tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78278102591644138722024-03-18T10:48:38.707+01:00Embracing HopeThe blog of Bob and Kristi Rice,
serving in South SudanBob and Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14229908983776156454noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-35892746702959649932024-03-14T14:29:00.001+01:002024-03-14T14:32:33.646+01:00Pouring Water on New Plants <div class="separator">This time of year, Uror county is dry and brown, with small scattered
trees. Cows have been taken some distance away from the towns to find grass and
water. The dry season is nearly over, so people are preparing their fields for when
the rains come. But there is pervasive fear and struggle for hope, because of
the fear of being attacked in rural areas. The people of Uror have suffered
numerous attacks in recent years by some from a neighboring tribe who
steal cattle, kidnap women and children, and sometimes kill people. Many have
been displaced in the attacks, even after they were recovering from the war and
devastation of 2013.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9NPrcpIIwL5Be6uooSCSJOFZxAsX8tE14LrCgGTBIzfleVS40FLt0piNWjQGQ4xpCAQvd7CcfRMWLmTou2M_KYm5S3onlJ38VBkYq-BgMccpVnVUpHP9aqR1N_PXRaAI3yF2OY3hNUc0SZEb5-Y9d-kGIpm56Kwp-Y82AhGPblRM7w3mL774AuymAQ/s3484/Yuai%20from%20plane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="3484" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9NPrcpIIwL5Be6uooSCSJOFZxAsX8tE14LrCgGTBIzfleVS40FLt0piNWjQGQ4xpCAQvd7CcfRMWLmTou2M_KYm5S3onlJ38VBkYq-BgMccpVnVUpHP9aqR1N_PXRaAI3yF2OY3hNUc0SZEb5-Y9d-kGIpm56Kwp-Y82AhGPblRM7w3mL774AuymAQ/s320/Yuai%20from%20plane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The central town of Yuai as we are landing on the airstrip</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0qKPw1mJOKIPqjdCmkhGe0doUXZJglRW-IiVUMlS-wTx0j2ky4PFHQzmYudBJcPiK0iL_ielA_rlW-fWoE9GJRK_u37k82ugD_RGAGx2CuYsJhilT5yCHubKyLyRj5jGh2I-mvmQ-0QpO_MqhLGzYZsqJGJjhhHCrw984UYfxdBTAOuieqc5z7QG_g/s3049/Yuai%20water%20point.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="3049" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0qKPw1mJOKIPqjdCmkhGe0doUXZJglRW-IiVUMlS-wTx0j2ky4PFHQzmYudBJcPiK0iL_ielA_rlW-fWoE9GJRK_u37k82ugD_RGAGx2CuYsJhilT5yCHubKyLyRj5jGh2I-mvmQ-0QpO_MqhLGzYZsqJGJjhhHCrw984UYfxdBTAOuieqc5z7QG_g/s320/Yuai%20water%20point.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A bore-hole for getting water requires hours of waiting in line</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNkhhGoikqUeLMhwiqLwhN-Fd7wFjd0VHTU4nRpdHtFr19g5-VreQva_ImliwNWyYJvjPkjGQgsqUxkcu8lYRMdicQgvGGrwYl3_B1ljDqM6zbeWCJQtHDM3Ae6QfjyAEpLVIMz-za_jDvBXJjRbJtbJmuD22aoQ_X53hjUWCuxWlDvoXt2nA2UPKyA/s3226/Yuai%20house%20with%20art.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1815" data-original-width="3226" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNkhhGoikqUeLMhwiqLwhN-Fd7wFjd0VHTU4nRpdHtFr19g5-VreQva_ImliwNWyYJvjPkjGQgsqUxkcu8lYRMdicQgvGGrwYl3_B1ljDqM6zbeWCJQtHDM3Ae6QfjyAEpLVIMz-za_jDvBXJjRbJtbJmuD22aoQ_X53hjUWCuxWlDvoXt2nA2UPKyA/s320/Yuai%20house%20with%20art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A beautifully decorated tukul (house)</i></div><p>This is the community we stepped into last week to conduct a
Healing Hearts Transforming Nations workshop. I was glad that God provided a
good team of mature church leaders who have strong connections in Uror County
and real love and concern for people there. We were accompanied by Rev. John
Tut, who started the churches in Uror county but is now in Juba in his final
year of getting his degree at NTC.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF-mH4E4tB9pQUOFsansTIc-lD5fOA5aA3Pk-tuD-eUVo82D7EU5A03bcR2HQwCWHeNONoNqfKMu2dNn6iLxtHpbGRu4xeQofDO3X7oGZjCkK1bOf3MmAajhGW309EGUM_cW3YQ7Yxrn5blDWjG0-8zzmHpI3KhTgJvWQ3xP0Xt3wPQRai0-3w6o4EQ/s1040/Team%20at%20airplane.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="1040" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvF-mH4E4tB9pQUOFsansTIc-lD5fOA5aA3Pk-tuD-eUVo82D7EU5A03bcR2HQwCWHeNONoNqfKMu2dNn6iLxtHpbGRu4xeQofDO3X7oGZjCkK1bOf3MmAajhGW309EGUM_cW3YQ7Yxrn5blDWjG0-8zzmHpI3KhTgJvWQ3xP0Xt3wPQRai0-3w6o4EQ/s320/Team%20at%20airplane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our team as we left Yuai.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">A group of about 8 people walked for 3 hours from their
village to attend the workshop. Another group of about 6 people came from the
further village of Pieri, about a 5 hour walk away. And within Yuai, the
central town where we were based, we had participants from 6 different churches.
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_s9ffdjBWdxslSwNXvtiuDiObIxtUrZlbDOtdfNrula-D6BE62qIPag0_Uv-9_swipI2RPZarYnXrhpTUtsZak_D0_UgkqG6TtUMYiU9jL_3Orxm1gkHPOy70SnrEZnJ5rL-OhmsrpF20EkgnPOHQiuz8V8fgbtDIwMT6ANxs4BXD8xQfcksCa9o6A/s1344/Compress_20240313_094026_6101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1344" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_s9ffdjBWdxslSwNXvtiuDiObIxtUrZlbDOtdfNrula-D6BE62qIPag0_Uv-9_swipI2RPZarYnXrhpTUtsZak_D0_UgkqG6TtUMYiU9jL_3Orxm1gkHPOy70SnrEZnJ5rL-OhmsrpF20EkgnPOHQiuz8V8fgbtDIwMT6ANxs4BXD8xQfcksCa9o6A/s320/Compress_20240313_094026_6101.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Participants in the workshop</i></div></i><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwd9AEMidgBLzmiqSIff56_DNDFnYjRJvWjKwEkoVm8YKi2mtB_gi8e5JSYpMQBp-lt1MHE3Kqr1AlyHesNnNwS0rlpmtyBER_KlV-GHP5BHSW1FN91asNsgWeZwkfzjiFFjz90_Nbn8lRX7QJqujKBeobjQbuRn3BgJAwo8wTNuiz8plyWoyO_jpjA/s2913/Yuai%20wkshp%20trinity%20drama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2913" data-original-width="2255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwd9AEMidgBLzmiqSIff56_DNDFnYjRJvWjKwEkoVm8YKi2mtB_gi8e5JSYpMQBp-lt1MHE3Kqr1AlyHesNnNwS0rlpmtyBER_KlV-GHP5BHSW1FN91asNsgWeZwkfzjiFFjz90_Nbn8lRX7QJqujKBeobjQbuRn3BgJAwo8wTNuiz8plyWoyO_jpjA/s320/Yuai%20wkshp%20trinity%20drama.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A drama to demonstrate the unity within the Trinity</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>One of the highlights for me was the experience gained for 2
of our new facilitators. Rev. Michael Char was trained in 2022 as a facilitator,
but because he lived in a remote area he did not have a team to work with to
conduct workshops. This was a good opportunity for him to return to the area
where he was born and to get some practice in teaching. Rev. Yagub was just
trained last year and has helped to facilitate one workshop in Juba. They both worked
hard to master the content and the dramas and they were encouraged as they saw
people grasping these important truths about God’s love and power to heal our
hearts.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHR9i6N6upt8GIbWKS74spEubcmu14cGso2IH8PaP-xzCRgM5BdAgF911I06Q0gdpn-gy1snnlbPqm8MRGZydLL__aKxxA94baZHRQ4KpRmaAZuVHDWuVVYkhjfe-pEi8bc0JNBrNHWqfYT93F7LiqrrEiKLCw30Wu3H8Z_ZZetW1yyoBrL-XYo1NZg/s2538/20240309_105943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2538" data-original-width="2005" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHR9i6N6upt8GIbWKS74spEubcmu14cGso2IH8PaP-xzCRgM5BdAgF911I06Q0gdpn-gy1snnlbPqm8MRGZydLL__aKxxA94baZHRQ4KpRmaAZuVHDWuVVYkhjfe-pEi8bc0JNBrNHWqfYT93F7LiqrrEiKLCw30Wu3H8Z_ZZetW1yyoBrL-XYo1NZg/s320/20240309_105943.jpg" width="253" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Michael and Yagub perform a drama about forgiveness</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTFdd5n_AVXUCu5K7Ja_eFmjnToiYjlHma-WM4H7QydfAwYlSW37LN-RAnqEtedXzKnjZffnrJk7ySHas7brvJ2-73Qp2xWhCXpACg6QHVGhKCgUOkHRiXvc4tCTlCnpbBFmHvnRFN4Gt9cERpqimN4q5GN6lvHTsk2VqB4XAEHDUgdCWlHLGSZD_ZA/s770/Compress_20240313_092212_2571.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="516" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTFdd5n_AVXUCu5K7Ja_eFmjnToiYjlHma-WM4H7QydfAwYlSW37LN-RAnqEtedXzKnjZffnrJk7ySHas7brvJ2-73Qp2xWhCXpACg6QHVGhKCgUOkHRiXvc4tCTlCnpbBFmHvnRFN4Gt9cERpqimN4q5GN6lvHTsk2VqB4XAEHDUgdCWlHLGSZD_ZA/s320/Compress_20240313_092212_2571.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Nailing our pain to the cross</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">Knowing the deep loss and pain that participants had experienced, it was moving to see them nailing their papers to the cross, representing giving over that pain to God. We stood together in a circle and watched the papers burn, singing and praying our thanks to God for shouldering those burdens from us. The following morning, a few people shared that they had been able to sleep peacefully for the first time in years, or that their heart finally felt at peace. "My soul finds rest in God alone, my salvation comes from Him." I love seeing Psalm 62 come to life!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcAtVHWpiZHUhLmfcIlsXsCz6halD34O8L4WhtA_7pJIEyBhPT4mefJlSHTYK8mhsJs_U1vSKSTlDgi5RGFKYNbdrrEojwR2AxaCtMWctAxRHNTiO9iX9RXxgYoIHP9fOoYamkQKSV4lLHz4yOVL_KM1pOEyIGwg8g0jEcaGT4owaFjM_gpAHnzyKAg/s3235/20240309_155655.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1780" data-original-width="3235" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcAtVHWpiZHUhLmfcIlsXsCz6halD34O8L4WhtA_7pJIEyBhPT4mefJlSHTYK8mhsJs_U1vSKSTlDgi5RGFKYNbdrrEojwR2AxaCtMWctAxRHNTiO9iX9RXxgYoIHP9fOoYamkQKSV4lLHz4yOVL_KM1pOEyIGwg8g0jEcaGT4owaFjM_gpAHnzyKAg/s320/20240309_155655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blessing each group in the final celebration</i></div><div><br /></div><div>As our team debriefed after the workshop, one person said that this workshop was like "pouring water on new plants". It was important for growth, but would require more water and time to truly see the change and the growth. Please pray for the people of Yuai, that God's Spirit continues to bring healing and peace. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68tlSgy8P701UhoVGxYuL5TzhuMzWz57wZJitzkyPnEs-OuhyCPhIy0obiLljXnv7FBsYR82Hc6Y6kamtJQISnQCtbq4W6Tp6Ef805jnURO2yBAls39KxlfEwuiLnwBrR2AodCZQzjLHr3dLVoj_th52nPbWl7ufSZ4igpGpcjPzYm2NCHgU58mIhfg/s4014/Yuai%20sunset%20at%20stream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1862" data-original-width="4014" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh68tlSgy8P701UhoVGxYuL5TzhuMzWz57wZJitzkyPnEs-OuhyCPhIy0obiLljXnv7FBsYR82Hc6Y6kamtJQISnQCtbq4W6Tp6Ef805jnURO2yBAls39KxlfEwuiLnwBrR2AodCZQzjLHr3dLVoj_th52nPbWl7ufSZ4igpGpcjPzYm2NCHgU58mIhfg/s320/Yuai%20sunset%20at%20stream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset over Yuai from the stream at the edge of town</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. <br />Matthew 11:28</i></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-30131823830912318462024-02-27T14:00:00.000+01:002024-02-27T14:00:38.103+01:00“If My Wife is Holy Enough, Can I Take Another?”The “long semester” at Nile Theological College began earlier this month. I am teaching Contextual Theology, one of my favorite courses. Some rightfully argue that all theology is contextual, that is, our understanding of God is birthed from our experience, from our context. Stephen Bevans describes contextual theology as “dialogue” between two realities: the experience of the past as recorded in Scripture and church tradition, and the experience or present to which we who do theology now live (Bevans, 1992). David Bosch, the noted South African missiologist, describes contextual theology as “theology from below,” from the underside of history, informed by the social sciences, a theology whose primary “interlocuter” or communication partner is the poor and the socially marginalized (Bosch, 1991). <br /><br />As my students and I are learning together, we recognize the need to understand the Gospel and how it relates to our cultures and peoples. On that note, at the end of class during our second week together, John, a pastor, who sits in the front near the door, asked a personal and culturally informed question when he asked, “If my wife is holy enough, can I take another [wife]?” Despite some chuckles from a few classmates, I assured John that his question was appropriate and helpful. When I asked the class if John’s question was a question shared by other members of John’s people group (the Nuer), everyone affirmed that to be the case. As we were at the end of the day, I suggested that we return to John’s question at the beginning of class the following week. <br /><br />Before we met the following week, I prepared a worksheet which listed several questions and a list of scripture references concerning marriage to help us. My goal was threefold: to discuss the meaning of marriage according to the Nuer and other people groups in South Sudan, to discuss what Jesus says about marriage and God’s original intention for marriage, and to compare the two. As we began the discussion about the purpose of marriage according to local Nuer culture, these dominant themes emerged: the priority of children, protection, status, power, and overpowering others through procreation of sons. We discussed the reasons a man would have more than one wife, all of which can be identified in the above themes. When we looked at what Jesus said about marriage, we observe that he cites the creation account in Genesis,<br /> <br /><i> "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. (from Mark 10: 6 – 8) <br /></i><br />One important distinction between the purpose of marriage defined by Jesus and by the Nuer lies in the idea of companionship and becoming ‘one flesh’. This idea was not cited as a purpose for marriage according to Nuer tradition and culture. <div><br /></div><div>The root question we discussed was whether it was good for a Nuer man, or even a pastor, to take a second wife, commonly practiced here in South Sudan. It seems that the motivation for John taking a second wife is that his wife is becoming old. One of the students, half-humorously and half seriously, quipped, “Well, if a wife’s husband is getting old, shouldn’t she also be able to marry a second husband, a younger man?” <br /><br />One experienced pastor felt that despite church law, which permits lay church members to have more than one wife, that the practice of marriage within the church should be for all men to have one wife only, that being the case for pastors/elders and for everyday Christians. Considering scripture, his view rings true, but the culture is still so strong. How do we make sense of the two? Although I am not sure we fully satisfied John in response to his question, I do believe that as a class we had a meaningful discussion, addressing John’s question from many important angles. <br /><br />A couple of days later I was asked by an Ethiopian neighbor concerning how I had advised my student. I told him that my goal was not to give advice, but rather to help my student and the class meaningfully explore this issue for themselves, finding solutions and owning decisions. Advice from a missionary might be helpful in the short run, but long-lasting and transformative change will result from thoughtful and scripturally informed decisions made by local Christians themselves. As Christians, we invite the light of the Gospel and the Person of Jesus Christ to speak into our contexts and our cultures. Jesus must be Lord over all. In the end, as my professor at Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) says, “Our faith becomes our culture.” Lord, may it be so!<br /> </div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-2050658587874037902024-01-19T14:39:00.002+01:002024-01-19T14:39:29.221+01:00Juba Evangelical Bible School - Open for classes!The leadership of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church has been working hard for the last year to open a Bible School. And this month, classes started at the Juba Evangelical Bible School! We recorded a short (5 minute) video update from the principal, Alphonse Andrew, including some clips of the opening ceremony and orientation.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vynPqQBmhpo" width="320" youtube-src-id="vynPqQBmhpo"></iframe></div><br /><div>The vision for the Bible School is to train people who are not able to meet the academic standards of Nile Theological College, or those who do not want a degree but want to learn about theology and practical ministry. It is considered a 'companion institution' to NTC. Please pray for the students and teachers as they start the first term of classes.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are praying for the funds to start building classrooms on the new land that SSPEC has for the Bible School. If you would like to contribute, you can do so through SSPEC's account with PC(USA), at this link: https://www.presbyterianmission.org/donate/e052148/</div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-74113054706055739272024-01-06T14:25:00.000+01:002024-01-19T14:39:54.688+01:00Heaven Came Down to Earth! When people have asked me, “How was your Christmas?” My response has been, “Heaven came down to earth!” We did not attend a large church gathering with thousands in attendance like other places in Juba, but instead accepted the invitation from Yagub, a former student at Nile Theological College, to come to the small church he pastors on the edge of Juba, near the Nile. I agreed to preach, baptize, and then to lead in the Lord’s Supper. It was a full day.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0E1LNl8s5FD_GIRF_z5Ll3y6y5IKSmaioRiz0X7ifO3C3DVh2EaykrNyAGxGMM2fHX0-2iwyxOAQXHJqrQK-6YuK_Ozl3fsn0jv-ER4gY7R0JCHvUlPjoIbXLs54omjPA61wdDMRCiwKgxPcyNiAFg2039_gT4O3CvvCznVOjnyRs1ZOHUxDRS5TPIBy/s4032/20231225_102948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0E1LNl8s5FD_GIRF_z5Ll3y6y5IKSmaioRiz0X7ifO3C3DVh2EaykrNyAGxGMM2fHX0-2iwyxOAQXHJqrQK-6YuK_Ozl3fsn0jv-ER4gY7R0JCHvUlPjoIbXLs54omjPA61wdDMRCiwKgxPcyNiAFg2039_gT4O3CvvCznVOjnyRs1ZOHUxDRS5TPIBy/s320/20231225_102948.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Worship on Christmas morning! </div></div><br />As Kristi and I arrived a bit early and waited for others, we engaged Palam and Akir, two boys sitting behind us. They were active, playing with the large balloons above, dressed in their new Christmas gear. I asked them if they knew whose birthday it was today. In limited English but without hesitation, Palam responded, “Today is God’s Birthday!” Wow. What a great response! Yes, today is God’s birthday. God was born to us in the person of Jesus Christ. I do not think a more astute theological description could be made. <br /><br />More people came, slowly. The chapel began to fill, mostly with children and women. I have always been impressed with the value Yagub gives to children, centering them and giving them attention. It feels like this church is a place of “welcome” for children in the neighborhood. The church is a safe place for them. Some of their mothers and other women from the neighborhood, both young and old, attend. Most speak Arabic, and some speak only their mother tongue, Dinka. One Dinka woman came over to speak with us in her limited Arabic. It was a nice moment of connection. I often feel convicted in spirit when I witness my African counterparts sit down in church; the very first thing they do is offer a quiet, humble, and unobtrusive prayer. One woman, upon arrival, immediately went to the side of the church building and leaned her head against the wall as she sat in her chair. I could see her lips moving in quiet prayer. She had come with a heart of worship and the desire to commune with God. I admired her, giving thanks for her gentle witness. Later, she would be one of the thirty-nine people baptized. <br /><br />This Advent Season God has impressed on me the role of the shepherds in the Nativity story. These were humble people living on the margins of Jewish culture and society. They were not given much value. Yet, God gave them ultimate value when the angel came and delivered the message to them about a savior being born at that very moment in Bethlehem, even giving them a sign of what they would find (see Luke 2: 8 – 20). God also chose to work in and through young Mary and her husband Joseph, neither of them noteworthy by the standards of the world. And so, as I stood there on Christmas day in this humble church building on the edge of the city, reading this story in the local Arabic and then proclaiming the Good News, the Gospel truth that God centers those on the margins, I shared how though we may feel “small,” God sees us as “big,” as important.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOs7Ta__d8tr_YMS_EGu4rd6JT0T9fpG1xskjvjQ3WW8kEaBF93cgOOY6cskw3SkDI68Raukyxz0_uLcs3OoHlk9c0NZw4GHPwWe_5MAwcXVI0cJZYzEhTSwLa9eKQO8wcTV_licvxfWG-O9lQ1ofNMxzZ6vN3_-eytzeB-7QU4QGTbBK1c1s_N1fmbQi/s4032/20231225_104026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigOs7Ta__d8tr_YMS_EGu4rd6JT0T9fpG1xskjvjQ3WW8kEaBF93cgOOY6cskw3SkDI68Raukyxz0_uLcs3OoHlk9c0NZw4GHPwWe_5MAwcXVI0cJZYzEhTSwLa9eKQO8wcTV_licvxfWG-O9lQ1ofNMxzZ6vN3_-eytzeB-7QU4QGTbBK1c1s_N1fmbQi/s320/20231225_104026.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Bob shares from God's Word<br />Gospel of Luke 2: 8 - 20</div> </div>Our response to God’s Word on Christmas morning could not have been more poignant and meaningful. Heaven came down to earth. Women wept as I liberally placed water on their heads three times, baptizing them “fi isim ta Abu Allah, fi isim ta Yesu El Missih, fi isim ta Ruh El Kudus” (in the name of Father God, in the name of Jesus the Messiah, and in the name of the Holy Spirit). Children received this rite, supported by parents, adults, and pastors. I became physically tired, but not tired in spirit. I willed myself to continue. Pastor Matta, from war-torn Abyei which straddles Sudan, exhorted parents to pray for their children each morning and to instruct them in the faith. Given my role in worship that morning, I had not planned to lead us in the Lord’s Supper, but I prepared myself, just in case, for that possibility. Standing again before the congregation, I recounted the life, death, resurrection, ascension, and one-day return of the Lord, I visibly presented the elements of bread and juice; I was supported by Pastor Matta and an elder as we shared the elements with all gathered. One woman standing in the front row, the most dignified and well-dressed woman in attendance, burst into sobs as she received the elements of Christ’s Body.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL5nCa1uv5IDpa6S3LBhymp7KNN7EXuqGjR_M5vieWTFs47V3NyMW1D-DP9g5-uDDLJMKSYcqF2Apx-thCnqfqMpkJa5YKtpizdmsaaEThnnZCbHPr3AMiwqbGgjhUfspzUeGVCLji3dDZDq7RM3sT5hlLUCOF12H8WojL3TGzBInO7MIOOUMcFfX5DUB/s4032/20231225_111123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="4032" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqL5nCa1uv5IDpa6S3LBhymp7KNN7EXuqGjR_M5vieWTFs47V3NyMW1D-DP9g5-uDDLJMKSYcqF2Apx-thCnqfqMpkJa5YKtpizdmsaaEThnnZCbHPr3AMiwqbGgjhUfspzUeGVCLji3dDZDq7RM3sT5hlLUCOF12H8WojL3TGzBInO7MIOOUMcFfX5DUB/s320/20231225_111123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Pastor Yagub asks questions to those to be baptized</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXtsBmVwF7M8xQE2hb4NZZutOmzzDKDmsF7KeywjPeIEJ_UOIqirmFDEPzkA_0C9U1o6k2gzdh9Wmd-mn-jIA1eX0kaqaHm-wOUl034sNBkuIF7QPFoWIQv4wT86udVlO1ZaFF9AMy1lE9VjKg_-Lxj4Nlu6_3F3d2UrEXJFSG5Sb1wFqPbnHJhSYXEOB/s4032/20231225_111550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="2268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXtsBmVwF7M8xQE2hb4NZZutOmzzDKDmsF7KeywjPeIEJ_UOIqirmFDEPzkA_0C9U1o6k2gzdh9Wmd-mn-jIA1eX0kaqaHm-wOUl034sNBkuIF7QPFoWIQv4wT86udVlO1ZaFF9AMy1lE9VjKg_-Lxj4Nlu6_3F3d2UrEXJFSG5Sb1wFqPbnHJhSYXEOB/s320/20231225_111550.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bob baptizes...