First Wonder Goes Deepest

January Prayer Update

2012-01-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

The new school year starts in February. I am really excited!
Please pray for:

Our students. Pray for their academic and spiritual futures. Ask God to open their ears to hear and truly understand the Gospel, so that their hearts may fully accept the love of Christ Jesus.
Our National Teachers. This year my responsibilities will be divided between classroom teaching and training teachers. As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." Please pray that my "leading" is God directed and that my Didinga "horses" are ready to drink.
Our Khwaja Teachers. I am no longer the only Khwaja (or white) teacher in Nagishot. This year, newcomers Abbi, Trey and Mark will be joining me in the schools. Please pray for us all as we navigate teaching in a foreign land in a foreign language. Pray for patience, servant hearts, perseverance and God's love for the Didinga wee ones in our care.
Health. Staying healthy continues to be a major struggle for me in Sudan. Please pray for a healthy body, one fit to fight off the many illness I daily encounter. Pray also that I would not grow discouraged when sick, but rather find refuge in our Lord's embrace.
Language. I am incredibly grateful for my new language helper and friend, Joyce. Under the guidance of her strong teaching skills and endless encouragement, my Didinga has improved. My goal this year is to attain a Level 3 in all areas of Language Acquisition, including: vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, grammar and pronunciation. Reaching this goal will not be easy. However, it is more than worthwhile. Please pray that I would remain committed to consistently studying language. I am all to aware of the real barriers caused from language deficiencies. Barriers that can impede my teaching, building strong and meaningful relationships and sharing the Word of God.
My personal relationship with Christ. Pray as David did in the 62nd Psalm, that my soul would, "...find rest in God alone" Pray that I would know that, "He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress." Pray that I will never be shaken. That I would hear and hold dear those powerful words, "that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving."

Thank you so much for praying!
In Him,
KIM

Look who I surprised surprising me tonight.

2012-01-17T01:44:00.000-08:00

Elly is back in Africa for a visit!

I didn't have any idea she was coming until last Sunday. She had been meaning to surprise me, planning to pop out at the Juba airport and yell something like, "Got any room in that tiny plane for me?".

That little weasel!

However, we are missionaries serving with AIM, not secret agents working with the CIA. Fortunately or unfortunately, however your cookie crumbles, her top-secret, secret arrival ended up slipping out.

(Right about now are you wondering just how many times I am going to use the word secret in this blog post? Hang in there, we've still got a few to go.)

Once I was in on the secret, but Elly didn't know that I knew the secret, the fun really started.

Last Sunday, right after I discovered that Elly was coming, I called her. Who can resist the urge to make a friend squirm? Questions like, "So, what does your work week look like?" and "When do you think you will be back in Africa?" just couldn't be avoided!

I really like surprises, but I also really like catching other people in theirs!

By Road

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

So, last week I had a real adventure! A real, "Oh my, I'm out of my comfort zone!", "Perhaps, this wasn't a good idea.", "Hold it together, don't you dare cry in front of this crowd of Sudanese men." sort of adventure.

It all started a few months back when the new government of the Republic of Southern Sudan mandated that all flights entering or existing the country must proceed through one of three entry points - ours being Juba.

Africa Inland Mission considers Sudan to be a "hardship zone" and therefore requires all Sudan missionaries to leave their area of service once every three months. For us, living in Didinga, these periods of time out of Sudan are not only necessary for mental, physical and spiritual rest, but also logistically essential as all of our grocery shopping, banking and medical care must be done out of Nagishot.

Traveling through Juba is quite expensive. Eager to avoid these new travel costs, I started looking for alternative travel plans.

And this, my friends, is where the real adventure began!

The plan, which seemed to be a great one and might have been if everything had gone accordingly was to: hike down the mountain to Chukudum early on the 1st, catch public transportation to a small village called Camp 15, located smack dab in the middle of nowhere Sudan, spend the night there and, the following morning at 8 am, meet Daniel, a missionary friend, who I would then travel by road with onto Nairobi.

I was fairly confident in the plan, as confident as one ever dares to be in Sudan. However, it didn't take long for the plan completely disintegrate.

Problem Number 1:
The week between Christmas and New Year's was marked with extreme fatigue and a general feeling of "offness" for me. I tried, with no success, treating the amoebas I knew were hiding out in my stomach. However, despite the medicine I'd already taken, I woke early on the morning of the 30th with stomach cramps. I tossed, turned and moaned my way to 9 am. The rest of that LONG and painful day was spent vomiting.

I rolled in my new year from the comfort of my twin bed, sleeping most of the day and turning in for the night about 4 hours before the official start of the Sudanese New Year. It was a pretty bland New Year's Eve.

Still feeling off, I woke at 4:30 on the morning of the 1st, forced myself to eat my first meal in days and started the long hike down the mountain to Chukudum.

Liaga was nice enough to escort me down the mountain.
He was keen on jogging most of the way.
My tender stomach wasn't impressed with the jog. Errr... I mean, hike.

Problem Number 2:

Though I'd been assured on numerous occasions that finding transport from Chukudum to Camp 15 on the 1st would not be a problem, I quickly realized once I arrived in Chukudum, that the hope of securing a vehicle to the moon was just about as plausible as finding a taxi to Camp 15.

Feeling wheezy and worn out, frustrated and far from home, I spent the first day of 2012 oscillating between hot walks through the village searching for transport and sleeping in a random friend of a friend's house.

By nightfall, the hope of meeting Daniel seemed hopeless. Due to the New Year's celebrations traveling was an impossibility. The limited cell phone network meant that calling or emailing Daniel to let him know of my impending delays was also not an option.

After careful consideration, I decided to take my chances with transportation in the early morning hours and pray for the best.

Though I was more than tired, the night in Chukudum was sleepless.

The New Year's celebrations were in full swing by noon and by nightfall it was hard to find a sober Didinga. Though I wanted, no needed, to sleep, the loud drumming, yelling from both inside and outside the house and street dancing made resting difficult.

Which led to....

Problem Number 3:
With most the village up past 4am, the promise of a sunrise departure didn't quite materialize.

At half past 8, a half an hour after I was to meet Daniel, I finally was on my way to Camp 15.

Our late Chukudum departure and a the twenty minute layover devoted to buying corn on the cob led to....

Problem Number 4:
At 10:40 am, two hours and forty minutes after my planned meeting time, I finally reached Camp 15. After waiting for as long as he could, Daniel left Camp 15 at 10:30am. Exactly ten minutes before I arrived!!!

A white person in Camp 15 is something of a novelty. When I arrived asking if anyone had seen the white man, I quickly learned that he had just been there, drank a soda, waited and left moments before my arrival. One helpful lady, trying to encourage me, pointed out his dusty tire tracks.

Problem Number 5:
In a different world, a non-Sudanese one, I simply would have hailed a cab, explained my situation and most likely, caught up to Daniel within the half hour.

However, I was not in a different world. I was in my world. A world where the only vehicle to be seen was the slower than molasses taxi I had already been struggling with for two days. The very taxi which after hours of negotiations had promised to take me to Camp 15 on the evening of the 1st, but didn't. The same ol' taxi who promised me as we were leaving Chukudum at 8:30 am that we would make it to Camp 15 by 8am!!!

Eager for a second opinion, I called my boss. After checking the safety of the road, he encouraged me not to turn back for home, but to keep pursuing an eventual rendezvous with Daniel.

And so, with no other transportation option, I resigned myself to board the slowest taxi on the face of the Earth for my fast pursuit of Daniel.

