Abigail's confession

I love the story of Abigail rescuing her family in 1 Samuel 25. A servant warns Abigail that her husband Nabal has insulted David and refused to share food with him, and that David and his 600 men might be coming to attack them. Abigail acts quickly and secretly, gathering all the food she can find in the house to send to David. She accompanies the donkey loaded with food and meets David and his men on the road as they are coming towards her home, ready to attack. Abigail kneels down on the road and apologizes for her husband’s insults, even saying “count this wrong against me”. She asks David to forgive them and accept her gift of food as a peace offering. David is moved by her confession and does forgive, even thanking her for stopping him from murder and this act of vengeance.

Students at the Bible School take the opportunity

to confess the wrongs of their people

I have told the story many times in our workshops as an example of identificational confession. Abigail confesses the wrong done by her husband and asks forgiveness on behalf of her family. In our trauma healing class at the SSPEC Bible School a few weeks ago, we taught about identificational confession and then invited people to ask the Holy Spirit if there was some wrong done by a group that they are part of that they could ask forgiveness of like Abigail did. One man stood and confessed that some members of his tribe have attacked and killed members of another tribe in South Sudan and have contributed to ongoing conflict. Another student who is from the other tribe stood up and said that he had gone many years without seeing his brother. On the day when he was finally going to travel to see his brother, he learned that the brother had been killed by people from the other tribe. He was heartbroken and angry for a long time. Gradually, God showed him that he could let go of the hate and anger in his heart, and he began to forgive. Hearing the confession from a fellow student and the acknowledgement of pain and wounding was helpful to him in continuing the process of forgiving.

Preaching in a church in Juba

On Sunday I preached in a small congregation in Juba using this story of Abigail. As I told the story, I could see that the women in particular were impressed by Abigail’s actions to rescue her family from David’s attack. Like Abigail, Jesus stood in the gap for us, identifying with sinful humanity and dying the death of a criminal even though he himself had not sinned. Jesus’ death means that we can be forgiven and be reconciled to God. As Paul describes Jesus’ actions and attitude in Philippians 2:3-8, we are called to have the same attitude as Jesus, to look more for the interests of others than our own. As much as we try, I don’t think that will ever become natural or easy. But in gratitude for what Jesus has done for us and out of love for people around us, are there ways that we can identify with those who have offended and done wrong, confessing wrongs that have been done and asking forgiveness from those who have been wounded?

In South Sudan, there are 64 tribes and languages. Some tribes are large and spread out and some are smaller. Some tribes have contributed more to conflict and attacks against other groups. But there is no group that has not done wrong. When we are willing to acknowledge the wrongs done by our group, we are leaning in to the humility that Jesus calls us to, we are seeking the good of others before our own.

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you,

leaving you and example, that you should follow in his steps."

1 Peter 2:21

Team teaching in Juba

 

JEBS students

We are squeezed into a room that barely has space for the 15 students. The class meets in the evenings, as the sun is going down and the mosquitos are coming out. Each Thursday evening, we are impressed and encouraged by the students who make the sacrifice to come after work from distant parts of town to study the Bible and be trained to participate in God’s work in their communities. And each week, we come away feeling grateful for the animated discussions as the students engage on difficult topics.

One student shares collective losses experienced by his community

Since August, Bob and I have been team-teaching a class with two colleagues on trauma healing and well-being at the Juba Evangelical Bible School (JEBS), which was started this year by the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. We are using most of the content of the Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations (HHTN) workshop, but adapting it for a once-per-week course.

Bob teaching

One week we discussed how we do not always receive love from our families in the ways that we need it, and how that lack of love can wound us or hinder us from experiencing God’s love later in life. Yagub, who was teaching that session, shared his own story of how he was forced to work and support his siblings as a child when his mother died and his father went into depression. Several people shared personal experiences of conflict within their families, and their hope for forgiveness or healing. One person shared how his father had refused to send his sister for medical treatment when she was sick as a child. Now, many years later, the father was sick and was looking to his children for support. The son expressed how he wanted to refuse as a way of avenging his sister, but he was asking God to help him to forgive his father and help him. It was a meaningful time of experiencing God’s love and forgiveness in the midst of our own brokenness and the pain in our families.

