Day Ten in Nimule (Journal Entry)

6:02 pm - The teaching went better today. I made it clear that they should not be looking around while I was teaching. It was such a distraction to me. I also made an announcement about NO CELL PHONES and wrote it on the whiteboard. It's always funny to me to think of how many Africans have cell phones. After lunch, James and Vicky and I had a great conversation about spiritual things. The topic would remain for a while and then slowly morph and drift to a new one and we encouraged each other in the Word for almost an hour. It was good conversation and I really enjoyed getting to know James and Vicky better through their expressions of Spiritual truths and personal application. Then I went to my room and was faithful to study for a couple of hours. It was actually a very good time and I thank the Lord for it. I need to be faithful. In fact I heard Him saying that and not only did I actually here clearly but obeyed also. This is good. I am growing again. The culture in the States entices me to corrupt what I know is right and become so lazy, complacent, spiritually numb, etc. I’m glad that is changing again. I pray that I will mature to a point where I cannot be so easily enticed by any country, culture, system, etc. to a spiritually dry and dying state like that any more.

9:32 pm - Dinner was the same as lunch... rice, beans, ugali, greens. The greens are pretty good though. Adds a new flavor to the rice and beans. Before dinner Raymond gave me the pics he took of me teaching. Then I came to my room to study Genesis some more and write this.

Teaching the first week of the Genesis class

A few of our missionaries were in vehicle accidents in the last few days. It has me thinking about how easy it is for it to happen over here. I want to pray before driving each time and even while driving. That’s how difficult and dangerous driving is in Africa. I talked to the kids today and they told me about their trip to “Castle Park” in Riverside. A really nice guy who works at the Conference Center in Murrieta also works there part time and got them free passes for the day. It was so cute to her them tell me about the rides etc. Caleb was the cutest this time though because he told me so much and in so much detail. It was such a blessing! Carrie told me that she was on my bed at the Conference Center (she isn’t washing the sheets because they smell like me - or the last outfit I wore the day I left for that matter - she’s so cute) and Jada said to her something like “Baba isn’t here” and then she said “I miss daddy, do you miss daddy?” And Jada said yes “I miss daddy” and then said “I KISS daddy”. So Carrie told her she could give me a kiss on the phone so she did when I talked to them tonight. It was so cute. I love Jada’s little kisses and miss them and her so much. I really appreciate what I have when I’m not with them.

Lord, make my heart like Yours, especially towards Carrie and the kids. I love You and thank You for them and ask for You to bless their socks off! Thank You again for Your love for me and for them and for us as a family.

The Angry Teacher (Journal Entry)

4:34 pm - We had mandazi and tea for breakfast. Then Martin did a devotion on Matthew 11:28-30 and Michael commented on it. Then I went to teach the second day of the Genesis class. When I began I asked for someone to share from their notes on chapter 5. One of the students named James (one who is the most active or interactive in class) told me some basic details. So I taught from Chapter 5 about the genealogy of Adam and how everyone dies now. I taught about how there are “sons and daughters” born to each generation, other than the specific ones named, and about the ages of the people and how they were able to pass along the oral tradition so easily since they lived so long. I shared about Enoch walking with God and about the rapture and the types we see, and many other things. So we finished up chapter 5. When I then asked for someone to tell me what they learned form reading chapter 6 nobody would share. So I asked them to raise their hand if they read chapter 6 and nobody had. I was so angry and really had to concentrate not to let it show and to be mad at them in a sinful way. I told them that if this happened in the class I teach in Kigoma that I wouldn’t teach until the students did their homework. I was concentrating on not being angry and trying to think of a solution when Michael suggested that they take 30 minutes to read the remaining chapters and then I would come back. So I came back and taught on chapter 6 and then 7,8, and 9. It was a really good time actually. I’m enjoying teaching again.

I thank You Lord SO MUCH for Your tremendous mercy and grace to guide me, change me, control me, mold me, and still use me even when I’m such a punk! Thank You Jesus! Bwana Yesu asifiwe!

