It's mango time!

It's almost mango season in South Sudan.  Something our team dreams of all year!  There's nothing like a sweet, juicy mango right off the tree.  I wish I could share one with you!  

Mango's also remind us of what Mango Ministries is all about.   

• These incredibly large trees are supported by deep roots - and as Christians we need to be rooted and grounded in God's Word.  Understanding Biblical truths is the basis for building a healthy life.  
• A mango tree without fruit is not living up to God's intentions for it.  As God's children we need to bear fruit, both spiritual and physical.  We hope to see people growing in their relationship as son's and daughter's of God as well as living dignified lives as God's Kindgom comes to earth. 
• Each mango has the potential to multiply itself by producing another mango tree.  We believe transformed lives will touch lives that will touch lives.  The harvest will be multipled.  

Here is a report from my last trip to South Sudan.  Although it was too early to enjoy one of the mango's from the tree above it was not a fruitless trip.  

I met Tenwek's surgery team who were finishing up a two week clinic at Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok.  They were able to perform almost 50 surgeries.  The last patient they operated on was a small girl with a cleft lip.  How exciting to have her name changed from "girl with a defect" to Monica!

Medical Team:  Dr. Gai (working at Memorial Christian Hospital), Dr. Elijah (a Tenwek surgical Intern), Paula (a visitor to MCH who helped in the OR), Philip Langat (Kenyan anesthetist), Deng Jongkuch (MCH administrator), Dr. Russ White (WGM missionary and Tenwek surgeon) and his nephew Gabe Ellsworth (helping with a little bit of this and that)

Incoming Team: Dr. Rick Morse, Adhanom, Jen Lavery - new volunteer, Whitney, Margit Mueller - new volunteer, Joy, Deng Jongkuch, and Dr. Rossi Shamir.

Most of the above team had come to Werkok to teach on Community Health Evangelism.  One of my favorite illustrations about community development is the "River Crossing."  Margit, Jen, and Adhanom acted it out below.

Here there is a river that is very high and dangerous to cross.  Margit knows where the stepping stones are but Jen does not.  Margit is giving Jen a lift to enable her to get to the other side.  Jen will need to find Margit when she wants to come back across the river.  She's dependent on getting lifts from people who know the river better than her.

Rather than carry Jen back the other way Adhanom wants to teach Jen where the stepping stones are so she can cross by herself.  So, together they are crossing the river as Adhanom shows Jen the way, step by step.

Post-war countries like South Sudan have a tendency to get locked into a mentality that the only way to cross the river, or deal with the problems in life, is to get a lift from someone rather than learn to cross the river oneself. (metaphorically speaking!) Mango Ministries is all about teaching people to cross the river themselves, one stepping stone at a time.  This is a hard paradigm to break though and we ask you to pray for changed attitudes as much as anything else.  A changed attitude will lead to changed behavior.


After leaving Werkok Jen and I traveled back to Juba.  Our travel plans were not exactly written in stone and we hoped all would come together - which it did!  Our next stop was in Northern Bahr el Ghazel in western South Sudan.  We flew to Aweil where Brian Mutai picked us up.  Brian and his wife Debbie, and their son Daniel, are Kenyan missionaries working with International Aid Services and the Africa Gospel Church.  I loved hearing Brian introduce Jen and I to people in their community.  He said, these women are from the church that brought the Gospel message to our people in Kenya many years ago.  The Africa Gospel Church is the denomination that WGM started in the early 1900's.  Debbie and Brian are just some of the fruit of WGM's missionary efforts over the past century.  And a spiritual and physical harvest is being multiplied as they take the Gospel to their neighbors in South Sudan.

IAS team in Nyinbule:  Titus, Emmanual, Debbie, Daniel, Brian and Peter

It was such fun to get to spend time with the Mutai's and their team.  Even despite the heat.

Here you can see that it's over 100 degrees Farenheit inside their dining tukel at 1:50 pm.

This might just look like your average mahagony tree but it's much more.  This is the church where Brian and Debbie worship in Nyinbule.  Brian helps give leadership to the body of believers in this community.  To be honest this is my favorite kind of sanctuary.  It's cool, catches a breeze, it's shady, and incredibly beautiful.  Unfortunately we weren't there on a Sunday to see people crowded beneath it's shady leaves and raising the roof with their exuberant singing and dancing.

Debbie in front of the IAS clinic in Nyinbule - holding one of the bricks she helped make

This is the clinic where Debbie works.  She came here when she was still single, and with another Kenyan missionary and 2 American women they helped build this clinic, actually helped build it by hand!  She told us about pushing wheel barrows full of sand up from the river.  One day Valentino Achak Deng stopped by. He is the author of the book about the Lost Boys entitled, What is the What.  His home village, Marial Bai, is not far away.  When he saw Debbie pushing that wheel barrow he said, "No, this is not right."  And he sent a truck to help them transport sand up from the river bed to the building site.


