Praise God for his work in the new schools on the Ik ridge as the first term is now coming to an end! Although the number of students fluctuates daily, praise God for this provision for the Ik. Continue to pray that the Ik children develop a deep desire to learn and go to school. Pray that their parents allow them to attend, despite the fact that they will have less hands helping with the garden and chores. Pray that God gives the teachers lots of patience and that they can show the children the love and grace of God.

Although the Ik have had a couple of heavy rains in the past months, they have not received the amount of rain necessary to sustain the crops. The Ik rely heavily on rain as they are subsistence farmers, growing their crops solely to have food for the next year. Without rain they have no food. Some of the Ik have begun to sacrifice animals, hoping this will bring the rains. Others have fled to a refugee camp across the border in Kenya. Many more will follow if rain doesn’t come soon. Pray that God sends rain now, and in abundance, to save the crops. Pray that the Ik will see that the rains come from the one true God, not because of their animal sacrifices.

The rains have begun and the Ik have started to till their land by hand.  Pray for safety in their work, and for protection of their crops against animals from neighboring tribes. Pray that this year’s crops would lead to a plentiful harvest. And pray for a spiritual harvest, as people hear the Word, that it would take root and grow.

Please pray that the Ik would understand and live out the gospel, becoming a light on the mountains, shining the hope of Jesus to the surrounding tribes.

Recently two schools were opened on the Ik ridge beginning with classes of P1 and P2. Most of the Ik are illiterate and there hasn’t been a school here for some time. We are so thankful for this opportunity for the Ik to receive an education in their heart language of Icetod, as well as begin to learn English. The teachers are all Ik men and have been involved in the local churches, even preaching on Sundays. Pray for the four teachers, that they can be a light for the students and community. Pray that the team here would know  how best to support the teachers and students, and help the school to prosper. Pray that the children have a desire to learn and that any barriers to attendance are negated. And thank God for this blessing for the Ik!

There are 4 young Ik men who have stepped forward to teach the Ik children. Primary classes have now commenced on the Ik ridge. An answer to prayer! However, class sizes fluctuate daily and resources are limited which can make it a challenge to teach and to learn. Please pray for the Ik teachers to have endurance and perseverance in teaching. And for the Ik children to continue to be eager to learn as the rigor of the school days continue. It has been heartwarming to hear the children sing and laugh as they play school in the evenings.

The Ik don’t have a local shop that sells clothing. They have to make a long trip to a nearby town in order to buy clothes, which is an 1.5 hour drive. They see their need for new clothing as the clothes they wear are often torn and threadbare. They are also willing to pay money to buy new clothing if they are available nearby. Please be praying that God would raise up someone trustworthy that the TIMO team could help equip to bring this necessary resource to the Ik.

Despite the 4 churches on the Ik ridge, the Ik people know very little about Christianity. Through recent conversations, it was discovered that although most of the Ik would say they are Christians, they don’t believe in angels, demons, or Jesus Christ’s saving death on the cross. They believe that going to heaven depends solely on doing good in your life. Please be praying for God to provide opportunities for continued meaningful spiritual conversations. And always be praying that God opens the hearts of the Ik men, women, and children to hear the truth of the gospel.

Although the Ik believe strongly in peace, they live in- between two strong, warring tribes, the Karamajong to the south and the Turkana to the north in Kenya, causing countless problems to the Ik. Over the years, there have been many casualties among the Ik even though they weren’t directly involved in the conflict between the tribes. Lately both of the tribes have been encroaching on the Ik ridge, desiring to bring their cattle through in search of grazing land. Pray that the Ik can take a peaceful stand so that the Karamajong and the Turkana don’t take advantage of them by destroying their land, and instead respect their wishes. Pray also for the safety of all on the ridge as these tribes many times bring violence. Pray the Prince of Peace would be made known.

The Christmas season is upon us and the Ik are busy finishing their work after a bountiful harvest this year! During this Christmas season, pray that God readies the hearts of the Ik for conversations to be had surrounding Christmas. Pray also that the TIMO team is able to relay the gospel to the Ik through both word and deed, that they may understand the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

Although there are 4 churches planted along the Ik ridge, there are no trained pastors to lead them. On some Sundays, the small churches are filled to capacity, and other Sundays, only children show up. Despite the lack of trained leadership, those who come to the service still spend time in worship, praise, and prayer, even if only children are there. If there is a sermon, it is usually preached in Icetod, but many times the scripture, prayers, and songs are in other languages such as English, Karamajong, or Swahili, and most of the people in attendance don’t fully understand (or understand at all) what they are saying or singing. Pray that the Lord raises up leaders among the Ik who desire to be trained as pastors or leaders in the churches. And pray that God fills the churches with people who desire to know more about who Jesus is and what he has done for them, that they desire to turn from their sin and to the one true God.