Problem Number Six:
Traveling through no man's land Sudan as a single white woman is not really the best idea. In fact, most Sudanese women shy away from traveling solo. If a woman is forced to travel alone, she will traditionally carry a large rock as a form of protection. Seriously.

With all of this in mind, I was quite intentional about traveling with Liaga.

Unfortunately, Liaga had other plans. Shortly after boarding the slowest taxi in the world (which from this point forward will be referred to as the Slosh) Liaga grew tired, set down my bag and quickly informed me that he was going back to Chukudum. With that, he ran off and jumped in a taxi heading in the opposite direction.

Problem Number Seven:
After a forty-five minute wait, the Sloth finally departed.

The drive to Kapeota was a bit long, hot and quite crowded. Jammed up against the door, on a seat too tall for the vehicle, each bump, and I assure you there were many, caused me to forcefully bonk my head on the roof and my right arm against the door.

I arrived in Kapeota, a town I had only briefly visited once before, flustered, bruised and clearly not thinking straight.

Hoping for some insights as to the whereabouts of my elusive ride, I dimwittedly greeted the traffic guards in Didinga. The fact that Kapeota is a Taposa territory (Taposa being the fierce enemy of the Didinga) completely slipped my mind. After this major language/cultural blunder, any hope of gaining a bit of insight into Daniel's whereabouts was a long shot as the guards refused to even acknowledge my presence. Maybe I'm picking up more Didinga culture then I thought or perhaps these helpful guards were misguided by my freckles and strawberry blond hair, mistaking me for a Didinga. Who knows???

Anywho, things got worse from there. Much, much worse.

Problem Number 8:
Unable to speak the local language, alone, pretending to have things under control , but really not even sure as to which direction I was headed, I started to feel a bit out of my comfort zone.

I took a boda (a hired motorcycle) to the city center, figuring that all hired transportation would be operating from this point.

I was right. Finally.

After several chaotic, yet futile, interactions with potential taxis, I was unanimously informed that, "the time had gone" and travel onto Loki was an impossibility until the following day.

This turned out to be the straw the broke the camel's back.

Choking back tears and simply refusing to cry in front of the crowd of Sudanese men, I retreated. I walked through the gawking crowds, simultaneously encouraging myself that everything would be fine and worrying that it wouldn't. I prayed.

Not really sure where to go, I walked to the only store I had previously been to. Thankfully, the storekeeper recognized me, seems that I stick out a bit in these parts of the world, and asked me how I was doing.

With the prospect of spending the night alone in a foreign village, I wasn't really doing that well. I nodded to him, still unable to speak, bought a water and turned my back to the crowd struggling to compose myself.

My struggle was obvious. The storekeeper again inquired if I as ok. I shook my head and managed to whisper that I was. Unconvinced, the only other woman in the shop searched my downcast eyes, asking if I was alright. Taking a deep breath, I explained my situation.

The storekeeper asked me not to worry and pointed out a taxi he was certain was headed towards Loki.

Taking his directions, I tried not to worry and headed towards the taxis.

Problem Number 9:
I asked everyone whom I could clearly communicate with where the taxi was headed, and each time I was assured that the said taxi was headed towards Loki. I did not really believe that I would make it to Loki in that taxi, but at the time it was my only real option.

I waited and waited and waited for the taxi van to fill with passengers.

After two hours of waiting the taxi's conductor, a man whose job it is to fill the taxi with passengers, approached my window.

After a brief greeting, the conductor whispered, "This taxi will not reach Loki tonight. The border closes at 5pm. If you travel with us, you will have to spend the night at the border. You must find a different option."

This man was a gift from God. An answered prayer.

Mr. Angel Conductor quietly told me to hire a personal taxi. Earlier, I had considered this option, but after much thought decided against it as I was nervous about traveling alone. However, at this point, with the clock nearing 2 pm, I weighed my options and settled with what I considered to be the least of the two evils.

I asked Mr. Angel Conductor to bring me his most trusted taxi man. And to the shouts and angry threats of his fellow workers he did so, giving his business to his opponent and possibly putting his very job on the line.

Problem Number 10:
So, with less than three hours to reach the border, I prayerfully entered the taxi.

I explained to the driver that I could NOT sleep at the border, that I MUST reach Loki tonight and that if he failed to deliver me to my said destination ON TIME I would NOT pay him the agreed upon amount, but rather the cheap public transportation price.

He seemed to get the idea, or so I thought.

Rushing away from the taxi park we traveled oh, about.... three whole city blocks before stopping for gas. You see, in Africa, it is quite rare to hire a taxi with a full and prepared for journey, tank of gas.

We pulled in to the gas station at 2:05 pm, exactly 2 hours and 55 minutes before the border closed.

I spent the next 40 minutes impatiently waiting for the driver to fuel the car and stewing about the fine art of inefficiency. I truly love Africa's slow-paced, laid-back approach to life. This approach drives many Westerners crazy, but it suites me - or it does 98% of the time. Yet, on this particular day my patience had run out. I had nothing left. I was quietly fuming with irritation over the disorganized, ineffective approach towards well, seemingly everything.

Eventually, my desire to be culturally sensitive, to blend in and not rock the boat ceased to be an option. I could wait no longer. I exited and locked the taxi, squeezed past the group of staring Taposa men and wandered behind the gas station in search of my driver.

I found him. With as much grace as I could muster, I asked him what in the wide, wide world of sports he was doing. To which he calmly informed me the generator, which allows gas to be pumped, was broken.

Nearing my boiling point, I kindly reminded this man that I would not pay him unless he got me through the border in the next two hours and 15 minutes!!!

At this time, Mr. Angel Conductor reappeared and filled the car with several water bottles full of spare gas he had somehow procured.

I sincerely thanked this kind-hearted man and quickly got back in the car.

The next two hours and 11 minutes were spent flying down the dirt roads of Sudan.

Though my taxi driver attempted to repeatedly convince me that there was no danger of missing the border, the speed with which he was driving and the fact that he kept checking his watch every ten minutes were telling signs that we might not.

I road most of the way with my eyes on the road, my hands gripping the seat and my mind wandering. I prayed continually. Asking God to forgive my impatience and short-temper. I asked for protection and peace about the uncertain night ahead.

At 4:56 pm, with four minutes to spare, we cleared the Kenyan border! I had never, in all my travels, been so relieved to enter a country!

About an hour and a half later, after more than 37 hours of VERY. STRESSFUL.TRAVEL, I finally made it to Loki. And a few moments after that, I finally met up with Daniel.

Daniel apologized for leaving me, though it really wasn't his fault, and informed me that he wasn't too worried about me - "I knew you'd find some way to get here."

I wonder if he also knew that I'd spend two solid days trying not to blubber in public like a big fat baby?

That first night out of Sudan was wonderfully blissful.

I washed off the day's sweat and dust with water that came pouring out of a wall. I think that they are calling this contraption a shower. I ate what was my third meal in four days! I devoured cheese, oh wonderful cheese, for the first time in three months! I didn't have to sleep at the border, by myself!

The following two days of road travel to Nairobi went off without a glitch - well, ok so there was one small problem of the brakes temporarily refusing to work - but besides that, it was great!

Loki Sunrise

Kenya

I am pretty sure some people pay a great deal of money for this -
4 wheeling through the Kenyan Desert!
Super FUN!

Traffic!

More Traffic - Turkana boys and their cows.

Out of the bush and headed into town.

The Elusive Group - Daniel, me, Susanna and Simon

A Merry Christmas in Sudan

2012-01-08T03:45:00.000-08:00

Homemade Eggnog!