I have to interject now that I’ve been listening to iTunes while writing and I put on Sherwin Gardner because it’s supposed to be decent christian reggae and so it would sound a little bit “African”. Anyhow... I just realized that I really don't like most of it. Maybe there was one or two good songs I heard, but right now I just listened to at least part of 4 or 5 of them and I had to turn it off. Now I’m listening to Redcloud. He’s a trip. Back to the day... Oh wait... I just heard a car and it might be James Olal and Vicky so I’m going to go check it out.

8:26 pm - Yes it was them. We talked for a bit. Then I showered and put on my Samoan pant/shorts and t-shirt and then sat around and talked with Raymond until dinner came. It didn’t come until 7pm, but it included mac-n-cheese and condensed mushroom goo for the rice. I had only rice with mushroom goo and mac-n-cheese. I had a second helping of each. Vicky and Raymond and I stayed after the others left and continued talking about their trip to Juba, Raymond’s time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and spiritual things in general. The topics were familiar to Vicky and I as missionaries... American comfort and complacency in regards to the body of Christ, separation from family and other missionary hardships, the bombing of the compound here in 2000, the idea of staying in a war zone or other dangerous place because that it where God called. Why would we leave if the people we are called to serve can’t leave. Vicky mentioned that book, “Abandoned to God”, about Oswald Chambers. It’s the same one Bond was reading. I want to get it. Anyhow, gotta go and study for tomorrow now.

Being thankful... (Journal Entry)

8:37 am - Today I got up around 7:30am to eat. Breakfast was just rolls of bread. I was so disappointed because when I first saw the tupperware it looked like rolex were inside. Rolex are chapati with fried egg on it rolled up like a wrap. Anyhow, when I opened the lid and saw that it was just bread rolls I was so FLESHY. I grabbed a couple and made some chai (minus the masala) and took them to my room to eat bread while reading the Bread of Life (Word). Ironically (well, not really, considering how big and awesome our God is) one of the things I read in Ephesians 4 and 5 this morning was about being THANKFUL. Actually, even before I read it I was convicted and repenting because of the sermon I just taught yesterday on Philippians 4:4-7, verse 6 being about prayer with thanksgiving. But after reading it several more times this morning the conviction and repentance became sincere and God gave me His grace to overcome the flesh. I actually enjoyed the bread rolls and chai and even went back for seconds. Yesterday, when I went with Michael to where he lives, I sat in his “tukul” with him and talked. After a few minutes his sister brought us two Cokes! I forgot how much I like lukewarm African Coke. It was sooooo good. It’s the first one I’ve had this week in Nimule. I hope to go with Michael to get my passport stamped today, and then to the market.

Let the children come unto me (Journal Entry)

3:39 pm - After church today I walked over to an area where Michael was with his wife and baby so I could meet them. Then all of the kids from the church started coming over and surrounded me. It felt just like the story in the NT when the kids came to Jesus and His disciples tried to shoo them away and He said ‘no, let them come unto me’. I knew at any moment that one of the adults would probably act just like the disciples so I mentioned the story from the Bible so they would remember it before they instinctively tried to shoo them off. Then, as Michael was going to walk away, I decided to shake one of their hands and say hello. It was like pulling the cork from a well shook champagne bottle! Every single child needed to touch me, shake my hand, and/or say hello. Some would hold on and not want to let go. Some would politely take their turn. Sometimes I shook two or threes hands with one shake of mine. Eventually it seemed that all 70 or so had their turn or at least their fill and I felt free to walk away. After that, Michael took me to his house.

This river is a tributary to the Nile and forms the border between Sudan and Uganda here in Nimule, Sudan

He lives right at the river, which serves as the border between Sudan and Uganda. There he lives with his wife and child, his maternal grandmother, and some siblings of his and his wife’s. The property actually belongs to FRM and was used in the past when they would get bombed by the North at the regular compound. It was safer at this other property because it's hard to see from the air and is right on the border with Uganda so North Sudan couldn't drop bombs there without entering Ugandan airspace. On the way back to the compound from his tukul something strange happened. We were driving down the dirt road and some cows were in the middle of the road. In order to get cows to move you have to drive right up to them and honk and yell. Sometimes you even have to touch them with the bumper. So Michael drove right up to them and began honking. It looked as if they were all moving so he proceeded. What neither of us realized was that the one cow that was actually laying down in the road never got up! As we were passing by very slowly I heard a small "thunk". After we went by we looked back and saw the young cow stand up and walk away. We had driven right over it! It passed between the tires but bumped it's head on one of the axels. It was actually a blessing that it was okay because if the owner saw it or thought the cow was hurt he would demand a lot of money from Michael. Well, my battery is about to die. More later.