</div><br />Kristi and I arrived home that afternoon tired, but full of God’s grace, peace, contentment, and joy. Truly, there is no greater thrill and joy in life than serving our Lord Jesus Christ together with members of His Body. No money or possession will ever match this matchless joy. God is pure existence, and we exist in Him. God is Love, and we love in Him. We are born of God, for others. May His Name forever be praised! </div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-14495276996304574112023-12-20T07:58:00.000+01:002024-01-19T14:40:22.283+01:00Tis the Season...for Baptisms! <p> During the Christmas season in South Sudan, many congregations celebrate baptisms. It seems a fitting connection, that as we remember God leaving his glory to be born as a human and suffer with us, we also celebrate people declaring that they repent of their sin and join Christ in his invitation to new life in Him. This weekend, we were invited to worship with one of these congregations celebrating baptisms, and it was truly a joyful celebration. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxKVvaFIumrCrImiLCGjFaC3ch1GRKI1b9xn45zSWDxNOHAlGwTIxG9QwAbuyhYlGIiyTJobM0RfeJ8KowKqw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p>More than 15 children were baptized, along with around 10 teenagers and adults. What struck me as remarkable is that this is a new congregation, less than 1 year old. This is the first time they have celebrated baptism in the congregation, and the number of people is a sign of the strong growth they have experienced. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kW2XyhnlUfYDT30tWWthXzeASaJzxhwfQw1HX1smMaYT0nyd8wJuPtrStKL1hTpBAykxjoFBVqGz42dmrGALXaH-H_WckKBMOSUdW4rhkpWBzQ8lZEJodFbhL5W3jFLVQLnNKaQKilla0uJtZpS8wODjlggodZr8hyl3I-kC62quHmWdDEnA2j_T5g/s2822/Baptisms%20-%20children%20and%20parents%20lined%20up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1587" data-original-width="2822" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kW2XyhnlUfYDT30tWWthXzeASaJzxhwfQw1HX1smMaYT0nyd8wJuPtrStKL1hTpBAykxjoFBVqGz42dmrGALXaH-H_WckKBMOSUdW4rhkpWBzQ8lZEJodFbhL5W3jFLVQLnNKaQKilla0uJtZpS8wODjlggodZr8hyl3I-kC62quHmWdDEnA2j_T5g/s320/Baptisms%20-%20children%20and%20parents%20lined%20up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Some of the children and their parents lined up for baptism</i></div></i><p>The lead pastor of the congregation, Rev. Samuel Jock, began the church as an Arabic-speaking congregation several years ago. They have moved around to various locations and in 2022 finally built their own building next to the offices for SSPEC. They discovered that in the neighborhood around their new building there are many Nuer people. The congregation worshipped in the classical Arabic from Khartoum, which many of their neighbors did not understand. So they started a second service in the Nuer language and assigned one of the Nuer members to lead the service. As a practical service in the community, they started offering classes in the evenings, teaching people to read and write in the Nuer language, because many were not able to go to school, and children today only learn to read Arabic or English. The Nuer service has grown dramatically, and now has an active youth choir and a children's choir. Pastor Samuel assigned a young man, Moses, to be the primary one leading the activities of this Nuer congregation. Another young man, Lony, has taken the responsibilty of leading worship and directing the choirs, including teaching some of the members to play the keyboard! As Pastor Samuel recounted this progression to me, he rejoiced at how God has opened this door and that the congregation is obviously meeting a need.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAxKsaNCP6d8FDSspAMlO1ZlpUlssFqcNoZkoQonHm4m672CS4tk_aflacSwoPJtvJwq2lD7B8BJA9XfwsbSz_XR7VMNmYNpDz3E5OtZWn0bECeHIElaxYtkohbtzkwDWFarksu0zdLZCHM4ngLepBwT9tsD4x3BZ5PwrAVwi5lZOMd84tIJ_tXxmZA/s2419/Baptisms%20-%20adults%20at%20end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2419" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghAxKsaNCP6d8FDSspAMlO1ZlpUlssFqcNoZkoQonHm4m672CS4tk_aflacSwoPJtvJwq2lD7B8BJA9XfwsbSz_XR7VMNmYNpDz3E5OtZWn0bECeHIElaxYtkohbtzkwDWFarksu0zdLZCHM4ngLepBwT9tsD4x3BZ5PwrAVwi5lZOMd84tIJ_tXxmZA/s320/Baptisms%20-%20adults%20at%20end.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The adults and teenagers who were baptized,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>along with the pastors and deacons who facilitated.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We praise God for giving new life, and celebrate baptism as a sign of spiritual vitality in that new life. Next week we plan to visit another congregation in Juba also planning to do baptisms - on Christmas Day! Please join us in praying for the Holy Spirit to continue the work of transformation and renewal in these people and congregations as they celebrate their new life with Jesus. </div><p><br /></p>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-83066829075570663262023-11-14T19:58:00.000+01:002024-01-19T14:40:09.718+01:00Differences we appreciate in Juba<p> We are looking forward to returning to Juba in a few weeks, particularly reconnecting with friends and colleagues. Beyond the people, we wanted to share a few <i>things </i>that we enjoy or appreciate
about life in Juba that are very different from life in the U.S.:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1. Easy and available public transport. No apps, cards, registrations,
or monthly fees. Just flag down a rickshaw or bus and go! <o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSf6UrP33i9Wk0VROFO4F0w2GlX8-4qeA73j4mbtumENvpDjXm6GgXh_6_9idQR4TiFUgANzy7IMA-AW4uyf6sX8ymtKApPTljMfnkV1atmrfiIOT4ognLTQELvhNh4wtAlEqs1eNoD4cIr1tN193k2TIFqteqbaKYCIUCmjzdALszhuafcuTii8M7g/s989/Bob%20getting%20into%20rickshaw%20cropped.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="989" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSf6UrP33i9Wk0VROFO4F0w2GlX8-4qeA73j4mbtumENvpDjXm6GgXh_6_9idQR4TiFUgANzy7IMA-AW4uyf6sX8ymtKApPTljMfnkV1atmrfiIOT4ognLTQELvhNh4wtAlEqs1eNoD4cIr1tN193k2TIFqteqbaKYCIUCmjzdALszhuafcuTii8M7g/s320/Bob%20getting%20into%20rickshaw%20cropped.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">2. Greeting people (even strangers) along the road as you
walk or while in the market</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3. Venders who walk the road selling their wares. Need a
broom, some peanuts, a suitcase or a new pair of underwear? Just wait for
someone to walk by selling what you need. Definitely not an easy business to do, as these venders have to keep moving. We appreciate their hard work and ingenuity.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyWg_vFA2QuwhBXM3Bc4-YaTv2S0fB0pS2anrzCtDewo7h63ZmZSDrXaMUQzWaLIWpiJr5vBqQn3_Qtu3rn7VG2OBUKaU5cHWJN_7ApCfD0MnLFtfUPJ66ssAabsVqkY4N1bOw9rs6A1Ql59JZig-lM3gc8lV8KE_wAN0DdTeEZcEvyCFK0ha3vyFlg/s1365/Man%20selling%20shoes%20on%20street%20in%20Juba.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1219" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUyWg_vFA2QuwhBXM3Bc4-YaTv2S0fB0pS2anrzCtDewo7h63ZmZSDrXaMUQzWaLIWpiJr5vBqQn3_Qtu3rn7VG2OBUKaU5cHWJN_7ApCfD0MnLFtfUPJ66ssAabsVqkY4N1bOw9rs6A1Ql59JZig-lM3gc8lV8KE_wAN0DdTeEZcEvyCFK0ha3vyFlg/s320/Man%20selling%20shoes%20on%20street%20in%20Juba.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This young man is selling shoes</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(photo taken through the bars of a veranda on the road)</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9cMCCXUKebR4YcvQf80MQlOeKD_nd8c6ZE2IBiCryuRIhQAhssBVWwZQfYPhCxeG9ShD8jquysIJgcGh5bol2J0TL6oafAiRPfD_putFnPlVnzH1RnA3EnQIs2W3jfgcdpKkWadNyGzjnDLg5BR1q9BNA0oQXtofTPAtDosJIcl81Va4hB-lCCVsnw/s962/selling%20peanuts%20in%20Juba.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9cMCCXUKebR4YcvQf80MQlOeKD_nd8c6ZE2IBiCryuRIhQAhssBVWwZQfYPhCxeG9ShD8jquysIJgcGh5bol2J0TL6oafAiRPfD_putFnPlVnzH1RnA3EnQIs2W3jfgcdpKkWadNyGzjnDLg5BR1q9BNA0oQXtofTPAtDosJIcl81Va4hB-lCCVsnw/s320/selling%20peanuts%20in%20Juba.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />One girl's basket of roasted peanuts and sesame cakes for sale.</i></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">4. Tea shops along the road. Watch the world go by as you
have your tea. These shops might be just a few chairs by the side of the road, but
can be an important place for neighbors or friends to connect, play chess, or hear the
neighborhood news. And, of course, when it is hot in the afternoon, one way to cool down is to drink hot tea! :) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4yPilEMWgTipSctszU1DhX7GTjhc_p2FgHwvwGh49I_YVJSZUeCIeu7O73ppgnEZjPljdr4ErCy4_QhC5LYhwYxEzjEmQgxNFtYkt2ju7z15KkqCrRmuc4Bma1NUpbXjgYHyQM_Apo5LDVwddcLjUp42_blmzaZkP7GMxtCfk5Tlu1niLLMJrBlumA/s1632/Mary%20at%20her%20tea%20stall.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4yPilEMWgTipSctszU1DhX7GTjhc_p2FgHwvwGh49I_YVJSZUeCIeu7O73ppgnEZjPljdr4ErCy4_QhC5LYhwYxEzjEmQgxNFtYkt2ju7z15KkqCrRmuc4Bma1NUpbXjgYHyQM_Apo5LDVwddcLjUp42_blmzaZkP7GMxtCfk5Tlu1niLLMJrBlumA/s320/Mary%20at%20her%20tea%20stall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mary, preparing tea at her stall in our neighborhood.</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">5. The expanded view of time. We admire that South Sudanese are rarely 'rushed' like Americans are. I have been asked "why are you walking so fast?" as I try to save time. Yes, sometimes a 3-hour long church service is tiring, but we do appreicate that they savor the time in worship and connecting. As they say, "Americans have watches, but Africans have time."</p><p class="MsoNormal">6. The Nile River - The Nile passes through Juba on its long journey north through Sudan and Egypt to reach the Meditteranean. The Nile provides water for much of the city of Juba, and we often see the water trucks loading up near the river. The lush green trees and the shorebirds near the river provide a refreshing place for a quick recharge in Juba. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We hope you are inspired by some of these differences. What stands out to you? Any questions about other aspects of life in Juba? We would love to hear your thoughts!</p>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-9105228479428700742023-10-28T17:55:00.001+01:002023-10-28T17:55:19.543+01:00Visiting Churches and South Sudanese Diaspora in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska What a gift to visit Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska, last weekend! We are grateful for Pastor Melodie Jones Pointon and Eastridge Presbyterian Church for hosting us, and thankful for opportunities to visit Westminster Presbyterian Church of Lincoln and the Nuer Union gathering which met at Nile Church in Omaha.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f9j8JQXGwPCC_7EfWzEnY-Jkdw1zOxaC1VdxhoGlFqnZ49n2yC134HK0Pwi6fs8GtuJkZhz2TnQPM3mig0pIchkEi_RVho7Rqbpa_PZtBd-L8R8rFhD6tCUidYL5qRGI-zS7GCT27FBrp0A6TKDi5nktXcseZ52RnYbrJNMSyD_n8XFI-L25PP1LMjfW/s640/Sebit%20preaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f9j8JQXGwPCC_7EfWzEnY-Jkdw1zOxaC1VdxhoGlFqnZ49n2yC134HK0Pwi6fs8GtuJkZhz2TnQPM3mig0pIchkEi_RVho7Rqbpa_PZtBd-L8R8rFhD6tCUidYL5qRGI-zS7GCT27FBrp0A6TKDi5nktXcseZ52RnYbrJNMSyD_n8XFI-L25PP1LMjfW/s320/Sebit%20preaching.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sebit teaches on fasting and prayer and the <br />significance of the season of Lent at <br />Nuer Union gathering (Omaha) </div><br /> For me (Bob), it also felt like a homecoming, as my grandfather was born and raised in Broken Bow, western Nebraska, near the Sand Hills. Somehow the landscape feels native to my soul.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-zvGaGcWu4Dsf6BkAjfleKG-aghhY2qw1VLjte_Im-Z9lIURPTxnvQA4kqQ56GSwPZaAxtpMqdDVdeyuzMpgFlgoyFYSB8bAE5jSGG-K8t6LwKc-mWVi_AkZRJTu8Om_4sHYE4xLHFSOCQH1qiGcgxjildIYke_0wpMMrgGZvWAdH1AilovZKxG3i1L8/s640/Nebraska%20landscape%205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-zvGaGcWu4Dsf6BkAjfleKG-aghhY2qw1VLjte_Im-Z9lIURPTxnvQA4kqQ56GSwPZaAxtpMqdDVdeyuzMpgFlgoyFYSB8bAE5jSGG-K8t6LwKc-mWVi_AkZRJTu8Om_4sHYE4xLHFSOCQH1qiGcgxjildIYke_0wpMMrgGZvWAdH1AilovZKxG3i1L8/s320/Nebraska%20landscape%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19LAxDiKYm8l6FNNmGQfKoOHfaOimyR774z8NQINKiiJmTPtzt9shkZr6tTjSe0cxfLYnJECckqMJAsnKPs9-TND8U1O5fWu6YWb92Qn0SrX-rGmI9xqa9TKgssTFO5nbMTt6bOZVy1pZZeoddBgnvLC1GrS9EwMUxj12XSUQSx98kXXYf16VBgY_kMaF/s640/Nebraska%20landscape%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="640" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19LAxDiKYm8l6FNNmGQfKoOHfaOimyR774z8NQINKiiJmTPtzt9shkZr6tTjSe0cxfLYnJECckqMJAsnKPs9-TND8U1O5fWu6YWb92Qn0SrX-rGmI9xqa9TKgssTFO5nbMTt6bOZVy1pZZeoddBgnvLC1GrS9EwMUxj12XSUQSx98kXXYf16VBgY_kMaF/s320/Nebraska%20landscape%204.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>It also felt like a homecoming as we were able to visit and connect with South Sudanese Diaspora. Praying and worshiping with Nuer friends and their family in their home in Omaha felt like a slice of heaven. The family of Rev. James Guek and Mama Sarah Kuac, whom we visited, are vitally connected to the late Rev. Pastor Moses Kuac, the first Nuer pastor in South Sudan, who serves a central part of one of the case studies of my PhD research. It was a gift to hear more stories from his Sarah daughter, and to meet all their children. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcQpBvy5nImzx68dre6T7KTwz-H8oecfCwXWXpG460RrL85qmYO4_uBQvGIP43z3FWyyKAR3G1edNyi2Q8Nuswktd6UugvoU8ygwMqOUlKPjUWKWfz34FQPJsa65ub2a2jVspncc1gwyVoo0p9ZSe3ZD1zaCP4StTtncwxVSS5Dfl37inz_h3zHQ6pRRY/s1686/Rev.%20James%20Guek%20and%20Mama%20Sarah%20Kuac%20and%20family,%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="1686" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcQpBvy5nImzx68dre6T7KTwz-H8oecfCwXWXpG460RrL85qmYO4_uBQvGIP43z3FWyyKAR3G1edNyi2Q8Nuswktd6UugvoU8ygwMqOUlKPjUWKWfz34FQPJsa65ub2a2jVspncc1gwyVoo0p9ZSe3ZD1zaCP4StTtncwxVSS5Dfl37inz_h3zHQ6pRRY/s320/Rev.%20James%20Guek%20and%20Mama%20Sarah%20Kuac%20and%20family,%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Rev. James Guek and Mama Sarah Kuac and family </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH9x-EvA-EHj8RUR736uvnCG4kA6Kt2fEZUlDcIO4YcLmqFY5uuppVInw64ysWz7Fg7k7_tF11Cm37ewyetiiVTgym89iQub9yUpndMZ6qZBZXfAIwGdpEcrfIbQUfDnDih-SsjeBbOEMHCANlW6fOKFAEMYwqAq8V0A-OkuV6rskJcVaMHmxRbQCTWIj/s2016/Rev.%20James%20Guek%20and%20Mama%20Sarah%20Kuac%20and%20Kristi%20and%20I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitH9x-EvA-EHj8RUR736uvnCG4kA6Kt2fEZUlDcIO4YcLmqFY5uuppVInw64ysWz7Fg7k7_tF11Cm37ewyetiiVTgym89iQub9yUpndMZ6qZBZXfAIwGdpEcrfIbQUfDnDih-SsjeBbOEMHCANlW6fOKFAEMYwqAq8V0A-OkuV6rskJcVaMHmxRbQCTWIj/s320/Rev.%20James%20Guek%20and%20Mama%20Sarah%20Kuac%20and%20Kristi%20and%20I.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />Mama Sarah and Pastor James with <br />Kristi and I </div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-64741447267860697862023-10-04T23:20:00.001+01:002023-10-04T23:20:41.472+01:00On the road again...In early August, Bob's strength and energy had returned enough that we could resume our travels in the U.S. We were very grateful for prayers and encouragement from many people and for God's grace in healing Bob's body. We headed to the West Coast for six weeks of reconnecting with family, friends, and several churches. Since Bob was still recovering his energy we scaled back in how much we did, and we lament that there are people we missed seeing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWg5lDh_o4tOYwyZdjPiAzh_bGi3-6Eae3yVyFEwAIzxvV7pOznWTPZ-pqKhtDedKxMmoPpAghUwN7gRBGaZMLDfsPnfNDunPvGxNEPZ1jkz9qJfYdznbvXCtXsBV7GIVoGQlNI0O5to2B3VJbx4Q6ya-uvj6VyQsBiiQiWZ8cImb2CWJW2cFjZSR6g/s2016/Whidbey%20island%20Men%20on%20hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWg5lDh_o4tOYwyZdjPiAzh_bGi3-6Eae3yVyFEwAIzxvV7pOznWTPZ-pqKhtDedKxMmoPpAghUwN7gRBGaZMLDfsPnfNDunPvGxNEPZ1jkz9qJfYdznbvXCtXsBV7GIVoGQlNI0O5to2B3VJbx4Q6ya-uvj6VyQsBiiQiWZ8cImb2CWJW2cFjZSR6g/s320/Whidbey%20island%20Men%20on%20hike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hiking the coast of Whidbey Island</i></div><div><br /><div>First stop was Whidbey Island, Washington, where Bob’s family converged for some precious days together. We enjoyed walks in the woods and along the beach, making meals together, and celebrating some significant birthdays. Then off to Olympic National Park for a few days on our own to explore in a camper van! We marveled at the mountains and the tall trees and the crisp clean air. We were reminded of the verse, “God’s righteousness is like the mighty mountains, his justice like the ocean depths.” We managed a longer-than-expected hike to a waterfall, with several stops along the way to rest and soak in the quiet of the forest.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm93Xk8FSvSShNLNOGN77zxrRLY35k0bYjQ98KaL-k0PXTZCXVd2ZAKdZISUosXa5PnyVUMaL_EjUuZZjZEv0SZ_TpxFoBk0bZqIuJhFEKUl59o7Rvu6w6TdHq5xUyJKwoiM0g6_Ca3k2Aq7eTNR_QexYMIMOtgz29uU5uWoSrE95OhesvN7taG54nMA/s1906/Whidbey%20fam%20at%20dinner%20edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1387" data-original-width="1906" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm93Xk8FSvSShNLNOGN77zxrRLY35k0bYjQ98KaL-k0PXTZCXVd2ZAKdZISUosXa5PnyVUMaL_EjUuZZjZEv0SZ_TpxFoBk0bZqIuJhFEKUl59o7Rvu6w6TdHq5xUyJKwoiM0g6_Ca3k2Aq7eTNR_QexYMIMOtgz29uU5uWoSrE95OhesvN7taG54nMA/s320/Whidbey%20fam%20at%20dinner%20edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Reconnecting with family over bountiful meals on Whidbey Island</i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSNw7_tIyOpu1m-84IvTPwr_lnZZBluTNLhV7FMmQcrCrJM0wd4vpTYS3G_VN_xjVCSpI3__5ZeygCpA9w2ysmawfvxHmaa_B9KRNmvS6MYgYDGgMvE0k5I0dgbeSsS8q-5Y16_LmxElC1ZQfbmsm4IEa5A5QWRtq_TXo8Mjg_28YOvb4yE8ppe_s1Q/s3266/Olympics%20Bob%20in%20lake%20crescent%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2129" data-original-width="3266" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSNw7_tIyOpu1m-84IvTPwr_lnZZBluTNLhV7FMmQcrCrJM0wd4vpTYS3G_VN_xjVCSpI3__5ZeygCpA9w2ysmawfvxHmaa_B9KRNmvS6MYgYDGgMvE0k5I0dgbeSsS8q-5Y16_LmxElC1ZQfbmsm4IEa5A5QWRtq_TXo8Mjg_28YOvb4yE8ppe_s1Q/s320/Olympics%20Bob%20in%20lake%20crescent%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Bob braved the cold clear waters of Lake Crescent in Olympia National Park</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRYik-Sp6g6G-0hkUtCgEnATXaagtAWYh4lR6mdYlRkeZ0L71h71JqO-kK1FFZ2aLHcoOZ6jAYvjBWrIXwBCyXuJrCVDXZLj9gUlivX3LsOBv-jvBxbODECbDD0BNCIfNaEY3rZ_zlbSgyzDLtjO8Y81xC5TFWKszjAJvNDPd9nf8gaF9G3y_8vbEdQ/s640/IMG_6468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRYik-Sp6g6G-0hkUtCgEnATXaagtAWYh4lR6mdYlRkeZ0L71h71JqO-kK1FFZ2aLHcoOZ6jAYvjBWrIXwBCyXuJrCVDXZLj9gUlivX3LsOBv-jvBxbODECbDD0BNCIfNaEY3rZ_zlbSgyzDLtjO8Y81xC5TFWKszjAJvNDPd9nf8gaF9G3y_8vbEdQ/s320/IMG_6468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The campervan was a fun and easy camping experience.</i></div></i><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlZ1z7VeanT2glq3tDW40oVNkIGa9r_2SoPVGMS5Inn88vTzvhp1bFRYdksZOpJhcBlBZzX6h_xzMCArkb0X_yzFgs8hdbqO10mc_8BTQgHb3P_ebmpqdd2irArZ8tDjRS0lkOGZJKcbBv-OTG9VtNF7C_Ro7Lth2_ST1Qf_vKkgrStFtDgLUS_ejqg/s1930/Olympics%20Kristi%20hike%20with%20ferns%202.jpg.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="1930" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlZ1z7VeanT2glq3tDW40oVNkIGa9r_2SoPVGMS5Inn88vTzvhp1bFRYdksZOpJhcBlBZzX6h_xzMCArkb0X_yzFgs8hdbqO10mc_8BTQgHb3P_ebmpqdd2irArZ8tDjRS0lkOGZJKcbBv-OTG9VtNF7C_Ro7Lth2_ST1Qf_vKkgrStFtDgLUS_ejqg/s320/Olympics%20Kristi%20hike%20with%20ferns%202.jpg.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our hike to the Sol Duc Falls in Olympia National Park</i></div><div><br /></div><div>We road-tripped with Bob’s parents down from Washington to the San Francisco Bay Area, with a joyful stop to see Aunt Judy and family along the way. In California we enjoyed some encouraging visits with several churches and good friends. Bob visited some old haunts, like the halls of his high school and the park where he played baseball. We walked along the water often, watching shorebirds, kite-boarders, and even the occasional seal. We were amazed to see the new hydrofoil technology, that makes it look like people are flying above the water on a board. The traffic, buildings, and high pace of everything in the Bay Area was a little overwhelming, but we were grateful for the people.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLE-4-XqTbqs-mIaI5KryZTrcTplE9Ywat2U-5j73Kga_xziUZGgqLI1Li7YkpCc6Q5lAcHwGG5fw99m-8tV-_0iO9W71RxQ1qIXKWfA9g273e-v7zgaPF-UtP_DEfldhUfbNR3ZT3YIQWbbSkXqRGkFrY3pSYg3N0LRLZFUujUIo90ggmqjoSu0aDg/s2048/Filoli%20at%20entrance.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLE-4-XqTbqs-mIaI5KryZTrcTplE9Ywat2U-5j73Kga_xziUZGgqLI1Li7YkpCc6Q5lAcHwGG5fw99m-8tV-_0iO9W71RxQ1qIXKWfA9g273e-v7zgaPF-UtP_DEfldhUfbNR3ZT3YIQWbbSkXqRGkFrY3pSYg3N0LRLZFUujUIo90ggmqjoSu0aDg/s320/Filoli%20at%20entrance.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>An evening of exploring the gardens and live music at Filoli</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTXc2ZdV05481vbOu-CaWzTtfbWZRbwBf6_Bi4skCbE_4a7zZbl5FbezOh_FcLL8fAB3MVJYezFDk38u48kn-DxzRRwlmXgP3P05QXABU-U1NegxQFmzAAm6AYbQTDxxUf2Udm9oYHeDVm5Y8h0L2t15d-EVPR21mf8ukb4kE96nr7l8E-tqjPPxkqg/s1779/JKPC%20sanctuary%20with%20flags.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1779" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTXc2ZdV05481vbOu-CaWzTtfbWZRbwBf6_Bi4skCbE_4a7zZbl5FbezOh_FcLL8fAB3MVJYezFDk38u48kn-DxzRRwlmXgP3P05QXABU-U1NegxQFmzAAm6AYbQTDxxUf2Udm9oYHeDVm5Y8h0L2t15d-EVPR21mf8ukb4kE96nr7l8E-tqjPPxkqg/s320/JKPC%20sanctuary%20with%20flags.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>John Knox Presbyterian Church decked out</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with flags for their "international month"</i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In Carmel-by-the-Sea, we were in awe again at the power of the waves and the steep cliffs that plunge into the ocean. We drove the windy road down the coast near Big Sur for a short but sweet personal retreat at the New Camaldoli Hermitage. The monastery is perched on a mountainside looking down on the ocean, and is a great place to disconnect from the world – no wifi, no phone coverage! We were grateful for the hours to sit in awe of our Creator, soak in God’s love, and be still.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeL8A85ANYZVJGPg2HD2L6JQN-nn_njC8jjpIMccBVmDp965T-m0Z4WUeqxWn9Zj2Fe43TWnoRl4D45NumX_J2b3lXL2pOk_T22L7WIvayMBa4_yfKCbaw4NvM5G7zG2RKUdho0i18xENmJ_8QzxtNkmgrjWRH6hJ3_3mW-0GUzJTrl_C1M8qz_-XRQ/s2419/Camoldoli%20Fog%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2419" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeL8A85ANYZVJGPg2HD2L6JQN-nn_njC8jjpIMccBVmDp965T-m0Z4WUeqxWn9Zj2Fe43TWnoRl4D45NumX_J2b3lXL2pOk_T22L7WIvayMBa4_yfKCbaw4NvM5G7zG2RKUdho0i18xENmJ_8QzxtNkmgrjWRH6hJ3_3mW-0GUzJTrl_C1M8qz_-XRQ/s320/Camoldoli%20Fog%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking down on the fog over the ocean from the monastery</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNyI-r3cA3dH7LcMe8zeVRs4PIq16G4YexIfF5I4Yz_TfQbma0a5pbZuXMUfz0A7OUbKjFpXjMvURA2MZ1diahvn6jB_V9LS5qVinNgYAd51wC8wEaWOJRY6NZk1dwgrPkw5h0WXkGx0_XYrlQioVsKtaU9DjwH5GOhvRBbfBWbNVN-UhOyfgZsV2tg/s3154/Carmel%20coast%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1903" data-original-width="3154" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNyI-r3cA3dH7LcMe8zeVRs4PIq16G4YexIfF5I4Yz_TfQbma0a5pbZuXMUfz0A7OUbKjFpXjMvURA2MZ1diahvn6jB_V9LS5qVinNgYAd51wC8wEaWOJRY6NZk1dwgrPkw5h0WXkGx0_XYrlQioVsKtaU9DjwH5GOhvRBbfBWbNVN-UhOyfgZsV2tg/s320/Carmel%20coast%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The rugged coastline in the Carmel Highlands</i></div></i><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Our last stop was Arizona – from the ocean to the desert! The church we spent the weekend with encouraged us with their great interest in South Sudan and what God is doing there. Then we got a few days with some good friends who treated us to some of the gems of Phoenix, including walks in the desert and some delicious food. Who knew that a musical instrument museum could be so fascinating? And a walk through the desert garden at sunset was a wonderful way to cap off our visit.