I enjoyed another very merry Christmas in Sudan this year.
This year's highlights included:

Sharing Christmas Eve breakfast with my new hutmates: french toast, stewed peaches and local wild berries, homemade whipped cream and lattes! Yummy!
Watching the fellas slaughter our Christmas dinner - a really fat bull.
Seeing the church working together to selflessly donate and prepare a Christmas feast big enough to feed most of our mountaintop community!
A clear internet connection on Christmas evening, which aloud me to chat with my family on their Christmas morning.

Church on Christmas morning -
Joshua led the congregation through each and every verse of,
"If you're happy and you know it....".
Sure, it was a bit nontraditional, but hey what can I say...

Nagishot Youth Choir

We sang a bunch, we danced a little, we prayed,
we rejoiced at the coming of the King!

Didinga men ready for a funeral
errrr... I mean church.

Church Receiving Line
Each Sunday after church, the church body lines up to shake hands.
After this friendly exchange we often dance.

And speaking of dancing... last year one of my favorite parts of my Sudanese Christmas was the dancing. Joyful, spontaneous dancing.
This year there wasn't a great deal of dancing going on, but there was a whole lot of cooking... As I briefly mentioned early, the Nagishot church hosted a HUGE community feast on Christmas day. And, believe it or not, cooking for oh, let's just say a few hundred people, is not only time consuming, but extremely exhausting.
Though the urge to dance was still there, most of us were too busy, hot and worn on out to do so. Maybe next time...

The day's menu consisted of stewed beef and ahot.
Ahot, the Didinga staple food, is made from boiled water and corn meal.
When made correctly, ahot bares a surprising resemblance to Elmer's paste.
It's not my favorite - though, what do I know?
The Didinga love it!

Full belly = Happy Child

Little ones waiting for their Christmas meal - ahot and beef stew.

Snuggles from Yaya - my favorite Christmas gift.

Adelaide's favorite gift - her new tire swing.

Sisters, Linda and Acholin, showing off their new Christmas clothes.
Didinga people do not traditionally exchange gifts on Christmas.
Rather, those who can afford it (and even those who probably can't) purchase a new outfit for the special day. In most cases, these "Christmas Clothes" replace the previous year's "Christmas Clothes" and in turn become a child's sole outfit for the coming year.

Yaya smiles in her new Christmas fatigues???
In my humble opinion, a new Christmas dress might have been a better option for this baby girl - but I will be the first to say that she looks mighty cute in her new army gear.

My new hutmates: Abbi, Trey, me and Katie.

Thanks to Trey's determination we were able to take a few house pictures without the mangy compound dog, Simba, in the foreground.

Hoping that your Christmas, wherever and however it was celebrated, was filled with the true joy of Emmanuel.
Merry Christmas from our huts to yours!

Merry Christmas!!!

2011-12-23T00:35:00.000-08:00

Abona and Eunice left this Christmas tree outside of my tukal yesterday.

A very sweet reminder of home.

Decorating the porch and eating star shaped cookies

under a Sudanese full moon.

Merry Christmas,

Although the hope for a white Christmas is slim, we are doing our best to feel festive here in Sudan.

The other night, with Bing Crosby reminding us of Christmas’ past, we decorated our small plastic tree, ate star shaped cookie and strung solar powered twinkling white lights around the porch. All the while reminding ourselves that though it may feel like August, Christmas is here.

Though most Didinga are animists, they too celebrate December 25^th. Most suspect that in the early 1900’s the Italian missionaries first introduced the Didinga to the joys of Christmas. As is true in America, very often the truth of Emmanuel, the truth of the season, can be lost here in the midst of the hustle.

Yet, these days when Didinga are busy re-mudding their houses and walking miles upon miles to Chukudum to purchase new clothes – these days when most Americans are baking special holiday treats, sipping eggnog and decorating trees – these December days the whole world seems somehow ready for the coming of the King.

This will be my third Christmas here in Didinga. My, “It’s beginning to look like Christmas…” entails afternoons spent smearing black mud and cow dung on the interior walls of friends’ mudhuts. I am starting to associate the calluses on my hands, the result of hours spent decobbing corn, with the feasting that will surely come on the 25^th.

Being away from home right now is not easy. I miss my family.

Yet, the truth remains. God sent His son. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary. He lived and died for my sins and yours and those of the Didinga. And we rejoice! We are filled with joy , a joy that is deeper than family, turkeys, presents under trees and freshly mudded houses. For here in Sudan, far from family, but surrounded by new friends, craving turkey, pie and eggnog, but feeling satisfied with tough cow meat and wild greens, without a single present bought, wrapped or expected I feel the joy of the Christmas season. The joy of Emmanuel…

May you know this same joy as well!

Love/Hate Relationship

2011-12-22T05:47:00.000-08:00

I have a real love/hate relationship with technology.

The internet came to Nagishot last month. I was thrilled at the possibility of communicating with the outside world more frequently, yet more than a week passed before I finally logged onto the internet here in Sudan.

And though I still prefer a stamped, handwritten letter to an email, I am not above admitting that the internet is pretty amazing! In the last month, I have “chatted” with family and friends, Facebook let me know that Isla, my dear friend’s second daughter, had entered the world and also announced the passing of my dear, Aunt Florence. Skype has allowed me to wish my Mom a very happy birthday and email has logistically made my grocery shopping, which I should mention is done in a different country, much, much easier.

I, like most of the Western world, do partially love technology.

Yet, that is not the end of the story. Oh no!

In the beginning of December my computer crashed. Yep, the old thing just decided not to turn on one day. When it finally agreed to boot up (or whatever they are calling it these days) I discovered that all of my information was gone. Three years of pictures, all of my music, four not yet uploaded blogs, loads of information…. all seemingly gone.

While I was in the States, I purchased a fancy external hard-drive. I planned to re-save all of my important information just in case something were to happen. To-Do-Lists kept reminding me to use this new shiny device - the external hard-drive - but I am sick to say that I never did.

To say that I'm a bit upset about losing all of my information, is a vast understatement! I am calmer now, but at the time, I was literally sick to my stomach.

I am currently borrowing a computer. I will not be using my computer until I can have it looked at in Nairobi. Praying that the information may be retrieved.

Oh, technology…

New Hut-mates

2011-12-22T01:11:00.000-08:00

I don’t know about you, but I am not a real big fan of change. Well, I guess I should rephrase that, I am not a big fan of change that is completely out of my control. It makes me nervous, it gives me stomach aches, it stretches my faith. And stretching can be difficult.

In 2008 I moved to Sudan. Since then, I have lived in a mudhut or a tent with Elly and Tianne, two pretty wonderful women. I have laughed and danced, learned about the Didinga and myself and grown closer to God because of these two ladies. This year, I returned to Sudan without them.

The faces around my Didinga dinner table, the conversations and jokes shared, the lessons to be learned seem to be ever changing. Yet, God remains the same.

His goodness in this time of transition, from old to new, comforts me and lifts my eyes to His truth. The truth of His knowing what we don’t, His sovereignty, our Lord’s infinite love.

So, where are Tianne and Elly now that they are not here in Sudan?

In August, Tianne moved to the Philippines. She is currently enrolled at New Life Midwifery School, where her days are occupied with studies and her nights happily interrupted with deliveries. After graduating in 2013, she hopes to return to Central Africa as a missionary midwife.

Following God’s lead, Elly moved back to her home state, Florida. She is currently serving at Media, Africa Inland Mission’s retirement community. Her gentle spirit and love for the older generations have been a great gift to the retired missionaries residing there.

These days my Didinga house is full! My new hut-mates are great!

