March 28, 2020

On Sunday only children showed up, so Paul altered his program and changed his sermon accordingly.

          I am writing this letter from the basement during day 3 of the 14 day quarantine directed to me by the CDC because of my travel through Europe.  Our whole family is under the 14 day quarantine but I am also supposed to keep distance from them during this time in case I picked something up on one of my connecting flights.

           A few days after I wrote my last letter I was able to find a place to move in Uganda.  God is good, the place is bigger than what we had, which means we can make it available to other missionaries who need more space, and the price is the same as what we were paying before which means it’s actually cheaper!  After a few days of moving, unpacking, getting machines to work and loading, I left and went back to Lohutok.

           Back in Lohutok I was able to finish two Bible classes with Paul.  The day we did his last course was on another trip to Torit.  When we got back from shopping in Torit, Paul stayed over at our place to study for his exam, take it the next morning, and meet with Michael (Our guard who has been asking about the gospel).  The next morning Paul sat with Michael and talked to him about how every person in this world is walking on one of two roads, one leading to death or one leading to life.  You can’t be on both roads at once, and there is only one way to walk the road leading to life – following Christ.  The road leading to death is easy to stay on, and there are many ways to follow it, and it is Satan’s goal to fool and distract people into staying on that road.  At the end of the discussion, Paul asked Michael what he thought about the lesson, and Michael said “I think I need to be on the road that follows Christ.”  

           I told Paul that, although prayers don’t save people, it is a good idea to talk to Michael about what he is understanding and hearing from the Holy Spirit and then hear him pray and tell God about what he wants to do.  Paul said that he would do this with Michael, but first he wanted to spend more time explaining just what it means for a Lopit person to repent.  Michael and Paul agreed that they would start meeting to talk about this every Monday, pray that these meetings continue!  Paul asked me if I would be talking to Michael as well and I told him that I would do a little bit, but I am on my way back to the USA for a few months and Michael will understand it better coming from Paul.  Now Paul gets to take the responsibility for this himself.I was planning to drive back to Uganda on Sunday and leave on my flight back to the USA on Thursday.  With the whole world going crazy over this new virus, all of that changed…frequently…until I finally left and got back to Kansas City three days earlier than planned.  I found out the Wednesday before I was supposed to leave Lohutok that Brussels Airlines had cancelled all of their flights for two months so I called the travel agent to see if I could rebook.  She was able to get me a flight for Monday night (the day I was planning on driving out of Lohutok), so I immediately started packing my stuff and left Lohutok that night to get to Uganda.  On Saturday the Uganda government announced that they were shutting down all incoming and outgoing flights as of midnight Sunday, so I had to look again for different options.

Caleb's birthday is on Monday...He wants a suit of armor

               It seemed for a bit that I wouldn’t be able to leave!  The only flights back to the USA were $8000 flights that left 4 hours later, but eventually I was able to find a flight to Dubai and I asked the travel agent to just get me home from there.  The flight to Dubai got booked, but then I would be there for 48 hours, and another 24 hours in London before flying back to Dallas and then getting to Kansas City Friday night.  So I was to travel from Sunday afternoon until Friday night!  I was waiting in line at the airport on Sunday, and was actually next in line to check in, when I got a message from the travel agent telling me to leave.  She had heard that the Dutch embassy in Kampala negotiated with the Uganda government to let the Monday night flight go, and that meant short connections, getting home sooner, saving a bunch of money, and not taking the risk of getting caught in Dubai or London.

               So as counterintuitive as it seemed, I got out of line, rolled my luggage out of the airport (past all of the hundreds of people in line looking at me like I’m crazy) and went back home!  The next day I was able to get on my flight as planned, and I had even read about more restrictions happening in Dubai AND London, and eventually I got back to my family on Tuesday night.

Pray for us as we do this 14 day quarantine where nobody can leave, but I’m also in the same house as my family who I can’t really touch and have to avoid.  Pray for our counseling process which is delayed in starting because of this whole shut down.  Pray that God would provide us a new house to stay in after June 1^st because the one we currently have is booked (let me know if you have any leads!).  Pray that Michael would hear, understand, be changed by and cling to the gospel.  Pray that we can get back to Lohutok soon, and that we (including the kids who are begging to go) would have patience and joy as we accept God’s timing and care.  Pray that our support is maintained during this time where so many people have financial uncertainty.

Thank you so much for your prayer and support, we could not do this without you!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb

February 29, 2020

Caleb decided to decorate himself after the Chiefs

won the Super Bowl...in red...with food coloring.

           I came back to East Africa a couple of weeks ago to tie up some loose ends before the extended stay in the USA.  We had a vehicle at a mechanic who was waiting to be instructed and paid, a house that might possibly need to be moved, and Paul was waiting for me to come back and finish some Bible classes with him after he had finished the book work.