Discussion outside about some of the signs of trauma

Just as in the workshop, we often use dramas to illustrate a point, which prompts lots of discussion and reflection. We are grateful for a committed team of teachers and for the opportunity to share this valuable teaching with the students. Please pray for the students at JEBS to experience God’s healing and love through this class. We look forward to a great finish over the next month.

An exercise to remind us of the role of the church.

As Jesus said, "you are the light of the world."

Vacation in Kenya

In September we spent 2 weeks on vacation in Kenya. It was a special treat to have two family members come to join us for a fun and refreshing time touring some of Western Kenya.

Kakamega Forest was a highlight! We were awed by the tall trees that are hundreds of years old and the great diversity of species in the rainforest – more than 500 kinds of butterflies, more than 400 species of birds, and a few hundred kinds of bees. Bees! Waking up before dawn to hike up a hill to see the sunrise was an even more magnificent view than I anticipated – the mist settled among the tops of the trees, the mountains in the distance and the sky turning vibrant colors. God’s glory in creation was on full display. 

Watching the sun rise over the forest

This flower is commonly called 'touch-me-not', becuase the

pods make a surprising explosion when you touch them!

Bob climbed inside the hollowed out cavern of a tree
that was swallowed up by the strangler fig vine.

Then we had one night in Kisumu on the shore of Lake Victoria before driving down to the Masai Mara National Park. We were amazed the thousands of animals that we saw, including vast herds of wildebeest and zebra who were at the tail end of their great migration.

A herd of wildebeest

The bateleur eagle, a new and impressive bird for us

In the safari van

The lilac-breasted roller, always a delight to see

And then we stopped briefly at Lake Naivasha to experience yet another eco-system and terrain before returning to the big city. We bicycled through Hells Gate National Park, stopping to see the giraffes, antelope, buffalo, and rock hyraxes along the road. Then we hiked down into a gorge, amazed to see the water seeping through the walls all the way from Lake Naivasha a few miles away.  

Biking along the dramatic cliffs

A narrow part of the gorge. Watch out for flash floods!

We are grateful for this time to explore the diverse ecosystems of this neighboring country to us, and amazed at the abundance of species of plants and animals that exist that we knew nothing about. It was refreshing and encouraging to experience this with people we love and also to meet some wonderful people along the way, who introduced us to the beauty of the culture and nature of Kenya. 

A glimpse of HHTN in South Sudan

 I compiled a short video (7 minutes) to give an overview of the Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations workshop and what it looks like here in South Sudan. 

I would love to hear your feedback or questions about the video! You can use the comments or send me a message.

“We Feel Seen”

As I am halfway through writing my dissertation, it is helpful to hear the thoughts and advice of those who have gone before me on this journey. I recently sat together with Dr. Joshua Settles of the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI) in Akropong, Ghana. Dr. Settles reinforced the notion that I am writing to two audiences: the committee at Stellenbosch University in the faculty of theology, and the peoples of South Sudan. As I have thought about our conversation over the last several weeks, I realize that by default I must be cognizant of the needs and interests of the committee; I also recognize that the peoples of South Sudan are the audience I value the most. On that note, Dr. Settles asked the salient question, “Will the peoples of South Sudan see themselves in your work?”

Recently I had the opportunity to sit with Reverend David Dach and Evangelist John Odhong, my two research assistants, both of whom have accompanied me on this research journey over the last three years. A few months ago I gave them each a hard copy of my first case study. I had shared my first case study with a few others, including my supervisor. Yet somehow, I felt the most nervous about the response and feedback of David and John as they represent the peoples of South Sudan. As they shared their reflections, it was clear that they had read my work, even multiple times. I am humbled by what they shared with me…

David and John and I together reviewing our work
(Nile River in background) 

David and John described how they feel seen in my writing. They not only named several key concepts and themes from the case related to the religious heritage of their peoples and the relationship between the missionaries and the South Sudanese peoples, they took those ideas and elaborated and expanded upon them. It seems that my writing took them to important places in their own thinking and reflections on the history of the Gospel being brought to their peoples over the last one hundred and twenty years. One important example is the missionary practice of giving those persons baptized a “Christian name.” David suggested that the missionaries gave South Sudanese converts names like James and David because their African names were too difficult to pronounce. He then asks the question, “Why were [we South Sudanese] not baptized with [our] family name instead of names like John, Peter, and Anna?”

