Lokuru.

I will never forget the day I officially met Lokuru.  We had spent at least an hour joking, chatting, and laughing on the porch with Lokuru and Maria.  It was late afternoon, which meant it was time for them to head back to their village to prepare food for their families.  Maria exited through the gate first, then Lokuru followed, a very pregnant Lokuru, slowly and carefully stepping over the bar of the gate and through the door.  Lokuru turned back toward me, put her hand on her swollen, pregnant middle, and declared, "Nyekiro ka nyapese erai Nakai."  (Or something like it in Toposa.)

She told me that, if the baby was a girl, she was going to name it my name; she would name her baby after me.

On August 15, Lokuru gave birth to a girl.  She named her Alyssa Nakai.  My American name and my Toposa name.  Other nicknames?  Nakoyen, Nakwan, Nyapese ka America.  Tall, white, unmarried girl from America.  Ha!

And then...the day I was sitting beside her in her house, and baby Nakai started crying.  Lokuru picked her up and sang a lullaby to her.  Her own unique lullaby.  Toposa women have a different one for each of their children.  In the lullaby to baby Nakai, Lokuru sang how Nakai (meaning me) is taller than her, is taller than Walker's mother (Carrie!), is taller than all the women.  Then she sort of sings through all of the nicknames...

And I remember that Sunday, when baby Nakai was sick.  We were waiting for people to gather at the tree to hear God's Word.  Lokuru came with sick Nakai, but she had not intended to stay.  She was on her way to another village to visit the witch doctor.  I remember telling her about Jesus' power.  But she did not stay...

Oh!  And the day when I visited the rest of my Toposa family!  Lokuru directed Mindy and I to her mother's village.  I went in and greeted my grandmother and aunts and uncles and... My grandmother gave me a whole gourd filled with sesame seeds!  It was a treat to see more of Lokuru's family and get a glimpse of where she spent her childhood.

Grandma, Aunt, Lokuru, Uncle

A few months later, a team from America came and shared stories from God's Word in the area by Lokuru's village.  She and many other of our close friends from her village heard the Gospel, and she claimed that she believed in Jesus!  Carrie was careful to explain that belief in Jesus means a commitment to follow Him and forsake all others.  She discussed, especially with Lokuru and a few others in mind, that saying "yes!" to Jesus involves turning away from witchcraft.  These women were baptized that day in the river nearby.  I remember hearing the news and rejoicing...

And then Lokuru was sick, always sick, and I saw her less and less as she stayed home more often.  I made it a point to visit her when I was in the village.  Sometimes, I just sat next to her while she slept.  I played games with Nakai, or chatted with my Toposa brothers and sisters.  One day, as Lokuru slept in her house, I drew pictures in the dirt, while my Toposa siblings sat on their mat guessing what I was drawing.  I remember telling them simple stories from His Word too!

In January, I said goodbye to Lokuru, my Toposa mother.  And I told my siblings goodbye.  I told them I would pray for them all, and how I would be sad.  I left Toposaland, and Mindy remained behind.  She told me that Lokuru was getting sicker every day.  Lokuru lost more weight, was emaciated, and looked like skin and bones.  I prayed, for it was all I could do.  I trusted her heart to God; He alone knows if she surrendered her life fully to Christ that day with the volunteer team.  I prayed for peace.  I prayed that God's power would be seen and that God would be glorified.

Lokuru passed away on Tuesday evening, April 9th.  And I am sad.  I wish I could be there to love on her children.  No, I couldn't hug them or cry with them--that is not part of Toposa culture.  But I could be there.

But since I can't, I am ever grateful to the One who is there.  Of course, I hope Lokuru is jumping and clapping and singing with Jesus right now... But again, I can do nothing but trust the Lord with what I don't know.

Please pray with me for her five children: Lomana, Lomurco, Nakato, Lokwar, and Nakai.  Pray that God would provide for their needs.  Pray for comfort for them, for the villagers, for me.  Pray that God is glorified in her village.  Pray that her children grow up in a place where they will hear the Word of God.  Thank you.

Nakai resting during a wedding

Lomurco, Lokuru, (a friend), and little Nakai

Me with Lomurco and Nakato