official results are to be announced on February 14, 2011.

Officially, the CPA, Comprehensive Peace Agreement, dissolves on the 9^th of July 2011. This date signifies the end of the six year peace agreement between the mostly Arab North and Black African South. This date will mos likely be the point at which Northern/Southern boundaries, as well as resources will begin to be divided. There is much talk about this date. Please do pray…

As with the April 2010 Sudan elections, Africa Inland Mission required a pre-emptive leave throughout the Referendum, which is why I have been out of Sudan for the past month. The time away has been, to say the very least, a blessed time of refreshment!

I started the month off in Rwanda, attending AIM’s Central Region Conference; an annual get-together for all of AIM’s missionaries working in Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Chad, South Sudan, and CAR.

I found Rwanda to be a breath-takingly beautiful country, overflowing with rolling green hills, cascading waterfalls and garbage free!!!! streets. Though the countries recent past was gruesome, to the eye of an outsider, like myself, the country seems to be slowly healing.

Conference was a perfect mix of spiritual teaching, prayer, mission business, fun and fellowship. Our speaker's message, “Wrestling with God”, fanned in me a blaze of desire for the Word, a flame that was previously waning.

Elly, Tianne, her cousin Candace, who is visiting from the States, and I were so taken with Rwanda’s wonders that we decided to stay on for a few extra days. We enjoyed a relaxing few days at Volcanoes National Park and also made time to visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, an eye-opening and disturbing experience….

A few days were spent in Kampala, before Elly and I bused it back to Nairobi. On January 24^th, Elly started her long journey home to the States. Elly will not be returning to Didinga next year. Rather, she will be sharing her gentle spirit with the Media Retirement Center, in Orlando, Florida – a retirement home for former AIM missionaries. She will be greatly missed up in the Hills! Please do continue to pray for Elly and her transition from African bush to Florida city life.

In a few weeks, Tianne will also be returning to the States, as she will be starting her four month Home Assignment. She is hoping to return to Didinga sometime in July.

As for me, I am planning (God willing, of course) to return to Nagishot on Thursday, Febraury 3rd. As I mentioned in November, I am postponing my Home Assignment until late April so as to not interrupt Nagishot’s first term of school.

I am really looking forward to spending the late spring and summer months with family, friends and supporters. I would love to meet up with each and every one of you, so please let me know a convenient time to see you and/or your church body.

With Love, Kim

Thank you for joining me in prayer:

• We thank God for the mighty work that He has already started in Sudan and continue to pray for peace throughout this transitional period of dividing a country and its resources.
  
• Please continue to lift the Napep church up in prayer. I hope to make the journey from Nagishot to Napep several times in the next few months. Pray that God would be at work in our relationships with Napep friends and for a clear direction when disciplining new believers.

• In late April, I will travel home to the States for my four month Home Assignment. Pray for good times with family and friends, safe travel and plenty of opportunities for sharing what God is doing in Nagishot and Napep.
  

• Pray for this next term of school, the first term of the 2011 school year. Please pray for school to start on time, for students' ears to be open to the Word of God and that as I attempt to teach my group of students and train Nagishot teachers my Didinga language would be understandable and my teaching Christ-centered.
  

Laundry Day & Didinga Feet

P3's Paintings

"Christmas Clothes" by Lucy Yaya

Painting was an entirely new activity for my students. They'd never held a paintbrush before, and maybe I am just a proud old teacher, but I think that they did a pretty nice job on their Christmas water-colors. Don't you???

"Bathing at the Stream for Christmas" by Comboni

"Christmas in Nagishot"

"Christmas football in Nagishot" by Marko

"The First Christmas"

"Christmas in Nagishot" by Nadoci

"The First Christmas"

"Marko" Self-Portrait

"The First Christmas" by Josephine the Artist.

"The First Christmas"

"The First Christmas"

"The First Christmas"

"The First Christmas"

And yet another, "The First Christmas"
Apparently, our next art lesson should be on the fine points of individuality...

"Christmas in Nagishot"

"The First Christmas"

"Christmas in Nagishot" by Bakita

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank you for praying.

Thank you for joyfully sacrificing financially.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for your part in spreading
the Good News of Christ to the Didinga people of Sudan.

We are grateful!

At the end of the 2010 school year, before I came out for Referendum, I interviewed most of my P3 students. Here is some of what they had to say...

Daniel Lokonyen is twelve years old. His heart is tender and his mind is fresh. His favorite part of the past school year was acting in plays about Jesus. He wants to be a pastor when he older. I can't wait for that day...

