The Kanyike Family Update – June 2023

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Ephesians 6:18

Dear Friends and Family,

We want to thank you all for your prayers.  I know many of you have expressed concern about what has been happening in Sudan.  The fighting there continues but we are very far from Sudan and safe in Uganda. 

While we are far away and safe, there have been many missionaries and even chaplains who have been stuck in Sudan and have had trouble getting out and to safety. Thankfully the Lord has provided for us to be able to help in different ways.  One of the ways was to help one of the South Sudanese chaplain guards and his family to get to safety.  Abraham is one of the chaplains who came to help us with security after our robbery in 2019.  Due to covid he and the other chaplains ended up spending many months in quarantine with us in Uganda.  That time of quarantine brought us all close together.  Abraham had been in Sudan serving near Dafur when the fighting broke out.  His wife was north of Khartoum about to deliver a baby.  Via Facebook he was able to keep us informed of what was happening up until he was finally able to secure  transport out of the danger area and to his wife. Here are some of his communications.

A praise report on top of thanking the Lord for Abraham’s safe escape from the danger zone, is that once he was reunited with his family, his wife gave birth to a healthy baby girl. 

Another praise report from Sudan is the safe rescue of an American pastor and his mission team that happened to be in Sudan when the fighting broke out.  Many of you know that I have been babysitting a little boy called Jesse, until he can join his family in the States.  The pastor and mission team were from his families’ church.  The team had been on a missions trip elsewhere in Africa and had only intended to be in Sudan 2 days before heading back to the USA.  Fighting broke out and that 2 days turned into 13 days. Miraculously, they were able to get help from an Arab tv station that put them in their van and got them to the coast where they were able to board a ferry to the safety of Saudi Arabia.  We thank the Lord for their deliverance and for the many others who have been able to get to safety.  We continue to pray for those who are still trying to get out and for the fighting to stop.

In Uganda we have been safe from fighting but many people have been affected by the rainy season.  This time of year is what we normally call the small rainy season but this year the weather has been severe. It has been raining almost nonstop and many places have flooded. This has caused roads to wash away and many accidents to occur due to the deep holes in the roads that become hidden when covered with water.  It also has increased the cases of malaria due to an abundance of mosquitos. Pray for the rain to stop and for health and safety for the people of Uganda.

Arise Christian Fellowship has not been untouched by the sicknesses brought on by this rainy season.  It is with a very sad and heavy heart we tell you of the passing of Evat.  It was just over a year ago I was writing of his marriage and the birth of his child.  A very brief but deadly sickness took him at his home.  Many members of the church traveled the 6+ hours to his families village for the funeral and burial.  We celebrate the fact that he is with the Lord but we mourn his loss here to his wife, baby, and all who knew and loved him.

Thank you for praying for our family and for the ministry to the people of Uganda and Sudan.

In Him,

Brian, Jill, Luke, Laylee and Liana

PRAYER REQUESTS
– We are so thankful for the many ways the Lord has blessed us and for everyone who supports us and the ministry in Uganda.
– Please pray for an end to the fighting in Sudan and for the evacuation of those who are in the fighting danger zones.
– Pray for Abraham and his family to remain safe and for their new baby girl.
– Pray for the missionaries who have been evacuated from Sudan to recover from the things they have seen and experienced.
– Pray for the rains in Uganda to let up and for people to be safe from sickness and on the dangerous roads.
– Pray for the Family of Evat and for Arise Christian Fellowship as they mourn his loss.
– Pray for the Kanyike children to get called for their citizenship interview.
– Pray for Brian as he pastors and leads the ministry team at Arise Christian Fellowship.
– Please prayerfully consider becoming part of the Kanyike Family support team.