The TIMO team arrived on the Ik ridge 2 weeks ago. The Ik welcomed them and hosted them for their home-stays. Some Ik took the men on a 22 mile hunt, and others taught the women to carry anything and everything on their heads. The team is now settling into their homes, beginning one-on-one language learning, and preparing to start TIMO coursework. Pray for the Ik language helpers to be patient and open to forming deep and meaningful relationships with the team. Pray for the team to learn the language well so to be able to share the good news.

Please pray for the Ik people to have open hearts and minds as a new TIMO team has arrived this month. Pray that they would begin good relationships with a solid foundation. Pray for the language barrier as the Ik people try to understand why this group of foreigners has come to live among them.

A new TIMO team has just arrived to live among and serve the Ik. It seems every time a new work has started among the Ik, there is fierce spiritual opposition. Pray the Lord would bind the strongman and plunder his house, that the Ik would be delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of light.

A TIMO (Training In Ministry Outreach) Team is scheduled to start in June of 2016. They will live and share the the gospel among the Ik. We are very thankful for a German team that came for two weeks to help with housing for the team members. to help to get the houses ready for the TIMO team members.

The IK have started preparing their fields because rain has begun to fall in the region. Praise God for this blessing. We are very thankful that Hillary, an Ik man, is a member of Uganda’s parliament and Mark John is a counselor to represent the Ik in the Kaabong District.

Since beginning of March we have a lot of Karimajong people here on the IK ridge. They came with a lot of cattle, ploughing fields, cutting trees … Please pray, that the Karimajong don’t exploit the IK and will leave the place very soon.

The IK have started preparing their fields because rain started very nicely, thank God for this. We are very thankful that Hillary, an IK man, is a member of parliament and Mark John as a counselor to represent the IK in the Kaabong District.
Please pray, that start the lessons in the schools at Kapalu and Lokinene.

The IK have started preparing their fields because rain started very nicely, thank God for this. We are very thankful that Hillary, an IK man, is a member of parliament and Mark John as a counselor to represent the IK in the Kaabong District.
Please pray, that start the lessons in the schools at Kapalu and Lokinene.

A TIMO Team is scheduled to start in June of 2016 to live the Gospel among the Ik. We are very thankful for a German team coming end of March for two weeks to help to get the houses ready for the team members. Please pray for a good fellowship and protection for the construction team and that they have a good testimony among the Ik.

In the summer we had a terrible hailstorm that destroyed many crops along our ridge. Some gardens were completely destroyed. People are crying out for food relief from the government and NGO’s. Pray that God will provide for the needs of the people and that other families along the ridge might share what abundance they have from this harvest season with those who’ve lost much. Pray for encouragement and hope in the face of natural disasters. Also pray that people might learn to manage their food supplies better in order to stretch the supplies over 365 days. Pray, too, that physical hunger can bring to light the spiritual hunger. And for those who know the truth to be willing to share with others.

The decision has been made that the Ik will be granted their own county very soon. They’ve been under a Karamojong county and leadership for many years and have been marginalized because they are not the same people group as the KJ. But being given their own county means that they’ll be given a seat in Parliament. The Ik will finally have their own Ik MP who can represent them to the country-at-large. Please pray for the individual elected to the position of Ik MP. Pray that they would have integrity and honor, pursuing truth and not falling prey to corruption. Pray that they would represent their people well.

The Ik are not hungry for the things of God. Matthew 5:8 states “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” The truth is that the Ik hunger NOT for righteousness, but to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. These offer no lasting happiness; these yield fleeting pleasures of sin which are short-lived. The righteousness of God is in Christ, and this brings us to eternal life. Pray this for the Ik!

The Ik are a peace-loving people, but are subject to exploitation and violence from the neighboring people groups. Pray for the protection of this people and for their relationships with those who are taking their land and their forests…but most of all, pray that the people will know the God who created them and is sustaining them daily!