           It’s been an adventure, as always.  My first day in Uganda I got a brand new turbocharger for the LandCruiser (a not-free, welcome-back gift!).  The search for a new house to rent has been tough.  I’ve gone from having one possible lead to having six possible leads with one standout, back to having one possible lead who has been delayed in communicating…so I’m writing this from Uganda as I wait, and search, even though I don’t really know where else to look!

           The day after I got back to Lohutok last week, Paul and I planned to go to Torit.  I needed to get some supplies for the house, meet with AIM leadership, and the 5 hour road trip is always a good time for Paul and I to have some of our course discussions.  Paul’s house is always the first stop on the way, but about 15 minutes before I got there I started hearing a funny grinding sound in the wheel of the pickup.  A spring had fallen off the drum brake the day before so I was hoping that the noise I heard was inside the brake drum.  I continued to Paul’s house, then looked under the truck and saw a large puddle of gear oil…it was not the brake drum.  The bearing was shredded.  Scott came and helped me pull the axle and take it back to Lohutok where we could communicate with people about getting spare parts.

           Since Paul was planning to have his course discussions with me, he came behind us on his motorbike.  I was at Scott’s house where I could use internet to communicate with mechanics, and when there was a lull I went up to our compound to tell Paul to come.  We could do class while I waited for messages.  When I got to my house, Paul told me that he couldn’t come now because he was busy.  I was a bit confused but just said okay, got something from inside and left.  As I was leaving I noticed Paul sitting under a tree with Michael, our watchman and my language helper who was asking about the gospel back in August when I left.  Later Paul told me that when he showed up, and I wasn’t around, Michael came and said “Come over here and talk to me about this.”  Paul couldn’t come because he was busy talking about the gospel with Michael.

Sitting in a Fire Truck!  Amy and the boys got to make

a homeschool field trip to the fire station...I guess they had fun!

           The spare part came, the truck got fixed, and God is still at work!  Pray that God would give me a place to move our things to in Uganda, that Michael would believe and be saved, and that the gospel would take root and grow in Lohutok and among the Lopit.

Justin 

January 31, 2020

We went to Westville, a living history museum in Georgia and the kids got to work with the carpenter, leathersmith and blacksmith. 

           A few days ago Amy and the kids were driving somewhere in the van and made a wrong turn.  Amy decided that she needed to go the other direction, so she pulled into a driveway to turn around.  As Amy was shifting the van into reverse, one of the kids said “Mommy, are we going to live in this house now?”  I guess our kids are getting used to the lifestyle!
 
           It’s never a dull moment with our family.  Last month I wrote the newsletter from Georgia where we went to visit Amy’s parents for Christmas.  We spent two weeks with “Damma and Bonka” and then we drove to Tampa.  We spent two weeks in Tampa for some counseling before returning to the field, and by the end of that stay everything had changed!

           If you’ve heard me speak during this home assignment, you’ve heard me talk about spiritual warfare and opposition, and how difficult it has been just trying to be in Lohutok let alone being able to effectively communicate the gospel with her people.  Plans are always fluid and delays happen, but Jesus loves the Lopit more than we do and He is never panicked or surprised.  Because of our unique challenges, we have been doing some kind of regular counseling for most of our marriage.  After meeting with the counselors in Florida they have asked us to spend six months in the USA getting some further help becoming healthy and whole for a lifetime of ministry.  There’s the expected change in plans!

           I am getting on a plane in two weeks to go back to Lohutok to close some things down, keep some commitments, and get ready to be gone for six months longer than planned, and by April will be back to start the process.  Please keep praying for us as we deal with the emotions of changed plans, look for the appropriate counselors, and settle ourselves back down for a longer stay.  When we told the kids we were staying longer, Ezekiel’s response was “What about Ofuul?”  Ofuul is the village landlord for whose salvation we have been praying and he wants to see it through, we are all feeling that urgency while trying to remember that Jesus is already on the other end and has never been panicked or impatient, and he’s a way better missionary than any of us!  Thank you for partnering with us through all of this!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp

We were having lunch to celebrate Justin’s birthday in Georgia and the kids decided to belly up to the bar…at least they weren’t breaking anything…

December 30, 2019

Ezekiel and Caleb...In Jail

               A couple of weeks ago we were doing family Bible time at night and we read a story about someone who repented.  The kids’ lesson that night was about what it means to repent.  Ezekiel looked frustrated and said, “I tried repenting and it doesn’t work.  I repented, asked Jesus to forgive me and help me not sin, but I JUST KEEP SINNING!”  We had a good talk that night about what it means to repent: Be sorry for sin, confess sin and leave sin.  When we turn from our sin, it doesn’t mean we stop sinning, it means that when we see our sin we hate it and depend on the Holy Spirit to help us change.  Christians are not inherently better than anybody else, the difference between us and the rest of the world is that we are trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ to cover our sin.  When God looks at us in judgment He doesn’t see our failures and shortcomings, He sees the perfect obedience and righteousness of Jesus Christ that has been credited to our account.

