one year.

A year ago I was on a flight to Virginia where my journeyman training began.

A year ago I arrived at the training center, walked into my quad (my living quarters for two months).

A year ago I began the journey that, as of today, is halfway over.

I cannot believe time has flown by this fast.  Much has happened, things have changed and changed again and again, many lessons have been taught by God and learned by me, and multiple Bible stories have been told to the Toposa in the villages outside of Kapoeta, South Sudan.   And I have made new friends among a people group that I did not even knew existed until just over a year ago!

As I look ahead, it makes me sad to think that I only have one year left among the Toposa.  But it also excites me!  One more year to build relationships.  One more year to love the Toposa.  One more year of learning their heart language so I can better share His Word in a way they will hear and understand.  One more year to tell stories from the beginning to the end of God’s Word.  One more year to speak the truth of the gospel among the Toposa people.

Today was a wonderful day! 

--School this morning with Walker and then with Davis (for me and vice versa for Mindy) went great! 

--And then, Carrie made some super delicious English muffins and lovingly shared them with us!  Got to have one with lunch.  Yum. 

--After lunch, Mindy and I met up with John, a new language helper!!!!  He taught some phrases to use when we pray in Toposa, and I got to read the story of Caino tya Abele (Cain and Abel), that John helped to translate yesterday, to a group of kids that gathered around us.  They understood!!! Apupete ikes!!!

--Then, back to the compound for our Tuesday afternoon women’s gathering to hear God’s Word.  We had more women and girls than ever before!  (And more kids too that were on the other side of the compound listening to Davis tell Bible stories!)  I shared the story of Cain and Abel in English, but I understood the translation and their responses to questions a lot quicker!  Mindy told the story of Noah, and the women understood that story too!  They were quick to help retell both stories!!!  And some of them will come with us tomorrow to share the same stories in Lomeyin!

--To top it off, the rice we made for dinner was so good, as were the lentils and veggie mixture. 

--Oh, and just now Davis showed up at my door with this (and Maria was there too!):

This is the fifth one he’s killed this week.  Mindy and I are giving him 1 pound per dead nyemir (rat). Five down, and so many more to go.

One more year ahead of ups and downs and turn arounds.  One more year of brokenness and rebuilding, and sometimes outward wasting away but daily inward renewal.  One more year of “Mata!” and “Ejok aa!” and of hearing my Toposa name being called from the fence, "Nakai! Nakai! Nakai!"

One more year of experiencing the presence of

and learning to depend on

and falling deeper in love with

and working to glorify

Yesu Cristo, Jesus Christ

In Toposaland, South Sudan.

Pics from the past week:

Ok, so this is actually from our last night in Nairobi--packing all our stuff, plus the Lewis' stuff, plus the Lesley's stuff.  That's my head peeking over the top of the beds!

 A snake that was in Mindy's tukel!  

 I had too much fun with charcoal and made my face like an army man's.  Walker wanted to look like a soldier too, but then only let me put a spot on his nose.  Then he hid from me--but I found him!

Two other rats that Davis and his friend, Elimu, trapped in a trash can with biscuits as bait.  

They killed them eventually.

P.S. Davis just knocked on my door again.  Six rats down!!!