Until I See His Face...

two of our boys, Arikangelo (boy on left, that's his warrior face) and Amule (pronounced a-moo-lay, not "a mule" haha!), recently graduated secondary school and moved off the compound. they are attending the Yei Vocational Training College, training to be drivers/mechanics. it's great to see our kids "leaving the nest" and stepping out into the real world to make a life for themselves. i visited Arikangelo yesterday because we missionaries have a weekly Bible study that meets near the YVTC. i was so encouraged by our brief interaction because i saw how much the Lord had worked in his heart throughout his time at Iris. the college leadership asked him to preach at church the next Sunday, because they can see that he is a leader and a preacher. they also want to elect him as the Head Boy, which is the equivalent of class president in the U.S. but the heart-leap moment for me was when he told me his sermon topic. he wants to preach on fasting and call the students to fast every Friday for Sudan!! he asked me where the verse in Esther was about her calling the Jews to fast. Arikangelo really caught the vision and heart for fasting when i introduced it to the kids. from the first day he did it, he loved it. he felt strong, he felt grace, his heart was alive, and the Lord has answered his prayers and showed him His provision as he has fasted and prayed.

i'm so proud of Arikangelo, for how much he has grown in God. this is what it's all about, raising up and equipping people and them going out and doing the same. the Lord is spreading the message of prayer and fasting and He's using our kids - the least likely, the outcast. so like God...