The day after Pageri (Journal Entry)

10:25 am - Yesterday I got pretty tired so I didn’t write a lot of details about the day’s activities. I did have a good time and I thank God so much for filling me with His Spirit and speaking through me to the ladies. I can never tell for sure how the people here are receiving the Word while I am still teaching, but afterwards some of them will let you know. Pastor Tobias was very pleased and thankful. All I know is that my flesh is weak. I still feel tired/emotional like jet-lag and homesickness combined. I know it’s spiritual and I know the culture shock and stress of re-entering the field after being gone for several months is definitely a key factor, but I’m alone - no wife, no kids, no friends - and so it's more difficult because it’s just me and my flesh and I have to recognize it and crucify it and ask the Lord to continually fill me with His Spirit just to make it through a meal sometimes. Last night was a good example. After the long day and the ugali at Tobias’ tukul that I really didn’t care for, we finally made it back to Nimule to the compound. I really wanted some comfort food (like the Coke I had been craving all day) and was nervous to see what had been made for dinner (because typically it's rice, beans, and ugali). So I went to the dining area and lo and behold it was rice, beans, and ugali! It was emotionally deflating. I found some bread rolls left over from breakfast and some left over peanut butter from the visiting teams that were here and I made a couple of peanut butter rolls. When that got to the point where my mouth was sticking together too much, I put some rice and beans on a plate and covered them with salt, Tabasco, and a little ketchup (again, left over from the teams) and downed that. The only soda I could find was bitter lemon (tastes just like the name - made with quinine to be extra bitter) and I could only stand to drink about a quarter of that. I washed it all down with some water and went to my room with my taste buds depressed and my spirits a bit low. That’s when I wrote the last journal entry. This morning was better on the food front. There were “pancakes”. I only put them in quotes because the grain here is a bit different so the pancakes are thin, dense, and rubbery. Not that they're bad. They're actually quite good. I smothered two of them with Skippy Super Chunk peanut butter and Albertson’s fake maple syrup (thanks again to the recently departed team). It was just what the doctor ordered. A LITTLE VARIETY! I had chai (black tea with lots of sugar and cream - although there's no masala to put in it) with it and was very satisfied. It’s funny how a little bit of comfort food after the monotony of rice and beans can really brighten your day. Last night I never heard from Carrie and the kids, and then I finally got a text that she tried to call four times. I called her and told her the reception was bad and only spoke briefly. I miss her so much. Her and the kids mean so much to me and I just wish I could be with them. She had them yell “I love you” all at once. I need to be such a better father! I absolutely cannot believe what a terrible husband and father I became while staying in the U.S. the past several months.

God, please forgive me and cleanse me and change me and empower me by Your Spirit to be the best husband and father ever. Please Lord, I need Your grace in this area.

Now I have to study to teach tomorrow’s church service. I will be teaching from Philippians 4 about true, Biblical joy.

9:12 pm - I rested quite a bit today. I listened to music and prepared to teach the church service tomorrow. It was a relaxing day. Darn... They shut the generator off early and now all of the bugs have switched from the light bulb on the ceiling to my computer screen! Gotta go.

A day in Pageri, Southern Sudan (Journal Entry)

Today I went to Pageri with Lino (he drove), Gifti, Michael, Mikelina and her baby Judah (pronounced yoo-dah; he's terribly afraid of me), and one of the armed guards. We loaded up the remainder of the “Love Covers” bags and the t-shirts and left for Pageri at about 9:30 am. We grabbed a few "rolex" in town to eat on the way. No, it's not an edible watch. It's a nickname for a greasy fried egg rolled in a greasy chapati (a chapati is like a thick, somewhat greasy, flour tortilla). It took about an hour or so to reach the school in Pageri. The landscapes were beautiful.

