As 2009 Comes To A Close

As 2009 comes to a close, I wish you God's richest blessings in 2010.

Happy New Year in the Lord

God's Beauty

Even in the dryness and brown of dry season, God provides color

The relationships that God is forming

God is about relationships, and even though I may not speak the same language as they do, there is no bridge that is to big for our Lord to cross. I go and spend time with these beautiful people, and Grace she is standing with me teaches me her mother tongue and I teach her English. When I am with her and her family I am humbled as I am every time I see God's hand. To be such a small part of what God is doing.

My Soul finds rest in God alone

Well here it is almost the end of 2009. December 13Th was my two year anniversary in Sudan and I am humbled and in AWE of my heavenly Father and all that He has enabled me to do. I share with you some of the last two months.

God's amazing beauty. When you are living in the bush, with very little to distract you, you have time to stop and stare, as you walk, as you sit, or as you just stand and gaze upon what God has created.






Their lives are so much more then we could ever imagine. They are never to young to start learning how to cook, get water, take care of their brothers and sisters, do wash, and so much more.







God has provided bore hole wells around this area and that is how we are able to get water to the compound where we live. There is a man (they call him donkey man), who owns a donkey and water tanks and he comes in 3 or 4 times a week and fills up all the water drums. This is how he supports his family.







What a privilege and blessing from the Lord to be able to spend time with the women in the Nutrition Village (these are women or grandma's who have brought there children for help
because they are so malnourished. I sit twice a week with them, praying, sharing the love of Jesus, and using a translator teaching them about HIV/AIDS.






Their lives are hard, and they have suffered through many, many years of war. The land is flat and very dry. Rainy season is over with, so there is very little green left, food is short, and I continue to pray to my Father for provisions. Death is a way of life for many of them, but through it all you see smiles on their faces, and the joy of the Lord in their hearts. They know that God will provide and protect them. And God has given me the privilege and the honor to be used as His Vessel.

Pray for the ones who do not know Jesus, when you look in those eyes you see despair, no joy, no hope and such a darkness. Pray that they will have ears to hear the Good News and will except the gift that God has given us all JESUS.

The reason for Christmas

Christmas began with a present from God to His sin-damaged world:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

I hope you have all enjoyed this Christmas season as you celebrated the birth of Jesus.

Happy New Year in the Lord.

Latest from Doro

The last two months in Doro has been a time of settling in, getting to know my way around the bush, and the villages, learning the language, spending time with the people, and seeking the Lord and how to proceed with the HIV/AIDS ministry He has called me to.

As I prepare to return to Sudan after spending sometime in Nairobi, I would like to share with you what I will be doing.

VISION Hope for Sudan HIV/AIDS

God has impressed upon my heart this ministry and last year made it clear to me and to leadership that it was time to start walking forward through the doors He was opening. He showed us that Doro is where the ministry needed to began, and opened the door for me to move to Doro.

The focus as we get started is to spend time with the people in Mabaan, as we look to the Lord to provide those who He wants trained. I will be training 6 to 8 women and men leaders in HIV/AIDS, as well as the Gospel Wordless Book, along with disciplining and mentoring them. We will spend two weeks in a classroom setting, and then 1 week in the rural villages, schools and churchs presenting a Christ-centered HIV/AIDS prevention message, all the time sharing the Love of Jesus, and giving the reason for the hope we have. (Jesus) We will continue on with additional training during the times we are not out in the bush teaching.

The wider vision for this Ministry is: to provide home based care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their families, as well as children affected by AIDS. This project will help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, while identifying those who are HIV+ in order to provide care and treatment. Both of these avenues will allow for opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

SIM Sudan

Project #098020

If you would like to support this ministry, click on this link: http://sim.org/index.php/content/donate and follow the prompts. Please put the Project #.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved that world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Blessed to be in Doro

From the air and on my way into the landing strip. Have you ever seen a tree of this size? They are called Baobob's and they are massive. The beginnings of putting my tent up. My tent is now up and I am moved in.

It is rainy season right now, so everything is so green, there are many trees in Doro, something that I did not have in Thiangrial.