Daniel would like to go to secondary school. He asks that you pray for this to someday be possible. Pray also that he would grow ever nearer to our Lord and Savior.

Susanna Atee is around thirteen years old. She loves teaching her mom, grandma, brothers and sisters the things she has learned in school. Susanna wants to be a doctor, rather than a teacher, when she is older. Go figure.

Atee's school attendance is very sporadic due to household responsibilities. Please pray that in the coming school year she would be able to attend more regularly. Pray also, that someday Atee would not only share academic knowledge with her family, but also a faith in Jesus.

Nadoci is eleven years old. She goes to school because she wants to be educated. She would love to work in office when she is older.

When I asked Nadoci how we could pray for her, she became quiet and asked if she could think about it. About twenty minutes later, she came up to me with her head down. She asked if we would pray, "that a disease would not come to my family". She also mentioned her grandmother's eye condition, which pains her greatly. It should be noted, that Nadoci made these requests with obvious faith and a certain degree of warranted fear. A small boy died on her compound earlier this year and another is presently very close to death.

Please pray for this sweet girl and her family.

Josephine is around thirteen years old. She has a perfectionist spirit and an artist eye. She loves, "getting knowledge" at school. When she is older she would like to be a teacher.

Josephine struggles with honesty. Please pray that as she gives herself over to Christ, the Truth would penetrate all areas of her life.

Mary Najore is around thirteen years old. She loves learning how to add, subtract and multiple. She wants to be a nurse when she is older.

Najore asks that you pray that she may be able to finish secondary school. When I asked her what might prevent her from finishing secondary school, she hesitated and then whispered in my ear, "a baby". She is right. Please pray that she will be strong when confronted with temptation.

At thirteen, Lucy is the oldest student in our small class. She is also one of the brightest. Lucy is always dependable in deciphering my Didinga and translating its meaning to the others. Lucy would like to be a doctor when she is older.

Lucy would like to finish school and asks that you pray for her to be able to do so. The main reason girls in Nagishot, like Lucy, don't finish school is early pregnancy. Please pray that Lucy would remain strong in her faith and pure until marriage.

Joy is ten years old. She is a natural care-giver, a lover and indeed, a joy. She says that her favorite part of school is learning how to read, just like her older brother! She would like to be a nurse and a mother when she is grown.

Please pray that the responsibilities of home wouldn't prevent Joy from attending school. Pray that Joy would be able to concentrate and work diligently while in class. Pray also that Joy would learn to love and dedicate her life to Christ.

Peter Lacuje is eleven years old. Lacuje, Eunice's nephew and the oldest of six, is a born leader. He hopes to be a teacher in the future and, in my opinion, would be a super one!

Lacuje asks that you pray that he would be able to finish secondary school. I also ask that you pray that he may grow ever closer to our Lord and not be distracted in his young walk.

Romeo, the brightest student in our little class, is also the most serious. His nickname "Baba", or Old Man, pretty much says it all. Romeo isn't quite sure how old he is. His favorite part of school is, of course, learning! He hopes to be a commissioner (Sudan's equivalent of a governor) when he is older. Commissioner Baba - I can see it!

Romeo asks that you pray for him to be able to finish secondary school. I also ask that you pray that he may accept the truth of Jesus and give his life over to the One who is worthy of possessing it.

Marko is an eleven year old artist. He is not only hard-working, but also determined to always do his best. His favorite part of the past school year was learning how to spell. He hopes to be a driver in Nagishot when he is older (a difficult task as there aren't any cars or roads at this point).

When I asked Marko how we could pray for him, he became quite solemn and asked that we pray for his father, who is not yet a believer.

Daniel Lokonyen is eleven years old. His favorite part of school this past year was learning how to write. When he is older he hopes to be a teacher.

Please pray that Daniel will grow ever nearer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I LOVE Comboni and that is all there is to it!!!

Back in October, when I asked my class why they celebrate the 25th day of December, not even one student knew. Not even ONE!!! Surprised by their naivety, we went around in circles for several minutes:

Me: Why does everyone get new clothes, eat good food, dance and drink on Natali (Dec. 25th)?
Class: Because it's Natali.
Me: What is Natali?
Class: (a little perplexed..) well, it's when we get new clothes, eat good food, dance and drink.
Me: Why do you celebrate Natali? What does it mean?
Class: (really perplexed now!) It is when we get new clothes, eat good food, dance and drink!

Well, this exchange broke my heart.

I then began telling the story of our Savior's birth.