On the Road from Nimule to Pageri

It's the rainy season now so everything is green. There are sharp hills and mountains that rise in different areas that make for a beautiful backdrop. It was smaller in comparison, but reminded me of the scenery of the mountains of western Ethiopia that I saw on the BBC “Planet Earth” videos (which really aren't all that far away). While we distributed the bags and shirts at the

One of the classrooms at the Primary School in Pageri / Loa

There aren't enough structures for every class, so some meet under trees

school Lino shuttled a bunch of the ladies from around the area to the ladies’ Bible study at Maranatha Chapel in Pageri town. Then he came and picked us up and brought us there also. Pastor Tobias met us there. The ladies were already there and began to sing as soon as I arrived. There’s something about that that I really like. It’s so welcoming. Tobias translated for me as I

Maranatha Chapel Pageri

The Ladies of Maranatha Chapel Pageri gathered together for Bible Study

taught the first half of Luke 22, including the Passover meal that Jesus ate and instituted the New Covenant. It was so cool getting to explain about the Passover and the New Covenant in Christ. Afterwards I waited outside of the church with the crew from Nimule as Tobias took care

The flag flying outside the church in Pageri

Foreground: A woman and her baby waiting outside the church. Background: Our armed guard/escort for the trip

of some church business. Lino played shuttle driver for quite a while so Michael and I walked to town and then to the tukul of Tobias. They must have planned this, because when I came into

Some local tukul (homes/huts) in Pageri town

the small round hut he had ugali and fish ready. We sat inside the tukul and washed our hands with the pitcher and bowl and then ate African style with no utensils. They were impressed that I didn’t want or need them. Tobias offered to find a spoon but I refused. The ugali tasted terrible to me. It seemed like it had sand in it. The fish was actually very good. It was smoked and then cooked in the stew/broth. It was a little hard from the smoking but I really liked it that way. It was almost like salmon jerky. I had such a hard time eating the ugali though. The ugali in Kigoma is soooo much better (and I don't really like it that much there!). But, 'when in Rome...' Afterwards I took this picture of Tobias in front of his tukul. Then he left on his motorbike to go

Pastor Tobias in front of his Tukul in Pageri

to Nimule. Michael and I walked back to the main street (Juba road) and I bought a big bottled water for him and I (I wanted a soda to wash away the ugali texture and flavor but he wanted water instead so I had the same). We drank our water as we waited for Lino to come by and get us. Then we drove back to Nimule.

August 2008 Update

Home Sweet Home... Sort of. In late July I (Jon) finally boarded my flight home. I can’t tell you how excited I was to finally be headed back to Africa. We as a family are so blessed to be counted worthy to serve our Lord in this way. We’re also excited at the thought of being in heaven together some day and having fellowship with all of those who have been a part of what the Lord is doing in Tanzania, whether ministry partners or those whom we are ministering to. We’ll all join together in praises to Him, thanking Him for His grace and the opportunity to know and serve Him. Until then, we keep living each day as a loving testimony to His power and grace in our lives, each according to the gifts and calling He’s put in our lives at this time. For us, that gift and calling right now is to share the Good News of Christ and His love in East Africa. So, while I haven’t technically reached “home sweet home” in Kigoma yet, I have made it as far as Southern Sudan! FRM has a pastor and chaplain training center in Southern Sudan, and they needed some teachers to help kick off the new class of students. I am honored and blessed to get to spend some time here and get to know my Sudanese brothers in Christ, as well as to share the Word with them as we study through the book of Genesis. Once I’m done here, I’ll complete my
journey home to Kigoma, Tanzania, where I can resume the ministry in the church there, as well as doing outreaches to the villages to the south. I also hope to visit one of my Bible College

View of Lake Tanganyika from our house. The mountains of Congo are in the background.

students, Bahati, in his home village across the huge expanse of Lake Tanganyika in Baraka, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). If the Lord makes a way and allows the time, money, and appropriate guide for my safety, then I’m rearing to go and establish a relationship with his village that could lead to further opportunities for ministry. We shall see and I will certainly keep you informed.

