Missionaries Jean Thierry Nshimirimana and Moise Nsengiyumva flew into remote Torit to begin a year of challenging learning with Africa Inland Mission’s ‘Inbound’ programme.
Jean Thierry and Moise caught a bus in Burundi to make the 2-day, 782-mile journey overland, from Bujumbura to Nairobi. From there, transport options narrowed.
Boarding an MAF plane, they flew 2.5 hours to Torit in South Sudan – and began their one-year ‘Inbound’ orientation with Africa Inland Mission.
Before Jean Thierry arrived, South Sudan was already on his heart.
“When I was in the school of mission, I prayed for South Sudan without knowing why,” he said.
“Moise and I were praying in the same church, and we did the same school of mission together. We decided to come together as two guys so we can support one another,” Jean Thierry explained.
Thank you for what MAF is doing. It is making easier the journeys and travel for the work that the missionaries are doing.
During their school of mission, Moise was fascinated to learn about ‘unreached people groups’: populations where the church has so few believers, that without outside help, most people would never hear the gospel. A small cluster of unreached people groups are located in rural areas of Eastern Equatoria surrounding Torit.
“In Burundi, I would say 80% of the population have heard the gospel,” Moise added. “They can hear it over the radio.
“We have heard many things about unreached people groups where the gospel is really needed. I said, ‘Okay, if God can open the door to the place where there is really a need, I will go there to reach those people with the good news.’”
For the next year, the pair – who previously worked in IT and Community Development – will be immersed in full-time learning about the communities they hope to reach.
The mountainous nation of Burundi in East Central Africa has an agricultural economy and population similar to South Sudan, but that’s where the similarities end. Differences include food, language, and the good roads which enable easy travel in the small African nation compared to South Sudan.
If God can open the door to the place where there is really a need, I will go there to reach those people with the good news.
As they participate in outreach activities, the trainee missionaries are learning by ‘doing’.
“Every Friday, I go to Lebalwa village to do Discovery Bible Studies,” said Jean Thierry. “At first, we were only fellowshipping with the kids. The people told us, ‘We won’t have anything to eat if we don’t go to the garden to cultivate our sorghum.’
“After hearing this, we moved the programme because on Friday afternoon, they have time.
“After starting the Bible studies, I saw that some elders came to join us. More people are also joining for services on Sunday,” Jean Thierry said.
Fellow missionary Moise has connected with some of the youth to understand their hopes and dreams.
“It is good to invest in the kids and the youth. If you want a good church in the future, you need to build a good foundation with the youth,” he added.
As he looks to the future and tries to discern what that might look like, Moise feels challenged.
“This year is about preparing us for the future mission field and to reach the villages which are outside of Torit,” he said. “If there is need 8 km outside Torit, how is it at 11 km? Imagine how it is in 20 km? There are many things to do!
“The work is bigger than I thought. Here there are many unreached people. I am excited about that!
“Thank you for what MAF is doing. It is making easier the journeys and travel for the work that the missionaries are doing. Thank you for the work you are doing to support the work in the places the missionaries are reaching.”
It is good to invest in the kids and the youth. If you want a good church in the future, you need to build a good foundation with the youth