A Bend in the Trail: Adventures in South Sudan, Africa: June 2017

Ingoni (Hello) Everyone!

This is the first update I have personally been able to send for a year and a half. I am joyfully writing from my families home in Western MA and basking in the hand of God bringing my wife and I to the US, against many hurdles. We are slowly adjusting to the climate and the differences between the USA and Africa, but we are happy as we look forward to seeing all of you who have been faithfully praying for us.

We saw the midwife this afternoon and she says that the baby is doing well and it seems like the baby is beginning to get a bit stir-crazy and wants to come out soon! We can expect the great escape anytime from now to two weeks ahead. The official due date is July 2nd, though Joyce feels that our baby will not be following African time and will come early.

The mother is doing well, though be praying as she has been dealing with chronic headaches (off and on) for two weeks now. Different blood test results have yet to reveal anything, but Joyce has had the headaches in less frequency the last couple days. She gained 1 kilogram (2.2lbs.) in the last week which is a big deal for Joyce and she has more energy. Pray for continued rest for Joyce and her ability to take in enough nutritious food and water, before and after the birth.

We love you all and are so thankful for your prayers and continued support. Please continue to lift us up in prayer for:

-Wisdom as we physically and mentally prepare for the coming of our first child.

-After the baby is born and mother and baby have had a few weeks to recover, we greatly desire to begin sharing about what God is currently doing in South Sudan. We hope to begin traveling around the end of July to share with you in person, but need wisdom for a balanced schedule that will give Joyce enough rest as we move around and share. (Even better, come visit us here at Maplewood B&B!)

-Provision and guidance for an upcoming intensive medical course (online), July 31st to Sept. 9th and God's direction for my education path in medicine over this next year.

-The need for Joyce and I to have increased monthly support as living in the US is a lot more expensive than Africa and there will be a lot of travel and continued medical studies to equip us for returning to our home in South Sudan.

-For protection and the provision of all the staff of Operation Nehemiah on the ground in South Sudan.

-Sending thousands of small radio memory chips which turn cell phones into fixed tune radios set to our Radio Station and with the audio Bible embedded on them, to distribute to the town of Nimule and the different Army Barracks along the Nimule-Juba Highway. This is a key part of evangelism to the military and local civilian population, alongside our Gospel radio and the pastor's outreach to the soldiers. 500 radio memory chips cost only $700.