<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMHoXS5HCWpOo3q2UBhu0s9Bb5kG19mR_tvpXuYiXozYvREXbpiAmBCa480NjeAX9F3I27P7vDpZBzqhEKB27obL29LqTVPBlhLjFK_AacXChz3RBgCOEV9j60Lhs1ERBCaLloe5sqDfYcx2uvULwGefVjlI2AqCpOghffJ74CKt8qkrqfuCQV8zgQw/s2048/Green%20Valley%20visit.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMHoXS5HCWpOo3q2UBhu0s9Bb5kG19mR_tvpXuYiXozYvREXbpiAmBCa480NjeAX9F3I27P7vDpZBzqhEKB27obL29LqTVPBlhLjFK_AacXChz3RBgCOEV9j60Lhs1ERBCaLloe5sqDfYcx2uvULwGefVjlI2AqCpOghffJ74CKt8qkrqfuCQV8zgQw/s320/Green%20Valley%20visit.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A wonderful time of sharing and connection</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>over breakfast in Green Valley, AZ</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GTWneMOFFS77ZihBshWuXfLkYFO_pzBphA-5yrRzoIIqjV5bzUwT1pRt40Pp7TizDGzPgP5oKGkdJrHrkWzpQnSa9-TLrJZAiUaE3H1nLlZJKNeID19wvxHErFgbOWjxeTSXrddsShGr3gDMnrZQo5Nyxrsmu7aUtmtdDno4VEWiWB02Wezti3KTFw/s1024/66881.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GTWneMOFFS77ZihBshWuXfLkYFO_pzBphA-5yrRzoIIqjV5bzUwT1pRt40Pp7TizDGzPgP5oKGkdJrHrkWzpQnSa9-TLrJZAiUaE3H1nLlZJKNeID19wvxHErFgbOWjxeTSXrddsShGr3gDMnrZQo5Nyxrsmu7aUtmtdDno4VEWiWB02Wezti3KTFw/s320/66881.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Hiking in the desert with friends</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We feel so grateful for the blessing of being able to enjoy precious time with people and explore some beautiful places. To those who gave us a bed or a delicious meal or met us along the way, thank you! Truly, each day is a gift.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RC75y8PaMU8y1fTzmK75uYz1akw18NU0ZavtmnVfw6IiUEyY9TLqIPoTpdzhHR5yny_DuXChC_M7DvPIlaxOaHRBPICWGTAEz_L1GyB_iPtlSDBmX_ToS7sDk8qpzOnd06WWdikDtWLBbgrq8kQqMiRn4skfa4cq838Kv9NDcjR7Dhyy8-8gTYhTOg/s3353/Sunset%20at%20desert%20garden%202.JPEG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="3353" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RC75y8PaMU8y1fTzmK75uYz1akw18NU0ZavtmnVfw6IiUEyY9TLqIPoTpdzhHR5yny_DuXChC_M7DvPIlaxOaHRBPICWGTAEz_L1GyB_iPtlSDBmX_ToS7sDk8qpzOnd06WWdikDtWLBbgrq8kQqMiRn4skfa4cq838Kv9NDcjR7Dhyy8-8gTYhTOg/s320/Sunset%20at%20desert%20garden%202.JPEG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sunset over the desert garden</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-77574983772785113772023-08-31T17:45:00.000+01:002023-08-31T17:45:50.073+01:00Nothing For Us Without Us<div class="separator">Theologian Harvey Kwiyani named “Nothing for us without us” in a recent newsletter as the ‘first rule of mission in the twenty-first century’. As an African, he exhorts those of us from the West to welcome the leadership and vision of Africans when we seek to join in God’s work in Africa.</div><div><br /></div>Bob and I both worked under strong, faith-filled African supervisors when we first went to Rwanda and that gave us an awareness of how much we had to learn and gain from the wisdom and experiences of African Christians. Since that entry into Rwanda twenty years ago, we have repeatedly been humbled by the gift of working alongside incredible men and women of rich faith and wisdom in Africa. But still, how many times have I slipped into the Western cultural perspective which says I know the best approach or that it would be better if we could just move forward on our own to ‘accomplish something?’ Repeated trial and error have showed us that being willing to listen deeply, supporting the indigenous leadership, and being willing to not go at our own pace always produces more effective results. <br /><br />In July I attended the Sudan/South Sudan Mission Network, a collaboration of congregations, presbyteries, and other groups in the U.S. who are involved in Sudan and South Sudan through relationships with churches and people there. Most of the Americans present have made multiple visits over 10 or 20 years, and they have also welcomed into their homes the colleagues from Sudan and South Sudan. I appreciate the deep relationships and mutual respect built up over many years. Several South Sudanese Americans have joined and become more active in recent years, and their bi-cultural perspective helps to remind those of us who are European-Americans of some of the local realities of cultural issues we might be overlooking. The network makes the effort to hear directly from South Sudanese in pursuit of living by that principle – “nothing for us without us.” <br /><br />This year I introduced the mission network members to one session of the Healing Hearts Transforming Nations workshop. We broke up into ethno-cultural groups and looked at the losses that each group has experienced. It was a good opportunity for us as European descent Americans to identify the losses our communities have experienced, like loss of our cultural roots and the loss of respect for one another. We also discussed some of the blind spots and deceptions which have resulted from these losses, like our perceived cultural superiority and extreme individualism. Taking time to name and discuss some of those losses and weaknesses reminded us how much we can benefit from the influences of people outside our culture, like our Sudanese and South Sudanese friends. <br /><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2eraHaWc5PJ9DGVR0S79W_gQnzlqBLcOzckPm2BbdsL8MAL-PmstelYIc3mIdx9ujiP_YnIsT8YHUSajLPDrw5ihVKSAbi7jukLYVQ4qwEF6mcuN8LAfeN8S1kTmKUA3xjc771EmjIzo1o3A0hvTvSzCWJIeZ6VUdqY9xTPwcS9CPdgw4XwrzitdHSbi/s4032/Mission%20Network%20group%20sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2eraHaWc5PJ9DGVR0S79W_gQnzlqBLcOzckPm2BbdsL8MAL-PmstelYIc3mIdx9ujiP_YnIsT8YHUSajLPDrw5ihVKSAbi7jukLYVQ4qwEF6mcuN8LAfeN8S1kTmKUA3xjc771EmjIzo1o3A0hvTvSzCWJIeZ6VUdqY9xTPwcS9CPdgw4XwrzitdHSbi/s320/Mission%20Network%20group%20sm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>One group at the mission network discussing their losses</i></div><div><br /></div>Sudan and South Sudan are still experiencing war and instability. People are suffering. This is one reason that we accepted the invitation to accompany our friends in South Sudan, praying and working for peace. But the South Sudanese leaders are the ones to drive the peace process. Lasting change will come only when it is initiated from within. While in the U.S. I have been asked, “who is doing your work when you not in South Sudan? Does it continue?” If you know us well, you know that we work with capable South Sudanese colleagues and that they continue on when we are not there. As the motto says, “nothing for us without us.” We are grateful to participate and partner together, praying that God will work through us.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQjhRPWFDdQSBFf4TjIg87vCBf2z789DPR9yPSeASTMmCjNQnAdWPscwSYU5f1Um__eDyT8eQ9AFz0qVJwPvx17QJ0C9EZRKMQeLUoj-Gcx-xH3kK9eyLoUOxZ2S84eA_SFlEMsmjCoFzktSsH7IVFeJWpnX39aNYXQbkig5TApZiubsLCXecQyaOfA/s2419/South%20Sudanese%20at%20mission%20network%202019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2419" data-original-width="1814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQjhRPWFDdQSBFf4TjIg87vCBf2z789DPR9yPSeASTMmCjNQnAdWPscwSYU5f1Um__eDyT8eQ9AFz0qVJwPvx17QJ0C9EZRKMQeLUoj-Gcx-xH3kK9eyLoUOxZ2S84eA_SFlEMsmjCoFzktSsH7IVFeJWpnX39aNYXQbkig5TApZiubsLCXecQyaOfA/s320/South%20Sudanese%20at%20mission%20network%202019.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>At the mission network meeting in 2019 with <br />some of the South Sudanese and Sudanese members</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-18113145739348570432023-07-28T22:04:00.003+01:002023-08-29T22:32:09.115+01:00Celebrating CulturesTeaching again this last semester, February to May 2023, after taking a semester off for personal leave, has been a great joy. I am grateful to learn with such wonderful students, the new Senior Class of Nile Theological College (NTC). I was blessed to teach Introduction to African Traditional Religion (ATR), a course I have wanted to teach since 2019 when I sat in on this class with students at NTC. <br /><br />As I taught this course, I encouraged students at the beginning of each class session “to take a kind, sympathetic, loving look back at our peoples, our ancestors, our forefathers and foremothers.” With love and curiosity, we sought to better appreciate how they lived, how they understood themselves, how they understood their world, how they understood their God. In our final lecture we assessed “the meeting place” between ATR and Christianity, noting similarities and differences. <br /><br />Please enjoy the pictures and descriptions which follow, most of which capture our final group presentations, offering glimpses into the histories of the peoples of the Greater Upper Nile, Bar el Ghazal, and Equatoria regions in South Sudan. As the eminent scholar and church historian Lamin Sanneh of The Gambia has winsomely written, the ‘One’ Gospel of Jesus Christ is mediated through the many “refractions” of culture (Sanneh 1993: 136ff). May we know and value these cultures and thus find those glorious ‘refractions', pointing us to the 'One' Gospel of healing and ultimate hope!<br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2JOw_P4ve7VUwq1fOQjKFxwLMpOXnce7uYyNOitkoPLW5RHOhLALnJKcJrKu8uNqh-8aoieE8Cx7bxf4Cf58_LNG1SL69fqOOK7w_upC_s3fvJ28GuZa7-DvVoEHa-ZvC_KYd2a9klc_XGYJv_59PYlqAGDXvEs8I5rEpQ8Qa-VjQWa8_rrfPerVVTNg/s1476/Mark%20Konyi%20and%20Nuer%20students%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="687" data-original-width="1476" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2JOw_P4ve7VUwq1fOQjKFxwLMpOXnce7uYyNOitkoPLW5RHOhLALnJKcJrKu8uNqh-8aoieE8Cx7bxf4Cf58_LNG1SL69fqOOK7w_upC_s3fvJ28GuZa7-DvVoEHa-ZvC_KYd2a9klc_XGYJv_59PYlqAGDXvEs8I5rEpQ8Qa-VjQWa8_rrfPerVVTNg/s320/Mark%20Konyi%20and%20Nuer%20students%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Two Nuer student join a Murle student singing a song honoring Sultan Ismael, a well-known figure in Murle lore who was gracious and forgiving to those who wronged him and generous to all peoples, also the "helper of women"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl4-iK6ABhzBS17jpfz8BOk-rckOW2v7X9U2p28sxssN_TY58cxvTXz7DevaXmMOmaw07hOZ3k9hO7CAfiLotxYBaqTNTk8P9hxgjQCjo05FKxzHFSgEDmn5AnymHaGHdhZvLbzHdz3vScGR3exI6ziB6XMu-9cmqgfVKRu1-oGRbiMcUnIDAlPt3qpMG/s1506/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2011%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1506" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl4-iK6ABhzBS17jpfz8BOk-rckOW2v7X9U2p28sxssN_TY58cxvTXz7DevaXmMOmaw07hOZ3k9hO7CAfiLotxYBaqTNTk8P9hxgjQCjo05FKxzHFSgEDmn5AnymHaGHdhZvLbzHdz3vScGR3exI6ziB6XMu-9cmqgfVKRu1-oGRbiMcUnIDAlPt3qpMG/s320/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2011%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Students imitate Chollo people who have come to see and honor the king. They kneel in respect</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib18OAOJEj6JEkUV7vlqFOKWDmML5iyY-rI64Txd6SfiNzwCxc15NhMXiPd6yVSXCE6pdGFswSWPAnc8dZxPBqhJw-tGucyeiRcR6tT628qytAsgjyODFWQ5OdlRMvs4BBmgscmK3itpNaBcU19ltHrq5QolkF8Ib1Xr51BnFgNqzyevpqoF5kAn80pB3i/s2016/final%20day,%20RE%20520%209.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib18OAOJEj6JEkUV7vlqFOKWDmML5iyY-rI64Txd6SfiNzwCxc15NhMXiPd6yVSXCE6pdGFswSWPAnc8dZxPBqhJw-tGucyeiRcR6tT628qytAsgjyODFWQ5OdlRMvs4BBmgscmK3itpNaBcU19ltHrq5QolkF8Ib1Xr51BnFgNqzyevpqoF5kAn80pB3i/s320/final%20day,%20RE%20520%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sarah Jacob gives a rich description of the Pojulu and the different places they came from (Congo, Ethiopia, South Africa); the majority of Pojulu people now live in Central Equatoria State, South Sudan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKc5uojY_83HvnZg3l3iEOmE5Kajqwg7eazR1O95acBx_SMKuATZMw-JMi5059s2S-ODmij6nkoBp5uMo-bh0roauTwxXWuWZs_x4Gxd0yRgjiIT4OG4DxVAuaE3xGiB2GkFpTpF2EgFLMwY2jFWGf3vl1cAFl3bfbuPpDkCB7nVBrpLzDTIy-uCNPAr9/s2016/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKc5uojY_83HvnZg3l3iEOmE5Kajqwg7eazR1O95acBx_SMKuATZMw-JMi5059s2S-ODmij6nkoBp5uMo-bh0roauTwxXWuWZs_x4Gxd0yRgjiIT4OG4DxVAuaE3xGiB2GkFpTpF2EgFLMwY2jFWGf3vl1cAFl3bfbuPpDkCB7nVBrpLzDTIy-uCNPAr9/s320/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dinka students from Bar el Ghazal Region present a drama of a diviner whose help is sought to find two lost goats</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmY1jDIK9utwsIbu-LuN2qzjHCL4wW5FabIqRgYi7PbXxEenpexQRpTMbM8r5s4NM8dqcJZkbjo7iZ3lWGwSysHkH-lEkQ9o9uXiA2C_F7Pnyv85SnwBeU3jhzocP5fnZW3OTrauwV3BbuV-II_wwhvbK-hlvmOXm5cL3C0JGURQteNMYXvfCH0okIBiSp/s2016/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmY1jDIK9utwsIbu-LuN2qzjHCL4wW5FabIqRgYi7PbXxEenpexQRpTMbM8r5s4NM8dqcJZkbjo7iZ3lWGwSysHkH-lEkQ9o9uXiA2C_F7Pnyv85SnwBeU3jhzocP5fnZW3OTrauwV3BbuV-II_wwhvbK-hlvmOXm5cL3C0JGURQteNMYXvfCH0okIBiSp/s320/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nen shares the rich and proud history of the Anyuwaa people, who were divided by the British administration across the borders of Sudan and Ethiopia, an event which significantly weakened their kingdom. He also described for us the large scale violence that broke out against Anyuwaa people starting in 1991 in Ethiopia, spanning into the 1990s and 2000s</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRi0rN0jTuNu02HVFWmmG965C1NPOVHaLiUBdWbkeRW-HHmVMgYp4lq2ThyaSCuLUEujN0L5BRyUTvP1o_6-SoyHxPkdQ0b1VABhWHjiSXe4lw_CKByhaxsHJZl_w1rjImD2-FKfUYO0KMZhj2BrmF8NUhNpfMxlMByP2f18TX3YIjzx6ODfA_90Stc1vb/s1525/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2014%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1525" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRi0rN0jTuNu02HVFWmmG965C1NPOVHaLiUBdWbkeRW-HHmVMgYp4lq2ThyaSCuLUEujN0L5BRyUTvP1o_6-SoyHxPkdQ0b1VABhWHjiSXe4lw_CKByhaxsHJZl_w1rjImD2-FKfUYO0KMZhj2BrmF8NUhNpfMxlMByP2f18TX3YIjzx6ODfA_90Stc1vb/s320/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2014%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Changkouth shares about the Nuer prophet Ngundeng, and also about the centrality of the ritual of initiation (markings) for Nuer boys, the rite performed to become a man</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8D21JzprvqgoTtX1A87gZRrbWhHRH5Bu3EWNUzToQKETqEhez-2185m4x7t2cddx8CBKBx6hdedW7WQqm7ayG6iI8MfAuAo4f5vytIInq_oEZoIOq5vf8NgEPuDdYNQjVefAlSRVKc4iHGHV_upx6dTJap7WWan26WTotq1efsmr3bCHTaO8ytYS4Gy-/s1769/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2023%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1282" data-original-width="1769" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8D21JzprvqgoTtX1A87gZRrbWhHRH5Bu3EWNUzToQKETqEhez-2185m4x7t2cddx8CBKBx6hdedW7WQqm7ayG6iI8MfAuAo4f5vytIInq_oEZoIOq5vf8NgEPuDdYNQjVefAlSRVKc4iHGHV_upx6dTJap7WWan26WTotq1efsmr3bCHTaO8ytYS4Gy-/s320/final%20day,%20RE%20520%2023%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Students demonstrate the significant ritual of Gumparedi of the Maadi people, which must be performed after divorce and before remarriage</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzTN1q26sZ60cAwIRdg_9VI3BgA00wN4Vipntinuirt8qNXST1V3jZIi0Foxeep7wvG7gYLKhyKHtGN7F5JbOHrADDIn3smj_cC3uVrvRhQxFZLWqM455Su3D5yOS-gjGtoG6vT3hd4FTCIs_ZQ8VrGJxQc3J3JtJW03W9GR_pK1R2-QRAE2dJjO3gamt/s1554/Screenshot,%20rainmaker%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1554" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzTN1q26sZ60cAwIRdg_9VI3BgA00wN4Vipntinuirt8qNXST1V3jZIi0Foxeep7wvG7gYLKhyKHtGN7F5JbOHrADDIn3smj_cC3uVrvRhQxFZLWqM455Su3D5yOS-gjGtoG6vT3hd4FTCIs_ZQ8VrGJxQc3J3JtJW03W9GR_pK1R2-QRAE2dJjO3gamt/w400-h198/Screenshot,%20rainmaker%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Students enact the central role of the rainmaker for the Bari people of Central Equatoria, South Sudan</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGulSZ0TcK3N2Y5GpNao76Fr3N_jBHg4vBGYyVPfrKr9izY8ZforcUFsyZg6HpB4eC6hEoe7JLnT3FjIgwSApGzPnkxj511wq5YJNCVai8P4Rj9qfTzWyN-70OSXE4RZwY2fvr_tmsZii9as3cqSHok_NKjr31D2WIg4yALuBcV4_ZGjRQIRbxtCyOVyv/s2016/final%20day,%20RE%20520%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGulSZ0TcK3N2Y5GpNao76Fr3N_jBHg4vBGYyVPfrKr9izY8ZforcUFsyZg6HpB4eC6hEoe7JLnT3FjIgwSApGzPnkxj511wq5YJNCVai8P4Rj9qfTzWyN-70OSXE4RZwY2fvr_tmsZii9as3cqSHok_NKjr31D2WIg4yALuBcV4_ZGjRQIRbxtCyOVyv/w400-h300/final%20day,%20RE%20520%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Together with Senior Class (final day)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-54737531594086561532023-06-28T20:44:00.001+01:002023-06-28T20:44:12.484+01:00Detour<p> In early June, we landed in the U.S., weary from a busy season
in Juba but excited about the prospect of visiting churches and friends in the
U.S. to share about how God is at work in South Sudan. But it has not worked out exactly as planned.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bob has not been feeling well since before we returned to
the U.S. After resting and seeing a doctor in Illinois, we decided to start traveling on
our six week ‘tour’, hoping that he could rest and recover along the way. Unfortunately,
after several days of travel, it became clear that Bob was not getting
better and that to continue trying to travel and visit people would hinder his
recovery. We made the hard decision to turn back and return to Illinois where
Bob could rest and we could pursue more medical tests. <o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhGj0MMf2QuXqy9yC6M4_pJ7EAJ0epQ_HX-iFovSLNUtd90YCGD9uCcFeGttmXAdeUOINWb8sj6pw1hccMML3VdsJW2otRY1oNMdx07CJGoSFKoXoFPVudtQ8rwkJR9Vc28cseSyiHwP8c-ExdiAgFmLNLDyzRBDBumNVP29aZgh7VZbQ9HUKq_gPcA/s767/Bob%20sleeping%20at%20rest%20stop%20cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="767" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwhGj0MMf2QuXqy9yC6M4_pJ7EAJ0epQ_HX-iFovSLNUtd90YCGD9uCcFeGttmXAdeUOINWb8sj6pw1hccMML3VdsJW2otRY1oNMdx07CJGoSFKoXoFPVudtQ8rwkJR9Vc28cseSyiHwP8c-ExdiAgFmLNLDyzRBDBumNVP29aZgh7VZbQ9HUKq_gPcA/s320/Bob%20sleeping%20at%20rest%20stop%20cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Traveling - using the rest stops to really rest,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>in addition to sleeping in the car</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">The loss of these much-anticipated visits and the discouragement
of being sick have challenged us to lean into God and wait on Him. Yesterday
one verse that came up was Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds their life will lose
it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” We meditated on
Jesus’ call to give up everything to follow Him, and the life that we find in
Christ is not like anything the world can offer. Our motivation to be
productive in raising awareness of the work and needs in South Sudan is strong,
but we realize we must also open our hands to wait on God. We need God to teach
us and enable us – and after all, God is the only one that can do the work that
will last.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lVQOnY1YFapjG6hHfEydA_eLgRMtHb-n-d5BH7JXMpJhHEZslfDscAkH06Uos-KNkpOfW_abY5bh55wCACqLtVFmAVlDU1rVbC9L0graFILU-WtezjoctDd34mD9WTElp2TvuKlL9w4BnA6x1FAirFhv_yyTWdHy4BN6Cb4mmzGhyKBig0WHiqG5hA/s759/Us%20in%20Mt.%20Gilead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lVQOnY1YFapjG6hHfEydA_eLgRMtHb-n-d5BH7JXMpJhHEZslfDscAkH06Uos-KNkpOfW_abY5bh55wCACqLtVFmAVlDU1rVbC9L0graFILU-WtezjoctDd34mD9WTElp2TvuKlL9w4BnA6x1FAirFhv_yyTWdHy4BN6Cb4mmzGhyKBig0WHiqG5hA/s320/Us%20in%20Mt.%20Gilead.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Visiting Mt. Gilead, Ohio</i></div></i><div><p class="MsoNormal">Bob is still recovering, so we appreciate your prayers for
healing, strength, and a return to “normal.” We also ask for prayer for wisdom for
the days and weeks ahead. We hope and pray that Bob will recover strength and
that we will be able to resume our visits and travel. Thank you for your
prayers. We are grateful for the encouragements and support that we have received,
and we are grateful to know that God is in control.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-50087143549674136082023-05-05T10:08:00.003+01:002023-05-06T20:16:22.822+01:00War in Sudan!<p>In mid-April, violence erupted in Khartoum and across Sudan as
two sides with powerful forces fought against each other. Hopes that the
violence would end are diminishing, while more than 500 civilians have been
killed and more than 100,000 have fled the country.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_2V6pH2IQcauhxhUj3smP4_aISNZWQECRrj0bqH_rPGqIiOCVxLazQFppPseoQntBcFP6xmED1sLaMU-AhrCy5ZPtnowLPbPTJXW7BV2OAhfZT7nnM-UsvDSA7ZZT2pWQapoHV1xnm2lMDHyoUXh-OyOfQ_BinWPVqiGiAfAGp4URguQGMFphfs/s759/Sudan%20and%20South%20Sudan.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="607" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_2V6pH2IQcauhxhUj3smP4_aISNZWQECRrj0bqH_rPGqIiOCVxLazQFppPseoQntBcFP6xmED1sLaMU-AhrCy5ZPtnowLPbPTJXW7BV2OAhfZT7nnM-UsvDSA7ZZT2pWQapoHV1xnm2lMDHyoUXh-OyOfQ_BinWPVqiGiAfAGp4URguQGMFphfs/s320/Sudan%20and%20South%20Sudan.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This map shows Sudan and South Sudan,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>with the location of the capitals</i></div><p style="text-align: left;">We live in Juba, South Sudan, relatively far from the
conflict but also the country next door. Life in Juba feels relatively ‘normal’. But Juba is already feeling
the impacts of the conflict. This week I talked to one friend here in Juba, who
is worried about his elderly father and sister in Khartoum and is trying to convince
them to come to South Sudan. “They do not want to leave,” he said, “They say ‘we
fled from the war in South Sudan in 2016. Now there is war in Khartoum. We don’t
want to flee again.’” Our friend explained that civilians are not being specifically
targeted, but that the bombs can fall anywhere and people are killed in the crossfire.
In addition, it is nearly impossible to find water, food, and fuel for power. To
stay is very risky.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs3eF9KHegiomnqUnq_UFi1EUCt7wUij5d2gnoTgHRit-lnVMKtqmSrbS6N3P8FgD5EflmlQPObZmcJeMSJWDh1lcaOrBjH3zQsEsidnC6JFwFVZVXJJLjyKiHA0xsZ6J2vw1qoUhQm_67WWbAQqYuQrnL_2fXJ0nDKONU2xQj1pPrlN2QjFoM34/s800/Sudan%20war%20-%20destroyed%20house.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUs3eF9KHegiomnqUnq_UFi1EUCt7wUij5d2gnoTgHRit-lnVMKtqmSrbS6N3P8FgD5EflmlQPObZmcJeMSJWDh1lcaOrBjH3zQsEsidnC6JFwFVZVXJJLjyKiHA0xsZ6J2vw1qoUhQm_67WWbAQqYuQrnL_2fXJ0nDKONU2xQj1pPrlN2QjFoM34/s320/Sudan%20war%20-%20destroyed%20house.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A house destroyed by recent fighting in Khartoum. AP photo. </i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Many of our friends and colleagues in Juba have relatives
in Khartoum, some of whom are now coming to South Sudan, and specifically to Juba to escape
the war. A church leader we know moved his wife and children
to another part of Sudan to escape the war. There was already a financial
crisis in South Sudan along with floods in rural regions that made many people
in a desperate, fragile situation. Now, residents in Juba are hosting relatives
fleeing war or looking for funds to help their relatives leave Khartoum. This
week it was <a href="https://www.radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/south-sudan-receives-50-000-people-fleeing-sudan-conflict">reported</a>
that more than 50,000 people have entered South Sudan from Sudan because of the
conflict. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are many churches in Khartoum, even though it is a
majority-Muslim country, and they are particularly vulnerable in this conflict.