David describes how things have changed. Serving as a pastor with the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, David recently baptized his young daughter with her Nuer name, “Nyanath,” which means “girl of the people.” David contends that God does not object to this name; he also suggests that this habit of baptizing people in their local names should have been the habit of missionaries from the beginning. “To give African converts ‘Christian names’ (names in English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German), says David, “was an imposition of the Western missionaries.”

On a different note, both David and John appreciated the tremendous sacrifices the missionaries made coming to Greater Upper Nile, South Sudan. Some of the missionaries lost children to disease and some lost their mental and emotional well-being due to intense challenges, suffering, and deaths of loved ones. Yet, David and John enumerated the value of missionaries coming to live and stay in Africa as both sides welcomed one another as their own, sharing burdens and helping one another in various ways. They also emphasized the unique and special friendship between the two central figures of the case study, Pastor Moses Kuac Nyoat, the local Nuer agent of mission, and missionary Eleanor Vandevort, known to the Nuer as Nyarial.

The story of the friendship between Pastor Moses Kuac Nyoat
and Missionary Eleanor Vandevort is told in this book (link here)

More could be said from our time together reviewing my first case study, but in sum, I am grateful that my writing thus far has enabled those whom I am writing about and representing to “feel seen,” and thus feel empowered. It is also an important affirmation that I am on the right track with my research. In many ways, the core of my study is to help African Christians appreciate their “African-ness” and to stand with confidence as together we proclaim our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to a broken world filled with cynicism and despair. To God be the glory.

Healing for Pastors in Maridi

Last week we facilitated a Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations (HHTN) workshop in Maridi, a town in the southwest region of South Sudan. The unique thing about this workshop was that the participants were nearly 100 pastors and their spouses, all of them from the Anglican Church in the diocese of Maridi. The Anglican Bishop in Maridi had called all of his pastors together for an annual retreat. In a serendipitous encounter while he was visiting Juba, he learned about the HHTN workshop, and Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) was able to organize a workshop with less than two weeks notice to be done at this retreat.

The Bishop and leadership in Maridi with our team when we arrived

Bishop Moses shared with us when we arrived that his vision was to focus on 1 Peter 2:9 and our identity as God’s people. He said that he was seeing many pastors in his diocese whose lives did not reflect the identity and transformation of Christ. Alchoholism, adultery, domestic conflicts, and witchcraft were among the top challenges he saw. He recognized that many of his pastors had endured the trauma of war and the ongoing trauma of poverty and that the unhealed trauma had opened the door for these destructive practices in the lives of his pastors that limited their effectiveness to minister to others.

A full church for the workshop!

Usually when we do the HHTN workshop we limit it to 40 or 50 participants so that there can be discussion and active engagement for everyone. This time had to make several modifications, particularly in the activities and discussion, given that we had nearly 180 participants. But God helped us to still be able to have good interaction and discussion and people shared that they found it meaningful and helpful.

women share their pain and pray together in pairs

The time of giving over pain to the cross was especially meaningful. Since all the participants were pastors or spouses of pastors, part of their ministry is listening and supporting others through challenges. But they often do not have someone that they can go to and share their struggles with. After they had written down pain or struggles that they wanted to give over to God, they divided into pairs to share and pray together. I walked around the church and observed the pairs sharing under trees or in the grass, and I could sense the sacredness of the time in the intensity of the prayers and the delay in coming back together. Back in the larger group, each person had an opportunity to lay their paper at the cross, representing giving over their burdens and pain to Jesus.

