Love and Tessa have been going out to Karamorok on Wednesdays to connect with young women who had previously been discipled by Angelo before he left for nursing training. The women are hungry for fellowship with other believers and for growth in their relationship with Jesus. Please pray for these relationships to grow over the next weeks and months as Love and Tessa eagerly work on learning language so they can communicate more truths from God’s Word with these ladies. And pray that “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…will be filled!” (Matthew 5:6).

Pray for Lokolong, the young Laarim believer. He had a serious seizure back in May, and since then has continued to experience symptoms. With the help of a missionary doctor, they believe he has neural brucellosis – a disease common among cattle keeping people in South Sudan. IV treatment was started immediately and has since moved to oral antibiotics for another 9 weeks! We thank God for improvement and ask prayer that this young man will be completely healed. Pray that in all this, Lokolong’s faith will continue to deepen and that he will cling to the Lord. Pray he would understand that “a righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19).

David and Tessa have decided to walk twice a week to the village of Chawa to spend time with Khalifah, encourage him in his walk with the Lord, and help him grow as a leader for the church in that community. Pray that as they do Bible study and training with Khalifah, they will all “be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:12). May the Lord build His church in Chawa through the faithful witness of this man!

Rosa seems to have an interest in Bible study and attending church, however I am not sure she has trusted in Jesus as Savior yet. Please pray that as I spend time with Rosa, I will “make known… what God has done…tell of all His wonderful acts,” and that Rosa will “glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” (Psalm 105:1-3).

Recently I did a home stay for 5 nights with Suzanna, the former witch doctor who has given her life to Christ. I was also invited by the head wife of chief Ramijio to do a Bible study on their compound. Pray that as I interact with these influential women in the community, they would be used by God to encourage other girls and women to “seek [God] and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).

Maria, who had been injured in an attack some months ago, is back in Kimatong after taking a few months to heal and rest in Juba. (It was determined that she had suffered a concussion from the blow to her head and would not be able to rest properly unless she got away from her duties in the village.) Pray that the Lord’s care and provision for her throughout this ordeal will help to strengthen her faith and witness now that she is back in the village.

Please pray for Lokwar, Locom, and Nyao, three young men Jacob is meeting with in Kimatong. They have been showing an eagerness to learn more of God’s Word and have a desire to walk closer with him. Pray for these young men, that as they meet with Jacob for regular fellowship and prayer, the Lord will draw them closer to Himself, and that their love would abound more and more for Him and for one another.

Saturday morning Bible study in the village of Kerengea: We usually start off with prayer and then go into a time of worship. One of the young boys will often use an empty jerry can as a drum as we sing one of the 33 worship songs in the Laarim language. This is followed by prayer – first a prayer thanking God for the many blessings He’s given us and then we move on to prayer requests. After this, Lolimo, a young teenage boy, reads a Bible story and verse. We then proceed to talk about the story and the lessons we can learn from it. Then we close in prayer and sing the song that marks the end of a church meeting.” Pray for this Bible study to continue, for leaders to rise up from within, and for a church to be firmly established in this village.

For a few months now, Jacob has been going with Lolimo to do an oral discovery Bible study in the village of Karamarok. Lolimo attends the primary school with some of the boys from that village who are believers, and he wanted to invite his friends to meet together for Bible study. After their first visit with Jacob, they agreed to start meeting weekly at their home in Karamarok to continue doing DBS as Angelo had done in the past. Jacob is pleased with the participation from these boys and is praying that from among them leaders will emerge and be equipped to lead the Bible study themselves. Please join him in that prayer, and that many more people in Karamarok “will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).

Cattle raiding has also been on the increase. Last month several tribes (including the Laarim) joined together to make raids on Toposa cattle. This has resulted in many deaths, possibly up to two hundred. Pray for an end to the cycle of revenge among these tribes! Pray that these cattle-keeping people would come to a knowledge of the Truth, and trust in Jesus for salvation, that they “may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2-4), for “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 4:6) – far greater than all the cattle in the world!