<a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/may/sudan-christians-burhan-rsf-civil-war-khartoum-churches.html?share=ubGKI5xiVzgbVV3wsZFV58cq6pjda67f&utm_medium=widgetsocial">This
article</a> describes some of the impact on the Christian community, and some
of our partners are quoted in the article.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, barely
12 years ago. The people of South Sudan have a long and complicated
relationship with the government of Sudan and the city of Khartoum, in
particular. Most South Sudanese leaders, including church leaders, were raised
or educated in Khartoum. South Sudan’s primary source of revenue is its oil,
which is exported through Sudan. Political leaders from Sudan helped to
negotiate the current peace agreement in South Sudan, and now leaders from
South Sudan are working to negotiate a cease-fire and resolution between the conflicting
parties in Sudan. Even though we are not in the midst of war here in Juba, we
expect the tragic consequences and impacts of the war to be increasingly felt
here in South Sudan in coming days.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="text" style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 18.75pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Please join us in praying for the people in Sudan. We offer
this prayer by deacon Noha Kassa in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in
Bahri, Khartoum, which was damaged by munitions fire last week.</p><i><br />For the families displaced from their homes, unable to return. <br /><br />For the sick and injured who cannot find medical care. <br /><br />For the poor and those trapped inside, lacking food. <br /><br />For those who lost a loved one, to have God’s comfort. <br /><br />“Pray for all of this to stop soon,” said Kassa. “And for all who have lost hope, that they might find it again.” <br /><br /></i><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo source: https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/apr/30/us-conducts-1st-evacuation-tfp/</span></p><p><br /></p>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-45164903443561683692023-04-23T18:19:00.010+01:002023-04-23T18:26:10.047+01:00A Festival to the Lord: the 2023 Vision Convocation of the Presbyterian Mission AgencyCurrently I am teaching the course “Introduction to African Traditional Religion” at Nile Theological College in Juba, South Sudan. A recent lecture and discussion focused on the role of rituals and festivals within the African Heritage. Together we discussed the role of festivals and the multiple functions which they serve. Festivals often last many days; they can even last up to one month and sometimes longer. Festivals can be a time of ritual worship, and they provide a source of entertainment through special food, music, and dancing. Festivals bring people together and they provide an outlet for thoughts and feelings to be expressed in the context of community. According to African cosmology, festivals bring together and unite the visible world with the invisible world of the spirit. Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, festivals renew the life of a community, strengthening its religious and social values. <br /><br />Last month we gathered as the Presbyterian Mission Agency for our first ever Vision Convocation. We were an assembled gathering of more than two hundred staff across eight inter-related departments/ agencies: <br /><br />1) Compassion, Peace, and Justice <br /><br />2) Racial Equity & Women’s Intercultural Ministries <br /><br />3) Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) <br /><br />4) Presbyterian Hunger Program <br /><br />5) 1,001 New Worshipping Communities <br /><br />6) Theology, Formation, and Evangelism <br /><br />7) Office of Public Witness <br /><br />8) Presbyterian World Mission<div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This was the first time all agencies came together under one banner. It was also the first time that all Presbyterian mission-coworkers serving across the globe were gathered in one place. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWSambQRAzc0YiAtzrhARV5O67WnxCr8eByTmBATnzRTkSuRxNowT1ZacoRscRrNgvNlUMe20IDgnWO-gD1HAWeQt8YSsE10Oj7cNvf9dLflUImcfwuzcBvMnxmm7n23bgiS8zyQ4O5PKDOUQYnGxSIaLcPynsBxUZ27-eyZNwQ7gzIhKQTauRcz_tg/s3321/World%20Mission%20(March%202023)%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="3321" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWSambQRAzc0YiAtzrhARV5O67WnxCr8eByTmBATnzRTkSuRxNowT1ZacoRscRrNgvNlUMe20IDgnWO-gD1HAWeQt8YSsE10Oj7cNvf9dLflUImcfwuzcBvMnxmm7n23bgiS8zyQ4O5PKDOUQYnGxSIaLcPynsBxUZ27-eyZNwQ7gzIhKQTauRcz_tg/w400-h243/World%20Mission%20(March%202023)%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Presbyterian World Mission, all of us (almost!) gathered together<br />as one body perhaps for the first time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The theme of our time together was “One Band/One Sound.” We were led by Rev. Dr. Dianne Moffett, our humble and courageous leader who serves as President and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA). In my most recent reflections on our week together, I was struck by how this gathering reflected the value of a festival according to the African Heritage. There was entertainment throughout, highlighted by music, drama, and good-natured humor. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGONca_GEwSXAsBpUoymaIb0IV77ZiqfziU6WDhkRiDr8MG7dEWdyDGGJckC64k1Zuism__cNinUX_1jwVIVsUldC9up5ybGVmDaQa465vGTuUyRV2yT25LcZi6DwXTdINWk0l7BDxSxFsDj9B6ICEOX20zuQJNdcAdaK6lQPb4bv4jIQaDRTyxpiuQ/s768/Moffett-photo-courtesy-Charles-Media-Photography-768x768.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGONca_GEwSXAsBpUoymaIb0IV77ZiqfziU6WDhkRiDr8MG7dEWdyDGGJckC64k1Zuism__cNinUX_1jwVIVsUldC9up5ybGVmDaQa465vGTuUyRV2yT25LcZi6DwXTdINWk0l7BDxSxFsDj9B6ICEOX20zuQJNdcAdaK6lQPb4bv4jIQaDRTyxpiuQ/s320/Moffett-photo-courtesy-Charles-Media-Photography-768x768.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, President and Executive Director <br />of the Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA)<br />Photo Credit: The Presbyterian Outlook </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z70ygqmQS52Djg8IcVbg2zvTMn3I11EyBk1TxpAbcqi7qwklI20pcvYVPSjKpWxGYzj5yfB0Di8blMtGj0ZGiQH-cgkNVAAe8Svf6GtOWjVKkzXj277EhbW56Olh9DPM2O2sELVSUD9zrCnp00oUqWCDlq0MbrTpQ5hVKgLslaYfv9tqwtke7XXgrw/s640/VC%208.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z70ygqmQS52Djg8IcVbg2zvTMn3I11EyBk1TxpAbcqi7qwklI20pcvYVPSjKpWxGYzj5yfB0Di8blMtGj0ZGiQH-cgkNVAAe8Svf6GtOWjVKkzXj277EhbW56Olh9DPM2O2sELVSUD9zrCnp00oUqWCDlq0MbrTpQ5hVKgLslaYfv9tqwtke7XXgrw/s320/VC%208.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />We were led in a fun storytelling drama! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQyCLHq9MNFG5NJfNWJ21ihEHJ99Ca7hay3tPSHtMqNp058RBfFT1Ah0KpdzdnAPrOeu_yrgv-jt90zA65CTDDqlbQcOqUi2qax3jOvBJtL3JvPyuAucFNILQH1kYZXqWtKaZ2Cw97BukzuGtW6wO22lywabr9bfolTYTzjnhCem3pcFvNvSrPU4h2w/s338/VC%209%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="279" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQyCLHq9MNFG5NJfNWJ21ihEHJ99Ca7hay3tPSHtMqNp058RBfFT1Ah0KpdzdnAPrOeu_yrgv-jt90zA65CTDDqlbQcOqUi2qax3jOvBJtL3JvPyuAucFNILQH1kYZXqWtKaZ2Cw97BukzuGtW6wO22lywabr9bfolTYTzjnhCem3pcFvNvSrPU4h2w/s320/VC%209%20(2).jpg" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being led in song by Reverend Alonzo Johnson! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>We worshipped together each day, and we were able to spend time reflecting together on our social values or “culture code.” We were able to listen to one another, learn from one another, and simply be together “in-person” after three years of the pandemic stress of being separated physically. Over the last three years, we have known each other “in boxes” on a screen (Zoom). Now, we had a chance to all be together in one room, in the flesh. It was a fully orbed, inculturated, incarnational experience. I remember helping lead the liturgy on our first day of worship. I recall looking deeply into the eyes of a brother sitting near the front as I spoke words of confession and feeling an immediate bond of kinship with him, being united in that moment with my brother across race and generation, joined together in that consequential moment across the divides which our society constructs to separate us. I was deeply moved. Such experiences usually do not happen on Zoom.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hetGN2iqbcVXplV9HuCl9kKqnrZt9Z4MPUlw03mJCgWS-aBegMROGwQ3HKrFNBeVgBZ5cN17mxLytqNK4WLkUyLC376kzinCKnDMYfl4SrxU_1TwZGiudSDy3GedIHQM6RkX8L5Jmoi1MVfNwPiryiA6fuexYO0fEwd2tpnhkAswJbIke-yAtPg6ZA/s504/VC%204%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="504" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hetGN2iqbcVXplV9HuCl9kKqnrZt9Z4MPUlw03mJCgWS-aBegMROGwQ3HKrFNBeVgBZ5cN17mxLytqNK4WLkUyLC376kzinCKnDMYfl4SrxU_1TwZGiudSDy3GedIHQM6RkX8L5Jmoi1MVfNwPiryiA6fuexYO0fEwd2tpnhkAswJbIke-yAtPg6ZA/w400-h266/VC%204%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Poppins; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">The Reverend Gregory J. Bentley, Co-Moderator of the 224th General Assembly (2020) <br />of the Presbyterian Church (USA) gave a rousing, Spirit-filled devotional message <br />each morning</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx2ee8zZ7wCjZr0UY62lrrAsjRZ0rAdyDk-eHogPWrzXqGxle4NzdQv10piuc3JjxI8VEoVu8sE7AvvldCNZKCR6Zrq0sIpDYARoS5vRjsL6qv3Ec8Bsfcb4JCBVfeSX5_B0w3_PP3xwB-7lt_n64fYLFMmULujssL7j_ZI2xxug63TkZKdFTWOr50A/s640/VC%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx2ee8zZ7wCjZr0UY62lrrAsjRZ0rAdyDk-eHogPWrzXqGxle4NzdQv10piuc3JjxI8VEoVu8sE7AvvldCNZKCR6Zrq0sIpDYARoS5vRjsL6qv3Ec8Bsfcb4JCBVfeSX5_B0w3_PP3xwB-7lt_n64fYLFMmULujssL7j_ZI2xxug63TkZKdFTWOr50A/w400-h300/VC%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Partaking of the Lord's Supper together </div></div><br />I will be honest and share that I initially had misgivings about participating in the Vision Convocation due to various concerns. Yet, I am so glad that we were able to attend! Following the wisdom of our African ancestors and the African Heritage, I believe that such gatherings are necessary to renew the life, vision, and values of our community. Rev. Dr. Dianne Moffett and the other leaders within the Presbyterian Mission Agency were determined to bring everyone together, and for that I am eternally grateful. To God be the glory!<br /> </div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Other fun photos from our time together - </u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju05R7yIkeJ7QgdI7gyHp5zZxUN4CsVCQ_Ie_3LpEBnbFYyKIdjby0fn6RBUNlu3lebKqPCw2Gf8RyPhiz5B585mrpgQm8vGI0pa7rNtCEM2QFS743PYCmLdLs8RKrj_uD3WHLqh7KrENbZpLAE3CWFkzID-ZSA9jEdldOJgZIry_FxDb0QWMb3TLGMg/s1024/Africa%20Team.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju05R7yIkeJ7QgdI7gyHp5zZxUN4CsVCQ_Ie_3LpEBnbFYyKIdjby0fn6RBUNlu3lebKqPCw2Gf8RyPhiz5B585mrpgQm8vGI0pa7rNtCEM2QFS743PYCmLdLs8RKrj_uD3WHLqh7KrENbZpLAE3CWFkzID-ZSA9jEdldOJgZIry_FxDb0QWMb3TLGMg/s320/Africa%20Team.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Africa Team!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl1IlyhdYT5BoiV58f1kz1ZK9SHLXRhlKN6EGuO81g10Sd5yxCvCw3il0olJ4c8uV0w04MjAKcCws3ROfgxzWFHnJL-DqrK5eJHJFk99wEIWz_vpbTNEydeW4hu2jj4MRIXfJL8EbKBUZoX1jQ19gD7bLrED6rTdxXlCDqNSCvQSbx21YF1CNvJXHsg/s640/VC%2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl1IlyhdYT5BoiV58f1kz1ZK9SHLXRhlKN6EGuO81g10Sd5yxCvCw3il0olJ4c8uV0w04MjAKcCws3ROfgxzWFHnJL-DqrK5eJHJFk99wEIWz_vpbTNEydeW4hu2jj4MRIXfJL8EbKBUZoX1jQ19gD7bLrED6rTdxXlCDqNSCvQSbx21YF1CNvJXHsg/s320/VC%2018.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Praying together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pz7Zca53nfX1BIj0LhI8HrHjFIV96GDbmKUb-CaonFdkiT7qNjl7jDiFHBmcvH3CU0eReymtF9co3ZAIBDp0e0_PRMlMOWY3kgx9_7LO6jjFHOFdytx5EU41mNT7uQEfEP6oYjNN4fJyhG1LgXNea6BIbPniD1Fe2pcjBpDmq_Cdq0xeGSzlIJqpcQ/s640/VC%2012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Pz7Zca53nfX1BIj0LhI8HrHjFIV96GDbmKUb-CaonFdkiT7qNjl7jDiFHBmcvH3CU0eReymtF9co3ZAIBDp0e0_PRMlMOWY3kgx9_7LO6jjFHOFdytx5EU41mNT7uQEfEP6oYjNN4fJyhG1LgXNea6BIbPniD1Fe2pcjBpDmq_Cdq0xeGSzlIJqpcQ/s320/VC%2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Learning together! (as the Africa Team)<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLkrepHO6AFqvdFtrBRjdZbrmqWnv3unow6ON4cKnZIwBCQk1FA66wJ-CaPmVGUshwTut0DY21GsNfd5bainnuJrLQEEau-m9nYeb9iFXNYKQCydXL5GgtwVPXFE3Ts-_vqA66GEp8SaQ-aboaZ5BeiChFz8Iv7QZX3mJaOPJ9kOaIcK3UEm5LUKfWQ/s640/VC%2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLkrepHO6AFqvdFtrBRjdZbrmqWnv3unow6ON4cKnZIwBCQk1FA66wJ-CaPmVGUshwTut0DY21GsNfd5bainnuJrLQEEau-m9nYeb9iFXNYKQCydXL5GgtwVPXFE3Ts-_vqA66GEp8SaQ-aboaZ5BeiChFz8Iv7QZX3mJaOPJ9kOaIcK3UEm5LUKfWQ/s320/VC%2017.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Learning from Reverend Jermaine Ross-Allam, Director of <br />the Center for the Repair of Historical Harm of the Presbyterian Mission Agency,<br /> who came and shared his heart and vision with our Africa Team</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV4pa_t1t7NkKdmR1WRUMGuHd3JF4zXu2Vk1yWB0yEW9BDixiOz660knU5YnF5HL3u5X1VDXmj5swQjFbycTcvmlKKO1YEwm3sncuxAFy5iRTMyJum_ZemnkWhB4GAGmpwZhe2F-VyqfAZHBplHiGRX4xX5-5FK6-3Ce54copsYzCzUS1w4tF3sVR6A/s640/VC%206.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqV4pa_t1t7NkKdmR1WRUMGuHd3JF4zXu2Vk1yWB0yEW9BDixiOz660knU5YnF5HL3u5X1VDXmj5swQjFbycTcvmlKKO1YEwm3sncuxAFy5iRTMyJum_ZemnkWhB4GAGmpwZhe2F-VyqfAZHBplHiGRX4xX5-5FK6-3Ce54copsYzCzUS1w4tF3sVR6A/s320/VC%206.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Jeff and Christi Boyd, friends and colleagues from our<br />time in DR Congo</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT_Es15j3T904DI0Ur-_CmySkWZL0E-OD9B9RAQ_SDoLrdW2HtP5la8qgzvhbas5HinZ12tgYEyc2HlMex8LtBfHGaFkuHL5HPOE12yuEO8BiWVGUF5ljFGIoVakwcXZOiAg2toTnk88T5PpN5QxOBj2xgZ3a2ZiM7s0-Cv7gW0kyNttRsXgN4v5nzQ/s640/VC%207.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlT_Es15j3T904DI0Ur-_CmySkWZL0E-OD9B9RAQ_SDoLrdW2HtP5la8qgzvhbas5HinZ12tgYEyc2HlMex8LtBfHGaFkuHL5HPOE12yuEO8BiWVGUF5ljFGIoVakwcXZOiAg2toTnk88T5PpN5QxOBj2xgZ3a2ZiM7s0-Cv7gW0kyNttRsXgN4v5nzQ/s320/VC%207.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />With Africa Team colleagues Rev. Cheryl Barnes and <br />Rev. Paula Cooper, also Ryan White, a friend from seminary<br />who lives and serves in Germany with his family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdnOYtsLxC6zydsFKfgapA9tEiIwlCK30D80QGPy2X4zelKXT6Xtn5YbtX-nOuLsCLb5Rq3s6QiaCtzI7eoWJl48kgVQ7IDkGI-5TNPP7XpgDi7hgV73xPAi_ulicWZgwPNxE-jBqA0nntdz_RWNXIIvel6dKpTVEAKKrAniKUMFZ0R56BnLtUzoRSQ/s1544/With%20Destini%20at%20VC%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1544" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdnOYtsLxC6zydsFKfgapA9tEiIwlCK30D80QGPy2X4zelKXT6Xtn5YbtX-nOuLsCLb5Rq3s6QiaCtzI7eoWJl48kgVQ7IDkGI-5TNPP7XpgDi7hgV73xPAi_ulicWZgwPNxE-jBqA0nntdz_RWNXIIvel6dKpTVEAKKrAniKUMFZ0R56BnLtUzoRSQ/s320/With%20Destini%20at%20VC%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>With Destini Hodges, our courageous leader of the <br />Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) program <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEXJ1TN9VKfK6bXIAjiIPhAxMgYYnbqQv6ZzGTNWM2w5rbuK7aWKc3ollVwyQ1nsrD0yo0dEWyn-TvqEzZb7qUYQihNbAbYDhEJLwZXOyh-X7CfMMaTVv7oXS5a7qdJKpws0ov-oD9sAV1ZkEuETMjs8RAwIW7SsT0dcirOnX9m4bgpFx0Lg7E5qkjQ/s2048/White%20Mission%20Coworkers%20Confronting%20Racisom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEXJ1TN9VKfK6bXIAjiIPhAxMgYYnbqQv6ZzGTNWM2w5rbuK7aWKc3ollVwyQ1nsrD0yo0dEWyn-TvqEzZb7qUYQihNbAbYDhEJLwZXOyh-X7CfMMaTVv7oXS5a7qdJKpws0ov-oD9sAV1ZkEuETMjs8RAwIW7SsT0dcirOnX9m4bgpFx0Lg7E5qkjQ/s320/White%20Mission%20Coworkers%20Confronting%20Racisom.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Our "White Mission Co-Workers Confronting Racism" group <br />which has been meeting virtually since July, 2020<br />(this was our first time together in person!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n7WvssrfL-Quwn5ZL8rBGlGRj_U1ETHMUHChmURdLlABdkPegKq2ibvoxysSPrbv41QWWRwp2XGf-ZhgssWT3X_u4v1jU2z-pTpNNJEzzNSFP-4wCpMzsUCmgS-VkWJIPiRgnNhIrhWyH35-ltVGiIVb5xxWQjr1GcYaL-2n_aYY600h8Ehf10yIEA/s640/VC%201%20(tests,%20Covid)%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6n7WvssrfL-Quwn5ZL8rBGlGRj_U1ETHMUHChmURdLlABdkPegKq2ibvoxysSPrbv41QWWRwp2XGf-ZhgssWT3X_u4v1jU2z-pTpNNJEzzNSFP-4wCpMzsUCmgS-VkWJIPiRgnNhIrhWyH35-ltVGiIVb5xxWQjr1GcYaL-2n_aYY600h8Ehf10yIEA/s320/VC%201%20(tests,%20Covid)%20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tested positive for Covid-19 upon return to Juba;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thankfully it was a mild case!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-59170827279562927552023-03-31T08:54:00.001+01:002023-03-31T08:54:19.629+01:00New Facilitators of Healing in Juba<p>Our new facilitators arrived at the graduation joyful but
tired after an intense two days of facilitating their first Healing Hearts,
Transforming Nations workshop. It had been a challenging five weeks for them during
the South Sudan School of Reconciliation – giving up their weekends to be in
training all day and preparing lessons during the week in a way that was new
for them. We all celebrated that God got us through and the amazing way that
people experienced God’s love and healing through these new facilitators in
their faltering first steps.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7X9Z9zKkICl-KRmUt0n2uUuU5gvdp4Xdqz8AcLfyORFUYU10x4SQNyeyZiIevEm-tVm-v05O6dIfgsxfQAop_QSmyUpX2fa1tkAFGaaStMYTPSp7V5z-_nZcK4S-ZOZ6wqorhiK-hswRACifAtURLfdWMVvIFMRK0gTJUsIGCTHGMYarbJadR6I/s2507/TOF%20graduation%20-%20new%20facilitators%20and%20trainers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2507" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7X9Z9zKkICl-KRmUt0n2uUuU5gvdp4Xdqz8AcLfyORFUYU10x4SQNyeyZiIevEm-tVm-v05O6dIfgsxfQAop_QSmyUpX2fa1tkAFGaaStMYTPSp7V5z-_nZcK4S-ZOZ6wqorhiK-hswRACifAtURLfdWMVvIFMRK0gTJUsIGCTHGMYarbJadR6I/w400-h266/TOF%20graduation%20-%20new%20facilitators%20and%20trainers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Graduates (standing) along with trainers and church leaders</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">One of the graduates shared his own experience, emphatically
telling the church leaders “the people who see today are not the same people
that you sent to this training. I am completely changed.” He described that one
woman in the workshop in which he and others had led was a widow and all of her children had died. In
South Sudan this puts her in a very isolated and vulnerable position – she has
no social credibility or connections. The loss, isolation, and rejection that
she had experienced had led to her being full of bitterness and anger towards
others. She faithfully went to church and studied the Bible but found no relief
from the bitterness and anger until God touched her heart in the workshop and
she was able to give it over to Jesus and let God heal her. She shared in the
workshop that she was forgiving all the people who had rejected her and that
she felt free to love others again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1b4Mug0YvlZo6pU08Q0098ymXfgO766lUzD6ZfCiupivtd3lUVNIeib2nGp3aUUniPPgctUWhq1dFaW_Y6BsDCWh96wvmppDLS6OXvy-UseVn79tqdspVQ34S49XRv8hll_hdDBzJepfAIAvOjgDExKti1cwM67GNLJ_fOgo2GgD0B32ilSMZhs/s1517/TOF%20graduation%20Chol%20testimony.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1381" data-original-width="1517" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1b4Mug0YvlZo6pU08Q0098ymXfgO766lUzD6ZfCiupivtd3lUVNIeib2nGp3aUUniPPgctUWhq1dFaW_Y6BsDCWh96wvmppDLS6OXvy-UseVn79tqdspVQ34S49XRv8hll_hdDBzJepfAIAvOjgDExKti1cwM67GNLJ_fOgo2GgD0B32ilSMZhs/s320/TOF%20graduation%20Chol%20testimony.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Chol shares his testimony during the graduation</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">Another graduate shared that he realized the unique format
of this workshop had power to open people’s hearts. He said that the dramas help
people to connect with their own experience and understand principles more deeply
than just through teaching. He shared how surprised he was to see a respected
elder in the church come in tears (which is shameful in this culture) during
the practicum workshop he facilitated. During a session about prejudice and the
ways that we wound each other, the man initially said “we are Christians and we
do not want to say anything bad about people of other groups.” But later during
the Standing in the Gap session, a woman confessed the ways that people from her group, the Nuer, have
harmed and killed those of the Shilluk people group. The man was Shilluk, and
her confession freed him to express the pent up hatred that he had towards the
Nuer for a series of attacks on his village and the people who had been killed
and displaced. He said “this is the first time I have ever spoken of this
hatred. I want to forgive the Nuer people and be free of this hatred. I want us
to live together in harmony.”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5moHs0z6O9so7_3b90OvJ73AEnePEO2aah_JS5uN6pGA8XvysRQBCXgeij-mlzBzSDOlYOVq8k6ImMehRYcEgZu68OgH5swt5rAyvEogremqjfI-MT68gOOwIhjFL4VntNSsiGIZpRqRODwctLotJ2DCUkm8mlWSqmyM9gGNQ01AKFZy_hfKS5_8/s1600/Practicum%20Kor%20William%20rope%20drama.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5moHs0z6O9so7_3b90OvJ73AEnePEO2aah_JS5uN6pGA8XvysRQBCXgeij-mlzBzSDOlYOVq8k6ImMehRYcEgZu68OgH5swt5rAyvEogremqjfI-MT68gOOwIhjFL4VntNSsiGIZpRqRODwctLotJ2DCUkm8mlWSqmyM9gGNQ01AKFZy_hfKS5_8/s320/Practicum%20Kor%20William%20rope%20drama.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A drama about how unforgiveness affects us is</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>performed during one of the practicum workshops</i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">As Rev. Tut commissioned the new graduates, he exhorted them
not to be limited by workshops, but to share this message at every opportunity.
People in all sectors of society are traumatized and division and tensions
between groups is an ongoing reality in South Sudan. We desperately need to
experience God’s love and healing so that we can be freed to celebrate and
embrace our differences rather than let them divide us.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOvJvnn8_-Clq7h_T0294P2BQd6XDPVYc5PPcyuSUJ2rI-QcGsRE1gHAfyD90mrb-82stpDXZ-VU3Z2kAdtSl4HP-wl9m-HXqtPEaq0jjGo1v581fSHb688-__AL1WpNMubI1qTFtzIvPy8dKhlMSHleRpViCWjIgAAn8i50tO4Z9Q8phuUuQIA0/s1843/TOF%20graduation%20-%20commissioning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1843" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOvJvnn8_-Clq7h_T0294P2BQd6XDPVYc5PPcyuSUJ2rI-QcGsRE1gHAfyD90mrb-82stpDXZ-VU3Z2kAdtSl4HP-wl9m-HXqtPEaq0jjGo1v581fSHb688-__AL1WpNMubI1qTFtzIvPy8dKhlMSHleRpViCWjIgAAn8i50tO4Z9Q8phuUuQIA0/s320/TOF%20graduation%20-%20commissioning.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The new facilitators being commissioned during the graduation</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">This group of new facilitators are not experts – they are
humble people who come from every profession and walk of life. We had a
professor of agriculture, some university students, a journalist, and a few
people living in camps for displaced people, among others. And none of them
have English as their first language. But they humbly submitted to learning a
new way of teaching and asked God to use them. Our amazing group of trainers
also labored sacrificially through the 5 weeks, even when the obstacles we
faced threatened to derail and compromise the training. I think this is a great
example of the ways that God works through ordinary people in unexpected ways.