Burning the papers, representing giving over our pain to God

The following morning, we heard from several people who expressed how God had worked through that time. One older male pastor said that he has suffered from body pain. “But yesterday you said, ‘open your heart and let God work.’ And I did that. I felt God bring healing. Now my body feels strong!” Another pastor said that his grown son has been drinking a lot of alcohol and can not keep a job. That is the burden that he shared with his colleague and brought to the cross. That night he called his son and the son said that he is giving up drinking and committing his life to Christ and wanted his father to help hold him accountable. A woman pastor shared that she took in a boy who is an orphan to care for in her home, but she struggled because he was always disobedient and rebellious. After the teaching on the importance of showing love in our families, she went to the boy and asked for forgiveness for being angry at him and mistreating him. He then asked her forgiveness for not obeying or helping in the house. The following morning the boy was the first one up and mobilized the other youth in the household to work in the garden.

I celebrate the ways that God brought together this opportunity for the spiritual leaders in Maridi to be refreshed and ministered to. The vision and motivation of the Bishop and the diocese, the resources and organization from MAF, the facilitation team who came together, and the commitment and openness of all of the participants all brought together through the Holy Spirit made for a really significant time. Please pray that God continues the work of healing in Maridi as these pastors return to their homes and churches.

The lush green trees and farms of Maridi, seen from the air

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

The impact of inflation

In the last few months prices in South Sudan have increased dramatically. One of the big reasons for the inflation is because the currency, the South Sudanese Pound (SSP), is declining rapidly.  Oil, the primary export, has decreased production because a rupture in the pipeline cannot be repaired while there is active war in Sudan. Nearly all food is imported from outside of South Sudan, so US dollars are used in the purchase and import of goods and fuel from other countries. Therefore, as the currency declines, local prices go up accordingly. It is a complex mix of factors that most people cannot do anything about.

Bundles of South Sudanese Pounds. Each bundle is worth about $25

We have one friend who teaches in a private secondary school. He is paid 150,000 SSP per month by the school. In January of this year, that was worth about $150. Now it is worth less than $40. Even in January, that was barely enough to buy food for his family, and he worked other jobs to supplement. Because of the struggle to make ends meet, he sent his wife and kids to Uganda where living expenses were cheaper. Now, with the currency decline, he has almost nothing to send them.

Prices for food and goods have increased dramatically in the local currency because of the exchange rate. One liter of fuel cost about 1200 SSP in January, and now costs about 4500 SSP.  One kilo of beans was 5,000 SSP a few months ago and now is 15,000 SSP. Another friend sells charcoal and basic food items at a stand in the market. She lamented the high price of cooking oil now, and fears that her customers will not be able to pay the increased price. One shop-owner selling grocery items said he estimates that his sales have fallen by half in the last couple of months because people are cutting back on the meals they eat – some going from two meals a day down to one.

The small-scale entrepreneurs are affected the most because their prices do not increase at the same rate. The price for a cup of tea on the street or a bag of peanuts has not increased at the same rate as imported goods. This means that the profit margin of the sellers decreases, and the profit they earn does not buy as much as it used to. Last week I stopped to see our friend Mary in her tea-shop. Usually her place has several customers, but that day it was empty. When I commented that it seemed unusually quiet, she said “Because people don’t have money. They stop drinking tea when there is no money.”

A few years ago, South Sudan introduced a new one thousand SSP note. It was a larger bill than the others with more color and added security features. At the time it came out, it was worth nearly $5. Now it is worth about 25 cents. The one thousand note bill is still the largest bill in South Sudan. I realized that we can no longer carry the money to go out for dinner in a pocket, and we hope that this devaluation does not continue at this terrifying pace.

Please join us in praying that God hears the cries of his people here – for an end to war in Sudan, for peace and provision for people in South Sudan.

Life Beyond Sunday

Emily, a student from Pittsburg Theological Seminary visited South Sudan in June as part of a research fellowship exploring how people are finding hope and healing after trauma. We visited several activities of South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SSPEC) congregations while she was in Juba in order to give her an overview of the life of the church. I wanted to share a few of the highlights with you, and hope you will be encouraged by the impact of local congregations in their communities.