Making s'mores - Trey, me, Abbi and Katie

Twenty-four year old Trey, like most of his Lone Star neighbors, is proud to be from the great state of Texas. He arrived in Nagishot in late October as part of our Didinga teaching team. He hopes to split his time here between the classroom and assisting Jonathan with logistical and constructional needs. In August Trey will return to his third year of law school in the States.

Katie, a twenty year old from Maryland, also arrived here in late October. Her peppy and outgoing personality have been a great asset at the local clinic, where she is assisting. Her love for creating and baking has been a real asset to our dinner table! In early March, Katie will be returning to the States where she hopes to pursue her studies in either nursing or counseling.

Abbi, also twenty-four, grew up in Montana and Wyoming. Her playful spirit and heart for youth ministry will be a great benefit as a member of our teaching team here in Sudan. Abbi has just started her two year term. She is serious about learning the Didinga language. This eagerness to study has been a great encouragement to me in my language studies.

The new set-up: Katie and Abbi are sharing Tianne's old tukal,
Trey is in the middle, now residing in Elly's old house and I am still on the end.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T06:14:00.000-08:00

Mr. Nagishot Turkey

Watching the boys catch Mr. Nagishot Turkey

Killing Mr. Nagishot Turkey.... well, almost killing that retched bird.
I aborted the butcher-ship right about the time Mr. Turkey's head refused to come loose and his blood started squirting all over me.
It was pretty gross, but also extremely satisfying.
You see, Mr. Turkey had been attacking, scaring and bullying me for years.

The boys did a fine job frying Mr. Turkey,
while us ladies whipped up a few side dishes and pies.

We ALL feasted!
Mr. Nagishot Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, fresh green beans, American Stove-Top stuffing, cranberry sauce and, for dessert, pumpkin, berry and pecan pies!!!

It was a great celebration!

This Thanksgiving I have much to be thankful for:

my parents who have always loved and supported me
my 3 amazing sisters
for the patient love of God and the gift of Jesus
my 5 nieces and 3 nephews, whom I love!
for consistent prayer and financial support, which enables me to serve here in Sudan
sunscreen
for God's call to Didinga
my last Home Assignment - precious moments with family and friends
Internet in the bush
a teaching job and students that I love!
dried fruit
friends that are both near and far....
for my new hutmats: Abbi, Katie and Trey
for health when I have it and good medicine, that usually works, when I don't

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

October Pray Update

2011-10-21T01:05:00.000-07:00

Today I will be returning to the Didinga Hills of Sudan!

This past week in Kenya has been busy one. Time has been spent securing a RoSS - Republic of Southern Sudan visa (a very new process, for a very new country), running errands, catching up with friends living in Kenya and buying enough food and supplies to quite literally last me and my three new housemates until the new year (January of 2012 will most likely be my next break time out of Sudan).

This has been the hardest period of transition from home and separation from family I have yet to experience in my missionary career. And though the stress of goodbyes is no easy thing, I remain confident in God's calling. I gain strength in His love.

Thanks for continuing to partner with me through prayer and support to advance God's Kingdom here in Sudan.

Prayer Points:

As many of you already know, I will no longer have the privilege of serving in Sudan beside Tianne Cole and Elly Admiraal (Tianne is attending midwifery school in the Philippines and Elly is serving Stateside). This year three new missionaries will be joining our mission team in Nagishot. All three of these individuals will be moving into my Nagishot home with me. My home in Nagishot is very small and living conditions can, at times, be very stressful. Please pray for a united team and peaceful living conditions, for a home honoring to our Lord.
After settling back in, I would like to start a discipleship group with Lino, from Napep, and whoever else is interested from Nagishot. Please pray for these opportunities of sharing the Word of God.
Continue to pray for a peaceful new nation of Sudan.

In Him,
KIM

Yours, O Lord...

2011-10-17T04:45:00.001-07:00

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours."
1 Chronicles 29:11

American Campers Hiking, Cutting Wood, Picking Berries, Swimming and Smoring - A Look Back

2011-10-17T02:22:00.001-07:00

In Kenya now, preparing to head into Sudan later this week. Looking back at pictures of summer's glory days. Wanted to share....

4th of July and Memorial Day - Family Camping Trips at the St. Joe River

Hiking:

Oliver, Ella and Lily

Everybody loves a good long hike!

A BIG tree and a little girl.

Fun on the Water (note: the water was FREEZING!!!):

Good Morning Canoeing

Ella Fishes - I LOVE this picture!

The St. Joe River in The Sticks, Idaho

My oldest niece, Cassidy, with my nephew, Oliver

Nieces Tubing

Stephanie and I taking a go on the tube.

More nieces - Tanner Anne and Ella

Even more nieces! - Lily and Josie

Aunt Shirley smiles with Mr. Ollie

Huckleberry Picking:

Though the bucket was slow to fill, we sure did put in a valiant effort.
Dad, Mom, me, sister, Tamara and brother-in-law, Dave and his kiddos.

I love this little charmer!

Purple Hands + Purple Mouths = Empty Buckets

Getting Wood:
The fellas couldn't pass up a good opportunity to get a load of wood. Fortunately, I honestly like getting wood. Brings back memories of girlhood yesterdays...

Around the Fire:

Papa's Charred S'more

Uncle "Dite's" Four Wheeler

Aunt Vicki and Mom, Two Gourmet Camping Cookers

Home Asssignment

2011-09-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

As this Home Assignment comes to a close, I look back on my time with family, faithful supporters, old friends and their new babies with a smile.

While home I've kept busy traveling around the United States visiting friends, supporters and churches. Time has also been spent preparing for my eventual return to Didinga and enjoying special moments with loved ones, ones who I dearly miss when away. Currently, I have been working diligently to complete several Bible class requirements.

I will be returning to the newest nation in the world - the Republic of Southern Sudan - on October 10th!!!! Originally, I planned to return to Africa in late August or very early September. However, my flight schedule was inadvertently adjusted due to flight in-availability.

Although it is never easy to say goodbye, I am eagerly anticipating this coming term in Didinga. I am looking forward to returning to my jobs teaching in the primary school and training local Didinga teachers. Also excited, yet humbled, by the prospect of mentoring the new group of missionary teachers joining the Nagishot team this year.

These days my mind is often filled with plans for future Didinga discipleship groups and opportunities for continuing to build upon the relational foundation first laid in Napep back in 2008.

As I head back, please join me in praying for:
*a peaceful new nation - the Republic of Southern Sudan!
*for a like-minded, cohesively Christ-centered missionary team in Nagishot
*for Stateside goodbyes and upcoming African life adjustments
*fertile ground in the classroom, amongst the National teachers and Didinga friends - ground eager for hearing the Word of God and accepting the Son.

Thanks for your continued interest in my life and the lives of the Didinga, prayers and financial support. I couldn't be there without people like you!

New Address for AIM Headquarters

2011-09-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

Africa Inland Mission (AIM) has moved their US headquarters from Pearl River, New York to Peachtree City, Georgia. This information will effect anyone who sends their financial support through the mail. Please update your records.

The new address is:

Africa Inland Mission International
P.O. Box 3611
Peachtree City, GA 30269-7611
USA

Thanks!!!

Wyoming

2011-09-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

In mid-August I made the long trek east to Wyoming. Amelia, one of my dearest friends, calls the ruggedly beautiful state home. What fun it was catching up with her and her two little dearies - two year old, Jack and two month old, Peter.