Debbie is a Clinical Officer and with a team of health care professionals from East Africa she cares for many people from this area.  Debbie herself grew up as a Missionary Kid in northern Kenya.  Her parents were AGC missionaries and still work with the Africa Gospel Church.  I have worked with Debbie's father, Rev. David Mutai, for many years in Kenya.  Debbie did her C.O. internship at Tenwek Hospital.  With all these connections it seems appropriate for WGM to partner with Debbie and Brian!!

We are planning to take Tenwek's cataract team to Nyinbule in October.  Pray for the mobilization and planning of this clinic, for the right people to get the message to come for physical sight, but more so that people's hearts will be ready to hear about Jesus and accept Him as Lord of their lives.  Jen is also helping the IAS team prepare trainings for children and teen girls.  These are great age groups to target with health and spiritual messages.

Maybe after cataract surgery the women will be able to marvel at this pink (or is it lavender?) flowered tree.  How cool is this!?

It's very common for Dinka women to carry crosses, especially to church.  While visiting Debbie and Brian's neighbors, where their son Daniel (orange t-shirt) plays quite often, we met the Grandmother (on the left).  Her cross reminds me that it's Lent.  The chorus, "At the cross. . . . " keeps going through my head, you know how it is when a little tune won't leave your head!  

The last stanza seems especially poignant to me.  I think giving myself to Him is all that I can do to repay the gift of "spiritual sight" it talks about in the chorus.  Giving ourselves away takes on so many shapes and colors.  What does it look like for you?

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,

’Tis all that I can do.

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,

And the burden of my heart rolled away,

It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
* Isaac Watts

Praying for deeper roots, more fruit, and more mango trees!

joy

How many slaves do you own?

Currently I own 43 slaves.  Shocked!  So was I when I took a simple online survey that ascertained it takes 43 people working in forced labor to enable me to live as I do.  And living in the capital city of Nairobi I live pretty much like many of you.  It was a simple survey asking me questions about what electronics I use, what I eat, what's in my closet, etc.  There is so much we don't realize about what we buy and the way we live.  Did you know that some of the metals in your electronics devices are mined through forced labor?  Forced labor is a politically correct way of saying slavery.

And you thought slavery was dead?!  Read this article to find out it isn't so.

There seems to be a bit of talk on the issue of slavery right now with the movie "Lincoln" up for twelve Academy Awards.  On January 1st the sesquincentennial of the Emancipation Proclamation was celebrated.  Some of you may be foggy on exactly how far back a sesquincentennial goes.  It's a 150 year remembrance.  One hundred fifty years and four weeks ago the United States of America began the dismantlement of slavery.  It didn't happen overnight, that's for sure.

Worldwide the problem of slavery, or the politically correct way to say it these days - trafficing in persons, is real and growing.  That's unfathomable!  I'm reading a book right now that is opening my eyes to all kinds of horrors that I thought were saved for the realm of fiction.  To learn more read Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn's book, Half the Sky.

Nineteen months ago on July 9th, 2011 South Sudan gained their independence after a decades long war with northern Sudan.  For years the South Sudanese felt enslaved by the Arab north.  But today many question whether the South Sudanese are actually free.  Many aspects of their culture still enslave them.  

And that is why World Gospel Mission is in South Sudan.  ". . . to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed." Luke 4:18

It's not just the South Sudanese who are oppressed.  I have my own set of behaviors and beliefs that rob me of freedom in Christ.  Probably different from what is preventing the South Sudanese from experiencing all that God has for them.   But as we recognize our weaknesses together and ask God to help us break free from those strongholds - He will do it!

This year has started off with a flurry of activity.  Activity is good.  But I am convinced that it will only be a flurry of activity and not activity that transforms unless it's covered in prayer.  Please pray with our team and for those we minister with and alongside.  We want to break free from all that is holding us back from becoming all that Jesus has for us.  We want to be freely used for His Kingdom.  

Please pray for current and upcoming activities:

1.  Surgery clinic going on at Memorial Christian Hospital, Werkok until February 1st.

Surgery Team: Philip Langat, Dr. Russ White, and Dr. Elijah Mwaura headed to the airport

2.  Community Health Evangelism training in Werkok from February 2 through 7.  This is the first week of training in this community.  Pray as community members are being selected to attend.  Our goal is that they will be great trainers and role models in their communities.

3.  On January 31st I am headed to Werkok with another volunteer.  We'll get to see the start of CHE training then we'll head to northwestern South Sudan where we'll visit Kenya Africa Gospel Church missionaries, Brian and Debbie Mutai - longtime friends, to plan for ways we can partner together this coming year.