There happened to be a 3-day national holiday because of a Muslim celebration, so several congregations took advantage of the opportunity to hold conferences. We visited a youth conference at the new Referendum congregation. We were impressed at the exuberant worship, the thoughtful ways that the youth to engage with the content and with each other, and with their eagerness to learn and be equipped. One of the speakers gave an overview of a trauma healing workshop, and asked how many of the participants had come from Khartoum in the last year. Nearly half of the people raised their hands.

The youth performed a drama about

Jesus setting someone free

The Eden congregation in Juba organized a conference for children in their neighborhood during that holiday. It is a rare opportunity for children to have an event to attend like this other than school, and we were impressed to see the mix of singing, lessons, and games that they included. This congregation, on the edge of town in another neighborhood where many people have come recently because of the war in Sudan, is providing hope and care to families by nurturing the children.

One of the children leads a review of the topics

Children playing a game of who can get the

biscuit in the mouths without their hands

We also attended church services on Sunday and a monthly women’s prayer meeting. Singing, and particularly choirs, are an important part of worship here. Choirs practice multiple times a week for a few hours, and some members shared that the time spent together in practice provides opportunities for encouragement, discipleship, and healing from painful experiences of war. Since very few people read music, a new song is learned by repeating line by line as one person models the singing.

The children's choir at the Eden congregation 

In addition to these events, we attended a wedding, a funeral, and a monthly women’s prayer meeting. It was evident that the local congregations are an important part of nourishing the faith, health, and connections in their neighborhoods. It is always great to see a place through new eyes, and Emily’s perception and great questions made for a rich experience!

Women dancing at the wedding

The Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI), Akropong, Ghana

During my first day at the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI) in Akropong, Ghana, I sat at a lunch table with Rev. Felix Cornelius Agyei, a PhD student. I asked Pastor Felix about his research topic, a question which launched us into a riveting conversation about the relationship of language and culture with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Felix described his research topic as “the study of ‘the works of the law’ and ‘justification’ from the book of Galatians, from the Akan* mother tongue perspective.” Pastor Felix describes how the mother-tongue hermeneutical* approach helps people understand the scriptures from their own context. He says, “It allows the people to hear God speak in their own language.” He acknowledges how many Ghanaian and African peoples see the Bible as the white man’s book and as a European document. Yet, he says that the Bible is a "universal document." He reminds us that the scriptures, much of what we know as the Bible, found their way to Africa before they travelled to Europe, providing the example of the Ethiopian eunuch (see Book of Acts, chapter eight). Pastor Felix shared with me an example of the mother tongue hermeneutical approach, saying

When explaining the concept of sin to people, every theologian wants to use idea of “harmartia,” which means “missing the mark,” a Graeco-Roman concept which the [Graeco-Roman] world of that time would understand…But as an Akan, when I explain “missing the mark,” there is no understanding. But, [culturally speaking], when I want people to desist from a certain thing, I need to describe it as smelly, as foul, as something you don’t want to touch. In Akan we say “e-bone.* When some of these [local] concepts are employed and amalgamated with the hamartia concept...when missing the mark of Christ [is connected with] the thing you are involved with [which] is ‘smelling’…[you question yourself about] how can you go close to God with that smell? These are some of the things that will ring well in the African, and this is what is motivating me to study [in mother tongue language and our local  thought categories] …

Rev. Felix Cornelius Agyei

Pastor Felix and his research interest represent the ethos and vision of ACI. Founded by the late African Theologian Kwame Bediako almost thirty years ago, ACI seeks to be a “pacesetting postgraduate university, training Christian workers and leaders for effective mission in the African context.” ACI achieves this vision by developing robust academic programs which provide tools for “serious and creative research into African Christianity,” serving the wider community in Ghana, Africa and beyond, focusing on training for Christian mission according to the African context. Amara Baptizo, a student from Sierra Leone, testifies to the effectiveness of ACI’s vision and mission when he tells me, “Here at ACI, I feel like my ‘African-ness’ is appreciated.”

