Today is the day....

Seth leaves for Africa...Southern Sudan...the bush.

I have mixed feelings about him leaving but, overall, I am excited for the awesome opportunity. 

The group of four guys from our church flew out of the Shreveport airport. It was a blessing to see several of our church members come to see them off. 

Seth knows the guys going with him pretty well. One has been a great mentor, friend, and hunting buddy. Another is one of Seth's best friends, Kyle. They have known each other since they started college. They probably know each other to well! 

Kyle, John, Steve and Seth

This trip is only the second trip our church has offered to the Sudan, so far. A year ago, we prayed as a church about partnering with a missionary family that was in Southern Sudan bringing the gospel to the jungles (or dessert really) of Africa-the Toposa people to be exact. God led us, as a church, to this family and we have been praying for the people of Southern Sudan to know Jesus, grow in their faith and establish churches. The church asked for volunteers (men mainly) to go serve and minister....and MY husband was one of the first to say "I'll go!" This group of men are the others who said 'Yes' not even knowing what they were going to be doing.

As they leave, they still are not sure what, exactly, they will be doing. The only plan is for them to bring the message of salvation through Jesus to the Karkamuge people, most of whom have never even heard of Jesus! This entails them traveling a couple of hours (away from the missionaries safe compound) to the Karkamuge village and camping out there for three days (and I mean tent camping)! Since this is the first time the missionary has been to this village, and really to any village away from his compound over night, there is a lot of unknown.

I am excited to hear about the work the Lord is going to do through them! There are already so many awesome stories of how the people there want to know more of Jesus and are willing to go to their friends to share about Jesus. It is a real picture of the establishment of the first church that we read of in Acts! If you want to learn a little more about the family (who is a normal family from Minden that was called specifically to the bush) and what is going on in their ministry, you can read all about it here.

Here is a prayer guide the church created for each man (this is Seth's). It tells a little of the people, area and has some specific prayer requests. We would really appreciate your prayers for all of us during this time! 

Can't wait to report back on the experience! Thank you for your prayers!

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20