This was certainly not a highly publicized or big budget training, and none of
us are international experts. But when we do our part to be faithful and trust
God to do the work of the heart, the Holy Spirit can truly bring
transformation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvKw3BTuhXCnyn4P3xokI7FXOxMian99E_oNF5zIVvZ_qqslH4eeErNattKl2VsdPG8qoGytFVeJkWeOZsaeYdPikjn-f8waUleJK14QzsoJwF8lkk-6XsQO29EFoUO33YDdfRA58VSmXPzdhJFDf0jGiW7VkqG2o9WMtNr18EI4s4wIFwL_vQrY/s1080/Practicum%20Kor%20William%20Kings%20table%203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1080" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuvKw3BTuhXCnyn4P3xokI7FXOxMian99E_oNF5zIVvZ_qqslH4eeErNattKl2VsdPG8qoGytFVeJkWeOZsaeYdPikjn-f8waUleJK14QzsoJwF8lkk-6XsQO29EFoUO33YDdfRA58VSmXPzdhJFDf0jGiW7VkqG2o9WMtNr18EI4s4wIFwL_vQrY/s320/Practicum%20Kor%20William%20Kings%20table%203.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A celebration at the end of the workshops gives and</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>opportunityto appreciate and bless people from all groups.</i></div><p></p>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-12941252437371304982023-03-08T11:06:00.002+01:002023-03-08T11:42:19.913+01:00Honoring the President, Seeking Real Peace…Evangelist John Odhong Mayik, my friend and research collaborator, arrived at our home around 6:30am. I had been waiting all week for this day. John helped me put on a lawo, the traditional dress of the Chollo people. John also brought for me a staff, a cultural instrument assigned to older Chollo men, used for walking but also carrying the symbolic value of dignity and status. My friend Dylan arrived and John also clad Dylan in lawo. Juma, our rickshaw driver, had arrived, Kristi quickly snapped a picture of the three of us, and we were off!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KqS2KJtDA1ePfJ9JmXiCTiRWMawNLaKupExIASRWln1TCGuI87FKS205_vqfaRgcg0ZeiHxeHbKdvf7MJsSqzSYdwbJofWC6SfOyS_AoZUSV-FYez3sNaNx-9RP2j8ZmzCCtbI8HA4a-dEPqGPaLX1C2SC3E0Ia6E3xADSmwm1fdQJXFnUsZlPgIRA/s1512/John,%20Dylan,%20myself%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1501" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KqS2KJtDA1ePfJ9JmXiCTiRWMawNLaKupExIASRWln1TCGuI87FKS205_vqfaRgcg0ZeiHxeHbKdvf7MJsSqzSYdwbJofWC6SfOyS_AoZUSV-FYez3sNaNx-9RP2j8ZmzCCtbI8HA4a-dEPqGPaLX1C2SC3E0Ia6E3xADSmwm1fdQJXFnUsZlPgIRA/s320/John,%20Dylan,%20myself%20(2).jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">John Odhong, Dylan and I </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>By half past seven there was already a flurry of activity at the John Garang Mausoleum. People were finding their seats, groups practiced their marching and preparing themselves for the big day. Looking up into the elevated seating we saw two friendly and familiar faces; we were promptly escorted to sit together, up with them. His Excellency, the President, General Salva Kiir Mayardit, did not arrive until almost 11am, so we had plenty of time to soak in the atmosphere. Two things were clear as we waited. The Chollo people are a well-organized people, and they are serious about their culture. Different Chollo clans and groups from different regions wore matching lawo as they marched in preparation. The energy and excitement of the day were palpable. As we waited, we witnessed the arrival of foreign dignitaries, political leaders, the king of the Anyuwaa and a representative of the King of the Azande and his retinue. Then, the organizer and instigator of today’s event arrived, Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet, king of the Chollo kingdom. Songs were sung about Padiet, the grandfather of the current king, and how people were happy during that time as there was peace and people were able to cultivate, having “food in hand.” Songs continued, from one song-leading group to the next, songs celebrating the legacy of this royal family.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bsZrdBVfXt3gVPFVkPds_yIuR4yoMPCT2Cx6LssUpYZ7VaSuWLNpxmCOEwBunyUwCeeRhaYjRREgVy9STxCpzzCJg21mm8e0VSxlu44ck4-m4_p14xs4o2vrlUdxrRpNsEePbT-cwp17kw_TWFdLP6m_c2ljhKuvE-iOqlnhLSqPfy6aPfzNWCs8XA/s2991/DSC_0932%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2991" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bsZrdBVfXt3gVPFVkPds_yIuR4yoMPCT2Cx6LssUpYZ7VaSuWLNpxmCOEwBunyUwCeeRhaYjRREgVy9STxCpzzCJg21mm8e0VSxlu44ck4-m4_p14xs4o2vrlUdxrRpNsEePbT-cwp17kw_TWFdLP6m_c2ljhKuvE-iOqlnhLSqPfy6aPfzNWCs8XA/s320/DSC_0932%20(4).JPG" width="320" /></a><br />Arrival of the Representative of<br />the King of the Azande People</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23S57FLxxfPq2fN2MkV7aSCsYHML6iW_-rQlMgCWBXVEXt0AQLKcBC9GWbcaqag6-H5MP_3hb-YiMGCHNxqdm3lswYG2rEVSXOdNIlLNIEZm0PD-69pk4CRtSNiwvWr8da0DlfGYYFVsO69jEoI1lqyvOhgpHI3PWOx9M9DpUZ6KXvO20fOjc6eZ1mQ/s1953/DSC_0772%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1921" data-original-width="1953" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23S57FLxxfPq2fN2MkV7aSCsYHML6iW_-rQlMgCWBXVEXt0AQLKcBC9GWbcaqag6-H5MP_3hb-YiMGCHNxqdm3lswYG2rEVSXOdNIlLNIEZm0PD-69pk4CRtSNiwvWr8da0DlfGYYFVsO69jEoI1lqyvOhgpHI3PWOx9M9DpUZ6KXvO20fOjc6eZ1mQ/s320/DSC_0772%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a><br />Arrival of the Ambassador of the Netherlands</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCKkROXU66HegOFQUIjSvYMMZIRyjDHlgRvax2teZzhDq4TJ3MXE1IPDpxEwGWTiE1LpkAi_tHi2qR7IYVBwSnfz-3aWOTh6wCy53CZIqNyR0_pJIYPGRAbkkn2TbiOeTi2mF982q4RuUzzPOM-fva9_bKOjQVP5eE95V8T0n7NbpUHnpke7QKzst5w/s1765/DSC_0879%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1765" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyCKkROXU66HegOFQUIjSvYMMZIRyjDHlgRvax2teZzhDq4TJ3MXE1IPDpxEwGWTiE1LpkAi_tHi2qR7IYVBwSnfz-3aWOTh6wCy53CZIqNyR0_pJIYPGRAbkkn2TbiOeTi2mF982q4RuUzzPOM-fva9_bKOjQVP5eE95V8T0n7NbpUHnpke7QKzst5w/w400-h284/DSC_0879%20(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Arrival of Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet<br />King of the Chollo People </div></div><br />Today’s event was billed as an opportunity to promote unity, peace, and cooperation amongst the Chollo people of Upper Nile, South Sudan, and by extension, to promote peace and unity among all peoples of South Sudan. The event was also promoted as a day for the king of the Chollo to honor His Excellency, the President of the Republic. The king of the Chollo had been recently rescued by the President as a marauding militia from a neighboring state who had “called for the head of the king” as they invaded the heartland of Chollo land and killed innocent civilians by the thousands. The king was evacuated and brought to Juba until it is same for him to return home. Normally, the king would not abandon his people; in this case, however, circumstances became such that his temporary removal became necessary.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMI_dcZv9UkOQYmzz9Ptr466bjM8QAkIeqzxcZj8TaLeZOyY7YrFBaZtqLsi5oCGt6K4TcvJZYQ7U7jaE3nMs0sPFDUs3VpXQIIEUX9HQ9fUe90KkSDTNSuGhbvxFkkAVoW_hvimLe_92HZIAXos42FfhQlKWbnIn4Axm4lgfj5HAMzmQQYxxczTQlQ/s3292/DSC_0120%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="3292" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMI_dcZv9UkOQYmzz9Ptr466bjM8QAkIeqzxcZj8TaLeZOyY7YrFBaZtqLsi5oCGt6K4TcvJZYQ7U7jaE3nMs0sPFDUs3VpXQIIEUX9HQ9fUe90KkSDTNSuGhbvxFkkAVoW_hvimLe_92HZIAXos42FfhQlKWbnIn4Axm4lgfj5HAMzmQQYxxczTQlQ/w400-h203/DSC_0120%20(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A day to promote unit and peace from within the Chollo people, <br />A day to promote unity and peace for all South Sudanese peoples </div><br />As the sun raised her head higher and higher, as late morning approached, it became clear to all that the most important person of the hour was on his way. We were told to put down our phones and to not take pictures. Military vehicles, heavily armed, arrived ahead of the motorcade of white SUVs carrying the President. A stillness and silence in the air carried the weight of anticipation. Entering from the other side of the large pavilion, I did not see the President until he appeared walking together, hand-in-hand, with Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet, king of the Chollo kingdom.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYxKzy8go6eF3vDJjXmB9CMcH9StplOTU3QV_TonUhJeDTX7ZiMvazz3Sj_9sqV9wsRoEHBqHxi85_P4TjJHeVlaLYKkdg3no-emjsrUxTcE9qIUsFUOs-64ic_jJ24O_JwzJSZvBtcZqjdzL0cvQAsSy1IgFawnugxaf5JoxHyTcsCYBcTiP92guVw/s847/Kiir%20and%20King%20(Photo%20credit,%20Office%20of%20the%20President).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="847" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYxKzy8go6eF3vDJjXmB9CMcH9StplOTU3QV_TonUhJeDTX7ZiMvazz3Sj_9sqV9wsRoEHBqHxi85_P4TjJHeVlaLYKkdg3no-emjsrUxTcE9qIUsFUOs-64ic_jJ24O_JwzJSZvBtcZqjdzL0cvQAsSy1IgFawnugxaf5JoxHyTcsCYBcTiP92guVw/w400-h266/Kiir%20and%20King%20(Photo%20credit,%20Office%20of%20the%20President).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet (King of the Chollo) and <br />His Excellency, President Salva Kiir <br />Photo credit: Office of the Presidency </div><br />For the next hour we watched a colorful parade of troupes from different parts of the Chollo kingdom march before the king, sit in reverence before him, and then continue marching. It was not only the Chollo who paraded before the king. They were followed by the other tribal groups of Upper Nile and then by several different tribes from different parts of South Sudan. The marching and dancing was a marvel, a demonstration of the unique strength of the peoples of South Sudan. When the marching ended, prayers for the day were offered by a Christian pastor and a leader from the Islamic community.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>Some images of the Parade <br />(marching, kneeling in honor, dancing) </u></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlat6skCLHEensIWLJl3IdR9O7UqlrcJ9UelTTR-qBHNTYfP9hnExsTrhvUo8TO1aDCuD8N3rRl8Yb9Z7TAAf_9ItfkYdpW6p7SiQuX5aQSB2FXczB_hiuveDp73DSnB6WcWCXdYWOpY5s5LVLMsrICA30j1y_QNWp5ZZSHAYkRj5PnIrVXOgpDacqvg/s3367/DSC_0032%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="3367" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlat6skCLHEensIWLJl3IdR9O7UqlrcJ9UelTTR-qBHNTYfP9hnExsTrhvUo8TO1aDCuD8N3rRl8Yb9Z7TAAf_9ItfkYdpW6p7SiQuX5aQSB2FXczB_hiuveDp73DSnB6WcWCXdYWOpY5s5LVLMsrICA30j1y_QNWp5ZZSHAYkRj5PnIrVXOgpDacqvg/w640-h274/DSC_0032%20(3).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fqPY8-MCCJAwHGhq5Fsu2aD-07JodmDz6KQD0DcgfJV6rXTkHCg3swrF0ZDpAfuZ8oNzmNHeSxvl-VO_iWFV5I29GEkAH6zopub1eytTHRQOCAOL3vJd6SN4rSDcS_rK37Tm5hgD8LTk8ueLVOPMmwanVuPiiETurzaMMs8zKTYCGtwBbAvTtA-xqw/s2102/DSC_0803%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1592" data-original-width="2102" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fqPY8-MCCJAwHGhq5Fsu2aD-07JodmDz6KQD0DcgfJV6rXTkHCg3swrF0ZDpAfuZ8oNzmNHeSxvl-VO_iWFV5I29GEkAH6zopub1eytTHRQOCAOL3vJd6SN4rSDcS_rK37Tm5hgD8LTk8ueLVOPMmwanVuPiiETurzaMMs8zKTYCGtwBbAvTtA-xqw/w400-h303/DSC_0803%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpMnzDODqzYAEE8qiLuWWbkXFFROvT6Zgj9vGnF75Yz9fju5NTGAaIhHeFoVdMWZb2mAtaYjpmMAV9SXffOpkYT1D9NihZN9wotkDCUvwmEPze2UsxGulEjIsPLpLOVpOBQioz-GIPpjcT8PbAouFEiC5r6WQ_UchmEENrNf7C7OlnDw3sU7QK2rSSQ/s1303/DSC_0257%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1303" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpMnzDODqzYAEE8qiLuWWbkXFFROvT6Zgj9vGnF75Yz9fju5NTGAaIhHeFoVdMWZb2mAtaYjpmMAV9SXffOpkYT1D9NihZN9wotkDCUvwmEPze2UsxGulEjIsPLpLOVpOBQioz-GIPpjcT8PbAouFEiC5r6WQ_UchmEENrNf7C7OlnDw3sU7QK2rSSQ/w400-h255/DSC_0257%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5USTGeboUmTx2RkrHUI3nVKel1l8lRagOl7J6ncm6y8ML7UEKI29ukcd5TTj5gLOvHaNK2eWq1N0St74WCjjzcMLYJwxFjx2A7qTc-9ajNyocKjMeAHUfVU-aioZJoxEOVV_KugUrM59cRzlqEtrzKRTAKEvNzOS7JvLp_cTb_Q1q-q7PUTkSLqEng/s2124/DSC_0785%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="2124" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5USTGeboUmTx2RkrHUI3nVKel1l8lRagOl7J6ncm6y8ML7UEKI29ukcd5TTj5gLOvHaNK2eWq1N0St74WCjjzcMLYJwxFjx2A7qTc-9ajNyocKjMeAHUfVU-aioZJoxEOVV_KugUrM59cRzlqEtrzKRTAKEvNzOS7JvLp_cTb_Q1q-q7PUTkSLqEng/w640-h288/DSC_0785%20(4).JPG" width="640" /></a> </div></div><div><br />Speeches then commenced, starting with a member of the organizing community, and then from the representative of the king of the Azande people, the king of the Anyuaak people, the Governor of Upper Nile State, and the Governor of Central Equatoria State (the host). After these short speeches, the central moment of honoring the President and his wife with songs and gifts was conducted by the king of the Chollo kingdom while the Chollo Nyikang Okwa band led a song, singing “God will bring peace, and everyone will sleep and be happy because there is peace. The God of all places will bring peace.” </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFoc6liMyeHDjTCEISXFz5vK--VFSDv-Re4an7r5pX2T5sL_tgXs5edesHdy9SSkGIl4JPWTGmC_D-ahQJHjYY90rpWOvF5pODdUFD5dASWAXMSon289iKO85UFGUbwhouhk8NvEeBT7VIjRRrqWyftmScpb_8OwmkIJrB-tYEFTQXe90G72SOGqVRQ/s1760/DSC_0289%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1760" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFoc6liMyeHDjTCEISXFz5vK--VFSDv-Re4an7r5pX2T5sL_tgXs5edesHdy9SSkGIl4JPWTGmC_D-ahQJHjYY90rpWOvF5pODdUFD5dASWAXMSon289iKO85UFGUbwhouhk8NvEeBT7VIjRRrqWyftmScpb_8OwmkIJrB-tYEFTQXe90G72SOGqVRQ/w400-h205/DSC_0289%20(4).JPG" width="400" /></a><br />Gifts presented to the President and his wife on behalf <br />of the King and the Chollo people</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNody_3FkpJFbnk958vq45Wl79W3Qi3nNDvhQNmLi4aVCm9WDSgNe-JO3kJfMkSxOO22S2-bsRcnc8-_E3CX2cur5_KIeaLFqxdNIxYdjnT4RHL1CvbwOQ64RS1KwR0itFakAVVgixCvyhtLQD_f_nO1-QqjvPYIySO86FhTSxz2lbxEKmfIsoydF_LQ/s2537/DSC_0949%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2537" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNody_3FkpJFbnk958vq45Wl79W3Qi3nNDvhQNmLi4aVCm9WDSgNe-JO3kJfMkSxOO22S2-bsRcnc8-_E3CX2cur5_KIeaLFqxdNIxYdjnT4RHL1CvbwOQ64RS1KwR0itFakAVVgixCvyhtLQD_f_nO1-QqjvPYIySO86FhTSxz2lbxEKmfIsoydF_LQ/w400-h280/DSC_0949%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Traditional songs calling for peace led by Mr. Thomas Aban <br />and the Chollo Nyikang Okwa band </div><div><br /></div><div>Finally, we heard directly from Reth Kwongo Dak Padiet of the Chollo kingdom, and then from the President of the Republic of South Sudan, General Salva Kiir Mayardit. Both speeches echoed the great themes of the day, peace, unity, reconciliation, and the development of the peoples of this great land. My friends and colleagues encouraged me to attend this event for the purpose of observing traditional dress, music, and dancing of the Chollo people, and how these cultural components have been introduced into the church, an important component for my doctoral research. As important as this reason was for me to attend, what other significance does such an event signal? <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div><div><br />What comes to mind is the story of Esther from the Hebrew Scriptures. When the Hebrew peoples were slated for death by King Ahasuerus who ruled a diverse kingdom of more than one hundred twenty-seven provinces spanning from India to Cush (Esther 1: 1), Queen Esther organized two banquets to honor King Ahasuerus. It was during the second banquet that Queen Esther revealed to the King the truth of the situation concerning the decree to exterminate the Hebrew people, which included Esther. The King listened to Esther and redacted the decree to kill the Hebrew people. Thus, Esther successfully intervened on behalf of her people. We remain in hope that such an honorific event for the president of South Sudan, intended, it seems, as a humble and magnanimous plea, will help move the country towards real actionable peace, a peace not intended only for the Chollo people of Upper Nile, but for all peoples in South Sudan.</div><div><br /></div><i>“People of South Sudan, you must accept peace…the God of everywhere will bring peace. South Sudan will be a good place. Then the orphans will benefit from that peace. South Sudan needs peace, and everyone must go to his village. South Sudan must be united because of peace.” (from Thomas Aban and the Chollo Nyikang Okwa band) </i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-11223815760630271332023-02-22T20:24:00.000+01:002023-02-22T20:24:21.807+01:00Working and praying for healing<p> It was a last-minute idea to gather. Our facilitators have been busy with workshops across South Sudan and we are preparing for a big training in Juba. But in the midst of the busyness, we realized it was the right time to come together to pray and encourage each other. So on Sunday evening about 10 of us sat in the shade of a tree, recounting testimonies of people who experienced God through the workshops and praying together for God expand this work of healing in South Sudan.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRAveZ7i6fTKhcGHnjFFPO3mIvRkr-P8KQ0-UG0C_-PgxZXZpZX-VbC03fRPmCJUR_BVCnLZrL_se9CQjgpd0OGLiNltMY8M8tamMGgBnsyHYb3jz6p3waDd8X8paAgC4kE7aj8SVucbOHAgHi0kQLHn0AoS9AtBSM8kjCfXHYbyIdUkNRXt1hHk/s1024/Facilitator%20prayer%20gathering1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRAveZ7i6fTKhcGHnjFFPO3mIvRkr-P8KQ0-UG0C_-PgxZXZpZX-VbC03fRPmCJUR_BVCnLZrL_se9CQjgpd0OGLiNltMY8M8tamMGgBnsyHYb3jz6p3waDd8X8paAgC4kE7aj8SVucbOHAgHi0kQLHn0AoS9AtBSM8kjCfXHYbyIdUkNRXt1hHk/w400-h300/Facilitator%20prayer%20gathering1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><i>Sharing testimonies this week with our facilitators</i></p><p>One of the workshops was held in Aweil, in the north-west corner of South Sudan. Michael recounted that one of the people who attended the workshop was a pastor whose wife had been killed by the wife of his brother last year. He was overcome with grief and anger, and had been unable to organize the final funeral prayers for his wife. He also did not want to take his sister-in-law to court for the murder even though he was angry at her, so he felt stuck. In the workshop he experienced God healing him from that wound in his heart and enabling him to forgive. The man shared that he felt able now to organize the final prayers for his wife to bring closure to the grieving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK9UrdiWFvtCPSayBwq63zTUXMl7MGf6k5cqT9O-JEyLJnNwmSPLl4g5SBFVD52gtabJDMlDkHDjzX0oAcNcTItsapBl0k1WcHdmOvRpYkifi0ZLbK3n0eiOybGeW_vlMTcZcCZPoek64-xJ0t8WUZYx6CBEIGra6qMaJJxmE2R9w_hHAuJXqyY8/s1020/Aweil%20workshop%20from%20front.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1020" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK9UrdiWFvtCPSayBwq63zTUXMl7MGf6k5cqT9O-JEyLJnNwmSPLl4g5SBFVD52gtabJDMlDkHDjzX0oAcNcTItsapBl0k1WcHdmOvRpYkifi0ZLbK3n0eiOybGeW_vlMTcZcCZPoek64-xJ0t8WUZYx6CBEIGra6qMaJJxmE2R9w_hHAuJXqyY8/w400-h300/Aweil%20workshop%20from%20front.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The workshop in Aweil</i></div></i><p>Another team of facilitators went to Bentiu in the north and held a workshop inside the largest camp for displaced people in South Sudan. They shared that all the clans of that region were represented in the workshop, and that they were able to repent from the accusations that they had against each other and forgive each other. At the end the participants said that next time the workshop should be done in the town, with some representatives from the camp, so that they could resolve some of the conflicts and prejudice between people in the camp and the town.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4j5bvyeVA8_Y4vSuueWmIMKIcwr-85sRLFbYCOLecYTYCg_KpwiZcylhlo5iJbir8QL0UFdcBEohJRlpt7laQtSotM6cTAqnYeCVh7L8tLjSYMpKl4cjYhAxaJpiV8wsjnqpV13D-Zo8BtJfYRtDZeAtt-uO0sad5cGZmJDzDkP__Gu8x9Hdeao/s1020/Bentiu%20candle%20exercise.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1020" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4j5bvyeVA8_Y4vSuueWmIMKIcwr-85sRLFbYCOLecYTYCg_KpwiZcylhlo5iJbir8QL0UFdcBEohJRlpt7laQtSotM6cTAqnYeCVh7L8tLjSYMpKl4cjYhAxaJpiV8wsjnqpV13D-Zo8BtJfYRtDZeAtt-uO0sad5cGZmJDzDkP__Gu8x9Hdeao/w400-h300/Bentiu%20candle%20exercise.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Passing a candle in Bentiu to demonstrate that God</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>has called us to be His lights in the world.</i></div><p>In January we also had a training for new facilitators in Yambio, in the Southwest corner of South Sudan. Lucia shared how moved she was by the women who walked 7 miles each way to attend the practicum workshop as part of that training. The women expressed how freeing it was to experience God's healing from their pain, but they lamented that there were many more people in their community who needed this message. We praise God for the twelve new facilitators in that region who are committed to going to remote villages to help people learn God's heart of love, forgiveness, and healing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntKZFpJPqw41X-vIXr66nPK79nAF72mq7XtT2jwNY-lad2VXqHvYmzfvtR3LGQRfmdopY7UKZriRo-me315Tj8uuF2qQ193gTr9KwW_BM2GHg87gjtVHIYZzxBHUaNv7-xBScUQccecN0wPIPtcrGAE7xRxZXlGEe0lCnsMkMVx__MtEbjwUNuko/s1773/Yambio%20TOF%20Nabugu%20cross%20session%20burning%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1773" data-original-width="1182" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntKZFpJPqw41X-vIXr66nPK79nAF72mq7XtT2jwNY-lad2VXqHvYmzfvtR3LGQRfmdopY7UKZriRo-me315Tj8uuF2qQ193gTr9KwW_BM2GHg87gjtVHIYZzxBHUaNv7-xBScUQccecN0wPIPtcrGAE7xRxZXlGEe0lCnsMkMVx__MtEbjwUNuko/s320/Yambio%20TOF%20Nabugu%20cross%20session%20burning%202.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Asking God to bring healing out of the ashes of our pain</i></div><p>In all these testimonies, we were reminded again that it is God who works in people's hearts. We communicate the message and try to create an environment where people are open to God's healing, but the information or our teaching can not change hearts. We prayed together that God would continue to bring healing and transformation and help us to be faithful to commuicate the message.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzsnhStIf90epso9EL6_IUzuT_r21Z4W-yk8OtLfowZvQzaPOMPSTZxVPlbbfBdsDn0_-tTtodITjhdzhyDxioUaoi6crVsYqYCeBTXiCDdGzwdu918Wkxg-qfELUM1NgIsmeSjGguJZ42JK2XBEc8r59xUXyfG9SHxHjMuK5kC1VsZoq-ZHPAII/s1773/Yambio%20TOF%20graduation%20with%20certificates.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1182" data-original-width="1773" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzsnhStIf90epso9EL6_IUzuT_r21Z4W-yk8OtLfowZvQzaPOMPSTZxVPlbbfBdsDn0_-tTtodITjhdzhyDxioUaoi6crVsYqYCeBTXiCDdGzwdu918Wkxg-qfELUM1NgIsmeSjGguJZ42JK2XBEc8r59xUXyfG9SHxHjMuK5kC1VsZoq-ZHPAII/w400-h266/Yambio%20TOF%20graduation%20with%20certificates.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of the new facilitators in Yambio at their graduation</div><p>This week we begin a training of new facilitators in Juba. Please join us in praying for God to raise up people called to this ministry of healing and reconciliation in South Sudan, and pray that God enables our team to train them effectively. We pray that the new facilitators experience God's love and healing power and would be equipped to help others find healing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCJcix8VF7A92beRBV4UgZu_UcZ-wlmsPBwp6WFSSMGVQJ3jV_WqWjuAAhPweaxsGOhI5ndxVay42nHG4fXQXnwpotmv8aENcuM20Nz0VIwzIcdBJjfxrX3dwTMWOguqd-WkVqlxUiS7yTr2pjI2vnLkPg-Jk3YwGQyjCka8W_0mJ6ei0imQ2Grs/s858/Facilitator%20prayer%20gathering%20group%20photo%20(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="858" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCJcix8VF7A92beRBV4UgZu_UcZ-wlmsPBwp6WFSSMGVQJ3jV_WqWjuAAhPweaxsGOhI5ndxVay42nHG4fXQXnwpotmv8aENcuM20Nz0VIwzIcdBJjfxrX3dwTMWOguqd-WkVqlxUiS7yTr2pjI2vnLkPg-Jk3YwGQyjCka8W_0mJ6ei0imQ2Grs/w400-h303/Facilitator%20prayer%20gathering%20group%20photo%20(2).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Some members of the facilitation team at our prayer gathering</i></div><p><i>All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19</i></p>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-4369889813390469102023-02-13T15:40:00.008+01:002023-02-20T15:05:01.763+01:00The Bee StingSouth Sudan is no stranger to division, brokenness, and pain. At the highest levels of government, within the church, within families, and across communities, what separates us defines us and keeps us from one another. Since 2013 alone, not to mention two previous horrific civil wars which lasted almost fifty years, hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed during an ethnic, internecine, and bloody civil war. Fear continues to walk alongside us, uncertainty calls our name, and violence runs deeply as the most trafficked way of relating to one other.<br /><br />Into this maelstrom of fear, uncertainty, and violence, has entered messages of healing, peace, justice, and reconciliation. These messages were most recently brought by leaders from the highest levels of the ecclesial and religious landscape known to our twenty-first century. It is almost unbelievable, but for the first time in five hundred years, an ecumenical peace pilgrimage was made by Catholic, Anglican and Protestant leaders to South Sudan. Pope Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and Moderator of the Church of Scotland Rev. Iain Greenshields responded to an invitation to come to South Sudan after South Sudanese political and ecclesial leaders visited the Vatican in 2018. To have participated in this historic event last week was an amazing privilege and an unforgettable blessing.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSofLJstRPLoWxEgFdcy8lsWu8ISZkgxnE7Vkegd-PsZ-Tu9PJEKmTwpt6vuw_tc4TzIKg2xDPAol8n44ehoUxJ5_oLLMAKKRkHd0ejbEEm-K1T1CBA0jWCDat4pZummSBw9814vlDLNK55EPaG76mIUviEVx30eUFt2QhT17YNgz5nnCtPdwMbIyYA/s940/greenshieldspope.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="940" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSofLJstRPLoWxEgFdcy8lsWu8ISZkgxnE7Vkegd-PsZ-Tu9PJEKmTwpt6vuw_tc4TzIKg2xDPAol8n44ehoUxJ5_oLLMAKKRkHd0ejbEEm-K1T1CBA0jWCDat4pZummSBw9814vlDLNK55EPaG76mIUviEVx30eUFt2QhT17YNgz5nnCtPdwMbIyYA/w400-h246/greenshieldspope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the plane as they leave Juba together on Sunday afternoon<br />Photo Credit: Church of Scotland</div> </div>The events began in earnest Friday afternoon when the Pope arrived at the airport from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. As the last vehicle in a long line of cars going to the airport to welcome Pope Francis on a sultry Friday afternoon, we stopped, and I marveled at the thousands of South Sudanese lined up peacefully and joyfully along the road. The immediate line of persons held hands, serving as a buffer, a human chain, shielding all safely behind. Those behind were beaded with drops of sweat, the unforgiving sun bearing down as they sang choruses and danced, sweet smiles from young and old greeting me. One group of Catholic pilgrims walked nine days to Juba; a woman among them said, "When you have smelled and seen death and hopelessness, then you will search for peace with all the might that you have." The true and enduring strength of South Sudan was on full display as we waited for Pope Francis.</div><div><br />The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. On Friday afternoon the three faith leaders and other notable faith leaders among them visited the President and the five Vice Presidents at the Presidential Palace. On Saturday morning each faith leader spent time with their respective faith communities. The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church hosted a reception and worship service today for the Rt. Rev. Dr. Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, and Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis of the Presbyterian Church (USA), along with other members and leaders from both denominational bodies. It was a joyous occasion with almost sixteen thousand in attendance, including Spirit inspired worship through song and messages about unity, love, and our shared history and hopes for our shared future. It was an extraordinary event, and it served as a reunion of sorts as Kristi and I saw many church leaders whom we know and several of my former students. Entering into that worship space in its magnitude defies description. Seeing the smiling, joyful faces welcome us into the huge blue and white tent will forever be etched on my soul.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL_AR3wZoqaYhCauq4R2ryOHh4vx8I01Or4QEOWDCzOK5QOCGm-UTC_A344SmciE6MRompDHCZiswqBsb57-5S65nJ5DDXcbJ9wgiMWuF_yoDzRi2FX9htolhnD1vZPoL5sxBT5HZCTDGs4xAwxY0JtpbIf9beFl44CeHmzU0yMyRIswmLmHJwNJpHw/s3456/Reception,%20arrival%20.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQL_AR3wZoqaYhCauq4R2ryOHh4vx8I01Or4QEOWDCzOK5QOCGm-UTC_A344SmciE6MRompDHCZiswqBsb57-5S65nJ5DDXcbJ9wgiMWuF_yoDzRi2FX9htolhnD1vZPoL5sxBT5HZCTDGs4xAwxY0JtpbIf9beFl44CeHmzU0yMyRIswmLmHJwNJpHw/w400-h266/Reception,%20arrival%20.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />Rev. Iain Greenshields of the Church of Scotland receives flowers<br />from a child upon arrival at reception/worship service </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VnbLCWhsfBPkxnsAnROcVn7qRrdOWpxqC9YmUN7AQpVkFNPZ2TsMJIgSyayrtdcDJs9ZWarad1YME1ewnNHCBuoWQx9Q5NDvyGoSx47q6f4i7Mczh_i4gAeNQvD10dIsN0c8J1tWqlZpMQ7JRXwsQQR3BGIW0_-4eFIBi1KAdGYAKtfG9mVOQFtTug/s3456/Reception,%20arrival%207.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VnbLCWhsfBPkxnsAnROcVn7qRrdOWpxqC9YmUN7AQpVkFNPZ2TsMJIgSyayrtdcDJs9ZWarad1YME1ewnNHCBuoWQx9Q5NDvyGoSx47q6f4i7Mczh_i4gAeNQvD10dIsN0c8J1tWqlZpMQ7JRXwsQQR3BGIW0_-4eFIBi1KAdGYAKtfG9mVOQFtTug/w400-h266/Reception,%20arrival%207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The women of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan <br />joyfully greet our delegation as we arrive</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaoweh2-8Ez3kzvwVqt61NioMZQHiJBqhA1J9s8sCIUBi-xNPO-KoFiYkEFwe8SbmpAVMBQ_1H1xLkVn-pKThmiUQcsEB10tnATuYSoZ1SZsE8UeSOjyBvk-v3vFsABOyOHjQyaqMarSISAJHH2qYycGj6-3sZ-BhpUFe-GG0Fao3Un9AFCZgA2QFkg/s640/Reception,%20speeches%203%20.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaoweh2-8Ez3kzvwVqt61NioMZQHiJBqhA1J9s8sCIUBi-xNPO-KoFiYkEFwe8SbmpAVMBQ_1H1xLkVn-pKThmiUQcsEB10tnATuYSoZ1SZsE8UeSOjyBvk-v3vFsABOyOHjQyaqMarSISAJHH2qYycGj6-3sZ-BhpUFe-GG0Fao3Un9AFCZgA2QFkg/w400-h300/Reception,%20speeches%203%20.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />Rev. Shavon Starling-Louis, Co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA)<br />gives a message on unity from Psalm 133 </div></div><div><br /> That afternoon we joined hundreds at Freedom Hall where Pope Francis and the others welcomed internally displaced persons from all over South Sudan. Three children from the IDP camp in Malakal shared their stories of life in the camp and the significant challenges they face regarding daily life and schooling. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHAopqe7bvX9y0AXdCmSvdZBK60I3wjqOEVYbX6itSOnAbYBRpot-NFbYZ6yYEGIXWRmxc76C0_mGAJTwoVHvYZN1iwXjkfa_BbfIP1PDW3tJOT6v0UO1bBsgrcoqvtL4ZNjLLQICLgbyU7yjoWdGHFhOWpQUW5pOM0RXhSO133i22ln5sMH4BAa7Rw/s2000/Moderator%20greets%20child%20IDP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHAopqe7bvX9y0AXdCmSvdZBK60I3wjqOEVYbX6itSOnAbYBRpot-NFbYZ6yYEGIXWRmxc76C0_mGAJTwoVHvYZN1iwXjkfa_BbfIP1PDW3tJOT6v0UO1bBsgrcoqvtL4ZNjLLQICLgbyU7yjoWdGHFhOWpQUW5pOM0RXhSO133i22ln5sMH4BAa7Rw/w400-h266/Moderator%20greets%20child%20IDP.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />Rev. Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland greets a young man <br />from one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in South Sudan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo Credit: Church of Scotland (on FB page) </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkYGBV8poCQFBoQQ-zGCAF2EJaJZr2J9lqqfpPc3nmrwKTEnrwJ5zjsljTCQSEzfeW4wvnldXnBfMtwVcpsrzR517U6izQ98LQcNoaCMkU2yVB2t6zIJCWHXoootvNOkleSWQCT8f25Z8ks1wX_TxFfPfFmN5jLTOAPs9VF5aIq8E1bDq1Y4lL1SJCA/s1416/IDP%20event%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1416" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkYGBV8poCQFBoQQ-zGCAF2EJaJZr2J9lqqfpPc3nmrwKTEnrwJ5zjsljTCQSEzfeW4wvnldXnBfMtwVcpsrzR517U6izQ98LQcNoaCMkU2yVB2t6zIJCWHXoootvNOkleSWQCT8f25Z8ks1wX_TxFfPfFmN5jLTOAPs9VF5aIq8E1bDq1Y4lL1SJCA/w400-h345/IDP%20event%202.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">With Colleagues Jeff Boyd and Sharon Kandel at a forum whereby the Pope and the <br />two other leaders listen to the stories and realities of IDPs in South Sudan </div><div><br /></div><div>To our surprise, Kristi and I were included with the ecclesial leadership community, both from South Sudan and abroad on the stage where the Pope and others led us in an ecumenical prayer and worship service. The following morning I joined colleagues as we worshiped at the same venue, the John Garang Mausoleum, participating in the Mass with the masses. Both Saturday night and Sunday morning, it is reported that between fifty and seventy thousand people were present. Everyone who came walked long distances as there was no public transport in operation. Mama Lucia, a colleague and friend, told Kristi that she was so tired Saturday night when she finally arrived home after two hours of walking. Yet, she was there the next morning to help with a medical effort as people had no means to eat, had stayed at the worship site all night, and were now suffering from dehydration, lack of access to food and water, and a hot sun.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog0p2CzZckvjL8XH9l8E6hG0smNOo4uzL6hP9C_mgPFT6PQsNEcm9TjtZnG6Ff-BlCjmvJhm3lQIebRfuSF6RbCq6m28cotBwIEPnh3WQXrnqxj3wONOoQhFwXYq_60VevLaM0uRe_oAKT_4dUBKprP8j3QWjEPvgHnhGO4AXIub6Ri6q66wHrRSLjA/s2000/Ecumenical%20Prayer%20Service.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjog0p2CzZckvjL8XH9l8E6hG0smNOo4uzL6hP9C_mgPFT6PQsNEcm9TjtZnG6Ff-BlCjmvJhm3lQIebRfuSF6RbCq6m28cotBwIEPnh3WQXrnqxj3wONOoQhFwXYq_60VevLaM0uRe_oAKT_4dUBKprP8j3QWjEPvgHnhGO4AXIub6Ri6q66wHrRSLjA/w400-h266/Ecumenical%20Prayer%20Service.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />The Stage from where the Pope and other leaders led us in prayer at the <br />Saturday evening Ecumenical Prayer Service<br />Photo Credit: Church of Scotland (FB page) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasiMqsRwEqKuxaOUiQWkG7l1GSEoJO5rAz_BVoJB-hQYfcSN-GSr4HaI40PlkOfjVetTadhlaTyd0cnM6N3DGAhzSM53LC2ZxQOOwmRMAsHAeTq46S4lZceF-IYZ15bNGhY2GZMEgCEoyyJHK2sIpub7FJpht-Ck8qfFUin3Jpn7sT5bv7jCqrdpo2A/s2048/ecumenical%205%20(2).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasiMqsRwEqKuxaOUiQWkG7l1GSEoJO5rAz_BVoJB-hQYfcSN-GSr4HaI40PlkOfjVetTadhlaTyd0cnM6N3DGAhzSM53LC2ZxQOOwmRMAsHAeTq46S4lZceF-IYZ15bNGhY2GZMEgCEoyyJHK2sIpub7FJpht-Ck8qfFUin3Jpn7sT5bv7jCqrdpo2A/s320/ecumenical%205%20(2).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pope Francis compares the challenges of South Sudan with the <br />children of Israel leaving Egypt, finding themselves in a hopeless<br />situation which requires God's intervention</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jFHpK9k-kulSiybkBDCGsZBrth762HlYdjvy4ua8kMXSWTisiEV4vOAbb7Sbh1D3NkKm1zuMhmlLz6wAYqQHQDzGdwPSHXNuJLYzuIYrz0xHK6QFBup2K8StmEWEJG1c-DEx_ck0SXJhSNnCEutjRxwkGnlIFxSUclOqnN9aX_5TNw79Ihqc1-TmiQ/s2048/ecumenical.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jFHpK9k-kulSiybkBDCGsZBrth762HlYdjvy4ua8kMXSWTisiEV4vOAbb7Sbh1D3NkKm1zuMhmlLz6wAYqQHQDzGdwPSHXNuJLYzuIYrz0xHK6QFBup2K8StmEWEJG1c-DEx_ck0SXJhSNnCEutjRxwkGnlIFxSUclOqnN9aX_5TNw79Ihqc1-TmiQ/w300-h400/ecumenical.jpeg" width="300" /></a><br />Bishop Paride Taban of South Sudan, a true hero, listens to the Pope's message of peace;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bishop Taban has been actively working for the peace of his people for over forty years </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5KLpwDg1tNGdHHu37H37p6saObelabLk8TrtjpMdZxv86KcDAk5-FrErJbvWa8iddXtdEQmEkNP9n1VF5oJtlrbXfqJ_mXPcHMvZF76VGPTi7mTMo6TAIvrDVfQ8N57ufT4t2vUfFuBgRcj4aDp0eO2Z2WV6758gPE7bI_Iua0G66hjTemi_Zf0z1A/s2048/Mass.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5KLpwDg1tNGdHHu37H37p6saObelabLk8TrtjpMdZxv86KcDAk5-FrErJbvWa8iddXtdEQmEkNP9n1VF5oJtlrbXfqJ_mXPcHMvZF76VGPTi7mTMo6TAIvrDVfQ8N57ufT4t2vUfFuBgRcj4aDp0eO2Z2WV6758gPE7bI_Iua0G66hjTemi_Zf0z1A/w640-h480/Mass.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The crowds at the Sunday Morning Mass could take your breath away! The Red Cross<br />was present to assist those who had waited all night without access to food or water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl1dhrTixJz0fDqhEEg4XtxLfW8J7FErqzIHCdiowO5Mbu7sj4z5uyD4pVd3QOzNiPV-jApgSo7Xkgr_ly-oof-1l_XVecRHvjETlM3ojpmgv7zvdMwrCONq7cfNJf8X6-SbzuScGyDj7OXaJyEdxlOFeufGoNX2dEOq6ij-vYMT0loaQ_eoFX-XNdw/s948/Mass,%20Sunday%203%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="948" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrl1dhrTixJz0fDqhEEg4XtxLfW8J7FErqzIHCdiowO5Mbu7sj4z5uyD4pVd3QOzNiPV-jApgSo7Xkgr_ly-oof-1l_XVecRHvjETlM3ojpmgv7zvdMwrCONq7cfNJf8X6-SbzuScGyDj7OXaJyEdxlOFeufGoNX2dEOq6ij-vYMT0loaQ_eoFX-XNdw/w400-h297/Mass,%20Sunday%203%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a><br />The choirs, singers and dancers help us worship as the Pope preached from the <br />Gospel of Matthew, announcing that we are to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world! <br />Photo Credit: Shelvis Smith-Mather </div></div></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">By Sunday afternoon, all the notable visitors had left, but a palpable sense of hope continued to fill the landscape. On the following Friday, our friend and colleague Shelvis Smith-Mather connected us with Bishop Paride Taban, a notable Catholic bishop best known for his peace-making efforts over the last forty years. When asked about the Pope’s visit, the aged and wizened bishop said to us in characteristic African proverbial fashion, “The Pope’s visit is like a bee which came to us, stung us, and has now left us. We trust and pray that the ‘itch of peace’ left by his sting will remain.” </p></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM5Vs7CfAcTBWxG4ek-LK8UrTiBSeml1auhhDZYkFbX7E2CZOygBELJhrc5Bzg77Oy82mSzsMab8vc1It9m6JVewa6a_qEYBGVjka91DeZrArLRkcYePYH41nOpRDbi0KLWGuhscDB9sBRH8YVppavpzHCXJQspchgKWBocprP2K5Qu6oM5qJv6FvCA/s2016/with%20Bishop%20Paride%20Taban%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnM5Vs7CfAcTBWxG4ek-LK8UrTiBSeml1auhhDZYkFbX7E2CZOygBELJhrc5Bzg77Oy82mSzsMab8vc1It9m6JVewa6a_qEYBGVjka91DeZrArLRkcYePYH41nOpRDbi0KLWGuhscDB9sBRH8YVppavpzHCXJQspchgKWBocprP2K5Qu6oM5qJv6FvCA/w400-h300/with%20Bishop%20Paride%20Taban%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shelvis Smith-Mather, our friend and colleague, graciously connected <br />Kristi and I with Bishop Paride Taban (right, foreground) after the Pope's visit<br />Photo Credit: Shelvis Smith-Mather</div><br /> </div><br /> </div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-40231062242972487732023-01-18T16:24:00.003+01:002023-01-24T17:53:17.570+01:00Church visit in Akobo<p> This is part two of my visit to Akobo in December. After we completed the <a href="https://bobandkristi.blogspot.com/2022/12/healing-visit-to-akobo.html" target="_blank">workshop</a> (read about from a previous post), we worshipped with the Presbyterian Evangelical Church congregation in town. Going to church in a new place is never a small affair in South Sudan.</p><p>Since there is no public transportation in the sprawling town of Akobo, we walked. At least 8 months of the year the roads turn to mud and are nearly impassable, but in December the ground has been transformed into hard caked clay. We had been told to set out at 6:30AM, and it was nice to enjoy the cool morning air. As we made the half-hour walk to the other side of town, we passed cows meandering down the road, women commenting that my lawa (draped material tied over one shoulder) was over the wrong shoulder, and people bringing fresh fish from the river to the market to sell. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0HPXUWoaPhAns6mFkCWt05XUsWDsJz79uN9oCL1yMXAXHqH4k-AG1y0EC7R8btxSn383CjGkmGg2G0geLWLsFD_mhVHx3GIvUsUArBVbssa7xmo6teHYqpFI2_BZ8gbSVGB8f2kdDVbYjRmtOXuEDEluCODMAaGwp6pUC9Dzbc1Dq2m6Z2ULH3o/s2621/akobo%20church%20cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2621" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0HPXUWoaPhAns6mFkCWt05XUsWDsJz79uN9oCL1yMXAXHqH4k-AG1y0EC7R8btxSn383CjGkmGg2G0geLWLsFD_mhVHx3GIvUsUArBVbssa7xmo6teHYqpFI2_BZ8gbSVGB8f2kdDVbYjRmtOXuEDEluCODMAaGwp6pUC9Dzbc1Dq2m6Z2ULH3o/w400-h244/akobo%20church%20cows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrqBN8rji43H6lNlvNYCtwk8zFA46gdlYjiIlznhrHZnDJWovNqRAYoAyeiSCVy-srJ7f4XdlD2shYVUjpyrKthZkAv_v309UuIRUD6mllFpLomcAPpwJP_Jc0piChshcJMBQfzoUv1jxJx9YKVTlKOW-lWbuLzeBUNxm5Vj_cdLDPqw9mSSlRuQ/s2376/Akobo%20church%20pat%20with%20huts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1765" data-original-width="2376" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrqBN8rji43H6lNlvNYCtwk8zFA46gdlYjiIlznhrHZnDJWovNqRAYoAyeiSCVy-srJ7f4XdlD2shYVUjpyrKthZkAv_v309UuIRUD6mllFpLomcAPpwJP_Jc0piChshcJMBQfzoUv1jxJx9YKVTlKOW-lWbuLzeBUNxm5Vj_cdLDPqw9mSSlRuQ/w400-h297/Akobo%20church%20pat%20with%20huts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We arrived at the church before 7:30, and it was a flurry of activity as people were preparing for the service and as church members were arriving. In Nuer tradition, hosts will wash the feet of their guests as a sign of welcome. They brought out basins of water and sat all of us down at the entrance of the church to wash our feet. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1jeNVIudocptN4TS5MOi3Ej2UpewwSaDmQ_mXVy8tDxPV0Uxg_A9Cxp1xsuY4VHrMjaSH6NtGN6h5T-NXPt2dTKxJEdT3mR0tPbsybzlt1FVrys2CGk5IosbQ09JItHcC7Q-luazxC-3IuxCnU-hGZcjz00Iq-SvJVxKIaxSJy1VpoR687eKN9M/s1768/Akobo%20church%20building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="1768" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1jeNVIudocptN4TS5MOi3Ej2UpewwSaDmQ_mXVy8tDxPV0Uxg_A9Cxp1xsuY4VHrMjaSH6NtGN6h5T-NXPt2dTKxJEdT3mR0tPbsybzlt1FVrys2CGk5IosbQ09JItHcC7Q-luazxC-3IuxCnU-hGZcjz00Iq-SvJVxKIaxSJy1VpoR687eKN9M/w400-h268/Akobo%20church%20building.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY1Oz7sZkBrhw5mMqoyazRyRMSA111y8pmw0MhPm_PgKwwGLXPlE3ajkzMD9oQmqX3Kr8txxl9NFOKho_HeORf0ZjjMDp30MMlpb90xMl9KViNcFI350avv_knO13KXrpsOu0RaOV-ja6PqmeZL14dJURu3mtM3Njz9Vue5qlhO1x3FplNzCws3o/s1115/Akobo%20church%20foot%20washing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1115" data-original-width="971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCY1Oz7sZkBrhw5mMqoyazRyRMSA111y8pmw0MhPm_PgKwwGLXPlE3ajkzMD9oQmqX3Kr8txxl9NFOKho_HeORf0ZjjMDp30MMlpb90xMl9KViNcFI350avv_knO13KXrpsOu0RaOV-ja6PqmeZL14dJURu3mtM3Njz9Vue5qlhO1x3FplNzCws3o/w349-h400/Akobo%20church%20foot%20washing.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>We were seated at the front of the sanctuary, along with all the pastors and leaders of the congregation. The youth choir sang an exuberant opening song, and we were impressed that their keyboard player looked so young. Everyone joined in some of the common Nuer hymns from their songbook, and the women's choir and an adult choir also had their turn to sing. I always enjoy hearing God worshipped in different languages and styles! The congregation had invited members of their branch congregations to come together in one location because of our visit, so the church was soon packed full.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwzCKwbKetwNWYTu4sQhtwfqFmmecW8s-m0nD3g3f2-LXS5onRDHsQWZhTo0pns6FgY9CquJFy4Tiw7ZTJNwyDVnfTe8rZ7mH7dvdZCqQlASlGhSCcBHlCF-dfnI2pSfbQpxCmNKz7SAQDW4t143VdapKvKVj6igOz9O1JyomUpB_AU4u1_Bimfc/s1120/Akobo%20church%20choir%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1120" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwzCKwbKetwNWYTu4sQhtwfqFmmecW8s-m0nD3g3f2-LXS5onRDHsQWZhTo0pns6FgY9CquJFy4Tiw7ZTJNwyDVnfTe8rZ7mH7dvdZCqQlASlGhSCcBHlCF-dfnI2pSfbQpxCmNKz7SAQDW4t143VdapKvKVj6igOz9O1JyomUpB_AU4u1_Bimfc/w400-h290/Akobo%20church%20choir%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SSHEaDF9TwCQpNDjLZAJrUCMzuGmfLOBwgoGnrMVYRwKeu5H-4-Dwmo-H0WElCic07TXtTT6cmrDh_2Xuo0Gef1FQwLvtczDLKqRyRI14jIOgAII5b-uYrF9QJVgNZkCg_alMqpYRIit0DOH6iPiawo6BCOEv4QptR_YJh5ObwzrmLw5CQiKK1I/s1676/akobo%20church%20congregation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="1676" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SSHEaDF9TwCQpNDjLZAJrUCMzuGmfLOBwgoGnrMVYRwKeu5H-4-Dwmo-H0WElCic07TXtTT6cmrDh_2Xuo0Gef1FQwLvtczDLKqRyRI14jIOgAII5b-uYrF9QJVgNZkCg_alMqpYRIit0DOH6iPiawo6BCOEv4QptR_YJh5ObwzrmLw5CQiKK1I/w400-h299/akobo%20church%20congregation1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>A highlight from the morning was hearing the testimonies from two members who attended the Healing Hearts Transforming Nations (HHTN) workshop that week. One woman shared that they saw that forgiveness has to start from the family. Husbands and wives have to forgive each other and should not let their egos get in the way (this is counter-cultural!). Luka, a youth leader, said "In the workshop, we came to understand that the thief (as in John 10:10) has stolen many things from us. That is why there is conflict in Akobo. The thief has stolen love. When you see someone coming from a different place, you realize the thief has stolen love from you." </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTox1aCTm88yO5ne31iP4qCRjzPbqIe8J3VCKJdJCUlIeiHnI0ERuoml96HJnwEXe6oUCc_BeMXY72E-UkBwV2sQ-dCwUIf8B-9N8j8yRjtNaXO9xEblpcQoYvthlMeQh-98Yl_asoej31fYAXi7C4CKJ8opQpl9TF6bbgVfi8lQkYLMjQPeEj3MY/s1643/Akobo%20church%20Woman%20sharing%20about%20workshop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1643" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTox1aCTm88yO5ne31iP4qCRjzPbqIe8J3VCKJdJCUlIeiHnI0ERuoml96HJnwEXe6oUCc_BeMXY72E-UkBwV2sQ-dCwUIf8B-9N8j8yRjtNaXO9xEblpcQoYvthlMeQh-98Yl_asoej31fYAXi7C4CKJ8opQpl9TF6bbgVfi8lQkYLMjQPeEj3MY/s320/Akobo%20church%20Woman%20sharing%20about%20workshop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When the offering was collected, I noticed that many people put in an ear of dried corn or some millet from their fields. I knew that money was a scarce commodity, and this seemed like a good way to show their contribution to the work of the church, particularly in the dry season when things were not growing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTABEzb4XMqvFUDkjDymzE98UQzXs47B1P266LEkGnRSCXUV4cjUhgoyLuCum7-As-XMvnytPjNPQSZJAKiKLQI9Z0JDeOuAbZpw8Nrg-mei-uAuLuCPU55KiS-KcA03ln1Jbihvzzry07pEPTtmnRQaZBVZlktZKKlyIht_izXeZ97OWPzBZx8Y/s1472/Akobo%20church%20collecting%20offering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1472" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTABEzb4XMqvFUDkjDymzE98UQzXs47B1P266LEkGnRSCXUV4cjUhgoyLuCum7-As-XMvnytPjNPQSZJAKiKLQI9Z0JDeOuAbZpw8Nrg-mei-uAuLuCPU55KiS-KcA03ln1Jbihvzzry07pEPTtmnRQaZBVZlktZKKlyIht_izXeZ97OWPzBZx8Y/s320/Akobo%20church%20collecting%20offering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After the nearly 4 hour service, we were welcomed to the home of an elder who lived nearby. First they brought soda (a rare commodity in Akobo), then big pots of food. Walwal is eaten nearly daily in many Nuer communities - it is made of flour and water that is artfully mixed by hand so that it forms small balls. They served fresh milk to pour over the walwal, which makes for a hearty meal. I was amazed to see the big pots of food serving clusters of people as nearly the whole congregation gathered joyfully in the compound.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vpW3BQpzymiAW7Vf_RR7Cq0S6P_3FfdIzsepBRJ6XOFAdPqRcOVdd5kqFC0iJNYb1WAV1OtnBRINmY7I6bWE9RuoXvbWKvn6fVgopCTeBmhVHmK9PBWyGOFlFK2XRQxbl7W-Qx33qJ6lry2NNXNO3-i0UHWfjxLeqoa2APBbUJ9ngea0UW8LSK8/s1202/Akobo%20church%20gathering%20for%20lunhc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1202" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vpW3BQpzymiAW7Vf_RR7Cq0S6P_3FfdIzsepBRJ6XOFAdPqRcOVdd5kqFC0iJNYb1WAV1OtnBRINmY7I6bWE9RuoXvbWKvn6fVgopCTeBmhVHmK9PBWyGOFlFK2XRQxbl7W-Qx33qJ6lry2NNXNO3-i0UHWfjxLeqoa2APBbUJ9ngea0UW8LSK8/s320/Akobo%20church%20gathering%20for%20lunhc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zRiUw8cs_w2DCcm4JyXclJ85ob3beSfEEkEiZRuWje-pqJxS4xg2BO0aSyASHNTM5FyCxxFh7HfmFaIMBgsa2aZxxIS4szLzJo0YiAZAWd7s6y1oJw9sXyVVa8Knf8fDw0dVDldQW9Lbdu9apLs_TGqKufCbinU_tyZi7cDPjDfJJSfxZ6tHkJQ/s1305/Akobo%20church%20walwal%20closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1305" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zRiUw8cs_w2DCcm4JyXclJ85ob3beSfEEkEiZRuWje-pqJxS4xg2BO0aSyASHNTM5FyCxxFh7HfmFaIMBgsa2aZxxIS4szLzJo0YiAZAWd7s6y1oJw9sXyVVa8Knf8fDw0dVDldQW9Lbdu9apLs_TGqKufCbinU_tyZi7cDPjDfJJSfxZ6tHkJQ/s320/Akobo%20church%20walwal%20closeup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After drinking tea and relaxing in the shade, we were invited to come and visit the home of one of the pastors. Now in the heat of the day, we made our way to Pastor Michael's compound nearby. A traditional round thatched-roof barn provided shelter at night for his cows and goats. A fence of sticks surrounded his living quarters, which comprised three small huts with an open space in the middle. He brought chairs for us to sit in the shade of a tree and his wife brought water to drink. He introduced us to other members of his extended family, then we prayed for them before continuing the journey back to our accomodation. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZsdj9fCe0WNyiSwYdPCt9WlzZrxV8eyzJknNHy1tzuCBjUM8iL2sa_QkNi6S3cJzoh9myhN3xX4M4bROgOcSHGObcLDkwSLOgLnTxbT0Qujok1ywTTzDQ0Q7Zxt5_amptgeBthuqNrJ22AjAsbITJCPMLODkjI_SJ0EjCR3vGBEMmUaCs3PSD4Y/s1899/Akobo%20church%20leaders%20and%20visitors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1899" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZsdj9fCe0WNyiSwYdPCt9WlzZrxV8eyzJknNHy1tzuCBjUM8iL2sa_QkNi6S3cJzoh9myhN3xX4M4bROgOcSHGObcLDkwSLOgLnTxbT0Qujok1ywTTzDQ0Q7Zxt5_amptgeBthuqNrJ22AjAsbITJCPMLODkjI_SJ0EjCR3vGBEMmUaCs3PSD4Y/s320/Akobo%20church%20leaders%20and%20visitors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvyQAbWoC5WOvfs0SO2Zxwo4BeGVrsG9ZbQT8wOhoPjQKCEK1uE-mVbApNl9VL1r1OGl3Ldg7R_T5AGG3De116SzEoLno6saX1nW_tgmWqlv_TncRjG6vJwa0bu30bvPawerJy8YpDVopOIhJvbV7NGFgUR_FWvK5yvxy2uj5_DPJZ12Ahnekm0s/s1084/Akobo%20church%20barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1084" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvyQAbWoC5WOvfs0SO2Zxwo4BeGVrsG9ZbQT8wOhoPjQKCEK1uE-mVbApNl9VL1r1OGl3Ldg7R_T5AGG3De116SzEoLno6saX1nW_tgmWqlv_TncRjG6vJwa0bu30bvPawerJy8YpDVopOIhJvbV7NGFgUR_FWvK5yvxy2uj5_DPJZ12Ahnekm0s/s320/Akobo%20church%20barn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjOloUeVkAh9hPDo4mxQb-PO8ODnsmMnXj1Uyrm1By4bhFvnjyvh7yk6k43f5bk3DEdGbmn22J2pDUeLn0eKbg74q4FZz__7QCTNYamca8lYQfqWJOs03SMPzRsQFcqNji8Z2mPpBuO-oByIUOM7FJBT1SzaIYItBef1mOgM-kcVAkY0sfla8MGs/s1305/20221204_134304_copy_1305x979%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1305" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVjOloUeVkAh9hPDo4mxQb-PO8ODnsmMnXj1Uyrm1By4bhFvnjyvh7yk6k43f5bk3DEdGbmn22J2pDUeLn0eKbg74q4FZz__7QCTNYamca8lYQfqWJOs03SMPzRsQFcqNji8Z2mPpBuO-oByIUOM7FJBT1SzaIYItBef1mOgM-kcVAkY0sfla8MGs/s320/20221204_134304_copy_1305x979%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>We meandered through the market on the way home, stopping by a pharmacy run by a Christian known to some in our group, and he immediately brought some sodas as everyone caught up on the news from Juba and on mutual acquaintences. By the time we reached home at nearly 3pm, I was exhausted but grateful for the full day of worshipping with God's people in Akobo and seeing a slice of the life of the church there.</div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-82631864140281775222023-01-17T10:36:00.000+01:002023-01-18T16:29:50.109+01:00A Day in Our Lives in JubaThough we have patterns and structure, life in Juba is fluid. Last Saturday our alarm sounded at 5:20am, as usual. At 5:30am the local church bells sounded, as usual. We got up, exercised, watered the plants, showered, ate breakfast, and did our devotions, as usual. That day I would be hosting a friend in the morning and doing some work in the afternoon. Kristi had a 10am meeting at the office, and then would attend the Juba Women’s Bible Study in the afternoon, as usual. Our compound was a bit raucous that morning as neighbors and friends were hosting a birthday party for fifty children from a nearby orphanage, a bit unusual. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Not too long after Kristi left, she called me. Almost sheepishly she mentioned that she had just spoken with our friend Omot who told her that today would be “final prayers,” the end of several days of the funeral service of the father of our mutual friend Ajullu Susan. Kristi said me, “I am thinking of going. Do you want to go?” Though I had some work to do, I remembered how important it is to visit people here and be with them in times of loss. “Yes. I think it’s a good idea,” I said. “Let’s go.” I called Juma, our rickshaw driver, asking him to pick me up at 12:30pm; we would then pick up Kristi at her office across town. In a moment, the complexion of our day changed. <br /><br />After a nice morning of fellowship, food, and prayer with my friend Albino, Juma came to pick me up. Picking up Kristi, however, turned into a complicated affair. A high-ranking government official had recently died, and the president was attending the funeral at the large field across from Kristi’s office, which meant that roads would be blocked, and military presence would be pronounced. With creative communication efforts between Kristi and myself, outstanding driving techniques and “heads up” thinking from Juma, we found Kristi and then propelled ourselves out to the outskirts of Juba to Lologo 2, near the Nile River, where Ajullu lives and where the ‘final prayers’ were being offered.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNwtJRRGqCw3LqqxYLmAEt6nCIZsQ6qzNm63dvIqX10pEG1G6rhbRm5gMt1zxKmHAQ9ZXqAlB4l3IqNkMmn6e9At__6s31ys9WnkIeRX82BXnm2Zaiowm8LAVLE5rNcYKz6xyAjmNPW3cJ9WXyPsLV7wKGIBn0QAjMnTVGhTc8Z96sgUmo_Vqw1gjXg/s912/Albino%20and%20I%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="684" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwNwtJRRGqCw3LqqxYLmAEt6nCIZsQ6qzNm63dvIqX10pEG1G6rhbRm5gMt1zxKmHAQ9ZXqAlB4l3IqNkMmn6e9At__6s31ys9WnkIeRX82BXnm2Zaiowm8LAVLE5rNcYKz6xyAjmNPW3cJ9WXyPsLV7wKGIBn0QAjMnTVGhTc8Z96sgUmo_Vqw1gjXg/s320/Albino%20and%20I%20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>With Albino, outside our home</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ieeQoLcK2si6tBC2cOgz0d0WILN95enmxPDHvu8IL1EutbmSIbhGepTNUN4D8D82pWNTomNqhclqZ_uboOdeaNK6Ym07TtYQgpzjRPezKAaXfZhxx1kW7p8yjNj97OIpdpKFL0gjOEPYa-7cIleuITToWZOrafYxQ4QXszYg3jk-6H6fLX8o3ql3Vg/s1334/Juma%20and%20Bob,%20Juba%20(December,%202021).