The trip was not only a great opportunity to spend a bit of quality time with a good friend and her growing family, but also a much desired chance to catch up with a wonderful group of believers in Dubious, Wyoming. I first met the congregation at Wilderness Baptist Church back in 2009. Reuniting with the congregation was an immeasurable encouragement and a highlight of my time in Wyoming.

I am incredibly thankful for this congregation's prayers for the Didinga and the work which is taking place in Nagishot and Napep, as well as their financial support.

I have been greatly blessed by so many in Dubious!!!

Back in the day, Amelia and I found every opportunity we could to get outside. Over the years, some things have certainly changed - she's now a married mommy of two. However, some things have really stayed the same. With a little creativity, a few baby carriers and a good bit of determination, Amelia and I managed to fit in a few amazing Wyoming hikes.

Hike Number Two - Lake Louise

Peter and I hiking to Lake Louise

Lunch for all.

All this hiking would not have been possible without this great lady - Amelia's mom, Wendy. While Amelia and I carried the boys, she acted as the Sherpa/pack mule. Without a complaint, she packed enough diapers, snacks and water to get us all in and, perhaps more importantly, out of the wilderness. Thanks Wendy!!!

One good looking family.

And in reverse order, Hike Number Two - Jade Lake

Hiking to Jade Lake
Katmai the dog, Jack, me, Amelia, Peter (under the blanket), Amelia's dad, Dick and the mosquitoes (not pictured, but I promise you, they were ALL there!!!)

The wild flowers were in bloom. Beautiful!

My friend, the trooper. Because she could, Amelia hiked with her two year old strapped to her back and her two month old snuggled on her front. One strong momma!

Jack fishing with his grandma and grandpa.

Wunderwoman Triathlon 2011

2011-08-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

This past weekend my sister Stephanie and I competed in the Wunderwoman Triathlon. We swam, we biked, we ran our pants off. We had a great time! NO, scratch that. I should say, I had a great time competing until I started that blasted 5K run. That was anything but fun...

However, it was fun racing. I love a little healthy competition!
Oh, and did I mention that we raced against Alli from The Biggest Loser. Stephanie and I chatted with her a bit on the run. She was nice.

The race officials mark your age on the back of your leg.
In my opinion, this marking is an overt athlete humbling tactic.
You might be racing along thinking, "Hey look at me! I'm young, I'm fit, I'm a tri-ath-lete...". When all of a sudden, a perky, yet incredibly wrinkled, 107 year old will whip passed you on her ten speed huffy.
Humbling indeed!!!

We are ready for the swim.

My triathlon partner and sister, Stephanie, me and my cousin Angie.

My parents, my older sister Lachrisa, Stephanie's husband and kids, aunts, uncles and cousins were all up there cheering for us. Hearing my parents yelling for me as I emerged from the water after the swim, really brought me back to my high school athletic days.
They've always been my biggest fan!!!

There we are, green and pink.

And we are off!!!
I really loved competing in the swim.

Stephanie, in pink, finishing the swim.

Stephanie completing the run.
She doesn't even look like she broke a sweat!!!
I was there, finishing alongside her. Yet, after a painful run, one in which I accidentally poured sticky juice over my head, I wasn't looking my best...

Swimming, Biking, Running = FUN, FUN and FUN!!!

Salmon River Rafting Trip 2011

2011-08-23T15:01:00.001-07:00

It must be said...
Idaho has a whole lot more to offer than simply some tasty spuds. For those of us who enjoy riding inflatable tubes through whirling twirling white water, Idaho is a great place to be!

More than a few years ago, Stephanie, my sunshine-seeking sister, married Dave, a river lover. Stephanie favors the mercury rising and dreams of a tropical holiday. Dave's been known to kayak in the snow and even proposed to my sister while rolling his little blue play boat - a note reading, "Stephanie will you marry me?" was taped to the bottom of his kayak.

Stephanie said yes, she married Dave, they brought three blond haired cuties into the world, bought a mini-van, our grandparents' farm and a yellow river raft. Our family loves Stephanie, our family loves Dave, our family loves the three little blondies and now... our family loves river rafting.

Thanks to Stephanie and Dave, an annual Salmon River rafting trip has become something of a family tradition. I've missed the past few trips, what with it being something of a commute from Sudan and all. In this case, absence has in so many ways made the heart grow fonder - fond I certainly was of our four solid days of summer sunshine, the family camping, our cool river swimming and the two-run-a-day rafting trips!!!

Dad, Aunt Vicki, Aunt Shirley, Dave and I having a good ol' time!

Lily, Ella, Oliver, the sand alligator and I

Family Rafters
Unfortunately, my Mom broke a few ribs just a few days before the rafting trip. She couldn't join us on the river. We were pretty bummed for her, she loves to raft.

The kids are still too little to raft the river, but they had a great time "rafting" from one take-out to the other - a distance of about 200 meters.

Aunt Shirley

Dad, me and Stephanie

Cousins

Our capable guides - Stephanie and Dave
Thanks for the great trip!

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

2011-01-30T21:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

P3's Paintings

2011-01-26T03:27:00.000-08:00

"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"

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!

2011-01-26T00:17:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-01-22T04:21:00.000-08:00

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!

Rabies? Rabies!

2011-01-22T01:56:00.000-08:00

Meet Young Man.

Rose, Tianne's beloved Didinga dog, must have been something of a looker. In her two short years of life, she had something of four litters of puppies. When this last bunch came, the three of us carefully considered our track record with Sudanese pets and quickly decided that it would be best to get rid of the whole kit and caboodle of new, fine furry friends.

We started the process of divying out Rose's newest litter to friends, neighbors and former Sudanese political leaders. Young Man was given to our good friend, Philip Lajore. Unfortunately, the puppy wasn't the only young man living in that house. The responsibilities of feeding and oh, I don't know, taking care of the little critter somehow eluded our Sudanese buddy.

Eventually, Philip suggested a new, very Didinga-father-like, arrangement in which he would be the technical owner of Young Man, while we would assume all physical love and care of the puppy. And because we like Philip soooooo much and mostly liked the arrangement, we agreed to joint puppy custody.

Everything was going just great until a few weeks before Christmas when Young Man started acting strange. At first, we thought he had a cold or maybe a chicken bone stuck in his throat. With time, rather than improving, he stopped eating and then drinking. He seemed confused and was drooling like nobodies business.

We decided to do what anyone living in the bush, without a vet, would do. We self-medicated the pup. A little Doxycycline has never hurt anything.

The next morning, post-Doxy, Young Man was totally out of it and foaming at the month!

Yes, sing it with me now:

Young Man, was foaming at the mouth.
I said, Young Man's, head was twitching around.
I said, Young man, even started to growl.
So, we decided to kill him.

We hit him with a hard p-o-l-e.
We hit him with a hard p-o-l-e.

Now, can't you see, we didn't want to be cruel.
but who wants to die like a fool...

right before his demise
- photo was taken from my safe perch atop Elly's bed -

"Who's going to kill him?"
We were scared. Real scared.

Now, before you start to worry and wonder if Elly, Tianne and I are moments away from a painful and unusual vampire-like death, you should know that we are all quite safe and mostly sound at this point in time.

Once we started to suspect that Young Man might have rabies, we contacted our amazing team leader, and when needed fill-in father and doctor, Phil Byler.

Phil puts up with a lot from us Didinga girls and this little rabies fiasco was no exception. As you might have guessed, communication is no easy thing from Sudan. So, Phil stepped in and immediately started researching our risks of exposure and the proper steps to be taken in response to our contact with Young Man.

Within hours, our AIM family had consulted rabies experts (who informed us that a person can still be at risk of contracting rabies even if they weren't bit - major bummer!), located the proper rabies vaccinations and scheduled a pilot and flight to drop off the medication the following day.