We prayed for Maria (from Kimatong) a couple of months ago after she had received injuries to her head when she tried to break up a fight. There seems to be lingering effects from the blow to her head, and she has been experiencing bad headaches and problems with her vision. The team was able to send her to Juba where she is staying with a Laarim family while she gets checked by a doctor. Please pray for wisdom and good, effective treatment, and a quick return to her home in Kimatong.

Suzanna is a former Laarim witch doctor who has become a follower of Jesus! Praise God for calling her “out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9)! Love and Lisa have been meeting at her compound every Saturday (at Suzanna’s request) for Bible study and prayer. Pray for Suzanna to grow in love and knowledge of God, and for the children and young women who gather on Saturdays to see the light of God shining through Suzanna’s transformed life.

On July 7th we prayed for Angelo caring for his ill brother Lobom. Lobom passed away a few days ago. Pray for Angelo and his family and our team as they grieve this loss.

Angelo has been working hard at his nursing program in Kenya, ever with the intent of returning to serve God among the Laarim. Recently his younger brother, Lobom, became terribly ill in South Sudan and was sent to a hospital in Kenya for evaluation and treatment. Angelo is now looking after his brother while busy with his studies. Please pray for these brothers: for healing for Lobom (physically and spiritually), and for strength for Angelo.

Please pray for Maria, a young Laarim woman who has been a committed Christian for several years. She was recently beaten quite severely on the head and hand when she attempted to break up a fight between two men. We thank God that she is healing. Pray that she would experience complete healing, and that she would continue to grow in faith, courage to do what is right, and the desire to share Jesus with others. Pray that with Love and Lisa on the team, Maria can experience encouragement and discipleship from other believing women.

Pray for more Laarim to respond to the message that has been shared with them; pray that they will “declare with their mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in their heart that God raised him from the dead, and be saved” (Romans 10:9), and that those who trust in Him “will never be put to shame” (10:11).

Pray for Jacob’s disciple, Lokolong. This young man recently experienced a seizure and several episodes of double vision, which is especially concerning as his father died from an epileptic seizure some years ago. They were in Torit for a medical assessment, and after ruling out other diseases the consensus was to allow Lokolong to go back to the village and continue life as usual, but to take note of any further symptoms. Lokolong has testified that God has given him peace and that he is not worried. Pray for Jacob as he provides support to Lokolong, and for Lokolong to continue to grow in his trust in God’s care for him.

While Jacob was away for nearly a month, he had Paulo stay on his compound. Paulo is the elder of the gathering of believers in Yei village. When Jacob sat down to talk with him, he begin singing a simple song he had composed while Jacob was away. The song in Laarim simply says, “Jesus loves us. He will return some day.” Paulo’s grandson told Jacob that his grandfather had come up with this song to encourage himself while he was staying at the compound alone. Pray for Paulo, that the Lord will continue to put a song in his heart and be the friend that is always near.

Lucia and her son, Marino, spent most of March in Juba getting treatment for a condition that has left Marino unable to speak for over a year. He needed surgery to remove growths from his larynx. We thank God that the surgery went well, however not all could be removed at once and Marino is still not speaking much above a whisper. We also thank God that the biopsy of the masses did not reveal any cancerous cells. The surgeon has told Lucia to return to Juba in May/June for further surgery. This has been a difficult journey for Lucia and her son, but she has not wavered in her belief that God has been her help and strength through it all – “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens!” (Psalm 68:19). Please pray that God would heal Marino completely, that his voice would be restored, and he would use his mouth to speak the praises of God.

Pray for Logwe, a Laarim believer who is facing much stress in his life. Pray that he would remain firmly trusting in the Lord and walking with Him. Pray that he would know “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18), and that he would call on Jesus for help in times of trouble.

Lolimo is a young man in the village of Yei where Jacob lives. He is one of Jacob’s regular visitors. Even though Lolimo is only in second grade, he is able to read Laarim. This is truly good news for a mostly illiterate community! Pray this young man will read the Scriptures that have been translated into Laarim and share what he is learning with others. Jacob is encouraged by Lolimo’s growing faith and love for Jesus. Pray that he and his brother, Logwe, would sharpen each other in their faith.