Debbie Mutai loving on a Dinka toddler during a trip several years ago. 

Brian Mutai 

4.  In March we have a Biblical Storytelling seminar planned in Tonj along with a follow-up CHE training.

"For those who insist they would have been abolitionists during the Civil War, now is the chance to become one." (Louis P. Maseur)  

What is Jesus asking you to do this year to free the oppressed children, women, and men in the world today? 

Maybe one of my New Years resolutions should be to live more simply in order to cut down on the number of slaves that I own!  How many slaves did you say you own?

Bringing 2012 to a close

I love Christmas!  I love the traditional activities that go into making this time of year feel like Christmas.

I also love the chance to quiet my heart and contemplate Jesus’ gift to me each year.  Even here in Kenya it's sometimes it's hard to filter out all the glitter of the season.

The Mango Ministry team has much to be grateful for in 2012.  Our team grew from 4 to 6 full-time missionaries.  One of the Mango Ministries team kids (Elsie Jane Coppedge, age 4) drew this portrait when our team was together in September.  

Top row: Joanna, Billy, Tim, Whitney, Elsie Jane, and Lucy

Bottom row:  CT, Chloe, Sophie, Joy, and Adhanom

We also sent 32 volunteers to South Sudan who facilitated activities and provided care taking us closer towards our goal of seeing communities, churches, and families transformed in their spiritual and physical lives.  A big Mango Thank You to all those who volunteered with Mango Ministries during 2012!

Dr. Dan Gradin, Dr. Ben and Jenny Roberts and kids and 

Tenwek Eye Team members arrive in Tonj in November for a cataract clinic.  

The youngest Mango Ministries visitor to South Sudan this year was Zoe Macleod (9 months) 

who sought some shade while her Mom and Dad were seeing patients at the clinic in Tonj. 

Transformation is sometimes hard to measure but here are a few glimpses of physical transformations as well as spiritual growth. 

I’ve also included several financial giving opportunities.  Any of these would make a perfect gift for that someone who has everything.  Or an End-of-Year financial gift is always welcome to help us start off 2013. 

Church Leader Empowerment

Eight South Sudanese pastors are being intentionally mentored to use Biblical Storytelling as well as train others.  Recently they helped teach a group of 70 pastors. 

Can you help get our WGM Storytelling Team from northern Uganda to South Sudan?  The road network within South Sudan is destroyed each year during the rainy season necessitating air travel.  

Typical road scene during the rainy season in South Sudan

Commercial flights do not go where we go so chartering a small 206 Cessna airplane is the best option.

6 seater Cessna 206 

One round trip flight costs approximately $2,000 or $3.33 per nautical mile.  How far can you take Billy Coppedge and the Storytelling Training team?  Click here to help fly the Storytelling Team to South Sudan. 

In 2013 we expect the leaders we are mentoring to tell at least 1,000 Bible Stories ~ pray that those who hear these stories will deepen their spiritual walk with the Lord!

Community Empowerment

Adhanom Hidug, originally from Eritrea (a small African nation in the Horn of Africa), has been with our team for 16 months and is a valuable team member.  

His responsibilities include training in Community Health Evangelism (CHE) and facilitating Biblical Storytelling. Most of his time is spent in a community in South Sudan where he models a transformed life.  He directly oversees 13 CHE trainers and their 6 communities. 

He’s always looking for an opportunity to tell people about Jesus.  When he rides motorcycle taxi's he sings to the drivers in their local Dinka language. That opens up opportunities for him to tell Bible stories.

Adhanom helps a CHE team present a song with a health message at a training session

Will you help support Adhanom financially and/or through prayer?   

In 2013 Mango Ministries is targeting 1,000 homes with messages integrating spiritual and physical health.  

Health Care Empowerment

WGM continued to have opportunities to send volunteers from America, Kenya, and New Zealand to South Sudan to provide care, mentor, and teach at several mission health care facilities. 

Surgery Team headed by Dr. Russ White at Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok

In 2012 342 people were blessed to receive cataract surgery.  Some patients come from remote villages and had the opportunity to hear about Jesus for the very first time in their lives. 

Dr. Ben Roberts doing cataract surgery in Tonj

WGM has been blessed by a foundation that will help sponsor these trips in 2013 lowering WGM’s costs to $50 per person.  Will you help a blind man or woman see? 

I’m thankful for God’s many gifts to me this Christmas and for the opportunity I have to invest in His Kingdom in South Sudan.   Thank you for investing in the journey towards transformed communities in South Sudan!  We have a busy 2013 planned.  Please continue praying for the Mango Ministries team, our many volunteers, and that our activities and relationships we invest in will result in changed hearts and lives.  

Praying peace to you and yours,

joy