We Didinga ladies are in VERY good hands!

Tianne and vaccine #1

Elly

and me...
I love this shot (no pun intended - hee hee)!!!

Anyhow, we started the five series rabies vaccination a few days before Christmas.

Keeping the shots cold and finding someone to administer them throughout the following month of road travel through Sudan to Uganda, Uganda to Rwanda, Rwanda to Uganda and Uganda to Kenya was no easy task, but hey, us missionaries are a resourceful bunch...

Regina

2010-12-15T13:35:00.000-08:00

Regina with Baby Thabon on Her Back

I just received this email from the Hills. Please pray...

"Regina passed away this week - the first in what we are hoping is not an epidemic of meningitis. There have been two more meningitis deaths since hers, and reports of others who are sick."

Regina's family compound was just up the hill from ours last year in Napep. She was a special young friend, a side-kick, a pleasant shadow to our daily lives. Her heart was soft. She loved to nurture - to mother. She was loved and will be dearly missed...

Please pray for the disease not to spread.

Two Little Girls - Pia and Regina

Mom and Dad's African Adventure Part I: Sudan

2010-12-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I received a very special gift. I was given the opportunity to share my life here in Africa with my parents. It was an experience that I will never forget.

Thank you Mom and Dad for stepping out of your comfort zone, for taking the time and traveling so far to see the people that I love here in Sudan.

I love you!

I head back to Sudan tomorrow. And although I could have written volumes about our African adventure, time is not on my side. So, for now, I will share these pictures and maybe add some stories later. Enjoy!

Dad and Mom - Africa Bound!

Flying Into Nagishot, Sudan

Tianne, Elly and I have imagined meeting a plane carrying our family members on our little Didinga airstrip for over two years.
What fun it was to have this fantasy actually come true!!!

The 2010 school year commenced while Mom and Dad were in Nagishot.
P3 with the Davey's

Laundry

Though I doubt Mom is ready to move to Sudan,
she couldn't deny the beauty of these Didinga Hills.

Mom with my good friend Joyce and her two sweeties - Janie and Katie

Aaaahhh, it was so nice to have a man around.
Dad fixed my bed and the outhouse door.
If he would have had the time, he would have reconstructed our whole house.

My parents sat in on a few of our classes.
Practicing for our Christmas pageant
(thank God for Lojure - singing is not a strength for me)

Our Didinga Kitchen

Thanksgiving Day
Making stuffing, fresh garden cooked carrots and pecan pie with mom.

Tianne killed and cooked the chicken, but Dad had the honor of carving it.
It was yummy!

Elly's pumpkin pie
(last January she brought canned pumpkin from the States just for Thanksgiving pie)
and the pecan pie Mom and I baked.

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Didinga with my Mom and Dad!!!
So special!

Mom, Dad, Tianne, Elly and I

Thanksgiving Dinner

Our Table

Our View

Heading to Napep
Mom and Dad were real troopers.
Though they were really jet-legged,
they hiked the ten miles to Napep in 90+ degree temperatures without complaining.

In the forest, on the way to Napep.

With Napep Friends

Dad LOVED sharing his video camera with everyone.

Dad with the men at the work party.

Sharing a Common Hobby

Nakong, Mom and Nakenya

Me with my Didinga Mom, Pia and her youngest son, Abona

Didinga Momma Grinding Corn

What a Gift - My Two Families

Mom and Dad meet my Didinga Grandma

Trying out a Didinga bow

We left Napep at 4 am so that we could make it home to Nagishot for Sunday's church service.
Most of the ten mile hike was done that morning in the dark.

Sunrise in Didinga
My Mom and Dad ROCK!!!

Mom and Dad's African Adventure Part II: Zanzibar, Tanzania

2010-12-15T05:25:00.000-08:00

"SMILE UR IN ZANZIBAR!"
So, we did!

Mom buying fabric in the open market.
We LOVE an open market!

You may not believe this, but it's true.
One afternoon Mom, Dad and I got massages!
Dad practically insisted that Mom and I also get a pedicure.
So, we did!

Bliss!!!

Mom's birthday dinner at my favorite Zanzibar restaurant,
the Red Flame Tree.
The jumbo shrimp are well, jumbo.

A daladala - Zanzibar's form of public transportation.
I love packing into the back of these open air trucks.
Mom and Dad were a little less impressed with the two hour cramped drive.

The Birthday Girl Combs the Beach

So Many Shells!

The boat ride back from our snorkeling trip to Chumbe Island.

Also, Beaut-i-ful!!!

Chumbe Island Lighthouse

Chumbe Island

Few things scare me, but heights most certainly do.
I could just imagine myself tripping and falling through the less than adequate railing
as I walked down the lighthouse's 250+ stairs.
I was sweating like a pig
and so tense that my legs were sore for almost a week afterward.

Much happier on the top of the Chumbe Island Lighthouse.

Catching the boat to Chumbe Island.
Check out Dad's shoes. His sandles were in the lost luggage...

Barefoot, Beach Dinner

The water on this beach was at least 90 degrees -
like a hot bath.

Spice Tour Lunch

Mom and I on the Spice Tour
We saw nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and clove trees,
plus the source of lots of other tropical treats.

Zanzibar Market

Mom and Dad bartering for fabric and island spices.

Old Slave Chambers
Zanzibar used to be a major slave trading post.

Mom's Shells

One Hot Momma!

Stone Town - Zanzibar

This is why I LOVE sunscreen.
An almost sunscreen free swim in Zanzibar is never a good idea.
Sorry Dad.

These girls were collecting seaweed, sea cucumbers and other sea treasures.

Two in Orange

Breakfast
Fruit, omelets, fresh bread, real butter, fresh squeezed juice and chai.

We spent two nights in a little seaside town on the east side of the island.
Mom and I spent her birthday morning walking the beach, searching for shells and watching the local women and children collect seaweed.

Aaaahhh, yes...

Chumbe Island

Enjoying the view from the top of Chumbe Island's lighthouse.

Mom and Dad tasting a new and obviously tasty tropical fruit on the Spice Tour.

Spice Tour
Jak Fruit - a cross between a banana and a pineapple - not my favorite.

Mom and Dad's African Adventure Part III: Masai Mara Safari

2010-12-15T04:51:00.000-08:00

The Masai Mara impala, elephant and sleepy lion living it up in Kenya!

Inside our tented camp.
It was rainy and COLD the first day!!!

Dad found this toilet at the entrance of the park.
I am sad to say, that in the 3 1/2 weeks my parents were in Africa they never experienced a real nasty squatty potty. This one is pretty plush.
Now, what kind of tour guide was I?

Guinea Fowl

Beaut-i-ful Africa!

Sausage Tree

Grey Crown Crane

Mom and Dad in the Safari Van

Zebras

Little Antelope and Tree

Mom and Dad in front of our safari tent.

Masai Mara in the Rain

Lions Playing

Mother and Child

Zebra with Rain on the Horizon

Referendum

2010-12-14T23:52:00.000-08:00

Referendum registration center in Nagishot, Sudan.

Registering

Lojore with his Referendum registration voting card

Ready to vote!

On January 9, 2011, after six years of relative peace between Sudan’s Arab North and African South, the Compression Peace Agreement will be ending. The Referendum offers Southern Sudan the opportunity to remain one unified country or succeed from Northern Sudan, depending upon the January vote.

Sudan’s history has been a tumulus one. Please join us in praying that God’s will, whether it is in the form of unity or separation, will be done through the January Referendum. Pray that peace would reign in the country of Sudan.