Pray for Kileng, Lowuyo, Kato, and Locii all stepping out in faith in one way or another to lead fellowships and serve their neighbors. At the end of December, Dan and Joel cooked a meal for these guys to celebrate finishing the 10-weeks of curriculum and to encourage them to continue growing and standing firm in the faith. Pray that even though the missionaries are gone, the Spirit who is with the Laarim believers will make them strong.

Please join us in praying for Cecelia and Angelo. Cecelia is the lovely young woman that we knew from Ikotos as a little girl, and who has been living with us for the last 5 years. She is truly like a daughter to us. Angelo is the young man who has been an integral part of the Laarim team. He has stated his desire to marry Cecelia, and she has returned the sentiment. We are thrilled! It is wonderful to see two strong Christians with a heart for ministry seeking a righteous path towards marriage. But in this context, it’s also really hard! There will be “negotiations” between the two families over the dowry, which to us can seem like insurmountable demands. Pray the Lord will make the way for these two to come together in marriage, setting an example for the church and believers.

Fara Sika is a small village in the southern territory of the Laarim community. Jacinta has been a missionary there since 2005, together with James who joined her in 2007. They are both from Kenya. It is a joy to see how God is growing His church in Fara Sika after the many years that Jacinta and James have been investing in there. We thank God for these faithful servants! Pray for them, that they will continue to “live holy and godly lives as [they] look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (2 Peter 3:11).

Pray for Khalifah who now has the responsibility of leading the small flock of God in Chauwa. Pray that the Holy Spirit will empower him in that responsibility. Noblesse hopes to continue encouraging Khalifha through periodic phone calls while he is in Rwanda. There are very few spots in Kimatong where the network picks up cell phone signals, so pray that these men will be able to coordinate these times to talk, and that it will be an encouragement to them both.

Lokwangan went to school outside the Laarim community up to grade eight. He speaks good English and is volunteering at a primary school in Napak. Lokwangan had been abusing alcohol a lot, like many other teachers at that school. After he and Noblesse spent time looking together in the Scriptures, Lokwangan’s desire has changed. He has stopped alcohol consumption and he is very interested in the Word of God. Noblesse and Lokwangan have been using the Bible in English, and a book by Navigators called “Knowing God” to study together. Pray that the truth of God’s Word will keep transforming him into a strong believer who will soon be ready to reach out to many others for Christ.

Pray for Lokolong, one of Jacob’s disciples. He has asked prayer for protection for himself and for others. Because of his age, this is the first year Lokolong has been given a gun and the responsibility to defend himself, others, and the cattle against potential enemies when they take the cattle out each day for grazing. He said this added responsibility has made him anxious. As cattle raiding (and subsequent shootings, death, and retaliation) are endemic in these cattle-keeping communities, pray for Lokolong’s safety, but also pray that as a Christian, he would “set an example by doing what is good” (Titus 2:7).

Dan, Joel and Noblesse have completed their term of service and are now on their way back to their home countries. We are thankful for the faithful service of these three young men. They have spent two years in the remote villages of the Laarim; they have endured sickness, loneliness, heat. They have learned language and shared the gospel. Pray that the seeds of Truth they planted among the Laarim will continue to take root and grow and bear much fruit. Pray for the believers to “stand firm and hold fast to the teachings…passed on to [them]” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

It was great to have a visit with Angelo a couple of weeks ago when he came through Torit on his way to Kimatong. He has had a successful semester in his nursing program in Kenya, and chose to spend his month of holidays back in the village. Pray that during his time among the Laarim, he is able to “set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12); pray also that Angelo will hold fast to the calling he has received to be a witness among his own people. Please lift up Angelo and Noblesse as they travel by road to Kenya over the next few days.