I have been able to spend time with the people and am so blessed with the relationships that God has started to form.

Please Continue to Pray

Ryan has gone home to be with the Lord.

Friday was the toughest day of the year as the news that Ryan had succumbed to the injuries he suffered in last Saturday's aircraft accident and has gone home to be with Jesus. Ryan had been medevac-ed to South Africa on Wednesday for placement into an intensive burn unit, near Johannesburg. However, the extent of his burns and injuries were more than his body could withstand.

The family at AIMAIR are all grieving deeply as they consider the future for these two families.
"We believe in God's sovereignty and plans of good to come out of all of this."

Thank you for your continued prayers for the Toews and Williams families as they struggle through these heavy days. Please check for additional updates on the AIM AIR website at: http://www.aimair.org/page21/page21.html

"Therefore we do not loose heart although outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweights them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" II Cor 4:16-18

UPDATE AND ASKING FOR CONTINUED PRAYER

We continue to ask for prayer for Frank's wife and children, as they deal with the loss of a husband and father. Among those who survived the crash, , Ryan sustained the most serious injuries. He underwent surgery at the Hospital on Sunday, and is currently being stabilized and prepared for a possible move out of Kenya where he will continue treatment and begin his long recovery. The other two passengers had much less severe physical injuries and are stable.

There has already been a large show of support for those involved in this tragedy. Many have asked how they can help. As a result of this accident, there will be innumerable financial burdens for both the Toews and Williams. If you have a desire to help in this way, Africa Inland Mission can receive gifts on their behalf through their offices in New. York.

There has been two projects set up one Memorial Fund for Frank Toews Project 099096 and one for Ryan Williams Relief Fund Project 099097. If you desire to help you can go to http://www.aimint.org/usa and give.

Specific Prayer requests:
Tiffany and Toews kids. Pray for God's comfort.
Ryan as he remains in critical condition - for his stability and the possible medical transport flight.
Family members of Frank and Tiffany as they attempt to get travel documents and tickets on short notice.
AIM AIR as they follow up on a myriad of logistics
The investigation team - for safe travel to Kenya
Pray for God to be honored in their words and actions. For God to be glorified through this tragedy.

Please join us in Prayer

An accident occurred on August 1st, with an AIM Cessna 206. It occurred near the Nairobi Wilson Airport. There were four people on board, AIM AIR pilot Frank Toews, AIM AIR mechanic Ryan Williams and two Americans.

Frank Toews, the pilot did not survive the accident and has gone to be with the Lord and Savior whom he loved dearly and served well.

Please pray with us, specifically for the timely return for health of those who are injured, their families, and particularly for Frank's wife and 4 children as they trust God for strength and comfort during this difficult time.

AIM and SIM partner together in spreading the Gospel to those who have never heard.

Returning to Sudan

After being State side for a few months, God has prepared my body to return to Sudan and my second family. Praise His Holy Name. I will be returning to a different village and looking to the Lord for the relationships that He will build.

Knit one pearl two: Many women from my church knitted while I was home and along with me came 40 knitted sweaters to be given to the children. With every knit one and pearl two they were also praying, so these sweaters come with Jesus love for whoever receives them.

As I return I will be following God's leading on the start of a HIV/AIDS ministry.

Vision of the Project:

SIM-SUDAN will educate Sudanese on HIV/AIDS as well as train and equip women and national church leaders to go into the rural areas and present a Christ-centered HIV/AIDS prevention message and to provide home based care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and their families, as well as children affected with AIDS.

This project will help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, while identifying those who are HIV+ in order to provide care and treatment. Both of these avenues will allow for opportunities to share about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sharing State Side and God's Creation

The first day there was light.

The second day there was sky.

The third day water and ground was seperated.

The fourth day there were lights in the sky.

The fifth day the water and the land teemed with living creatures.

The sixth day God created man in His own image.

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning the sixth day. Genesis 1:31

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

Genesis 2:1

White Nile River

Have you ever thought what it would be like to go to sleep listening to a Hippo.

This is just one of many Hippo's that live in the White Nile River

Yes that's right this is a Hippo coming up out of the water, right by where I live.

