Aaron Dinkledine

Two of my Cush4Christ teammates write blogs. My roommate James Brinkerhoff, is Radio Director for Wëër Bei FM and has lived in South Sudan since last August. A particularly exciting post is his account of the petrol thieves. Jan shares jots of everyday life among the Dinka people, usually accompanied by pictures.

Friends,
While I am working on the construction of the training center, mostly laying bricks for the past two months, I have a lot of time to think. And there are plenty of questions to ponder. How do we help the local church mature while avoiding pitfalls on every side? How do we train the church leaders to be pastors, elders, and deacons? How do we train them to be evangelists, church planters, preachers, theologians, teachers, and servants? How do we teach a church to minister to the poor, when the church members are the poorest people in the poorest nation on earth? How do we dismantle the culture of dependence so deeply ingrained into the minds of the people, that it is considered the duty of the rich kawajas to grant the requests of everyone who asks, because everyone thinks of himself as poor (and most are)? How do we avoid living aloof above our neighbors, so as not to provoke jealousy? How do we live like them as best as we are able, yet continue to make use of the conveniences of modern life that allow us time to serve them by addressing their spiritual and physical needs? How do I write letters to my supporters back home that paint an accurate picture of God’s work here, without sounding hopeless (as the circumstances often look) or portraying the roses without the thorns (as part of me would like to do)? How do we complete our impossible task?

The answer is found in Psalm 127:1

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.

The LORD is our builder. The LORD is our guard. Our efforts to build and to guard are a hopeless striving after the wind, unless the LORD blesses them. The LORD is the one on whom the success or failure of our mission lies, as several examples will demonstrate.

Our truck of supplies coming from Nairobi arrived on April 2nd, with great excitement. Praise the LORD for this answer to prayer! Someone on our team mentioned that this might be the most prayed for truck in history. People all over the world have been praying for it, since its expected arrival two months prior. Even after the truck was unloaded and left, the children were praying for its safe return to Nairobi. Somehow, for the adults, that prayer was far from our minds. The truck brought windows, doors, sheet metal roofing, 300 bags of cement, chairs, tables, desks, and chalkboards for the construction of the training center, among various other supplies. The lateness of the truck’s arrival was God’s doing and God’s plan, not ours. Our efforts to hasten the truck’s arrival were in vain, but God brought it safely at the right time. Although that time was delayed, and we do not know why God delayed the truck, we can know, in faith, that the timing was right.

Construction projects in South Sudan always face the difficulties of theft and hiring workers. I have heard a number of stories of troubles from past projects. Thankfully, our experience with theft and disgruntled workers has been minimal during the construction of the training center. The protection of our God and learning from our past mistakes have reduced the number of incidents. The few thefts and quarrels which have taken place are sufficient to remind us how quickly our efforts could be erased if God did not guard this work. And it is not only the sin of others that could derail our efforts. Consider how quickly we are filled with anger when someone steals from us, even something small. In such a case, our own impetuousness could easily become the unraveling point for our work.

Another reminder that the LORD is the one who guards the city is the political relations between South Sudan and Sudan. It is completely out of our control whether the two countries go to war or live in peace, open the border or close it, pump oil or shut down oil production, make inflammatory comments or come to an agreement during negotiations. I would rather not comment on the internet about the politics here, because I am sure the politics are much more nuanced than I could understand after my first few weeks. I will ask that you pray for both nations to live at peace by submitting to the Prince of Peace. You may have seen news articles about South Sudan in the past few months. The news reports you can read online are the same articles we read, and we usually do not know much more, although we wish we did. If you are prone to worrying, don’t go looking for the articles. Such articles always report on the hottest activity. If you are afraid of flying, you wouldn’t go read the wikipedia article on plane crashes just before your first airplane ride. Use the same wisdom here.

Pray also for the meeting of presbytery, which is taking place as I write (on Saturday). During this meeting regarding the business matters of Aweil Community Church, the men will plan for the future and examine men who are in training for the ministry. Pray that these men will fix their hope on the LORD to build the church and not trust their own efforts or be distracted by the cares of the world.

