Journey Into South Sudan — by chad

Chad left our home in Nairobi, Kenya for South Sudan early Tuesday morning, the 1st of November.  Today  he was able to get an email update through to me, so I wanted to share it with you.   Up to this point, he has not had a way to send me any photos, but I am sure the camera will be full when he returns.   If you haven’t caught up on our two years of life in Africa, take a moment to search our other blog posts on the Journey247 website — we have been working to write more often & include more photos for you to enjoy.

I also want to thank you for your continued support through prayer, by encouraging emails/phone calls and with your giving.  As missionaries who are not backed by any particular church or denomination, we rely on your generosity to live a life of ministry in Eastern Africa working with Christian Mission Aid where Chad is the Operations Director.  You can give easily using paypal or by writing a check — remember that financial gifts are tax-deductible through our 501c3 Journey247 (registered in Michigan).  Lately I have had several people tell me they’d like to give but that they feel their gift is too small to be worthwhile.  Let me tell you truly, that even a “small” gift buys food and “small” gifts added together pay for electricity & water.   You make it possible for us to continue to share the love of Christ.

Love & blessings!

~Sara

Here is the update from Chad:

The satellite network is VERY unreliable.  We are still able to communicate with the office over the radio every morning, however, we really can’t hear them very well so our message has to be relayed through our team in Mathiang. This place is amazing.

Sam would absolutely be in heaven here and I hope to take him with me sometime.  It is very quiet and peaceful.  We have spent the last couple days hiking from village to village.  From June to November, this place is completely shut off from the rest of the world except for the occasional CMA sponsored plane that is able to land in the mud.  Even those flights often cannot land and many times are stuck in the mud.

Now the rainy season has finally come to a close (that’s why there is so much dancing in the villages this week).  The is one very rough road to Mathiang that will be dry soon and the traders will come bringing things like sugar and soap.  The people here are so happy.  CMA also has some bikes and wear able to ride them to visit some of our church leaders in the far places.

Today, I will have to swim across a river to get to the village that we are going to.  I’m not sure on the spelling, but the name of the village is Pytet.  Tomorrow we will be baptizing in the river.  At least I hope it is the river, because the first location that our church leaders chose was a very muddy, leach infested spot.  Either way, praise the Lord!

On Wednesday afternoon I was able to meet with about 50 church leaders that traveled very far to be with us.  Yesterday (Thursday) I also visited the only school in the area.  It has about 200 students and only goes up to grade 6.  The Dajo Payam administrator (like a county commissioner)is currently studying at a 4th grade level.  The students
have no desks and sit on large tin cans.  There is a structure built for the school, but most of the classes still remain outside under the trees.  In the rainy season, the dirt floor in the school turns to mud due to the flooding.  Only the  teachers have textbooks and chalkboards are too few for the number of students.  If the students want to continue learning past grade 6, they need to go to Mathiang which is a 13 hour walk in the dry season.  So basically, it is
impossible for many of the students to continue on.  On Sunday, the local churches will be gathering here at the CMA clinic compound.

On Monday, I will be traveling to Wichbor which is one of the far villages in Dajo.  They say that we will bike as far as we are able, then we will have to park the bikes and continue on foot.  We here that there is also a small school there and we are going to meet with church leaders and assess the situation.  We have had theoportunity to pray for so man as we travel from village to village.  God is so good.  I already have so many stories to share.

I love you.  My love to Sabra, Samuel, and Aviya as well.   I really appreciate the prayers of all our friends as
we continue to carry the hope of the gospel to very remote places.

I miss you very much.
Much love to you today!