Professor Gillian Mary Bediako pictured in her home with
a painting of her late husband Kwame Bediako
 

I learned of ACI many years ago when I first read the book Jesus in Africa: The Christian Gospel in African History and Experience, by Kwame Bediako. This book has changed me, shaping how I engage and think about ministry in Africa. To visit ACI is a dream I have nurtured over many years.  

Photo Credit: from Amazon 

This year, from the end of May until the end of June, I was privileged to spend four full weeks at ACI, spending quality time with staff, faculty, and students over lunch, breakfast, and during and after our daily devotions. I was also invited into the homes of a few faculty members, and I am grateful to have had focused discussions with two faculty members regarding my own research interest; their input and feedback challenged me in some very important ways! Having been invited to ACI as a Research Associate, I am grateful to also have had access to their world class library where I logged many hours writing two sections of my doctoral thesis. The staff could not have been more accommodating and delightful. 

Newly built and dedicated library with conference hall,
periodicals room, archives, and museum 

World class library which centers titles concerning
Christianity in the Global South 

Library carrel where I did most of my writing

Justice, who works in the Archives Section of the library, 
is passionate and committed to preserving historical documents 
of the church and mission in Ghana

During my four weeks, I felt like I was welcomed as part of the ACI family, attending and helping with special events and being invited to preach during their Wednesday morning extended worship the final week I was there. 

After devotions on my final day with ACI Registrar
Rev. Dr. Michael Nortey and ACI Chaplain Dr. Ernest Afrifa Anane

I am grateful to Rev. Cheryl Barnes and the Africa Office of Presbyterian World Mission for their support to pursue this unique opportunity to travel to a new place, make new friends, and be inspired by what is possible as we listen together for what God is doing in our unique contexts. From personal experience, I can say that "ACI is a great place," and in the words of our friend Ingrid, "Given its awesome foundations, ACI can be an even greater place, amen." To God be the glory!

During my time at ACI, I was able to attend and assist with three major 
events:  the annual Kwame Bediako Memorial lecture, the Inaugural Professional Lecture of Professor Laryea, and ACI's annual Interfaith Symposium

Professor Philip Laryea, newly installed Rector of ACI, being 
congratulated by a Ghanaian king after his Inaugural Lecture
Photo Credit: ACI 

*Akan refers to a family of languages and peoples found in southeastern Ghana.

*The term “hermeneutical” or “hermeneutic” refers to the idea of the means and methods by which we make interpretation and deduce meaning.

*this is an English transliteration of the Twi word “bɔne” and the Twi expression “hua bɔne,” signifying a bad smell. Twi is a language shared by the Akan peoples of Ghana.

Video of Visit to Nasir

Bob made a much-anticipated visit to Nasir in May together with some colleagues and visited some of the surrounding villages. We put together a short collage of videos and photos from the trip to show some of the highlights. 

Here is a summary of the timeline:

Thursday, May 16: Arrive in Nasir after 3-day flight delay. Unity celebration with churches working together to build a new church building in Nassir.

Friday, May 17: Begin long walk to Keirwan in the evening, camp in a village along the way

Saturday, May 18: Start walking at 4am to reach Keirwan at 6am. Bob was traveling with Rev. Paul Ruot, who served this rural congregation nearly 40 year ago, so it was a joyful reception!

Sunday, May 19: Sunday worship in Keirwan, including celebration and inauguration of the new church building. Start walking back to Nassir in the evening, camping along the way.

Monday, May 20: Complete the walk to Nasir in the morning, visit of historical places in Nasir

Tuesday, May 21: Visit to Kedbek, nearby village, to meet with people who knew Rev. Moses Kuac, the first Nuer pastor. In the evening, take a boat to Mandeng.

Wednesday, May 22: Visit to Presbytery meeting in Mandeng.

Thursday, May 23: Flight to Juba is delayed because of rain.

Friday, May 24: Visit people in Mandeng while waiting for flight on Saturday.

Saturday, May 25: Helicopter arrives and return to Juba. 

