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.