Please pray for:

Godly leaders to rise up in Sudan.

For God’s will to be done on January 9, 2011.

For a peaceful resolution.

October 14th, 2010

2010-12-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

October 14th, 2010
Praising God for these past 2 years in Sudan!!!

but I wanted to spare the rod...

2010-12-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

I am guessing that if you asked most teachers what their least favorite part of teaching was, most would say either a.) huge loads of paper work, b.) working with overbearing or under-bearing parents or c.) disciplining students.

The only paperwork I do these days, is that which I have deemed essential and it is a blessing to say that so far, all of my encounters with Didinga parents have been nothing but positive.

However, I am going to tell you a little secret. Promise not to tell? As shocking as this may seem, life is not perfect here in Sudan.

Every culture, every generation is affected by certain sins, certain strongholds. Oh, we Americans have ours. We most certainly do! And the Didinga, well they have theirs too.

Methe, the local brew, is their god. They structure their every living moment around it. They work for methe, they play for methe, and they starve themselves and their children for that all consuming drink.

My class, though indirectly affected at this point by methe preparation and consumption, is directly affected by another Didinga cultural sin – dishonesty.

In the last few months, student after student has been caught lying, stealing, and cheating inside the walls of P3. Even the most unassuming and lovable little tykes have flat out lied, though not well, to my face.

I have lectured and praised good behavior. I have punished the whole class for the folly of one, I have made everyone run sprints until a little liar came forth revealing what we all knew to be true. Water has been carried and recesses have been missed.

And though we have had no repeat offenders, so to speak, each week there seems to be a new ten year old eager to see if Teacher Kim’s patience will falter.

In late October, I realized what most of you probably would have realized months before.

For a Didinga child, there is only one end to a serious offense – an “amogee” or spanking. Any other punishment, though it might be less than enjoyable, is not taken seriously.

In other words, I can talk until the cows come home, quoting the Bible and explaining not only my displeasure, but God’s in light of a student’s dishonesty. However, my students were seemingly unable to see their offenses as a true flaw in their forming character and harmful to others, until I showed them that it was.

Remember the movie, Anne of Avonlea? In the beginning of that movie, Anne has to swat one of her students. A big frizzy haired girl who I think was named Josephine. Anne hesitated spanking the child, but in the end, she knew that she must. The first time I didn’t spare the rod or spoil the child, I think I felt exactly the same way that this literary icon must have (if ol' Anne was real, of course).

Though most that have been spanked have never shed a tear, I always get choked up. My tears are those of disappointment, love and prayers for the very souls of these children.

Please join me in praying that the sins keeping my students’ parents in darkness, will be pushed aside as these children turn towards the light of Jesus.

Playing House

2010-12-14T10:23:00.000-08:00

Our little neighbor Nacore has a charming way of poking her dirty little hands into everything. She’s inquisitive to say the least.

One afternoon, Nacore’s figure wandered into my tukal, bound and determined to pull me away from the lesson I was trying to plan. Not yet ready to be interrupted, I settled this little lady down with a bag of plastic bears I hadn’t yet taken over to the school.

Her play was so interesting, so familiar, that it didn’t take me long to leave my working perch on the bed.

Sitting beside her, I watched her without redirection.

After putting every bear into one meandering line, she carefully divided the bears into small family groups. A mom, dad and several children were always represented, with the wee one either on the back of the mother bear or breast-feeding in the front. Next, each small bear child was given its appropriate Didinga birth order name.

Watching her play I was pulled back to days of yesteryear. Long afternoons spent in my parents’ loft playing “Block People”, Barbies and dolls with my sisters.

Nacure, a girl growing up in a remote Sudanase village, a girl who has never set foot in a toy store or lumbered glossy eyed in front of Saturday morning commercials, plays ‘house’ just like I did all those years ago in Valleyford, Washington as a girl.

Is it just me, or is this somewhat strange?

Though I haven’t tested it, I am super curious to see how a little Didinga boy would play with those same colored bears. Do you think that he would put them in small family groups, taking good care to breast-feed the wee one? I am guessing not!

A bit of nurture, a dab of nature and a great deal of God’s handy-work knits together the little boys and girls of the world.

Map Day

2010-12-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

Friday, November the something (it was awhile ago) was Amazing Race Map Day at school!

After weeks of studying maps in the classroom, my little explorers were ready for a true mapping adventure.

The class was divided into three competing teams. Each team received a map with a different circled Nagishot location, such as the airstrip, clinic, football field or the market. The goal was to read the map, travel on foot to the location as quickly as possible, and complete a pre-determined task such as a multiplication and or double digit addition/subtraction practice sheet (ok, so the tasks were slightly less edge-of-your-seat-exciting then the real Amazing Race, but this is school people, not an episode of reality television). Once the task was successfully completed, a second, third and then later a fourth map was given to the group until they were ultimately led to our front porch, where I was waiting for them.

After racing up and down these Nagishot hills, everyone was pretty hot and tired. The cold juice, popcorn and bubble gum, for the winning team, were received with big smiles and appreciation. As a special treat, we watched a BBC Planet Earth, Pole to Pole, video. Actually, I should say they watched a video. I was much more interested in watching their eyes grow wild with excitement as their world grew to include such peculiarities as snow, penguins and the great white shark.

Yes, teaching sure is fun!

30!

2010-09-27T02:26:00.000-07:00

So, it turns out that I am 30!

Never one for birthday parties, but wanting to side-step what I presumed to be an inevitable post 20's depression, I planned a grand 30th Birthday Traveling Adventure well over a year ago. However, despite all of my out of character forward thinking and all those months of traveling anticipation, I found myself alone and in Nagishot on the 14th of September.

However, something pretty incredible happened. I had a pretty great birthday!

I spent the morning weeding my flourishing garden. I had cheese for lunch. I met my Didinga friend's brand new healthy baby girl, Katherine Nganga. I watched the first part of, Gone with the Wind, while eating dark chocolate. I opened 30 presents from the Hildebrandt family. Packages that included things like:

1 candle
2 loaves of bread
6 bouillon cubes
9 potatoes
14 pieces of toilet paper
19 Starburst candies
22 Bible verses
24 chocolate cupcakes
30 words of encouragement

30 Presents!!!

I went on a long, quite unexpectedly, muddy walk at dusk and then sat around the fire, talking (ok, mostly trying to decipher the Didinga, Arabic and Acholi being spoken) and eating chocolate cupcakes with the compound.

I didn't spend the 14th jumping out of a plane over a red sand dune in Namibia. I didn't celebrate with my closest friends or family. There weren't 30 candles to blow out or secret birthday wishes to ponder. There was no grand Zambian - Namibian adventure or wild night out on the town. Yet, it was special. It was sweet.

The Didinga people don't celebrate birthdays or keep track of their ages in years. And really, I suppose the idea of a birthday should not be to number an individual's days, but an opportunity to show our friends, our children, moms, dads, sisters and brothers just how much they are loved. How we see Jesus working in their lives.

And on my birthday, I truly felt loved. I did not feel alone, but in the company of Christ. I felt special and cared for. It was a day in which I was once again blessed with the sweet reality that I am held and protected by the Father of Lights. It was a good day to be 30 years YOUNG!!!

We can just call that mud,
though the cows all might call it something else...

Mudhuts, Crows and Monkeys = My Life

2010-09-11T04:48:00.000-07:00

After living in a tent for about five months, our Didinga houses were FINALLY finished!!! It was so very nice to upgrade into the mud huts.
Now, how many people can honestly say that...