Noblesse has struggled with getting a DBS group started in the village of Ngarahac. The village is far enough away that it requires him staying overnight, and the number of people interested in attending the Bible study has been very small. However, he was encouraged recently by increased attendance, as well as by meeting a woman, Natiyote, who expressed the desire to learn the Word of God. Pray that her desire would continue and would grow, and that she and others in the village will faithfully attend the Bible study.

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High…to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp” (Psalm 92:1-3). Lokwan and Lomua are 2 boys who meet in Kali for Sunday morning worship. They recently made shaker instruments for use in the Sunday gathering. Pray they (the boys and the shakers!) would be used to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Pray that the believers and seekers meeting in Kali would continue even after Dan and Joel leave next month. May God grow this church in greater ways than we could ask or imagine.

Noblesse has been encouraging Khalifha, a Laarim Christian in the village of Chawua, to start and lead a DBS in his village. After several months of praying and waiting, Khalifa shared this with Noblesse: “I have started to gather my family and we read the Bible with them…I have invited others and they have come.” Thank God for Khalifha’s commitment to Christ and growth as a leader. Pray that he will be faithful to follow through on his plans to lead this Bible study (the makings of a church!) in Chawua.

There are only a few weeks left for the Kimatong “men’s team” until Noblesse, Dan and Joel’s terms come to an end. Pray that even in these final weeks the Lord would give wisdom as they seek to help establish the believers as the Laarim church. Pray that God will establish His church among the Laarim. Pray from Jeremiah 17:7-8 for the Christians there: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Despite the challenges, there are many encouraging things going on amongst the Laarim. Pray for Dan as he leads four guys through the discipleship curriculum the team developed for maturing believers. Pray for Lowuyo, Kileng, Kato, and Locii as they study God’s Word and apply it to their lives. Pray for deep impact in the community as these men live out what it means to follow Jesus. Pray for the weekly Bible study Joel is leading at Lolepo’s compound – may he and his whole household come to a true faith in Jesus.

The team in Kimatong feel the pain and burden of the senseless loss that seems so much a part of life among the Laarim. There is the death of young men in cattle raids, fights that break out at dances that lead to one boy dead and two girls shot in the leg, death from preventable and treatable diseases…sometimes it’s overwhelmingly hard to live in such darkness. Pray for the day when the Laarim “…will delight in the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:3) and “they will neither harm nor destroy…for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea” (11:9). And please pray God’s special grace over this team as they minister in this place.

We received an urgent request for help from Jacinta, a Kenyan missionary working among the Laarim in the village of Fara Sika. She is recently returned from a break in Kenya and has found the situation in the area dire due to food shortages. We were able to send her some food, but there will be more needs as dry season (often referred to as “hunger season” here in South Sudan) is upon us. Pray for Jacinta’s faith to grow as she trusts her daily needs to the Lord, and He faithfully provides everything she needs. Pray for mercy for the people she lives among.

Last month Joel got out to a village called Thuguru for an exploratory trip in hopes of finding some new places to take Bible stories. After finding his old neighbour’s new home, he and his friend set off to meet the village chief. By the end of the day, Joel had been invited by the three compounds he visited to return with either the Jesus Film or to teach God’s Word! Thank God for Lolepo, Abraham and Lolar, the men of peace God led Joel to that day – pray for them and many others from these homes to follow Jesus.

Lift up Dan and Joel’s relationships with the people whose garden is near their house (Louren, Lopiir, Nadukuo, Rebekah, Nangide, Teresa). Pray the Lord will open their ears and hearts to the gospel as Dan and Joel greet them when they come to the gardens. Pray for boldness (and language skills) for Dan and Joel to share truths from God’s Word with them.

Pray for Kalifha, a Laarim man, who is leading the Bible study in Cauwa. Pray for him, and other Laarim believers, to grow to maturity in order that they may “be shepherds of God’s flock…examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2,4).

Paul declared in his letter to the Colossian believers that “since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (1:9). Let us remember the Laarim believers today and pray this same prayer for them. Pray today for Maria, Kalifha, Loduko, Lokolong, Lowuyo, Yaba, Kileng and others (God knows their names!).