Lots of prayers needed

We received news Sunday evening that James and his wife Nyakume lost their daughter due to dehydration. We were also told that Chan's daughter is suffering from the same thing. Doctors are trying to keep her hydrated but she is still struggling. Last I heard Nyakume was not handling the loss of Tabitha (their daughter) very well. For sake of privacy I will not disclose any information but please pray for her earnestly and constantly. Again this is their second child to lose in the past 6 months, so she is grieving the loss of Nhial and now the loss of Tabitha. While James is caring for Nyakume, he has also been spending much time at the hospital helping care for Chan and his wife's little girl. Since Chan helps teach at the preaching/Bible school and his wife cooks for the students, they are unable to be there as much as they would like. So, James decided to help.

The previous prayer request is first and foremost. However, we do also ask that you pray for the following things:
1. The hotel there is currently full and Tyrone has yet to find us a room. If this is the case we will have to stay in the student's dorms (which we hope will be done being built by then) and the students will continue to stay at the Church's building. We do not like this plan because we hate the idea of "kicking" the students out. However, Tyrone nor the students would ever let us trade arrangements so, for now we just pray rooms will open up.
2. There is still no running water at the compound and do not see it happening in the foreseeable future. This addition would mean an easier day for the women that must haul water all the way from the river (which is a ways away). It would also be safer since they would not have to worry about crocodiles.
3. Since last year, 3 new refugee camps have opened about 30 mins from Gambella. This means there are 1.5 million more S.Sudanese in that area. Tyrone is already making arrangements to send out men to teach the gospel. Already he has ran into a few previous students who were baptized. He hopes they will be willing to go out and teach. He also has 23 students this year (most of whom I understand to be new but I could be wrong). Even with the war going on, God's word is still spreading.

We are ready for our trip to begin. We can literally not get there soon enough. Pray for peace in South Sudan, for those who have lost loved ones to cope, and for God and His word be taught and spread. Pray we do not get sick, have safe travels, and that the children will be receptive to what we teach and continue to learn even after we leave.
I also ask that if you talk of this trip with me or any of the other teachers, that you do not remind us of the dangers. We are aware, and are choosing to go anyway. Our faith is in God to keep us safe. We need encouragement and support and strength. Not to be told we should not go because of what COULD happen. Paul, Peter, James, John, Timothy....they all took risks in order to spread the Gospel. It was something God called them to do and because of their willingness Christianity was spread. We have been called and we answered yes. These people want us to come and to share with them the News that we have been blessed to already know. Please, pray and encourage.

Runnin' with it

Well, I just got home about an hour ago and it was a good meeting. All decisions have been made and now we just have to buy certain craft supplies and we are a "go". I won't give away the fun details of what we are doing (crafts, songs, etc) until after we get back so we can show the pictures. Joanie and I only have one shirt that we need to do so we hope to get together before I go back to (my) home Wednesday to do that. We have still lots to do as is always the case until the day we actually leave haha. But with Bryce and Kaity coming this year and the knowledge we have from last year, things are not quite as daunting or stressful.
We would like to thank everyone who has helped via prayers and donations. We are so excited for this opportunity to arise again this year and people's continuing love for the Lord, for us, and for the S.Sudanese. This year we are taking on an extra chore of collecting eye glasses to distribute to the people there. If you have any that you no longer use/need and would like to get rid of.....We are the people to give them to! We have about 10 pairs right now. We have no set number as we are going to cram them in every nook and cranny that we can find in our suit cases. So give us what ya got and we will get them there. We will take reading, bifocals, regular...whatever!! We want them.
Also, some specific things we would like prayed for....
-all the luggage w/ VBS in it gets there
-no one gets sick/hurt
-safe travels
-we teach as many as we possibly can plus more with the Lord's help and guidance
-the men in the preaching school/women in Bible school
-David who is going to Ethiopia tomorrow (May 18) so he can go preach in the refugee camp I told you about yesterday

We know God will bless the work this year as He did last year and can't wait to see what He has in store. Again, please keep us and those we will come in contact with in your prayers. They are greatly needed and greatly appreciated. God bless you!

