Home Assignement and Future Plans!!!

In mid-July I will be flying home to the States for my scheduled Home Assignment.  While home I would love to meet up with you to share a bit of what God has been doing in the Didinga Hills of South Sudan as well as hear what our Lord is doing in your life.

After Home Assignment, as a means of completing AIM’s Bible requirements and building a stronger personal Biblical foundation for future mission service, I will be taking a year long Educational Leave from Sudan to attend Bible school.  I will remain active with AIM throughout this upcoming year, as I do plan to return to my work in Didinga after this time of full-time study.

 After nearly five years of service amongst the Didinga people, I have grown to love them, my work and life there.  I originally planned to complete most of my Bible requirements as a member of the Didinga TIMO team.  However, when that team ended early, I was left with several unmet Bible requirements.  Though I am sad to leave my work in Didinga, even for a year, I am excited about this opportunity to diligently study God’s word, as I believe that it will deepen the cornerstone for my work amongst the Didinga people, my faith, while also serving as a catalyst towards effective future ministry in Sudan.

I am applying to several Bible schools – praying and researching my way through this decision.  I would appreciate your prayers as I attempt to choose the appropriate school, make a cross-continental move, transition back into life in the Western world after years of mud-hut living and attempt to fully trust in God the great Planner and Provider – while living a life which currently a bit chaotic.    

Bible Camp - The answered prayer addition!

Camp was amazing!

There were so many answered prayers, so many opportunities to see God at work.  Here are just a few…

Weather - Some may say that organizing two, mostly outdoor, Bible Camps in the middle of rainy season is not a good idea.  And yet, God is so much bigger than the weather.  Realistically, the possibility for rain to have literally washed out these camps was almost inevitable.  However, due to the faithful prayers of many, God miraculously held back the rain.   

Our first camp was held under sunny summer-like skies, without so much as a drop of rain.  The second week, as Didinga farmers started to complain about their dry fields, we were emboldened to pray more specifically for clear skied teaching periods and evening showers.  God answered these prayers as well  How awesome it was to see the mighty hand of God providing for these practical everyday needs. 

Our team flew out of Nagishot on a Saturday.  The torrential rains started shortly after that!

Health – Even though most of our Colorado team, both Didinga translators and Abbi struggled with foul tummies, a severe cold and general weariness throughout the two weeks of camp, God always provided enough strength for these individuals to carry out their daily duties.  No one missed a single lesson – though many could not stray far from the outhouse! 

I am happy to report that all are feeling much better today!

National Participation – Though it has never been done before and everyone said that it would be impossible; we had AMAZING national volunteer staff participation for both camps!!! 
 

Our rockin' camp staff!!!

While planning for these Bible camps, Abbi and I were repeatedly warned that Didinga people, even those in the church, would not freely volunteer their time, energy or services for the church. 

In the past, we have repeatedly experienced and been frustrated by this pervasive selfish attitude.  However, we felt quite strongly that without a call to selfless service, our Didinga church body could never spiritually mature.

So, it is with a very happy heart that I share with you the news of our incredible national participation in both Didinga camps!!! Our translators, junior counselors and cooks all served with their whole body, heart and soul!  In fact, after the first camp, we had young ladies asking if they too could join the service party!   

The national staff far exceeded my expectations and anything I have ever seen in South Sudan – they truly served with joyful spirits.   Praise GOD!!!

Lokolong, Lugia, Yaya and Lubia - our camp drama team. They performed a Gospel drama each morning, as a means of introducing new concepts.

The junior counselors helping others decorate their camp-made candles.

Nakoris and Tim teaching a Bible lesson.

Unity - It was amazing to see God unify our Didinga/Western team.  Whether it was playing volleyball or UNO, teaching God’s word or hiking with heavy loads on our heads across the hillsides to camp each morning – there was an overpowering spirit of love and harmony amongst the team.  People were truly one-anothering, helping the least of these and doing it all with an seemingly unexplainable joy.  

Our second camp was held across the valley - each morning 8 jerry-cans of clean water, craft supplies, teaching tools and the day's camp food was portered from one hillside to the other.