Bob described some of the highlights of this visit in our most recent newsletter. It was a meaningful time of connecting with people and learning more about how God is at work there and learning about the history of the church in that region. He was struggling with giardia most of the trip, but somehow managed the long walks by God's grace and was grateful for the generous hospitality and support of people there to help him through.

Small-scale entrepreneurs

A young man sells brooms, mops, and padlocks on the street.

Those things are heavy when you are carrying a quantity like this!

In Juba, one of the big struggles is lack of jobs with salaries and benefits. A majority of people earn some money to survive in the ‘informal economy’. People of all ages walk the streets with wares to sell – nearly every department of Walmart represented in what is sold by these peripatetic peddlers. Suitcases, perfume, all types of clothing, shoes, electronics, books, and cleaning supplies – they can all be found passing by on the street.

This young woman buys things in bulk and resells them
in her kiosk shop in a neighborhood market.

Then there are those who buy in bulk and repackage it, so that people can buy just the salt or charcoal or sugar that they need for today, because that is the money that they have. Others have a skill that they use to create a small business, like sewing clothes, making food, or cutting or braiding hair. If they do not have the funds to rent an official shop, they set up on the side of the road with a table and a few chairs, and each night put everything away into storage.

A tea shop by the roadside in Juba. Our friend Mary stores

all the chairs, charcoal cooker, and tea supplies at a relative's

house each night and sets them up in the morning.

Unfortunately, this ‘informal economy’ includes kids, and often it is the children walking the streets selling snacks or shining shoes. Some of them start after school, but for most if they are selling something it means that they are not able to go to school or do not have parents to care for them.  

A tray of roasted peanuts and other snacks,

which a young girl walks the streets to sell. 

Taking pictures on the street in Juba is not welcomed unless you have a relationship with a specific person, so we do not have very many pictures, but we hope that these few can give you a glimpse into the broad range of the 'informal economy'. We are so impressed at the hard work and perseverance by these entrepreneurs, and recognize the vulnerability that they live with.

Making money and recycling combined! These are used soda

and water bottles that have been collected on the street and are

ready to be sold to those who will use them to sell other things

like home-made juice or liquid soap.

Testimonies of transformation

Whew! May was a very busy month, conducting two Healing Hearts Transforming Nations (HHTN) workshops in Juba along with a training of facilitators. But in the midst of the long days and exhaustion, I was so grateful for the gift of working with a talented and passionate group of people among our facilitators and trainers. And above all, I was grateful for the privilege of seeing people experience healing, revelation, and forgiveness. Only the Holy Spirit can do that work, and it is humbling that we get to be part of "setting the stage" for people to experience a fresh encounter with God.

An international organization included HHTN as one of the components of a multi-faceted peacebuilding approach in three counties of South Sudan and they asked us to train some of their staff to facilitate the HHTN workshop. Their staff are already well-trained and experienced, so we wondered how well they would ‘engage themselves’ in the workshop. It was encouraging to hear them reflect afterwards “We are helping people in the communities to find healing, but we did not realize that we also need healing ourselves.” Another one also said “On the first day I was skeptical of this workshop, wondering if it would make any difference. But then I realized the truth that this is what we need.”

An illustration of salt dissolving in water as we

discuss what it means to be the "salt of the earth"

One group prepares their lessons to teach.

As part of the training of facilitators, we organize ‘practicum workshops’, where the new facilitators can put into practice what they have learned and be able to teach and facilitate with their coaches giving feedback afterwards. Two local SSPEC churches who had been requesting the HHTN workshop hosted these practicum workshops. In each location, the number of people who came grew each day as people heard about the meaningful teaching and how God was working. Many of the people who attended have come from Sudan in the last year due to the war there, and this was a good opportunity for them to be able to process some of that trauma and find healing.

A ministry time in one of the practicum workshops -

praying and showing love to people as they face

wounds or a lack of love from their families.

