Seth's Story from South Sudan

       This is the day to day action from my recent trip to South Sudan.  Me and three other guys from our church got to spend 11 days traveling and working with the Toposa people in South Sudan.  Our church has partnered with a missionary family, Shannon and Carrie Lewis (read more about their family at Toposa Family), and has agreed to support them with prayer and at least two trips of four people a year.  The Toposa people have some Christian influence from catholic missionaries and are technically a Christian country; but most have never really heard the truth that Jesus Christ died for their sins and that faith in Him will save them.  The Toposa are considered an unreached people group.  Shannon and Carrie's strategy is to share the Gospel and disciple new believers to become witnesses, leaders and teachers so that they can share the same Gospel.  They work very hard to make this Gospel simple and reproducible, so that if the 'white people' leave the Gospel will press on.  The people do not read or write and there are only two books of the Bible printed in their language.  The audio New Testament, seen in the pic below, is a very useful tool the Lewis family uses to get the 'Word' out.  It was a great trip and I hope to excite people to support the Lewis family in prayer and to possibly go see them in person.

Paulo and Elizabeth new Christians with an audio copy of the new testament to start studying and teaching

Day 1: Tuesday, January 24.
Met at airport at 11:30AM left Shreveport to Atlanta to Amsterdam.

Arrived in Amsterdam Day 2

Day 2: Wednesday, January 25.
Arrived in Amsterdam. Walked around city center for two hours and headed back to airport. Departed for Nairobi.

Day 3: Thursday, January 26.
Arrived in Nairobi, Kenya about 8AM and Benson, our Kenyan driver, was waiting to take us to the Methodist Guest House. We spent most of the day resting but went to a mall to eat dinner and shop.

Check-in at Methodist Guest House Day 3-4

Day 4: Friday, January 27.
Finally left Nairobi for Lokichoggio, Kenya which is on the Kenya/Sudan border. We were greeted at the airport by Shannon, Holly and Jonathan, all IMB missionaries. After we got through the airport, we loaded up two Land Cruisers and head to a small hole in the wall restaurant before the five hour, 80 mile, possible bandit filled boarder crossing to get to Shannon's compound.

Loading up 

Driving through No-Man's Land

The first hour of the journey is called No-Man's Land. The roads were so bumpy 15-25mph is the top speed. Ten minutes in, Shannon also informed us that if he said, "Bandits!", to get down and hold on. Fortunately, we didn't see any. We arrived at the Kenya/South Sudan border. After an uneventful Kenya boarder crossing, we moved to the South Sudan boarder where no one was in a hurry. We eventually had to unload and have ALL of our bags checked. After an hour and a half, we were on our way.

Later that afternoon, we arrived at the Lewis' compound and we were pleasantly surprised how nice it was. We each had a Coke or Sprite and enjoyed a great meal of beans and rice. That night we spent time getting to know everyone.

Round building in the center was our room. Small building to right is the bathroom.

Day 5: Saturday, January 28.
We left the compound around 9AM with everyone plus Paul, our translator, and headed to the Karkamuge region which was an hour and a half away. Once we arrived, we went straight to the chief's village. Immediately when we got out of the cars, people started to surround us. First children then men and finally women. We gathered under a tree and Paul led the children in some songs. Next, Shannon had us all introduce ourselves. Kyle shared the creation to Christ story.

Later in the morning, we walked to as many villages as possible and invited everyone to "church" the following morning under a tree by the well. Each village we went to, we would share the creation to Christ story or another Bible story. Shannon was also big on encouraging them to turn from witchcraft and remove their charms in order to follow Christ alone. All together we hit about seven villages and called it a day. That night we had taco soup.

New Toposa Christians Praying in his village!

Cutting off all witch craft bracelets and necklaces. 