Youth Night - UNO!

Preparing gizari - boiled beans and corn - for the campers' noon day meal.

Being a part of this team was one of the greatest blessings I have ever experienced in Sudan.

Campers – We had no idea how many children would actually attend camp.  We were hoping and planning for up to 80 children at each camp for a total of 160 little ones.  We were blessed with between 90 to 100 plus campers at our first camp and around 60 at our second.

Prayer at the 2nd Camp

Football!
Capture the Flag was another HUGE hit - I am not sure who had more fun - the campers, the junior counselors or us adults...

Students were eager to learn and for the most part very receptive to the Gospel message.

The Sunday after our initial camp, the church was filled with youngsters, many who rarely, if ever, attend church.  We believe these camps laid a wonderful foundation for future ministry opportunities.

Thanks again for your prayers!

VBS CAMP - PART 1

Laundry

"God created me!" Drawings

I love this one...

and this one!!!

We just finished our 2nd full day of Vacation Bible Camp.  We are busy, busy, busy... so, I will have to make this quick.

Our short-term team from Colorado arrived safely and is, to say the least, amazing!!!  

The Bible camp is going well - what a joy to serve!!!

Here are the latest prayer points:

• Health - A nasty cold is going around.  Abbi is not feeling great, some of our American short-termers are feeling physically down and our Didinga translator is feeling weak.  Pray for renewed strength.   
• Weather - The weather has been sunny and warm - absolutely beautiful!  Though we are technically in the middle of rainy season, it has not rained for more than three weeks!!!  We thank God for His provision in regards to the weather, but also do pray for the rain to return this weekend (while the camp is not in session).  Crops are getting quite dry.
• Teaching - Pray that we would teach with authority and Christ's love.  Pray that God would equip each and every one of us with culturally relevant illustrations/examples which bring God's Word to life, so that each camper would truly grasp a hold of the truth.
• Pray that we as "teachers", despite the craziness of the camp schedule,  would live in communion with Christ - taking time for individual pray and devotion to the Father.

Got to run,
KIM

Their coming...

Please pray for: Nicole, Amber, Ellanah, Ethan, David and Tim, our VBS short-term team, as they begin their almost three day series of flights to Nagishot, South Sudan tonight!!!

Pray that: · 

• Their flights would all be on time. · 
• They will be able to rest on the plane and not be too weighed down by jet-leg. · 
• That all the details would go smoothly. · 
• Their families back home would not be too worried or concerned for their new missionaries! · 
• This trip would be full of growth, learning and fruit for all who are involved. · 
• Our team would work as one in the Spirit. ·
• For spiritual, physical, emotional... 

and perhaps, mental health!!!

Thanks - and we'll be sure to keep you posted as the camps get started.

Two Weeks and Counting VBS Prayer Points

Progress on our Didinga VBS camps is going well and with only two weeks until go day, excitement is in the air!

The curriculum and logistics seem to be coming together well, we thank God for that.  Here are some more ways that you can pray:

Weather: Nagishot weather is unpredictable.  This week we have enjoyed beautiful spring-like temperatures, but last week we waded through torrential downpours.  We continue to pray for fair skies throughout the VBS camps. 

April showers have indeed brought May flowers to Nagishot, South Sudan!

Curriculum:  Our Colorado short-term team has been a major help in creating a workable VBS curriculum.  Please continue to pray for us all as we complete the remaining lessons.

Camp National Workers:  This Tuesday evening we will have our first National VBS team meeting.  Please pray for enthusiastic National participation.  Pray too that we would all be united as we minister to the youth here in Didinga

Campers:  Right now we have absolutely no idea how many campers will actually come to camp each day.  We are hoping to have several registration days, yet even with this planning in place it will still be hard to predict actual camp numbers.  Please continue to pray that God would send those children who are ready to hear and receive His Good News.

Short-term Team: Our team will be arriving in Nairobi, Kenya in ten short days!!!  Please pray that everything would go smoothly (flights, visas, health, last minutes preparations…).  Across the pond logistics (with little to no internet access) has not been easy task, but we know that God is in control.