God's wonderful creature.

State Side

It is such a blessing to be state side. I returned to the states in March and have been blessed to see it snow, watch the flowers and trees bloom during the Spring, and now be able to eat fresh strawberries, and before long blueberries right off the plants.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

To make the most of every opportunity. God has opened many doors for me to share His work in Africa, to share with people the life I live in Africa, and to share His love with all He brings into my path; John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I am enjoying all of the opportunties God is giving me, but am also looking with excitement when I can return to my home in Africa.

Graduation Celebration

I am humbled and so thankful that God would use me in Thiangrial, not only to teach English but also to share His Word, to help them grow in their understanding of who He is, and to strengthen them to equip them to go out. It has been an honor to be there.

February was packed with student review in preparation for the National Final, the giving of the test, grading, and preparing the celebration for graduation. God gave us the strength that we needed everyday to do the things that needed to be done. He also enabled us to teach the students. It is only by His grace, His strength, His mercy.

God has blessed us by letting us hear the testimonies of so many, and hearing those I thank God that any of these students are still able to learn. Our verse that we stood on was

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
So join us in giving praise and thanks to our Lord and Savior for these students. First Accelerated Learning Program (ALP), Basic Education Learning Center (BELC) graduating class, February 2009.

Graduation was a time of honoring God for all that He enabled us to do (teachers and students), and honoring the students for their achievements, students that range in age from 17 to 43. It was truly a time of celebration, To God be all the glory. Please pray for the students as they make decisions for their future. Pray that they will seek God and ask for His Will.

The Commissioner sent a representative from his office and they have committed to paying the first years tuition for up to 14 students to attend Secondary School. This was an answer to prayer.

This is home in Thiangrial

This is our compound from the air. The clearing in the water is where boats come in at. We sit right on the White Nile River.

Christmas 2008

"For unto us a child is born unto us a son is given"

"He shall be called Immanuel God with us"

To celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ with all of our Sudanese brothers and sisters, what a privilege and honor.

Christmas Eve at about 10:00 pm we all meant in the church. There were 8 other villages that came to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

"Come let us sing for joy to the Lord let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." Psalm 95:1-2

Because there was such a crowd our church would not hold everyone so Christmas morning we all meant under a tree and worshiped together both in Word and song. What a wonderful time of worship and fellowship.

Then we went into the village and had a meal with everyone and continued our celebration for the birth of Jesus.

On December 26Th, we had a baptism service and 37 were baptised. Our watchman was one of those baptized along with a new believer who came to the Lord Christmas day. Oh what a blessing I received to be able to spend Christmas in Thiangrial.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with Yours. All the nations you have made will come and worship before you O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 86:8:10

Dedication of New Community Building 11/2008

God's continued provisions. Our first school was a grass hut, in October of this year we were able to move into our new school. Praise the Lord

In November we had a time of celebration and thanksgiving to the Lord for His provisions of this new building, that will not only be used as a school but also as a community center for the whole community in Thiangrial.

I have been so blessed to be a part of this community. To see how God is working, and to help our brothers and sisters in Christ to learn, and grow deeper in their knowledge of God and a deeper knowledge of His Word.

November 2008

Where we Worship

God's Provisions beforeThe arrival of God's provisions down the White NileCarrying the precious cargo from the river to the churchThe long awaited church pews outside the church God's provisions:

Church in a mud hut with a grass roof. Voices raised at the top of their lungs singing praises to our Lord and Savior. Sitting on plastic chairs borrowed from the school, or just sitting on the mud floor. God doesn't care what type of building your in because we are there to worship Him and we don't need a building to do that.

What a privilege it was when God spoke to the heart of one to provide benches for the church. How would this be done? It they have to be built in Kenya than there is the cost of air shipping them into Sudan, which would be very expensive. But God said no, I am going to supply everything right here in Sudan, so I watched in AWE as He brought the carpenter, showed us where to get the supplies, and we were able to arrange transport by road and than up the White Nile river. We had originally said who 30 benches would be such a blessing. Well God provided 56 benches. Enough for the church, the primary school, and the women's literacy class.

Praise His Holy Name