Giving over pain to Jesus during

one of the practicum workshops

I was humbled and amazed by the diversity of testimonies we heard from participants in those workshops. We praise God for bringing healing and reconciliation in a variety of ways, and hope that you will join us in praising God for the ways that He showed love to people and brought transformation this week. Here are a few of the ways that God worked:

• A man shared that he had not spoken to his brother for more than 30 years because of conflict between them. The man said “my brother did not have much problem with me. It was I who was filled with anger and hatred towards him and refused to meet him. But now God has healed me from my pain and I want to reconcile with my brother.”
• A man who had not been able to sleep said he finally slept and felt peace after the cross workshop
• A mother went home and told her children that she loved them. They asked “What happened to you? You have not talked to us like this before. Somethings has changed in you.” She also told her husband that she loved him. He asked “Where is this change coming from? If it is coming from the church, we should all be going to church.”
• An older woman called her pastor and said “I have been going to the church all these years, but now I realize that I was not really a Christian. But through the teachings this week Jesus has really entered my life and I feel like a new person.”
• A man confessed that he was one of the militia who killed people in Unity State in 2013. They were trained and taught to kill every person they found except for those who were inside the church. He killed people inside of a mosque and in some government buildings. He felt terrible about it now, and was asking for forgiveness.

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their tresspasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us."

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Pastor Idris & the Wedding of His Daughter

When Pastor Idris Nyalos Kida invited Kristi and I to the wedding of his daughter, along with a special invitation to a family luncheon the week before the wedding, I was thrilled! Pastor Idris is the center of my third case study of my PhD research, so any chance to spend time with him is a wonderful opportunity.

We expected the family luncheon to be a simple affair at the home of Pastor Idris and his wife Mary. When we arrived at the petrol station near his home, Idris gathered us up into his vehicle and drove us to the event. When we approached the area of his home and I saw the tents outside, I knew that the event was much bigger than what we had anticipated, but it also felt very South Sudanese. As we stepped down from Idris’ Landcruiser, we were met by Pastor Zechariah who directed us to a protocol person who directed us to another protocol person who seated us near the front. As elder family members and dignitaries arrived, the women ululated and the joy was palpable; we ourselves were greeted with this same joyful response. A young man and a young woman emceed the outdoor event, which was punctuated by traditional dancing led by the family of the groom-to-be, who are of the Acholi tribe. I joined in the dancing, and it was clear that connecting with one’s cultural roots during these occasions brings great pride and joy for the gathered families and community.

The formal occasion did not last long; we were all directed to various local homes where we would eat the special meal. Kristi and I joined a pastor couple and another pastor, all of whom serve the largest Pentecostal church in Juba and who would officiate the wedding the following week. We had a grand time connecting and enjoying the festivities together. Looking after our every need, Pastor Idris took us out from an inner room to an outdoor area where the air was cool and we could feel more comfortable.

At these types of events, one always feels extra special when the host spends time with you. Pastor Idris came and sat with the five of us; we enjoyed hearing stories from the other guests of the many and varied men and women whom Pastor Idris had led to Christ and discipled over the course of three decades and more. One story highlighted a man who had come to faith through the ministry of Pastor Idris, but who had turned away from God and had turned back to alcohol after his wife died. While driving his motorcycle from Torit to Juba, this man heard an audible voice repeatedly saying to him, “If it was not for Idris, you would not be here,” meaning, if not for Idris’ influence in your life, you would not be alive. The man, his name Martin Elijah, was shaken to the core. He immediately turned his life back to God. Today, he plants and leads churches among the Lotuko people of Eastern Equatoria State in South Sudan.

Sitting outside with Pastor Idris and other guests

Many other fascinating stories were told that evening as we sat outside of the home of Idris and enjoyed the joy of the occasion. I did not realize it during the event, but the groom-to-be and bride-to-be were not present. The following week we would see them in all of their matrimonial glory. On that day at Juba Christian Center (JCC), while others were going forward to offer well-wishes to the bride and groom, I seized the opportunity to go forward, bend down, place my left arm over my right arm (a gesture of respect), and offer my hand in congratulations to Pastor Idris Nyalos Kida on this great occasion, the wedding of his daughter, Hannah Idris Nyalos.

Bride and Groom 

Bride and Groom and their families ~ 
Pastor Idris in front row, left, tall, wearing beige suit