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

P.S.
Sunday, May 25 I will be giving a talk at 6 P.M. at Brazos Valley Church of Christ in College Station about last year's trip and this year's if you would like/are able to come. :) Finger foods/sandwiches will be served so all you gotta bring is yourself!

New refugee camp

ITANG May 14, 2014

 

I’m excited to report regarding a recent survey trip by Brother James Puot, Preacher and Director of the Gambella - South Sudanese School of Biblical Studies, in Gambella, accompanied with four other  preachers made to the newest Ethiopian Refugee Camp in Itang, Ethiopia several days ago. The brethren, some from Malkal and presently refugeed with brethren in Nisar and some from the Nisar congregation traveled to Gambella to attend continuing education classes, but took time to make the trip to Itang. Unfortunately they had to return to the Nisar Area as war  broke out again in Nisar and they were concerned for their families. 

While James and the brethren were at the camp they visited with many of the refugees and found one sister and her child. James said the Refugees were greatful for the brethren's desire to start a congregation in or around the camp. Two or three of the Brothers, all graduates of our level one and level two classes and preachers from the Malakal Region, are  contemplating  moving to the camp to start a congregation.

The Itand  Refugee Camp was established in early January 2014 to accommodate refugees from the warfare in South Sudan.  The camp is projected to accommodate in excees 1,000,000 refugees.  Itang is approximately 35 miles from Gambella.

James accompanied the brethren to Nisar to purchase and disperse food to the brethren in Nisar. James said many of the brethren are in the bush, but there was food to buy and they would seek out each family and give them food for the month.

Praise God for faithful brethren like these who willingly risk their lives for the cause of Christ. Please keep all the brethren in your prayers.

Sister in Christ

 Refugees

 

It's Going UP!

Tyrone's "Shining the Light" Letter

Shining the “LIGHT” into South Sudan

April 15, 2014

Dear friends and supports of the Southern Sudan Mission.

There have been dramatic changes in South Sudan since my last newsletter. We are very grateful to the Lord regarding our knowledge that all of the brethren from Malakal and the villages in the Upper Nile Region have made their way through the bush (forest) to Nisar, South Sudan. Although many arrived sick and others weak from starvation from their six to eight week trek, they were extremely glad to be greeted by the brethren in Nisar.

If you recall we are sending money monthly to Nisar, South Sudan  to purchase and distribute food to the brethren. We are blessed to have faithful Sudanese Brethren from Gambella, Ethiopia we can trust to carry the funds on a two day journey by foot and river boat to Nisar. We feel it is important to send the funds with different brethren each month so the rebels along the way do not recognize any of them as regular travels.  

Aside from the problem, yet privilege above we are excited about several good things that are happening among the South Sudanese brethren in Gambella, Ethiopia, our headquarters for the Southern Sudanese Mission.  The church continues to have additions and is growing spiritually. Families are being united in Christ. The number of women in the church has grown considerably and the children’s ministry continues to grow. Additionally the brethren are overwhelmed with the generosity of the American Brethren support in the food efforts. 

We are also excited some of the proposed construction has begun. This phase will include adding additional seating to the assembly hall and class rooms to be used for children’s classes and for classes for the School of Biblical Studies.  Additional construction will include showers for the students and a male and female dry toilet. We will also reinforce the fence around the compound.  

Although we do not the funds to construct the proposed guest house we felt it was important to begin the above work with hopes of completing the project before the rainy season sets in. If the Lord blesses us with the additional funds needed to construct the proposed guest house, $35,000.00, we hope to get it completed before the rainy season also.

I will travel to Gambella May 5^th to check on the construction, talk with the preachers about the continued food needs and distribution, encourage the brethrens and make final preparations for the upcoming School of Biblical Studies which begins June 23^rd and the second annual Vacation Bible School which begins July 29^th.

In an earlier newsletter I mentioned a couple we met from Holland, Walter and Elsa.  Walther heads up a humanitarian organization, ZOA, in Gambella. He and his employees work extensively training the South Sudanese Refugees throughout Ethiopia. Although they have not become Christians they have been attending the worship services in Gambella.  Several days ago Elsa obtained multiple eye glasses and used our compound to distribute the same to the South Sudanese People. What a wonderful blessing as all the recipients were introduced to our compound and the church. Isn’t it amazing how God works?