Mudding

Building Supplies

Home Sweet Home!
My hut is on the far left, Elly's is in the middle and Tianne's is on the far right.

African House - African Dress

Yep, I love this one!

In May, when I finally returned to Hills after my extended time out due to Sudan's April elections and my infected right foot (which healed up quite perfectly - still thanking God and Tenwek Hospital for that), I came home to an expanded household.

Tianne, an extreme animal lover, had rescued an abandoned baby crow, who she later named Bell Ladonna. Bell Ladonna enjoyed spending her Didinga days incessantly cawing and pooping on the dish rack. Sadly, this crow's life was cut short when a little boy, with a good shot, killed her with an arrow (and no, I had no part in this birdies premature demise).

The crow was not the only new addition to the compound. Jonathan and Lauren, our fellow Didinga missionaries, bought themselves a wild monkey, which they named Lomilong.

Rose, Atlas, Lomilong and Bell Ladonna - True Friends
I have to admit, that it was pretty entertaining to watch two dogs, one crow and a monkey
play, eat and sleep together.

There for awhile, we had two dogs - Rose and Atlas (Elly's dog Compass had already been killed in a fatal dog fight) - one crow and a monkey hanging around. However, that was short lived. Bell Ladonna was shot and my puppy, Atlas, was killed. These days, the household includes Rose, and what will be her 3rd litter of puppies, and Jonathan and Lauren's now orphaned monkey.

For me, a self-proclaimed non-animal lover, it all takes a bit of adjusting and a great deal of patience.

Cows and the Results of Rain Producing Clouds

2010-09-11T02:31:00.000-07:00

Didinga Shepherd Boy

Handmade Cowbells

The rains came... blessing us with all of this.

Tianne, my 6 foot 2 housemate, and this season's TALL bounty.

"I LOVE rainy season!!!"

In Napep last year, I realized that I am a gardener. This year the planting has proved to be a bit more of a challenge, but still most defiantly worth the effort.

Lettuces, Dill, Parsley, Carrots, Basil... and me.

A bit of this years garden - my trellised peas.

Tianne with her apron on, ready to cook, sharing her garden's bounty.

Cooking with vegetables that you have planted, watered and weeded is just SO. MUCH. FUN!!!

Term 2

2010-09-06T05:58:00.001-07:00

Some of P3
(about 10 students were out sick when this was taken,
it hit me hard the following day)

Janie - Natukoi

Popo's Good Start to Each School Day - Singing, Drills and Very Straight Lines

Term 2 ended on the first of August. To be honest, I was a bit sad to say goodbye to my students for the vacation month.

I started the term off with a pre-assessment, a what-do-we-already-know sort of test. It showed that only about four students could successfully write their complete capitol and lower case alphabet and of those four, only two students could recognize more than 10 letter sounds. On the math front, most were having trouble with simple addition, still adding with their fingers and toes!

However, in two short months, about forty days of school, some real progress was made.

Our end of the term assessment showed that all but two of my 25 or so students could, without mistake, write both their capitol and lower case alphabet, most were able to recognize all 26 letter sounds AND some had actually started to read simple English words - which is a MAJOR feat when one considers they are not only learning how to read for the first time, but also how to speak English and read English!!! Now, how 'bout that!

We were busy with math as well - single and double digit addition, even and odd numbers, skip counting, looking for and identifying patterns, fact families...

This next term, Term 3, I am hoping to:

Start teaching PE as a means of encouraging students to work together for a common goal (not a strong Didinga trait), providing a physical outlet for girls and just because I think that it will be FUN.
Set aside, and actually use, class time for prayer and worship.
Look into starting an after school Bible Club - physical games, a Bible story and prayer.
Begin observing and mentoring fellow teachers.

Teacher Training

2010-09-06T02:25:00.000-07:00

At the request of Pastor William and Eunice, I started the process of training local Nagishot teachers.

While I was in school, training to be a teacher, I dreamed about someday teaching in a small bush Christian school, while also training national teachers. This year, God has been quite generous with me, opening doors and presenting opportunities to both teach in the classroom and train local teachers.

In June, after church one Sunday, I held my first Nagishot teacher training. In the beginning, I was a bit reluctant to hold the trainings on my Sabbath, as I was keen on reserving them for church, long walks with my Lord and working in my garden. However, Eunice believed that Sunday was the only appropriate choice, as the teachers would be busy in their gardens and/or classrooms the rest of the week.

To claim that the first training was a great success, would be a down right lie! Only three teachers showed up and one of them had well, how should I say this, sampled a bit too much of the local speciality and proceeded to sleep through the majority of the training.

The second training was no better. Only two teachers (though a different two from the previous three) showed up, both 45 minutes late. After hours of preparation and waiting, I ended up cancelling the lesson.

At this point, I felt it might be best to forgo the whole thing, but Pastor William and Eunice remained adamant that I train the local teachers. Rather than bi-monthly Sunday trainings, as was originally planned, Pastor William suggested that I use a week during the August school break for the trainings.

So, on the second Monday of the month, we held our third teacher training. Thirteen teachers showed up that Monday morning and almost all of them were on time!

I started this training in the same way that I had started that first Sunday training. I began by asking the gathered teachers what they hoped to get out of these teacher trainings, what they wanted to learn and the issues that they struggled with in their own classrooms?

At the initial training in June, I had been met with blank stares when I asked these same. However, this time I made up my mind and let the group gathered know, that if they could not answer any of these questions or if they were only in attendance because they felt a certain unsaid pressure from either Pastor William, Eunice or myself to do so, I assured them we should all go home, have a cup of chai and call it a day. And the truth is, I really meant it.

Why did I say these things?

Most people on the mission field can literally think of 131 examples of foreigners coming into an area, doing this or that project for the people, and finding that once they have left a community their great ideas, life changing practices and nifty development projects are pushed to the wayside for lack of National ownership.

I had just finished reading, When Helping Hurts, a great book for those of us working with the poor both overseas and locally. This year I have been struggling with my understanding of poverty and our Christian responsibility and response - What does it mean to be poor? Are the Didinga really poor? When is relief work appropriate? What about development? Though my understanding of these concepts is still incomplete, this book defiantly opened some different avenues of thought on the subject (future book report blog? - maybe.)

Anyways, the book also talks a great deal about Nationals participating - ie. planning - in their development. With this in mind, I knew that I could not lead this teacher training, if the 13 men gathered were unwilling to play a role in the event.

Thankfully, after I explained these concepts to the men gathered, giving specific examples from their own community, I began to see a change in the group's mood. The teachers proceeded to speak for at least 45 minutes about their personal struggles in the classroom, almost every man suggested a topic for the upcoming trainings and most of them spoke honestly about why they WANTED to have these teacher trainings. And it was then, and only then, that I knew we were ready to start.

This is what we studied:
Monday - Lesson Planning (Day, Week and Term Planning)
Tuesday - Assessments (When, Why, How of Testing)
Wednesday - Classroom Management (How to teach WITHOUT a big stick!)

By the end of the week, there were about 17 teachers in attendance. Everyone was awake, most were enthusiastic participants and I dare say, they might have even learned a helpful thing or two about teaching!

Bush Communication

2010-09-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

Our Sudan Internet Cafe

Well, since January of 2010 our BGan satellite internet system has worked for a total of three whole weeks. That is not good odds for a system as expensive or as important as this one.

I am taking the pesky system to the AIM technology department this week. Praying the computer folks can restore our bush communication with the outside world.

Thanks again to all of you who did write, even when I did not.

We Didn't Steal the Thunder Stone... This Year

2010-09-03T05:18:00.000-07:00