In considering how our own efforts could easily be in vain, I Corinthians 15:58 is a challenge to obedience and confident assurance in the LORD:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

In Christ,
-Aaron

Friends,

After three weeks in South Sudan, it remains apparent that I am a stranger in a foreign land. I quickly became accustomed to the children shouting, “Kawaja! Kawaja! Kawaja!” as they come running to shake my hand (and ask for money). I learned to lay bricks, while many young eyes looked on. Men, women, and children all speak openly, but my ears do not understand their words. I am a stranger, a curiosity, and, because I am Kawaja, the supposed distributor of unlimited wealth.

When I consider how many people in scripture sojourned in foreign lands, being a stranger and an alien appears to be normal. Consider one man, Abraham:

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. … All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” [Hebrews 11:8-10,13-16]

I am an alien among the Dinka, but the Dinka are realizing that South Sudan is not their spiritual homeland as they look to Christ in faith for the promise of a better land. It is our hope that many more Dinka will be added to the city whose foundation is Christ and whose architect and builder is God. Because our God builds his church, we have faith that simple obedience will bear much fruit for the population of that holy, heavenly city. This obedience takes shape in several ministries of Cush4Christ: the training of men to be church-planting pastors, the broadcasting of the gospel by Wëër Bei 99.9 FM, and most recently, preparing to start a Christian school. My primary responsibility is the construction of a building for the Crossroads Training Center and the school. This building, containing four classrooms, is expected to be completed in April. These past two weeks have been filled with making bricks, laying bricks, and moving fill dirt.

Please pray:

• Giving thanks that I have adjusted well to life in Wanyjok. I was ill for a day when I arrived, but quickly recovered.
• That the truck of construction supplies will arrive soon.
• That visa uncertainties for all 14 members of our team will be resolved quickly and inexpensively. Since South Sudan became an independent nation last year, visa rules are changing frequently, making it very difficult for us (and even the government officials) to understand and comply with the requirements. This is yet another reminder that we are strangers in a foreign land.
• That the gospel will take deep root in the lives and culture of the Dinka, for the salvation of many unto new life in Christ Jesus.

In other news, I am becoming less of a foreigner, because I have now received my Dinka name: Athian. My father’s name is Akwei, and my clan is Panyer.

In Christ,

-Aaron

Friends,

“The moving walkway is coming to an end. Please watch your step!” As I sit at the Indianapolis airport, I hear this recorded message over and over. This message could be an accurate warning for my life. “Watch your step, Aaron! Your smooth ride is over.” Not that I think my life before this point was smooth flying. Not at all. Nor was I looking for more turbulence. I was looking for stability. I was looking for a job post-graduation. I was looking for smoother flying and a place to call home.

When I received a message asking if I would consider going to South Sudan to serve with the Cush4Christ mission, I was interviewing with several companies. The idea of going to South Sudan was very exciting, but I really didn’t want to delay getting a paying job. Then I received a job offer that was well-paying, but not well suited to me. I had to examine my steps. I had to compare my hopes to the clear direction of God. It should not be a surprise that God’s word proved true: “The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

Will this path that God has directed to South Sudan be turbulent? You bet! God doesn’t promise smooth flying. But He does promise that, by faith, He walks with me. I do not have to live in terror of taking wrong steps, for “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) But I do walk with care, paying attention to the word of God. By His discipline, God keeps me in His path, so that “The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23) May I fix my eyes on Christ always!

Thanks to my friends who counseled me to see God’s hand of preparation and direction in my life and go to South Sudan. Thanks to the people who helped me prepare to go. And a big thanks to the saints at Sycamore RPC who made a very tasty dinner and generously gave over $2000 to send me. God bountifully provides more than we ask!

For those who like dates, here is my calendar:

Feb. 17: Leave Home
Feb. 18: Arrive Nairobi, Kenya where I meet Scott
Feb. 20: Apply for South Sudan visa
Feb. 22: Pick up South Sudan visa
Feb. 23: Fly to Juba (the capital of South Sudan)
Feb. 24: Fly to Aweil and drive to the Cush4Christ mission
July 18: Arrive back in US

Please pray for traveling mercies from the hand of God and for speedy visa processing.
Pray that God would establish the steps I take in South Sudan by keeping me in His ways.

In Christ,
-Aaron

After much consideration, prayer, and exhortation from friends, I have decided to serve the Lord in South Sudan for several months next year. Please read more about this mission, pray for me, and consider supporting me.