 

 

 

 

 

 

As in all of our mission efforts we depend on the prayers and financial support of the brethren to make the opportunity possible.  Please consider the present urgent financial needs: $5,000.00 a month to feed the displaced brethren in Nisar, South Sudan, $30,000.00 for additional construction and  $4,000.00 for the proposed May trip.

If you can help financially for any amount it would be extremely helpful.

If you do not need a tax deduction you may make you check payable to Tyrone Mynhier/South Sudan Mission and mail the same Tyrone Mynhier, 532 Raleigh Dr. Conroe, Texas 77302.

If you desire a tax deduction you may make your checks payable to Porter Church of Christ, ear-marked South Sudan Mission and mail the same to Porter Church of Christ P.O. Box 770, Porter, Texas 77365.

Please pass this information to your friends and/or any congregations you think might be interested in knowing more about this great English speaking evangelistic opportunity.

Because of Calvary,

Tyrone Mynhier

P.S. We are in need of three or four teachers to help with our VBS. If you are interested please contact Tyrone. Tyrone.mynhier@gmail.com

Trip Date

So many of you have been asking our dates for the trip and until now I haven't had an answer for you. So without further ado.... we are leaving July 22 and will return August 3! Sorry I haven't been able to give a definite date until now but I found out as soon as I could. I need to reach a goal of about $2900 by May 1 so we can purchase our tickets. I'm about $1200 short so if you are able please donate whatever you can to help me reach that goal! :)
God bless and have a wonderful week.

1 Timothy 4:1-12

Yay!

We are SO excited to welcome Kaity to our team going to Ethiopia this year!! We are now up to 6 teachers! Such a blessing to get to reach a bigger group of kids this summer. If you have a Facebook please send her an encouraging message and keep her in your prayers as well. We will be meeting with Tyrone and Alma tomorrow night and will explain the trip in more detail with her and let them all get to know each other a bit. Super excited!! :) Please remember to keep us all in your thoughts and prayers as well as those we will come in contact with all throughout our trip. God Bless!

Philippians 4:4

Not much news

There's not a lot to tell today. Due to spring break I won't get to meet up with Joanie until sometime in April to work on the t-shirts. I am in the process of writing a donation letter discussing our trip last year and what we plan to do this year. I am posting it here and will send out physical copies during the next couple of weeks. Hopefully I will have some real news in April. I am trying to set up a meeting to share our story from last year after worship services next month. Joanie is helping me with that and maybe get definite dates here pretty soon. That's about all there is to tell for this month.
Here is a copy of the letter that will be sent out.

Dear friends and family,

Last year I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Gambella, Ethiopia to host the first ever Vacation Bible School. We primarily worked with South Sudanese  refugees, however Ethiopian children came as well. The topic was creation because the children were not taught the bible and we felt in order to build, we needed to start at the beginning. There were four of us ladies: Joanie, Rusty, Alma, and  myself who taught grades 1^st - 4^th . We had about 100 children signed up, however, we had about 100 extra children come each day asking to be let in. We allowed a few extra children, however, due to lack of supplies and teachers we were not able to include all the children. Amazingly, all the kids would stay and listen and participate from outside the classrooms. They too learned the lessons and songs and some children would stay after the VBS and ask questions about what we taught. We had men from the preaching school who interpreted for us. These men were taught by the missionary who invited us, Tyrone Myhnier. We worked closely with these men and developed friendships that still last today. The church had no children when we came and now has about 50,  who come  regularly. In addition to that, more adults have come and there have been  many baptisms. We went, not just to teach the children, but to reach out to their parents as well (Matthew 21.15-16). The Lord blessed the work more than we could even imagine. This year, we are again blessed with the opportunity to return to Gambella and host another VBS. We  have another volunteer, Bryce, to go and teach with us. We hope to get a couple more teachers so we can have enough classrooms for all the kids interested in attending. The topic will range multiple Bible stories: David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, Noah and the Ark, Abraham and Isaac, Hannah, and Joseph and his Coat of Colors. The VBS will be one week and then work with the congregation there to help it strengthen and grow. The trip costs $4,000 total, however, I am in need of $3,000 since I have already  received $1,000. I have a blog at www.heart4ethiopia2013.blogspot.com where you can go to stay up- to- date on our progress. If you would like to make a donation,  you can go to my blog and donate via PayPal or debit/credit card. You can also donate via check and send  it to my home address. This is a work that has greatly impacted  my life and helped  me grow in faith and knowledge as a Christian. These people starve for knowledge about God and His Word. I have developed a love for these people and these wonderful children. I pray it is again God's will to use me to further His kingdom. But in order to do this work I need your help. Any monetary donations, prayers, or encouraging words are greatly needed and deeply appreciated.