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1334" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ieeQoLcK2si6tBC2cOgz0d0WILN95enmxPDHvu8IL1EutbmSIbhGepTNUN4D8D82pWNTomNqhclqZ_uboOdeaNK6Ym07TtYQgpzjRPezKAaXfZhxx1kW7p8yjNj97OIpdpKFL0gjOEPYa-7cIleuITToWZOrafYxQ4QXszYg3jk-6H6fLX8o3ql3Vg/s320/Juma%20and%20Bob,%20Juba%20(December,%202021).jpg" width="320" /></a><br />With Juma, our trusted, faithful, and beloved <br />rickshaw driver</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Upon arrival, family and friends were busily preparing. Four large tents were erected and chairs for about five hundred people set up. After we sat down, two former students greeted me. What a gift it was to see Alfred and Peter! They are both members of the Anyuwa tribe, hailing from the same region as Ajullu and her family. The service began. Choirs sang, family members and friends spoke, and then community leaders and elders had their turn. We were struck by the impact of the life of Ajullu’s father. We were also struck by Ajullu’s commitment to him during his time of sickness. The service was conducted in three languages, Anyuwa, Arabic, and English. Like most funerals and final prayers here, the service was long. At the very end, Omot, who was leading the service, invited me to come and say a final prayer. Though I was not expecting to offer the final prayer, I went to the front, prayed in English, and then I prayed in Arabic. People were pleased. Afterward, as usual, everyone was invited for a sumptuous and large meal. We stayed to eat, yet Juma was on his way. At around 5:30pm, Juma picked us up along with our friend Rev. Paska who was the preacher that day. We had just been with Rev. Paska in her home a few days previous as she had just lost her nephew to sickness.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5axqlbMkYVE4Ng96Sqk9ATcdiUqejL6SyP5niOxxl1Vu29SvhLWrJ4xgIppbzXIgvsBRicTLtAunsFPnw4-BiFeaojuxhpuA8OGnvXcvSHjNHxe0aEjbxZ-1FFOLCDXs0pxsnEMacWawOknfNRzlE6pmovv0C5fyIsMj1NEEOumDKFrtkKJBIRQU8eA/s1394/Choir%20at%20funeral%20of%20Ajullu%20father.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="1394" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5axqlbMkYVE4Ng96Sqk9ATcdiUqejL6SyP5niOxxl1Vu29SvhLWrJ4xgIppbzXIgvsBRicTLtAunsFPnw4-BiFeaojuxhpuA8OGnvXcvSHjNHxe0aEjbxZ-1FFOLCDXs0pxsnEMacWawOknfNRzlE6pmovv0C5fyIsMj1NEEOumDKFrtkKJBIRQU8eA/w400-h256/Choir%20at%20funeral%20of%20Ajullu%20father.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />A choir sings at the funeral of the father of Ajullu Suan <br />(his photo above the choir)</div></div><br />When Juma dropped us home, the colors of the fading sun in the west were brilliant, a glorious mixture of orange and receding red. It was a typical day in Juba, given that life here is fluid, and plans can change in an instant! <br /><br /> </div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-8822939365460118672022-12-20T19:01:00.004+01:002023-01-18T16:26:28.990+01:00Call to prayer for Upper NileIndeed, most of us like to be “home” with family for Christmas. Interestingly, that was not the case for two humble Jewish villagers, Mary and Joseph, living under the shadow of the Roman Empire, finding themselves far from their home on the birth of their firstborn son, 2,000 years ago. In Fashoda County, South Sudan, the situation is worse than it was for Joseph and Mary. People’s homes and communities are being burned to the ground, they are running for their lives, they are hiding in swamps, surrounded by floodwaters. The innocents have been targeted for death, the elderly, women, and children. Please pray for those in harm’s way, those who seek refuge, and those who need God’s supernatural intervention. Bob visited this area in August of this year, so it feels close to home. Two evangelists and several members of the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church have been killed in Fashoda this month.<br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #242424; font-family: canada-type-gibson, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkuZNHB4XWEOASnMSjUUzei_uPiOY1UbObt9rbQVFCaMi1uPkK3M-MIvq1dCev9cDeZ3_BrCxPDBN1CbQOLleispn0jVWx_i-z36ZLOon3bN3ciAtvfjiG87qunEXXVzbfXgAytBTfZTBunGOlsix99LxaLgoyvAJzJDBRh3aMeu4zCkzFAqeYpk/s697/Kodok%20Day%207%20(church%206).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="697" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkuZNHB4XWEOASnMSjUUzei_uPiOY1UbObt9rbQVFCaMi1uPkK3M-MIvq1dCev9cDeZ3_BrCxPDBN1CbQOLleispn0jVWx_i-z36ZLOon3bN3ciAtvfjiG87qunEXXVzbfXgAytBTfZTBunGOlsix99LxaLgoyvAJzJDBRh3aMeu4zCkzFAqeYpk/s320/Kodok%20Day%207%20(church%206).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Bob in Kodok with pastors and evangelists of SSPEC this year</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>We want to share a ‘call to prayer’ (below) from the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA) this month, and invite you to join thousands of hands and hearts in prayer for the people of Upper Nile in South Sudan this Christmas Season. Shukran! Thank you. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Dear friends in Christ,<br /><br />I urge you to join me in prayer for justice and peace for the people of the young nation of South Sudan.<br /><br />Within the last few months, relatively localized fighting between two groups in the Upper Nile region of South Sudan has gradually become a more widespread conflict between the Shilluk and the Nuer peoples, two ethnic groups who used to live peacefully together. The latest reports indicate that more than 3,000 people — mostly women, children, and elderly people — have been killed in Fashoda county.<br /><br />This situation is made even more dire due to heavy flooding in the region, so survivors have had to flee their homes and are living on small “islands” of land or seeking shelter in camps for displaced persons. Many people have no way of contacting their loved ones, so they do not know if they have been killed or if they are alive and displaced or in hiding.<br /><br />Let us be in prayer for the people of South Sudan, especially those who carry the burden of this ongoing conflict — the women, children, and the elderly. Pray also for our Global partners, the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, RECONCILE, ACROSS and the South Sudan Council of Churches. Pray that God will give wisdom to these partners as they minister to their fellow South Sudanese and that they can be a voice to the leaders of the country. Let us pray for the leaders of South Sudan that they will put peace, genuine security and the dignity of all the people of South Sudan as the priority of their leadership.<br /><br />Pray also for the anticipated joint ecumenical visit to South Sudan by Presbyterians, Anglicans and Catholics in early 2023. May this visit bring hope to the people of South Sudan and prompt meaningful action to address the suffering of the people.<br /><br />I would also invite those who feel able to do so to contribute to the PC(USA)’s efforts to accompany and support our partners’ ministries by making gifts to:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000097/">DR000097</a>-South Sudan, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s crisis response and recovery initiatives in South Sudan</span></li><li><a href="https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/E052172-1/" style="font-family: arial;">E051172</a><span style="font-family: arial;">, Presbyterian World Mission’s South Sudan Education and Peacebuilding Project</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/E052152/">E052152</a>, the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations and the Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., help to amplify our partners’ voices in the public square.</span></li></ul></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Let us look to God, our help, our hope and our salvation.<br /></span><br /><span face="canada-type-gibson, sans-serif" style="color: #242424;"><span style="background-color: white; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-size: 17.5px;"><img alt="Stated Clerk Signature" height="87" src="https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/images/jhn_signature_no_background_medium300.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: middle;" width="311" /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II<br />Stated Clerk of the General Assembly<br />Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)</span><p>Call to prayer published by PC(USA) News Service <a href="https://www.pcusa.org/news/2022/12/14/stated-clerk-issues-call-to-prayer-for-the-people/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-74844008602594464042022-12-10T09:23:00.001+01:002023-01-18T16:28:24.570+01:00Healing Visit to Akobo<p> On our drive from the airport to our guest house in Akobo,
we saw a busy and colorful market with a mix of goods from Ethiopia, Sudan, and
other places. We were told that in the wet season the main roads of the town
are barely passable due to the thick clay-mud that forms. Now that dry season
had arrived, the clay hardened into firm ‘rocks’ with big cracks in between, so
that you always had to watch where you walked. In parts of the town, the road was
lined by big trees that gave shade over the road. My colleague lamented that those
who planted the trees decades ago did not plant fruit trees that would produce
something useful for the people. The town of Akobo is spread along the bank of
a river which has many tributaries coming off it. Many of the other nearby
villages are also along the rivers, so water is a common mode of transport.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOyzvQR75rvsqGobLp980N0Mq_1fml58SstHGH3WSXDFoGIqNinRflAPQSvZiOfULvjno6KBo-Eue8US9endmq_odPjViCMKALqeAu-UURfXoldeBcVGMQHEWJF0RjuOJqjhFiei1zltU3EKfpKJ8n9cKS4xE99dJ7HtPz7PqjUOcph7U-D6jvLg/s1861/Akobo%20road.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1126" data-original-width="1861" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOyzvQR75rvsqGobLp980N0Mq_1fml58SstHGH3WSXDFoGIqNinRflAPQSvZiOfULvjno6KBo-Eue8US9endmq_odPjViCMKALqeAu-UURfXoldeBcVGMQHEWJF0RjuOJqjhFiei1zltU3EKfpKJ8n9cKS4xE99dJ7HtPz7PqjUOcph7U-D6jvLg/s320/Akobo%20road.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The main road through Akobo, lined with trees</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVnU-JysS3r6xl7NxphIaeyUTb7WgKU0rs1Imn29syknxc5xKZ8cdzPerGwHRq__jGH5EUUrw4MowuZH7KO-0I3p-9y-CwUssJK3qxLEhmtVdQe7tskSOJqnq6CTFlE0ywGO8jb4QT6YZhwfjLmaZueakVuxtwh1qMivodhWuH3fWOkMuqeNCQ-E/s1829/Akobo%20kids%20playing%20in%20river.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1829" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVnU-JysS3r6xl7NxphIaeyUTb7WgKU0rs1Imn29syknxc5xKZ8cdzPerGwHRq__jGH5EUUrw4MowuZH7KO-0I3p-9y-CwUssJK3qxLEhmtVdQe7tskSOJqnq6CTFlE0ywGO8jb4QT6YZhwfjLmaZueakVuxtwh1qMivodhWuH3fWOkMuqeNCQ-E/s320/Akobo%20kids%20playing%20in%20river.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>kids playing and washing in the river</i></div></i><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our workshop was to start on December 1. But on that morning
as we prepared to start, we learned that each year the churches in town hold a
march and combined worship service to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas
season. At six in the morning we heard the drums and singing as people marched,
and we found our way to the church by following the sound of singing. We started
our workshop just as their service was ending, setting up in the shade of a big
tree next to the church building.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4WMh1QXqAa1mVnRTH8wgJ25jiir3tiVNvuaPOmlxtYpAjaS4s8uUquBT6UC9-pmCp_zjdl0bCI5teEzMWkLtuH0ISdrY_Bd7eAQyfNnv1J_ew5bInrE5hLJeiFA9g3XLbRkOaJVz5LYHqyREHDLK6d_RDA7I7fukG7bf6HH3N0dp3k0Bw1pYRKQ/s1662/Akobo%20workshop%20Nyakuma%20teaching1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1261" data-original-width="1662" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4WMh1QXqAa1mVnRTH8wgJ25jiir3tiVNvuaPOmlxtYpAjaS4s8uUquBT6UC9-pmCp_zjdl0bCI5teEzMWkLtuH0ISdrY_Bd7eAQyfNnv1J_ew5bInrE5hLJeiFA9g3XLbRkOaJVz5LYHqyREHDLK6d_RDA7I7fukG7bf6HH3N0dp3k0Bw1pYRKQ/s320/Akobo%20workshop%20Nyakuma%20teaching1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The first day of the workshop. We were grateful for a big tree!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We moved the chairs around as the shade moved through the day. :)</i></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">During introductions at the beginning of the workshop, we learned
that participants came from the four different ‘payams’ (districts) of Akobo,
and a diverse representation of chiefs and members of local government, church leaders
and members, men and women, older people and youth. We were told that the
primary conflict in Akobo is between clans based in the four different payams,
so we were happy that people came from all the regions, even if some had to
travel by canoe or cross rivers to get there. We discussed the overall purpose
of the workshop and the expectations that people had. There are many humanitarian
organizations as well as the United Nations working in South Sudan, even in remote
corners like Akobo, so a workshop is a common occurrence, particularly for
leaders. This meant expectations were high, including things like receiving a
t-shirt, sitting allowance (to compensate for the work they were missing), and
even requests for things like raincoats and tarps. It was a difficult
conversation and reality check for our team and also for all the participants;
we all came to an understanding about what we could provide and why we were not
meeting all of their expectations.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We were given a ‘security briefing’ when we checked in with
the humanitarian organization that was giving us lodging. “The security
situation is relatively stable right now,” the staff person said, “so if you
hear gunshots it is probably either a celebration or a revenge killing.” On our
third day, we heard the gunshots late at night, and learned the following
morning that someone had been killed in a revenge attack between the clans in two different payams. It was the final day
of our workshop, and we wondered how our participants were affected by the killing
and whether they would be able to come. We were pleasantly surprised to see
almost all of the participants made it that day, which showed the value that
they placed on the workshop and their commitment to promote peace. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBkbeUGM_dA6Ixs8vtlb1cnoFQ_aL3fVIKo_UByi1qVgwIr7IKCnJyMkpf2Dy6tCyEBc6rN9IGJF8mys_6BJN_PRgzvJ-TQiB5OGP7_tnpe_0Vfyo8fzOod-9o8uQfCS8y471Odu6noSErKPAqQpB_wgPtO-5MrLrHGnDGpkD6_EYVzOKSOWCoTQ/s1828/Akobo%20workshop%203%20Holy%20Nation%20drama.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1828" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBkbeUGM_dA6Ixs8vtlb1cnoFQ_aL3fVIKo_UByi1qVgwIr7IKCnJyMkpf2Dy6tCyEBc6rN9IGJF8mys_6BJN_PRgzvJ-TQiB5OGP7_tnpe_0Vfyo8fzOod-9o8uQfCS8y471Odu6noSErKPAqQpB_wgPtO-5MrLrHGnDGpkD6_EYVzOKSOWCoTQ/s320/Akobo%20workshop%203%20Holy%20Nation%20drama.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Doing a drama about our identity in the <br />holy nation that God calls us to (1 Peter 2:9)</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">On the second day of the training, we were talking about
wounds in our hearts. One older man raised is hand and said “since you’ve been
digging at my wound for the last two days, I have to speak it out. I had a conflict
once, and one of the men here was the judge of the local court over my case. He
did not give me my right in the case, but instead gave favor to one of his
relatives. I have been angry with him ever since. But now I forgive him. I don’t
hold it against him anymore.” He stood up and reached over to the man he had referred
to, who also stood up and they shook hands warmly, both smiling.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFCtLUvuB92E54nc1YQC5NgVmSVBLCm0ne2SAcMEXXYsU4EcsS1ghUrvBsatxhv5FfltBsGXOToeq2HJH7P33XMO1_J_X3iWoH0nCqkdgxLOq2HOVHgiZZVC470kkOz1BZbyA63KY0W3hKkom6rjGMgX8YgQXDV7i2XA6v3STIUULjTjgQ4XxAZE/s1632/Akobo%20workshop%204%20John%20Lam%20teaching.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1632" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEFCtLUvuB92E54nc1YQC5NgVmSVBLCm0ne2SAcMEXXYsU4EcsS1ghUrvBsatxhv5FfltBsGXOToeq2HJH7P33XMO1_J_X3iWoH0nCqkdgxLOq2HOVHgiZZVC470kkOz1BZbyA63KY0W3hKkom6rjGMgX8YgQXDV7i2XA6v3STIUULjTjgQ4XxAZE/s320/Akobo%20workshop%204%20John%20Lam%20teaching.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pastor John Lam from Akobo teaches about the church.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The man in the front row (second from right) is the one</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>who stood up to forgive another participant.</i></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We heard several testimonies on the third morning of the
workshop of how God was working in people’s lives. One woman said “All of these
teachings were about me. I think they came to Akobo just for me, because this
is what I needed to hear.” She then described how she had been abused by her
husband and finally separated from him when he continued to mistreat her and
her children and did nothing to help or provide for them. She has struggled with
bitterness and anger against him. She said that she now forgives him and feels
free in her heart, although she will not return to her husband. She even said
that if she were able she would call her husband on the phone right there to
prove to us that she has forgiven him.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSfyKZt1L1KJs7Vw5q36HoBBKAkERzVYdTi9LB4i5pIXRYtunC5RZrgtkVOwv7gxQdaj8iljhlvmZOJ-ieRkaTIwU-3ZL3mrLONYP3_gXCjSwoebZNOuFLUsfBw04Csu0S7Vhkl72E85gs972L-ITW6iCbUCnA1CCSKOw-hEaYrvk6ZvT786UgQs/s1277/Akobo%20workshop%206%20woman%20sharing%20testimony.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1277" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSfyKZt1L1KJs7Vw5q36HoBBKAkERzVYdTi9LB4i5pIXRYtunC5RZrgtkVOwv7gxQdaj8iljhlvmZOJ-ieRkaTIwU-3ZL3mrLONYP3_gXCjSwoebZNOuFLUsfBw04Csu0S7Vhkl72E85gs972L-ITW6iCbUCnA1CCSKOw-hEaYrvk6ZvT786UgQs/s320/Akobo%20workshop%206%20woman%20sharing%20testimony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A woman sharing her testimony on the second day</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHDxEX6pexchwJLiJXGERmIM6fcyvGT_WmXy9ZPvLtfaJAvh3KuUbm9l1OFDwfOi0TJlPSo1yk5lKQU5NkKxD-0Y7KodHRNNNGg6ZnzYXviIz412fwItnzAejgJM7HGMVFCsxsZaYvgGUeZfJA0EFZhUon6Nb73omSaXxR56TZWA2xAwUSDuEEoc/s1537/Akobo%20workshop%2011%20giving%20pain%20at%20cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1364" data-original-width="1537" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHDxEX6pexchwJLiJXGERmIM6fcyvGT_WmXy9ZPvLtfaJAvh3KuUbm9l1OFDwfOi0TJlPSo1yk5lKQU5NkKxD-0Y7KodHRNNNGg6ZnzYXviIz412fwItnzAejgJM7HGMVFCsxsZaYvgGUeZfJA0EFZhUon6Nb73omSaXxR56TZWA2xAwUSDuEEoc/s320/Akobo%20workshop%2011%20giving%20pain%20at%20cross.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Participants put their papers with their pain writtenon it <br />in a basket at the cross, sybmolizing giving it over to Jesus<i><br /></i></div></i><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We conducted the workshop in Nuer, since that is the common
language in Akobo. We always like to have a diverse teaching team, so we had two
Nuer from different regions, a Dinka woman, and me. And because Mama Sarah (the
Dinka) has a remarkable gift for languages and heart for people, she was able
to teach in Nuer. This made discussion and sharing much easier when we did not
have to translate very often. One of the SSPEC pastors in Akobo, Rev. John Lam,
was trained to facilitate the workshop in March of this year. He coordinated
all the logistics in advance of our coming, including inviting participants,
and also taught one of the sessions. We
were very grateful to have someone local who had experienced the workshop and knew
what to expect.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHRvDkENXTG_INZM--8WDB4B0ZD3U-LRPGR17zAd1RSw4nn8RYTkkDEkNqNgd7ymNnA_o69e6_6j6mPcItKQBRKfCZxhb9O6sPs2xbpYlmBHUj84x2RpOziQPeFw3GppJsxF3LuigR91hnEtP7UgpnRwGsiWck3NoPZ3apFlZ43__2sxRTIBrRi0/s1676/Akobo%20workshop%2019%20facilitators%20together.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="1250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHRvDkENXTG_INZM--8WDB4B0ZD3U-LRPGR17zAd1RSw4nn8RYTkkDEkNqNgd7ymNnA_o69e6_6j6mPcItKQBRKfCZxhb9O6sPs2xbpYlmBHUj84x2RpOziQPeFw3GppJsxF3LuigR91hnEtP7UgpnRwGsiWck3NoPZ3apFlZ43__2sxRTIBrRi0/s320/Akobo%20workshop%2019%20facilitators%20together.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our team of facilitators who came from Juba</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">Near the end of the workshop is the ‘Standing in the Gap’
session about corporate repentance. When the opportunity was given for people to
repent, Mama Sarah was the first one to confess the ways that her people, the Dinka,
had hurt the people of Akobo. A woman came up in response to Mama Sarah’s
confession and shared that some of her relatives had been killed by Dinka
people and she had been filled with anger and hurt towards them. But now she
felt able to forgive and warmly expressed her forgiveness and thanks to Mama Sarah.
Others also shared how significant it was to hear her acknowledge how they had
been hurt and expressed forgiveness. Nyakuma, who was facilitating the session,
then invited me to come and confess the wrongs done by my British and European ancestors
that has harmed those in Akobo. I named a few of the more significant ways that
those in Europe and America have caused harm in South Sudan, particularly
coming with an attitude of superiority and taking the freedom to exploit the
people and the natural resources. As I was sharing, the participants started clapping – I think they were surprised and pleased to hear someone acknowledge how our
actions from the West had contributed to their suffering.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9h0h6vWY7kx1uoNxKvlSsiY3lbsZV9gIxSayb5sDcwoKVRy3iYOGzt3m7iF0F1zlv0AynbO9eOZuU8LTBN5_j1YI0RCglJDBgTlvmrvCBXNc073jxOiSkhtoYrUC9Et6WqY_hnCwsnYZxDlxqTIvcALCRxkUjV5-GK1pMFItNJNTor-ertTYycas/s1505/Akobo%20workshop%2014%20SIG%20forgiveness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1505" data-original-width="1392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9h0h6vWY7kx1uoNxKvlSsiY3lbsZV9gIxSayb5sDcwoKVRy3iYOGzt3m7iF0F1zlv0AynbO9eOZuU8LTBN5_j1YI0RCglJDBgTlvmrvCBXNc073jxOiSkhtoYrUC9Et6WqY_hnCwsnYZxDlxqTIvcALCRxkUjV5-GK1pMFItNJNTor-ertTYycas/s320/Akobo%20workshop%2014%20SIG%20forgiveness.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A man responds to Mama Sarah's confession with forgiveness</i></div></i><p class="MsoNormal">We capped off the workshop with a celebration of being God's Holy Nation, where all people are included and valued. The people from each payam stood up in turn and the rest of us affirmed the good qualities and talents from that community. Then we blessed them and spoke out the good things we wished for them before they shared a dance or song from their community. It was so beautiful to see how eager people were to affirm the other groups and the collective joy as we celebrated each others' cultures. Knowing the backdrop of the pain and conflict that these participants carry, to experience the joy of celebration together was a real gift and I pray that it gave them as much hope as it did for me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqAveoqA4pw53oukh2PQqnGMrsCHVVX5jHLqnGljfSuj5I_korlaIBgf_T3Pp_b2GHgglhBYfdNIhbfQYdJA6uCFncUBVlkcs8v9yOm1BrMiSWokvMu1sMRI1RVz0C6i917dcPkPEv3YTc_YV5koRqyYVpg3Y1858QC7sqpIgaJ8FiWsYoswkFYM/s1612/Akobo%20workshop%2017%20Mama%20Sarah%20crowning%20participant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1612" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqAveoqA4pw53oukh2PQqnGMrsCHVVX5jHLqnGljfSuj5I_korlaIBgf_T3Pp_b2GHgglhBYfdNIhbfQYdJA6uCFncUBVlkcs8v9yOm1BrMiSWokvMu1sMRI1RVz0C6i917dcPkPEv3YTc_YV5koRqyYVpg3Y1858QC7sqpIgaJ8FiWsYoswkFYM/s320/Akobo%20workshop%2017%20Mama%20Sarah%20crowning%20participant.jpg" width="320" /></i></a></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Giving people crowns to symbolize that each of us a citizen of God's Holy Nation</i></div></i><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp8jfRbyxhiOLSdoeg-Ag9RRrPEQs6A3WFuViWSG5WU5Yx_rTIbDh8NJ-fnv9oEefUcUllHaBhvxJs6gRUQb-RaadaPr6au8MYcVhjWsiUCiIscrzIgdS5D8MqzuXh7qbf0FQUR-J1bHF_9JGWA9mOsbXz8KFv5OKZ4mVG4iy72OIVA3EZPBwha8/s1205/Akobo%20workshop%2018%20celebration%20blessing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1205" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqp8jfRbyxhiOLSdoeg-Ag9RRrPEQs6A3WFuViWSG5WU5Yx_rTIbDh8NJ-fnv9oEefUcUllHaBhvxJs6gRUQb-RaadaPr6au8MYcVhjWsiUCiIscrzIgdS5D8MqzuXh7qbf0FQUR-J1bHF_9JGWA9mOsbXz8KFv5OKZ4mVG4iy72OIVA3EZPBwha8/s320/Akobo%20workshop%2018%20celebration%20blessing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Affirming each community by sharing the things we appreciate about them</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6WjgbmVRRpQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="6WjgbmVRRpQ"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Participants who live in the town of Akobo sing a song celebrating their town</i></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-4381784166296486702022-11-26T12:09:00.000+01:002022-11-26T12:09:58.110+01:00Exploring how God is at work in different corners!During the crisis and war which began in South Sudan in December 2013, entire populations were displaced from their home regions, and their institutions often moved with them. One such institution is Giffen Institute of Theology (GIT), formerly in Malakal (Upper Nile), now located in Kakuma Refugee Camp in the far northwest corner of Kenya. <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOllRMMtis6caXg3KztUWen5Dy59Ku5RhyNujKZMqgi_7Rbk0RmBMfWnfy8A4mwyMkmudVSSh694pkvAgMK7Uth7NW-A2M8kY7hEEmT-lSDCKZHNbReWxBhYhX-wYB-uSQo-2BIP6BDSN5InLDv8s0tWKC8vVexNKEKByEKyWAzGbHrlokLiRj0UmWQ/s2015/IMG_4966%20(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="2015" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOllRMMtis6caXg3KztUWen5Dy59Ku5RhyNujKZMqgi_7Rbk0RmBMfWnfy8A4mwyMkmudVSSh694pkvAgMK7Uth7NW-A2M8kY7hEEmT-lSDCKZHNbReWxBhYhX-wYB-uSQo-2BIP6BDSN5InLDv8s0tWKC8vVexNKEKByEKyWAzGbHrlokLiRj0UmWQ/w400-h224/IMG_4966%20(3).jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Students, Faculty and Staff of GIT (Kakuma Refugee Camp) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68JWcWW3Abw1lA0neZG6nvEWcm7QakPfOIspNOiro4S4g5pW0dsCTd4keYrwOM2_x8T3ntlZ8Nb-pfthUgQMa8q5yW_JoeJu8AKOXI6pFHbhFWdgMB-DQ_xUXx0m025GwN7zN_QR2bgMp7rlDRJmgXTUim6GrNFm8h5VdO342IUrm-NkeJKj6vZXrqQ/s2048/IMG_4780.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj68JWcWW3Abw1lA0neZG6nvEWcm7QakPfOIspNOiro4S4g5pW0dsCTd4keYrwOM2_x8T3ntlZ8Nb-pfthUgQMa8q5yW_JoeJu8AKOXI6pFHbhFWdgMB-DQ_xUXx0m025GwN7zN_QR2bgMp7rlDRJmgXTUim6GrNFm8h5VdO342IUrm-NkeJKj6vZXrqQ/w400-h300/IMG_4780.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br />Dramatic flight with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) <br />from Juba to northwest Kenya</div><span><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Rev. Paul Ruot Kor, a former student who has become a friend, currently serves as principal. Rev. Paul has been serving as a pastor for more than forty years and has much to offer students at GIT. As an historian, Rev. Paul suggests that GIT has trained and graduated more Presbyterian pastors in South Sudan than any other institution. It was a great joy for me to visit my friend Paul, to collaborate together with him, to go into the camp each day, to help teach a couple of classes, to share from the book of Job during chapel, to spend time with faculty, staff, and students, to gain a better understanding of life at the school, the joys and the challenges, and to experience life in the camp which included one of the part-time teachers being robbed one morning while I was there.