Witch craft stuff we cut off

Day 6: Sunday, January 29.
We arrived at Karkamuge village around 10AM for "church". This morning we had Paul and Joseph, a Toposa man that Shannon has been discipling for a while. Shannon always has Joseph to help teach and lead so that new believers don't associate being a Christian to having white people around. When church got going we sang songs and then Steve and I shared one story each from Acts followed by Shannon. That morning about 13 accepted Jesus and as they were sharing what they had decided, "opposition" came. Twenty to thirty-year old drunk men with guns and knives came stumbling up. Shannon quickly had Paul and Joseph take the new believers off a little to finish. All afternoon we sang and taught stories from God's word. We even had the opportunity to "jump dance" like the natives! They enjoyed laughing at us. We were all very excited about the new believers and excited we would get more time with them on Monday and Tuesday. Had homemade pizza for dinner.

The Men who accepted Christ. Paul (translator, white shirt) is teaching them

Joseph (pink shirt), the rest are the new Christians

Jonathan (green shirt) brand new IMB missionary dancing

Day 7: Monday, January 30.
The adventure began. We loaded all our gear up and are scheduled to camp under the trees/stars in the Karkamuge the next two nights. Geared up, we headed out.

 Upon arrival, we were back under the tree. Men, women, and children were there that had accepted Christ and some were new faces. This was really cool. We were sharing stories, explaining and demonstrating how to pray. One woman "Elizabeth" had been focused in all morning and we could tell she was ready to turn and follow Jesus only. One of the coolest things was that later in the morning her friend also wanted to follow Jesus and Elizabeth led her to Jesus.

Elizabeth left leading Regina right to Jesus

Later that afternoon was when we got some more intimate time with the men and got to really teach them and disciple them.

That evening we set up camp. Had another delicious beans and rice and ham meal and then waited for night. Once it was dark we set up the Jesus film. Shannon just had music playing at first and the people flocked in. By the end, we think there was 400-500 people there. It was so cool. Every time Jesus did a miracle, they all clapped. Shannon said that had never happened before. After the movie, we all headed to the tents.

Day 8: Tuesday, January 31.
This morning I woke up and felt terrible - my head, neck, back, stomach...everything hurt. Turns out I was super dehydrated and, after throwing up a few times, I had to go back to the compound. Carrie and the kids were going back to the compound that morning so I rode back and tried to get rehydrated. I spent all day in bed drinking water and Sprite. The guys stayed out and continued teaching!

Me feeling better, hoping to eat my first meal in 48 hours

Day 9: Wednesday, February 1.
Still not 100%. I forced some food down and prayed I was better by the time we would leave on Thursday. The guys got back around 10 or 11 and we had the afternoon to hang out. Steve helped Shannon change his motorcycle tire that we brought to him from the States. That night Shannon had steaks on the grill and, thankfully, I was well enough to eat! First meal in 48 hours. PTL.

Day 10: Thursday, February 2.
The journey home began at 7:30AM at a small air strip in Kapoeta. The plane landed and Shannon pulled right up to the plane. We unload our stuff and then move the plane to unload all the cargo - Shannon's supplies for the next few months. We took off and the five hour drive a week before turned into a thirty minute plane ride. Ten minutes before we landed the pilot decides to get a little REAL crazy and give us the roller coaster ride of a lifetime! (Seth said the plane was going straight up and straight down. They were weightless and floating part of the time.) It was awesome!

30 minute flight was way better than a 5 hour drive

Getting ready for take-off, Steve is in the co-pilot seat

Back in Lokichoggio, Kenya, we left Sudan but never got our passports stamped so our pilot dropped us at his house and rode his dirt bike thirty minutes to the boarder, got all of our passports stamped and rode thirty minutes back. Our next flight to Nairobi was no big deal. We had time to kill in Nairobi so we got to go to the Giraffe Park and Carnivore endless meat dinner. Left for Amsterdam.

Kyle feeding giraffes 

(Above) Kyle eating crocodile
(Below) Meat feast at Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi

Day 11: Friday, February 3.
The traveling finally ends and after 48 hours of non-stop travel, we get to see family and get a great night sleep!

Here are some extra photos from the trip....

Carrie Lewis (missionary) and one of her good friends son

Kyle (from NFCC) with some locals

Cow loving on Steve (from NFCC)

John (from NFCC) and a local baby

View from the plane in Kapoeta