In Christ,

Karisa Holland

Met Today

Well, we all met today. Bryce has officially signed on with us. Hopefully he can survive lol
We discussed the different crafts and solidified what we needed, what we have, and how to make them. We made a list of songs we want to maybe use when we do our lessons. We may have to change using Daniel for The Fiery Furnace....but don't know yet we need to work out some kinks first. We figured out some more applications but still have one or two left I think to figure out. We also discussed fund raising ideas for the new building that is really needed. Also, we updated each other on what we knew was going on with our dear brothers over there in Africa. It was a mixture of sad and happy news. We are ready for Tyrone to get back so we can get some of the travel details figured out more and to learn of how all of those we aren't in contact with are doing. Of course more than anything we want to hear about the kids!
Right now things are getting pretty heated in Ethiopia and surrounding regions. Muslim Somalian terrorists are planning attacks on Westernized areas. Please pray for the safety of everyone over there and that peace is soon reigning again so that we can do a VBS again this year. As of right now we can't go but we just trust in God to let things work out to where we can. We want so dearly for these wonderful kids to continue to learn and to help spread the gospel to the locals. Please pray that God allows a way for this work to continue... but of course all is in His timing and not ours. Also, please pray for Tyrone and for his travels to be safe with no trouble.
We got some details for our tshirts this year figured out. We just need to find a place that has what we want for a good price. I'll be going to Joann's for the shirts. I also will be going to thrift stores to find books that we can leave to help start a church library. They all want so badly to learn anything they can, we think this might be a good way to help out our brothers and sisters there, but also to maybe encourage people to get interest in the Church. Hopefully this can all get done so we can get as many checks off our list as possible. There is still SO much to do and we are so desperate for people to commit to teaching.
If you are interested but are worried about being able to teach please take note....we will have a set curriculum, with stories printed out with a picture. So all you would have to do at minimum is read the stories and pass out the crafts and explain what to do. If you want to venture further that is YOUR decision. Last year, being inexperienced and with no confidence, that's what I did. Further in the week I ventured out a bit and added some extra fun information (like that Adam and Eve probably looked more like them than me). If your interested please let me know. We don't need a commitment right this moment but we need to know if we atleast have some interest.

btw our topic...TRUST AND OBEY

Psalm 62: 1-2

Just a little thing

There are somedays when I really miss Ethiopia. Where it's almost like being homesick. I have that feeling today. Because of that I figured I'd just give a small little update. We decided on our stories this year. They are David and Goliath, Noah's ark, Daniel and the Lion's den, Abraham and Isaac, Hannah, and Joseph and the coat of colors. We already have some really exciting ideas for crafts for most of these; as well as a few applications. I need to get on Pinterest and get a couple more ideas but I think we are off to a really great start on all this. We have a few people interested in going but we definately need more! That's the area we are really struggling with right now. We just pray we can find a few more volunteers. If you're even just slightly interested talk to any of us. We really want to get people to go this year. The money is actually easier than expected to come up with and Woodland Oaks is willing to help out. It's such an incredible experience and worth more than anything to get to teach those kids about God and His glory. We were so blessed with how things worked out last year, and we know God will continue to bless this work this year as well.

BTW...If you'd like to read my journal from my trip last year, let me know. It doesn't have all our experiences as it was impossible to write them all down, but it will tell some stories I didn't tell and I think expresses just how amazing the VBS was. I only have two people who have said they're interested so PLEASE "order" one so this story can continue. They're totally free and less than 20 pages of reading. So get one!! :)

2 Thessalonians 3:1-4