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYGGLFbHh2ltTvWPyMhaO89Igpi9MPZckk1DxROOzXK9910osyOZB_TKXqpUQB4T6HkwxHSMm40s6t4_hbjuHuAwloHuNGzJWyh-6ZfMJPQ1kztmfn0jUYFmhmGO4Rdxq1HWFfQFxjEAiy0TEormALUlDfo9xeAa4w1smOTUt0npAXjb4AyPqcMx53w/s2048/IMG_4936.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYGGLFbHh2ltTvWPyMhaO89Igpi9MPZckk1DxROOzXK9910osyOZB_TKXqpUQB4T6HkwxHSMm40s6t4_hbjuHuAwloHuNGzJWyh-6ZfMJPQ1kztmfn0jUYFmhmGO4Rdxq1HWFfQFxjEAiy0TEormALUlDfo9xeAa4w1smOTUt0npAXjb4AyPqcMx53w/w400-h300/IMG_4936.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rev. Paul Ruot at his desk in his office at GIT;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we had some nice discussions together about faith and culture</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IMKpUAatfBm2TaPwyPzRFf8OAkxrX1HQoql0ZnoWOxUyEGLMxpTL2pd1gIzWmzQtIXNGZvSGJ1zuvQ6nHnheuBbkho_nMdTXzsbK-GFJyvWz_qzxxVJmrsXPhVvG5Yd4ZNGKeF8Sr6Y0KePppbpJQK9CaPz_xpU3z-2GMkEPEAT3VourpMD1Jz2-wg/s2048/IMG_4950.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IMKpUAatfBm2TaPwyPzRFf8OAkxrX1HQoql0ZnoWOxUyEGLMxpTL2pd1gIzWmzQtIXNGZvSGJ1zuvQ6nHnheuBbkho_nMdTXzsbK-GFJyvWz_qzxxVJmrsXPhVvG5Yd4ZNGKeF8Sr6Y0KePppbpJQK9CaPz_xpU3z-2GMkEPEAT3VourpMD1Jz2-wg/w400-h300/IMG_4950.JPEG" width="400" /></a><br />Rev. Ruot and I teach on the Trinity;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rev. Ruot explains the Godhead as "three in one"<br />in the local Nuer language </div></div><div><br /></div><div>It was also a joy to meet Rev. Paul’s wife and child and eat the wonderful “kop” together which his wife had prepared. It was also nice to have time together whereby I could query my friend concerning my own research interests, namely concerning Nyarial (Eleanor Vandevort, former missionary to Sudan) and her Nuer brother, Rev. Moses Kuac Nyoat, the first Nuer pastor in southern Sudan. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wHTmEmKbw2uKmeesnI58yooJSlrY7B-Vxm9WZ-CYr3vlDbT4Sgh4oLIEeqnDDDjnLq9eVVJsfuw9VDgHwztMEL5hIh2RgHzXTvhrem7XfE8pZB6U55q_HSIUhn36vkqwkJEBBU38fmvZXLMsdSTJ4pyCVXx-hcVtsYZ2Ck6WYuDTsqI00kLUvWoVIw/s1446/IMG_4988.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1446" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_wHTmEmKbw2uKmeesnI58yooJSlrY7B-Vxm9WZ-CYr3vlDbT4Sgh4oLIEeqnDDDjnLq9eVVJsfuw9VDgHwztMEL5hIh2RgHzXTvhrem7XfE8pZB6U55q_HSIUhn36vkqwkJEBBU38fmvZXLMsdSTJ4pyCVXx-hcVtsYZ2Ck6WYuDTsqI00kLUvWoVIw/w400-h326/IMG_4988.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rev. Ruot with wife and child (to my right in photo)<br />Faculty member and community member (to my left) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqUV2T8Bo4tvCF4nAO9VC0IEz67K1Qyv8JUTcyZ-4ixSeu0vc08MhLyEs3byxK5e7t9NkUtAghw7yyDk1F__3l7L46ZVuUb4ywpMtvDE8uu9RyKW86DPyXFtk6drH39AAYU53WgFRgsZmYl90TGfExHbn0CkKcnRLXmaEbOS7trizGhIR6fJKYpL1fg/s600/Nyarial%20in%20Sudan%20(1950s).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="600" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqUV2T8Bo4tvCF4nAO9VC0IEz67K1Qyv8JUTcyZ-4ixSeu0vc08MhLyEs3byxK5e7t9NkUtAghw7yyDk1F__3l7L46ZVuUb4ywpMtvDE8uu9RyKW86DPyXFtk6drH39AAYU53WgFRgsZmYl90TGfExHbn0CkKcnRLXmaEbOS7trizGhIR6fJKYpL1fg/s320/Nyarial%20in%20Sudan%20(1950s).jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Eleanor Vandevort (Nyarial) in Nasir, circa 1950s<br />Former missionary to Sudan, friend to the Nuer people<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLLYW4lU3BNGJYE5JDJNgrm1TFvG--waTkE7RSl5cNlvKDpop5cG6nHkdvTnNjdXR2mbQXkgNkX9Oa3J0eDEcZyweeyeP4bBkNZlcJ6qaD2gzF4dDrqdmguM1M22qNOyA8_2xDA5IcF6dxEMIRsSi52LyWwRYZqvL0QOiB3F3OWp7_rNNoycERnrkvw/s200/Kuac,%20Nasir%201950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="131" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLLYW4lU3BNGJYE5JDJNgrm1TFvG--waTkE7RSl5cNlvKDpop5cG6nHkdvTnNjdXR2mbQXkgNkX9Oa3J0eDEcZyweeyeP4bBkNZlcJ6qaD2gzF4dDrqdmguM1M22qNOyA8_2xDA5IcF6dxEMIRsSi52LyWwRYZqvL0QOiB3F3OWp7_rNNoycERnrkvw/w210-h320/Kuac,%20Nasir%201950.jpg" width="210" /></a><br />Rev. Moses Kuac Nyoat<br />first Nuer pastor and friend to Nyarial<br />Rev. Ruot spent time as a young pastor learning about and from Kuac Nyoat</div> </div><div>I am grateful for Rev. Ruot's invitation for me to come visit him at GIT in Kakuma Refugee Camp!</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCeV_tONxCH7o3kVvKlXFnvhqNVTBsvmLnNdjaxmsVaYzVKYhhh_2rpLIxFV-BTpkVXPucNma3oFIbYF5rPA_0PpBqcXAYHd-kUitBVy0NyvdRgEpRAR9W_RVqZtpjuNuQiD_C5B_q4qVXv43pQpnHqloRvBQIp4E1ubv6Kz0aEVdq-zHazA0ury99A/s2048/IMG_4940.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCeV_tONxCH7o3kVvKlXFnvhqNVTBsvmLnNdjaxmsVaYzVKYhhh_2rpLIxFV-BTpkVXPucNma3oFIbYF5rPA_0PpBqcXAYHd-kUitBVy0NyvdRgEpRAR9W_RVqZtpjuNuQiD_C5B_q4qVXv43pQpnHqloRvBQIp4E1ubv6Kz0aEVdq-zHazA0ury99A/w400-h300/IMG_4940.JPEG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sunrise, Kakuma Town (November 1st, 2022)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-46852021899379206762022-10-25T13:03:00.004+01:002023-01-18T16:28:49.911+01:00Equipping for healing in Rwanda<p>This month I was in Rwanda for two big events related to the
Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations (HHTN) workshop that we have been doing in
South Sudan. First, I served on the facilitation team of the International
School of Reconciliation (ISOR), training new facilitators for this workshop who came
from nine different countries. It was an intense time of learning and sharing
together as we faced the wounds within us and within our countries. Nearly 10
delegates came from Ethiopia, where war is devastating the country and the
social fabric. Four South Sudanese pastors came from northern Uganda, where
they live in refugee camps after fleeing their homes in South Sudan during the
crisis of 2016.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisIrZ225xHOVE27mGvH27DncA9o8NOCTwYxgDaPxJuERSWJGlmXDijm1ADjA1aneOE5N9ZZqqOrbflccAtlNvJz6BVIDbT_1bYPhNEEllsaVqYbLp9UZGZaHNzlaNRQjUP5TVYcDOILSV-siX5D420UH8_qkCGjcAWYzZFiR36j1dpPfbnZA3eyM/s1024/Graduation%20whole%20group.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisIrZ225xHOVE27mGvH27DncA9o8NOCTwYxgDaPxJuERSWJGlmXDijm1ADjA1aneOE5N9ZZqqOrbflccAtlNvJz6BVIDbT_1bYPhNEEllsaVqYbLp9UZGZaHNzlaNRQjUP5TVYcDOILSV-siX5D420UH8_qkCGjcAWYzZFiR36j1dpPfbnZA3eyM/w400-h266/Graduation%20whole%20group.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All participants, facilitators, and staff at the graduation</i></div><i><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of the International School of Reconciliation</i></div></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXNScqJaobAl9X5A3KfBhG5jAcQf27f6He4XAprY1S5C-CBcgMQ91GZzHmpGUqASzyXsAuWg5tX4KvdXTx2bsKisQi_PgDhGERSxRfe6XmCEsDLBWoaGnrWlitJ3YN3pVVOpaHBr7TALyceI5k0TFNtLMsRK0jFFQIjBagYgJoQwrWE1SSYrR7P8/s1452/20221016_181015_copy_1452x1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="1452" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXNScqJaobAl9X5A3KfBhG5jAcQf27f6He4XAprY1S5C-CBcgMQ91GZzHmpGUqASzyXsAuWg5tX4KvdXTx2bsKisQi_PgDhGERSxRfe6XmCEsDLBWoaGnrWlitJ3YN3pVVOpaHBr7TALyceI5k0TFNtLMsRK0jFFQIjBagYgJoQwrWE1SSYrR7P8/s320/20221016_181015_copy_1452x1043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>With a couple of the women from South Sudan at the graduation</i></div><p>At the end of the training, the new facilitators conduct HHTN
workshops in groups in the community. I helped to coach one group as they
prepared to teach, including learning dramas and figuring out how to make the
teaching interactive and personal. Teaching in a workshop in a way that touches
the heart and not just the head is not easy! Add to that the language challenge
– most of our new facilitators were not Rwandan, so they spoke in English which was translated into Kinyarwanda. But they also do not speak English as their
first language, so they are having to teach in a language that is not their most
comfortable language. For some, this meant laboriously writing out what they
wanted to say to make sure they would be clear. I was humbled and blessed by
the hard work and caring hearts that each person in my group demonstrated. A
few of them even incorporated testimonies of their own pain into their
teaching which I know is difficult, but it served to open up the hearts of
participants and give them hope for healing in they heard how God can bring healing.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV9J-RJSt3EA4OoCmGkLodVaWc7wzeCC3pOwN_9NkJNY-avNa9LoTnVdUgzD9CXAJMoETnwbVAm7U4_HQsRLIaIsutpQ5MddJSlZBE9Nm5uSK5zKDcDuOC4pLjpPMM8xD62FO-E_QaovUEp1LuFGr1ZZ9K7ZWmN92wSimzCvnYlYdvf88p0lblps/s1024/ISOR%20practicum%20exchange%20drama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCV9J-RJSt3EA4OoCmGkLodVaWc7wzeCC3pOwN_9NkJNY-avNa9LoTnVdUgzD9CXAJMoETnwbVAm7U4_HQsRLIaIsutpQ5MddJSlZBE9Nm5uSK5zKDcDuOC4pLjpPMM8xD62FO-E_QaovUEp1LuFGr1ZZ9K7ZWmN92wSimzCvnYlYdvf88p0lblps/s320/ISOR%20practicum%20exchange%20drama.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A drama illustrates the challenge of bringing our pain to God</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5h72Rux05JQ7mVyJFzg9eC6kaSscyU-i9wWA_Wm2Qm-tIAtRYaboGIvOa3LmXrnzXdruTAgyH7zKtWoTdaXHYe26Xb7LfS7HtvCgYWposcOzVnI4NyUjg7bBZcLC83-H6Jobz5tRTYgAY40iqYHRqHVAIsFXNhHSrKOLX0rdwVo7Tdtwp6KDX6g/s1280/ISOR%20practicum%20celebration1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5h72Rux05JQ7mVyJFzg9eC6kaSscyU-i9wWA_Wm2Qm-tIAtRYaboGIvOa3LmXrnzXdruTAgyH7zKtWoTdaXHYe26Xb7LfS7HtvCgYWposcOzVnI4NyUjg7bBZcLC83-H6Jobz5tRTYgAY40iqYHRqHVAIsFXNhHSrKOLX0rdwVo7Tdtwp6KDX6g/s320/ISOR%20practicum%20celebration1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A Celebration of the Holy Nation at the end of the workshop</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">The second big event was a forum for practitioners who are
using this workshop in healing and reconciliation ministries in this region of
East Africa. It was a rich and meaningful time together, and I got to meet some
faithful heroes that I have heard about for years. One group serves in Eastern
Congo, visiting remote villages and promoting healing in places that have been
repeatedly terrorized by militia. Four of us from South Sudan attended the
forum, and it was inspiring to learn from others and see that ours is not the
only country with challenges of instability and conflict! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW-A64ICLu0L7ojVhsBQa_C6ak5KlOIjO53OhqFAkT7sw-6NXVks1gTII8X5KlsauYbEWYW8uTG6EYQs2dFzuiwq8KYhpGKiuv2BhZ7c4EPFqMZC82MMgX_hTztn4uueOV7qS7JJRZEwifzoswGMB0cd5QPmAp0uiiEmil8m0rrtHYgqaS_tEv3I/s1080/IFOR%20participants.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW-A64ICLu0L7ojVhsBQa_C6ak5KlOIjO53OhqFAkT7sw-6NXVks1gTII8X5KlsauYbEWYW8uTG6EYQs2dFzuiwq8KYhpGKiuv2BhZ7c4EPFqMZC82MMgX_hTztn4uueOV7qS7JJRZEwifzoswGMB0cd5QPmAp0uiiEmil8m0rrtHYgqaS_tEv3I/w400-h266/IFOR%20participants.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Participants at the forum</i></div><p class="MsoNormal">One of the central
parts of the HHTN workshop is the session on the cross, where we take our pain
to Jesus as the pain-bearer (Isaiah 53:4). During the forum, there was a chance
for all of us who regularly conduct the cross workshop for others to
participate in it ourselves, sharing our pain and giving it over to Jesus. As
we stood together around the cross, several people shared of deep pain that
weighed them down and we prayed together for freedom and healing. I was grateful
for this safe space where all of us who are pour out for lives for others could
share our own pain and find love and support.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC15csvVCa3jU93I1pZZA0oTLT6c5aOeLX-W_nL-LKntkGpPRbkYWQRfl_ECItN7aLh3Qt2JgatA_PYG2IJrzBKGWRoX4jd7hRxzpJt3AFyEKf3xDVXhfM7-Us8_YwiNwuvGUnknt8oYgUnDgjhZrj5B1h7RRUChYMk3QMtOwiDg8Qtg2wRXjCJeI/s1080/Forum%20cross%20workshop.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC15csvVCa3jU93I1pZZA0oTLT6c5aOeLX-W_nL-LKntkGpPRbkYWQRfl_ECItN7aLh3Qt2JgatA_PYG2IJrzBKGWRoX4jd7hRxzpJt3AFyEKf3xDVXhfM7-Us8_YwiNwuvGUnknt8oYgUnDgjhZrj5B1h7RRUChYMk3QMtOwiDg8Qtg2wRXjCJeI/s320/Forum%20cross%20workshop.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>each of us nails our pain to the cross</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFYZahh65w3pnC34FzcvVQ0qgwdqq0GpFT4ZJretENfLtBjamWjrEUCCo_H_PyM4yQZ1Xhb5Ydxsc0dWyWqIC-K0EcIlFhQO0GS8q5_v4ephb3-Lu_wuD2QnCeY-kYKbjsukzOJbljNDCSFSdy9QzVV1C1fTpLYjoar95uxN6iJQkCl7uwilDC00/s1632/20221023_160830_copy_1632x1224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFYZahh65w3pnC34FzcvVQ0qgwdqq0GpFT4ZJretENfLtBjamWjrEUCCo_H_PyM4yQZ1Xhb5Ydxsc0dWyWqIC-K0EcIlFhQO0GS8q5_v4ephb3-Lu_wuD2QnCeY-kYKbjsukzOJbljNDCSFSdy9QzVV1C1fTpLYjoar95uxN6iJQkCl7uwilDC00/s320/20221023_160830_copy_1632x1224.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>Our group from South Sudan, along with colleague George DeVyst,<br />a missionary who serves the people of Ukraine</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy9byy6gQctoB2f20Crm20owO_F5IyO6z3QH4xSxalSfwG6f2Fv8QmEm8TB-8CL47EsimRiMePTL8cHiL5fmzMTuIoMSNQNu6h0Qrb9bcChmnNvhClvIx55v5-eLfE0Lu9kNoBsuG-ASTyBwR0i9n7GOxp8SkoyOsBlB6dkFoNtyXxrBSuQS8K-I/s1080/Forum%20unity%20football%20game%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy9byy6gQctoB2f20Crm20owO_F5IyO6z3QH4xSxalSfwG6f2Fv8QmEm8TB-8CL47EsimRiMePTL8cHiL5fmzMTuIoMSNQNu6h0Qrb9bcChmnNvhClvIx55v5-eLfE0Lu9kNoBsuG-ASTyBwR0i9n7GOxp8SkoyOsBlB6dkFoNtyXxrBSuQS8K-I/s320/Forum%20unity%20football%20game%202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>A 'Unity football game' in the community</div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I give thanks for this gift of connection, inspiration, and equipping with others in this ministry. Please pray with us that God continues to use us as agents of healing and reconciliation in South Sudan, and brings the transformation and wholeness that only God can bring.</span></div>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-87665215948436400452022-09-24T19:18:00.000+01:002023-01-18T16:28:02.247+01:00Ministry to the Children of the Streets in JubaAmidst the crowd outside the Konyokonyo market, I saw Zechariah Zechariah Adam, my former student. Zechariah smiled warmly as he reached through the throng to greet me. Though it was loud and difficult to hear one another, his message was clear and gave me a sense of wonder and joy. Zechariah related to me how he was now working with children who lived on the street. “Wow! That is wonderful.” I responded. Previously, as Zechariah’s teacher, I had had the vision that Zechariah would excel working with children, especially those living on the margins. Zechariah’s gentleness, humility, deep spirituality, and strong commitment would make him an excellent candidate for such work.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq6J1r-DC_XdD1XhGOA7sY2-gCmrdATOYgYYZA-njcmUxweqX4YVO1g1L9j-IC6SbrMhWgNNWaZ9au9UXXheWR9NKY3c7JFBpIjXDXcVhZq-HLE8qOv4AZW_HE-iHC1DnA6NYAHHV9GU3H51Hi8q2zXhjREtO6kUQDk2Z8_wHyDIiQG9fspRXdP5u_Q/s1469/Zacharia%20Zacharia,%20healed%20of%20a%20stomach%20disease%20upon%20his%20conversion,%20has%20a%20real%20burden%20to%20help%20street%20children%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1469" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq6J1r-DC_XdD1XhGOA7sY2-gCmrdATOYgYYZA-njcmUxweqX4YVO1g1L9j-IC6SbrMhWgNNWaZ9au9UXXheWR9NKY3c7JFBpIjXDXcVhZq-HLE8qOv4AZW_HE-iHC1DnA6NYAHHV9GU3H51Hi8q2zXhjREtO6kUQDk2Z8_wHyDIiQG9fspRXdP5u_Q/s320/Zacharia%20Zacharia,%20healed%20of%20a%20stomach%20disease%20upon%20his%20conversion,%20has%20a%20real%20burden%20to%20help%20street%20children%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Zechariah Zechariah Adam </div></div><br />Some weeks later, Zechariah would tell me that it was during the evangelism class I taught at Nile Theological College whereby God had inspired him along these lines. As part of that course, the final project for students was a practicum whereby groups of students would go out to the “bleeding points” of the city, to those places of great desperation and need to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. And so, out from the college they went, to prisons, hospitals, markets, orphanages, and streets, sharing the Gospel with those who needed a message of hope. Even as Jesus has sent out the seventy-two who returned with remarkable stories, my students went out and returned with glorious stories of how God had used them in manifold ways.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYcatngciWJva8CGGtzqyhfcTszvUlvBBcZ5RAPTk5iU6SOWVg2xKwKWBf7JMLXZzCS73U03mEKDeyh6_rlmgABJSRZ7d0eTx1kCg7zg-0oceI5r-LaKNi2b5YFIL55IRA0rPnUUoqfiZPqU1solCYFbvlFEXmU-u0Zjs3m5bl3tmSwfMRgl0XNgRLw/s3264/DSCF1716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYcatngciWJva8CGGtzqyhfcTszvUlvBBcZ5RAPTk5iU6SOWVg2xKwKWBf7JMLXZzCS73U03mEKDeyh6_rlmgABJSRZ7d0eTx1kCg7zg-0oceI5r-LaKNi2b5YFIL55IRA0rPnUUoqfiZPqU1solCYFbvlFEXmU-u0Zjs3m5bl3tmSwfMRgl0XNgRLw/s320/DSCF1716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ogud, one my former students, hold a child at a <br />local transitional home called "Confident Children out of Conflict (CCC) </div><div><br />Before Zechariah and I separated on that day near the Konyokonyo market, we exchanged phone numbers. He wanted me to come preach to the group of marginalized children to whom he was ministering. It took several weeks for us to finally align our schedules, but on a Saturday morning in early June my friend Albino and I went across the river to the Sherikat market where we met Zechariah. Zechariah took us to the compound of the ministry, a ministry to vulnerable children supported by Christians in Egypt. Albino and I sat and waited as Zechariah and the ministry staff made final preparations for the day. We learned that every Saturday vulnerable children are welcomed off the street to have their wounds cleaned, to participate in an energetic worship service, to receive a hot meal and be given a bar of soap to wash their bodies and clothes before leaving. This ministry is a drop-in-center, whereby the children can also visit during the week and receive help for various needs.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TB--Cu3itZ0ip4jqdGV4uF3J4oZCnaLpCbMIRGcTCBek7sr-NkoFR6iwzOT-CadkhMIAdMPC3kjBYD3UxhCN6dfLqLZABW5yuB8sNrze7QsiqC1IH5AXgztgJByHSVUPkQlFYth6O2WtAdvyydtW9uA6ZZrhotNBJhE_QMbyGUllxKHWX_Pd1pwlBw/s1000/Street-Kids-Juba-from%20MAF%20South%20Sudan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TB--Cu3itZ0ip4jqdGV4uF3J4oZCnaLpCbMIRGcTCBek7sr-NkoFR6iwzOT-CadkhMIAdMPC3kjBYD3UxhCN6dfLqLZABW5yuB8sNrze7QsiqC1IH5AXgztgJByHSVUPkQlFYth6O2WtAdvyydtW9uA6ZZrhotNBJhE_QMbyGUllxKHWX_Pd1pwlBw/s320/Street-Kids-Juba-from%20MAF%20South%20Sudan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Children living on the streets, Juba<br />Photo Credit: MAF International, South Sudan</div></div><br />Our time worshiping with the children is one of the singular wonders and glories I have experienced in South Sudan. Imagine, an entire congregation filled with the most lowly, destitute, abandoned, and marginalized members of society. This was Jesus’ kind of crowd. These children knew that they had a need and they opened themselves up to me and my friend Albino like flowers open to the sun. As we worshiped in song, we all danced to the beat and sang, jumping back and forth, patting each other on the hands. The atmosphere felt simple and innocent, but it was also electric with the power and presence and love of God. Truly, how can one not be a conduit of God’s love and care in such a place?<div><br /></div><div> These children crave attention and affection despite the hardened exterior which life on the streets had foisted upon them. In this enclosed and safe environment, these children could express a dimension of themselves which was seldom seen or known to suspicious shop keepers and annoyed pedestrians. As a visitor, I could feel the level of intentional care and dignity being given to these children by Pastor Zechariah and members of the ministry staff. My heart was also touched to see two Egyptian men quietly doing “behind the scenes” work to support the ministry. They sought no accolades or commendation; they were simply supporting Zechariah and his staff who were doing direct ministry with these children. <br /><br />I went home that day feeling energized. Pastor Zechariah gave me a “standing invitation” to return to visit this ministry anytime. I hope to visit again soon. Thank you for your prayers as Kristi and I seek to serve amongst marginalized persons and communities here in South Sudan. </div></div>Bob Ricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13609991262697082918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827810259164413872.post-40383950418150698052022-08-23T18:51:00.000+01:002022-08-23T18:51:37.206+01:00Weddings and Funerals<p>Most South Sudanese people spend a lot of time attending funerals. We hear friends lamenting that it feels that there are so many funerals, and death comes too early and often here. We admire the way that people come together when death happens, and the way that they commemorate the person with multiple gatherings over a period of up to a year. People also take seriously celebrating the joyful occasions in life, like a wedding, perhaps because they know life can not be taken for granted. This month we have attended a few funerals and a wedding, so wanted to share some pictures from this significant part of life in South Sudan.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jDDF4uL7POSLsqe_vFi0pxTXXI9E9TNpXv3YPsj3HZT1AMxfG4PbLerN1tibHeThqPnTkQdmP9QSgo4QXvC_UgP2SUIFqYamJNxhdhZdfIUWQYdiBN9LlYe3WkeUcZgr2ADnROCVKdgCoQo9Vr82fzQRuKLToqMAGZDu1nrj5qlqbUXng_66pIk/s1535/Elder%20Daniel%20funeral%20church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="1535" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jDDF4uL7POSLsqe_vFi0pxTXXI9E9TNpXv3YPsj3HZT1AMxfG4PbLerN1tibHeThqPnTkQdmP9QSgo4QXvC_UgP2SUIFqYamJNxhdhZdfIUWQYdiBN9LlYe3WkeUcZgr2ADnROCVKdgCoQo9Vr82fzQRuKLToqMAGZDu1nrj5qlqbUXng_66pIk/s320/Elder%20Daniel%20funeral%20church.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>The funeral service at the church</i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i>commemorating Elder Daniel's life</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;">Elder Daniel was an active member and influential leader in the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. He passed away in June after a short period of sickness. He also held a high position in the government, so his funeral was attended by thousands of people. They first held the service in the church followed by burial at the home on the day that his body was brought from Nairobi. A few days later, they had a larger gathering to celebrate his life and pray together. Next week marks 40 days since his death, so another service of ‘final prayers’ will be held at his home.</p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzDJV-znx0fxffFkjmfjv7X61C7YJiX42CVk1lzz-L1K2HWUfN-oR4gaVvczLsrw9Yj7eiXtJc5hV01EtO5nSfPa8Yv3COhPwRjvKaLmEWj-KIyX7I7TzaL4vT7yWb_rGrzvlsxFBeYz8nC_lCE-wRW274zC3bX3ZnPmgF8p-u15m40M93Y5gnGs/s1446/Elder%20Daniel%20large%20funeral%20prayers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1446" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzDJV-znx0fxffFkjmfjv7X61C7YJiX42CVk1lzz-L1K2HWUfN-oR4gaVvczLsrw9Yj7eiXtJc5hV01EtO5nSfPa8Yv3COhPwRjvKaLmEWj-KIyX7I7TzaL4vT7yWb_rGrzvlsxFBeYz8nC_lCE-wRW274zC3bX3ZnPmgF8p-u15m40M93Y5gnGs/s320/Elder%20Daniel%20large%20funeral%20prayers.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The all-day funeral prayers for Elder Daniel</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>held at a field in order to accomodate the large crowd</i></div><p>Today, I visited Elder Daniel’s wife, Mama Achol. She remains at home for 40 days, and some close family members stay with her to keep her company in this period of mourning. Friends and relatives come to visit – today while I was there, several other women came just to be with her and the family. The women shared news and told stories, laughing and lamenting at the same time. We admire the real sense of community in South Sudanese culture and the way that people are present with each other, particularly in times of grief.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWtl0GjNhuUC6Wqmoi7ellsk-oy5cxdzKc0extLZ2lH2jte94IW0RI4YLrU2-Pm_YLCtUSzpe7W8ptI6ZuuoXa3x2r5Puv05XJvI21ijkLaoLu51sLIA-0s9lWLgcHMQkMOpVYyeIfv0jWwVTzmcFBmgjwkMnt9iWB4V59pHOE4D_B_fS6UMC2xg/s1632/Elder%20Daniel%20funeral%20coffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWtl0GjNhuUC6Wqmoi7ellsk-oy5cxdzKc0extLZ2lH2jte94IW0RI4YLrU2-Pm_YLCtUSzpe7W8ptI6ZuuoXa3x2r5Puv05XJvI21ijkLaoLu51sLIA-0s9lWLgcHMQkMOpVYyeIfv0jWwVTzmcFBmgjwkMnt9iWB4V59pHOE4D_B_fS6UMC2xg/s320/Elder%20Daniel%20funeral%20coffin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The ceremony of the burial at the home of Elder Daniel</i></div><p style="text-align: left;">Last week, Bob visited a colleague whose son had just died. Bob was not able to attend the funeral, but wanted to express his condolences. Visiting someone who is grieving is an important expression of solidarity. However, suddenly having the expenses of a funeral and hosting visitors can also become a burden to the grieving family, particularly for people wrestling with poverty and in a country where it feels like many people go from one crisis to another.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWWrOFOyXYHpUm8ckPEsCa3i02zRKAcR0_hUwI4-XMOtiy4OG5k9BEJ1f15qvHSndSYkZRdVoc27ind5Q3h3ISIwFVSYpLnol6aiZKfFsWniT5f72sHjLWLfXPdMQZsmDt0UOiy3U0oAMy1EnSmYlbtvmtf-22J0X1N68KPLKfpRVnZLcXYTzDWc/s1170/Sarah%20Kosiya%20wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="830" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWWrOFOyXYHpUm8ckPEsCa3i02zRKAcR0_hUwI4-XMOtiy4OG5k9BEJ1f15qvHSndSYkZRdVoc27ind5Q3h3ISIwFVSYpLnol6aiZKfFsWniT5f72sHjLWLfXPdMQZsmDt0UOiy3U0oAMy1EnSmYlbtvmtf-22J0X1N68KPLKfpRVnZLcXYTzDWc/s320/Sarah%20Kosiya%20wedding.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A joyful wedding in Juba</i></div><p>And then, some celebration! Last week I attended a wedding. It feels like there are far more funerals than weddings in Juba, so it was a rare treat to be invited to a wedding. A wedding also has several components and ceremonies –the dowry or engagement, the traditional ceremony, a church ceremony, and finally a reception. These might all happen on different days, so we admire the time and expense people invest in celebrating these life milestones. I attended the church ceremony last week – a joyful service with lots of singing, words of encouragement by relatives, and an exhortation by their pastor, emphasizing the importance of God being first in their marriage, because God dwells within us.</p><p>We are so grateful for the people around us in South Sudan, and the gift of being in relationship. We continue to look for advice sometimes on navigating the cultural protocol around these life events. But we have wonderful models and coaches in our colleagues and friends, and it makes us appreciate the gifts this culture has and the ways people make a great effort to stay connected.</p>Kristihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05524080243940516193noreply@blogger.com1