Thank you for being a vital part of our team!!!

Prayer for Didnga VBS

This past week Abbi and I have been busy with Vacation Bible School preparations.  It has been exciting to see how God has been working out all the small details and pushing this camp forward.

Here are some more ways that you can pray for the Vacation Bible School:

Camp Curriculum:   Though there are some similarities in planning and preparing for a Stateside and foreign VBS, there are also many huge differences to take into account, such as: culture, language, illiteracy…  Finding a pre-packaged VBS curriculum, which would translate well here, has proven to be problematic.  With this in mind, we have been pulling from several different resources to create a solid lesson set.

Please pray with us for wisdom and direction in the preparation of camp curriculum.

Campers: Pray that just the right children would come to camp in May.  Pray that God would already be working to soften these children’s hearts, so that may be ready to hear and understand His word.  Pray too that their parents, their work (planting, weeding, shepherding, babysitting…), sickness, hunger… would not prevent them from attending camp. 

Weather:  Rainy season has already begun here in Nagishot.  By the time this camp roles around in late May, rainy season will be in full swing.  Weather could be a huge obstacle, as children will have to walk great distances each morning/afternoon, shelter will be minimal and we would love to conduct sports and other activities outside throughout the week.

 

Rain + Didinga VBS = sad face 

Of course, God is in complete control of the weather.  Pray for fair Bible camp weather (8am to 4pm).

Small Details: Provision of finances for camp food and supplies, flight schedules for Colorado short-termers, national translators, camp cooks, cross-continental planning for camp supplies, curriculum and logistics…

Thanks for praying!!!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Didinga VBS!!!

In late May, we will be hosting three, three day Vacation Bible Schools here in Didinga.

We hope to use these Vacation Bible Schools as a means of evangelism, structuring the lessons with a clear and concise outline of the Gospel.  The camps will be open to children ages five to thirteen.

As a strategy for reaching more children, we will be holding these camps in three separate locations. 

The first location will be here in Nagishot.  Many children here in Nagishot have had some previous exposure to God’s word through the local church, Sunday school and daily Bible teaching in school. 

Our next location will be in Thuguro, a neighboring village.  We anticipate these children to have had some exposure to the Gospel, though not nearly as much as the children here in Nagishot. 

Our third and final location is planned for Napep.  Napep is a true Didinga interior village, and due to its very remote location, its children have had little to no exposure to the Word.

Abbi and I see the potential impact this camp could have in reaching Didinga children for Christ.  We also realize that this is a huge undertaking and would be extremely difficult to pull off alone.  With this in mind, God in His goodness, has provided brothers and sisters in Christ to assist us with this project. 

A team from a small Bible college in Colorado - three women and three men - will be joining us in this great endeavor. Pray for them as they prepare to come to Nagishot in just five short weeks!!!

Would you like to be a part of this Didinga, Vacation Bible School?  

If so, here are some ways that you can help:

•   An AIM project fund has been created to help with upcoming VBS costs.  To give directly to this AIM fund go to: https://giving.wesupport.org/gift2/gift.php?GUID=B259EAB9-5D37-46C5-A37B-C5089310A397&i=1102&c=A-Catalog&dt=1 and type in my last name (Davey) in the search box - our project is called "Nagishot VBS". 
  

• Financially assist a Bible student with their airfare costs.  Contact me for information: kiminsudan@gmail.com.

• Sponsor camp craft materials and/or sports equipment. Contact me.

• Pray!!!  By far, the greatest help in this whole endeavor is prayer. We greatly believe that with prayer everything is possible. We will be posting weekly prayer requests for this camp and ask that you join us in bringing these items before the throne of grace.

We have prayed for this opportunity and through a series of circumstances, God has opened the door for this project. God’s timing is often not our timing. May is just around the corner and there is much work to be done! 

However, we are expectant, eager to see how God will not only provide for the financial camps needs, but also how He will use this Vacation Bible School in the lives of children here in Didinga. 

In Him, we go forth and by grace declare His glory. 

Thank you for joining us!