I could live until I'm a hundred and thirteen and I am pretty sure that I will never forget Comboni's eyes, so full of wonder, as I told my class the true story of Christmas. As I spoke, he leaned over his desk, a boy this enthralled with the Word of God, I may never see again.

Comboni hopes to be a lorry driver when he becomes a man.
Please pray for his heart to remain captivated by the Lord.

Margareta is twelve years old. She missed the first two trimesters of school because she was taking care of her aunt's babies in Chukudum. However, this sweet girl always worked hard to catch up on lost classroom moments. Margareta says that her favorite part of school is gaining knowledge.

When asked how we could pray for her, she said, "when the teacher is teaching pray that I would be able to listen and pick out knowledge." I also ask that you pray that Margareta would learn to trust and love our Lord, ultimately giving her life over to Him.

Regina is eleven years old. Her mind is a mathematical wonder! Her favorite subject is social studies because she loves to learn about the Earth and places far from Nagishot. She dreams of being a teacher when she is older. And what a GREAT teacher this little leader would be!

Regina asks that you pray for her family, as they, "Do not know Jesus...".

Bakita is twelve years old. Her smile, as you can see, is contagious! Her favorite part of the 2010 school year was acting in the Christmas play. She hopes to be a doctor when she grows up.

Bakita asks that you pray for her to be able to finish school. I also ask that you pray for her to grow closer daily to our Lord and Savior - pouring out her love and smiles on the least of these.

Natali chi Abuna! - Merry Christmas!

This year, Christmas was spent in Sudan. It was a simple and joyful one. There was plenty of singing, dancing, rejoicing and volleyball playing (a gift from my Mom and Dad).

Christmas Eve
We've discovered yet another bonus to living in Sudan:
dorky Christmas t-shirts and wrapping paper hair bows can be proudly worn out in public.

Mom and Dad also left us this tiny Christmas tree.
Thanks!

Baking Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve.

We spent the afternoon of the 24th visiting Nagishot friends.

Popping popcorn - a treat for both the very young and pretty old.

Elly gave her extra mattress to Martha.
Martha has quite a few medical struggles, including a bum hip.
In the past, she slept on an cow skin,
just like the one she is laying on here.
As you can imagine, she was SUPER happy with this upgrade!

Some people carol on Christmas Eve, we painted nails...

Nail polish is the latest craze in Nagishot.

Girls, boys, women, men - everyone wants their nails done...

In 2009, our TIMO team celebrated Christmas in Napep. It was an eye-opening experience - as it was hard to find a sober man, woman or child in the entire village.

This year, members of the small Napep church decided to quite literally walk away from the season's binge drinking (for the day). On Christmas Eve, a group of approximately 30 believers chose to make the 10 mile trek from Napep to Nagishot. They walked across the mountain - away from the drinking and Napep parties - to worship the coming of the Son as one Didinga body of believers.

The days leading up to Christmas didn't seem anything like the Christmases of my past. I was a bit homesick - missing my family like crazy.

Yet, one never quite know when or where our cup will overflow...

Gathering around the fire on Christmas Eve, singing carols and Didinga praise songs with Nagishot and Napep friends felt quite familiar, right and true. We sang and prayed for hours - until my voice was gone, but my heart was full.

Most of the voices drawn together around that simmering Nagishot fire were celebrating the coming of our Lord for the very first time! The Word of God is transforming people's lives in the Didinga Mountains of Sudan.

This Christmas Eve was, to say the least, a very special night.

Christmas Morning

My Mom is an AMAZING seamstress.
She made Elly, Tianne and I these aprons.
We LOVED them... and her!

Tianne with her Christmas apron and cheese.

The school room where church is normally held
wasn't big enough to accommodate all our Christmas visitors
(the Napep congregation and many Christmas/Easter church-goers).
So, we worshiped in the sunshine outside.

The Nagishot Choir

Church included plenty of singing.
Philip Lajore, Hector, Hector and Dario - the young men's quartet.
Only to be matched by Tianne, Elly and I - the young ladies trio.
We performed a choreographed rendition of,
"Go Tell it on the Mountain".
I bet you're sorry you missed it.

After church we danced for hours.
Everyone was so HAPPY! Including me!

I loved dancing with my students.

After hours and hours of volleyball playing,
we passed out stockings to close friends, like Philip.
Philip's first stocking - I think that he liked it!

and Dario, our former language helper in Napep,
with his 2nd stocking.

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you the good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord."
John 2:10-11

Natali chi Abuna! - Merry Christmas!