A Season of Separation. As you may already know or have just realized, Carrie and the kids are still in the States. For reasons too lengthy to discuss in this update, it was best for her to stay and give birth to our daughter in the States, rather than here in East Africa. Because of this change of plans, we will be separated for a couple of months. Once the baby is born, then we will all be reunited and back together as a team in Tanzania. Until then, we truly covet your prayers for strength, comfort, encouragement, a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy delivery. We have been separated before for two weeks or so, but never for over two months. We are confident that the Lord will bring us through, and we have plenty to keep us busy while we’re apart. Still, it’s not fun to be apart from those you love the most, especially since we’ve already given up being close to our extended family and friends by moving to Africa in the first place. So thank you for your love and prayer for this season of separation.

The Youth of Kigoma/Ujiji. One of the areas of ministry the Lord has put on our hearts is to reach the youth of Kigoma and Ujiji. We live about half way between these two towns, and have experienced first-hand the level of neglect most of the kids are subject to. From the time they’re old enough to walk until they’re grown and married, it seems that most of them are completely without direction, guidance, discipline, or positive stimulation. They aren’t stimulated mentally, as most cannot afford the basic uniforms and books to attend school. They aren’t stimulated physically, as there are no organized sports or other positive activities to be involved with, other

Some of the kids from Burega - the neighborhood we live in.

than the extremely limited program at the schools that they can’t afford to attend. They aren’t stimulated spiritually, as most churches neglect to teach the younger children and scare off the older youth with their works-based religion and a style of church government and liturgy that causes the youth to fear the pastor rather than fearing God. They desperately need someone to show an interest in them, mentor them, and most importantly... POINT THEM TO JESUS. He alone is the great physician, teacher, healer, and creator of life. We hope to be used by Him to bring the love of Christ to all of the children of Kigoma and Ujiji, whether they call themselves Christian, Muslim, Catholic, or anything else. We hope to show them the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Not to teach them our way or our ideas, but to lead them to the One who can save them and set them free, to disciple them in the Word so they know what He wants them to do with their freedom, and to love them with the love of Christ and be there for them in a way that their parents and churches have not yet learned how to do. This leads to the next thing on our hearts...

The Parents and Pasotrs of Kigoma/Ujiji. While we hope to meet the tremendous needs of the children and youth in the area, we would also love to help teach and guide the parents and pastors to a place where they can do it themselves. This again goes back to the very reason we are there... to share the love of God by teaching them the Word of God. As parents begin to understand what God’s Word says to them about loving, disciplining, and leading their children in Christ, they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so. As pastors and churches see in the Word of God what their responsibility is to teach parents and to support them in their mission to love and raise godly children, they, too, will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to do so. It’s a long process, but one well worth it. During our time spent in the States, God brought to my attention the real tragedy and failure of parents, pastors, and churches in America in this very area (myself included). The family unit is Satan’s number one target! When men are sacrificially loving their wives and children, and women are sacrificially loving their husbands and children, and children are observing this biblical example and being disciplined in the Word and pointed to Christ... SATAN HATES IT! He hates it because families like that are mighty influences for the kingdom of God. Families like that are mighty weapons against the enemy of our souls. But our enemy has done a tremendous job, both in the States and all around the world, in his attacks on the family. And we are excited to be part of the solution in Tanzania. We pray that you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to be part of the solution in your own family, church, and community. I highly recommend the resources of my good friends at Family Discipleship Ministries. Please visit their website and/or give them a call to see how you, your family, and your church, might benefit from the Biblical wisdom and experience that they have to share. Their web address is www.parentingministry.org.

Praises and Prayer...
- Please join with us in praising the Lord for His goodness to us in providing for our daily needs.
- We also want to thank Him for a healthy pregnancy for Carrie thus far.
- Please pray for a continued blessing upon Carrie and the baby in her womb; that the pregnancy, labor, and delivery would all go well.
- Please continue to pray for provision for the ministry in Africa, that we can get back and get busy, and be able to stay for a long time without worrying about support.
- Please pray for Jon’s friends David and Jaquie to be freed from the bondage of the Watchtower and come to a saving knowledge of and relationship with Christ.
- Please pray for Jon’s health and safe travels in July, August, and September as he ministers in East Africa.
- Please pray for Carrie and the kids as they stay behind in the States during these months, that the Lord would grant them peace and safety and bless their time together.
- Please pray for the whole family as we suffer the loss of one anothers' presence during this 10 week period.