               We’ve had a busy month!  Some good friends visited us for a couple of days before Thanksgiving, Amy’s parents came for about a week over Thanksgiving, Amy and the kids got to visit a local police station, the car we were borrowing from a friend was stolen out of the driveway, we drove to Georgia for Christmas and had to get a tow on the way because of a tensioner pulley in the van, and now we’re in Columbus, GA to visit Amy’s parents before we go back.  After a week and a half stay in Georgia, we will go to Tampa to have some meetings for a couple of weeks, and then drive back to Kansas City where we will start to pack up.  Our plane tickets are for mid-February, and we’re praying about the right way to go back.  We have an enemy that does not want us to succeed, and who wants the Lopit to stay in darkness and uncertainty.  We love you and appreciate you keeping up with and praying for us, please keep praying that God will give us what we need by way of community, medical wellness and unity as we decide how to go back in the best way possible! 

               Our fundraising is coming along nicely.  We are about $400 short of our monthly goal, and have a few more one-time gifts promised.  Our German friends are working on their house and getting their family settled in Lohutok, keep praying that this will go well and fast for them!

Thanks!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb

Caleb is a little bit obsessed with helicopters...

November 26, 2019

“How do you have a relationship with God??” Teresa’s cousin asked her.  Their grandmother had sent her down to our compound to hide when there was potential trouble in the village.  Most of the village goes to hide in the bush when this happens.  But Teresa and her family had no man to stay with them in the bush, and they (understandably) didn’t want to ward off the wild animals themselves. 

So their grandmother had sent down two cousins to stay with Teresa on our compound.  We were in Torit at the time, and I was praying that God would use this time of uncertainty to show people the contrast of darkness and light, and that they would be drawn to the light.  Teresa’s two cousins then asked her to teach them about the Bible. 

They began doing Bible study and I was helping Teresa prepare for it.  One day, Kemira (one of her cousins) asked her how she could have a relationship with God. 

“Our sin separates us from God,” Teresa explained, “but Jesus died as a sacrifice, to take away our sin.  Everyone who believes in him and repents is reunited with God.”  My heart is rejoicing that she is boldly sharing the Gospel among her own culture! 

Did you know that South Sudan is one of the few countries left with no running water, no power grid, no roads and very few cell phone towers?  We have to leave the country every three months to go to the doctor, get the car fixed, get medical, food, and refresh with Western friends in Uganda.

We’re enjoying the comforts of the US, as well as time with family.  My (Amy) parents are coming to Kansas City for Thanksgiving, and we’re all going to celebrate with Justin’s family.  God has faithfully provided the finances for Ezekiel to join a co-op, take roller skating lessons and art lessons!  Caleb is enjoying sweet time with friends here as well, and Justin and I are enjoying homeschooling both of them each morning.

As we prepare to return to South Sudan and enjoy life in the US, our friends in Lopit are struggling for food this year.  The rains have washed most of the gardens away, and the insects are eating what is left over.  We have been told that the road between our village and that of our teammates is now blocked by a river that is waist deep! 

Please pray that God provides food, and that these precious people recognize that their Creator is the only one who provides them with food, water and rain.  Pray that they come to know their Creator, and that they would hunger and thirst for the righteousness that God offers to all of us through Jesus Christ.

October 30, 2019

 I took Ezekiel with me to St. Louis while Amy spent some extra time in Georgia with her parents (and Caleb).  I had to figure out how to get some work done while also having Ezekiel at home, so we became very well-acquainted with the Wentzville Chick-Fil-A.  Ezekiel goes into the playplace and immediately makes friends with the other kids, and then proceeds to lead them all in games that he has made up to play on that equipment.  One day we went for the “Comic Book Hero Night.”  I saw it on one of the signs in the playground and we couldn’t resist.  We got Ezekiel a costume (He insisted on being Optimus Prime) and got there early, he got to take pictures with “Supergirl” and “Spiderman” and the cow.  After pictures, he started fighting Spiderman with his sword, which Spiderman took in stride as he fought back.  After his fight with Spiderman, though, Ezekiel said “Daddy I’m tired of chicken, can we have some beef?”  He proceeded to go and shake hands (again) with the ChickFil-A cow, and then started to slaughter it…that cow had no idea how to respond, it was hilarious.

 We stopped in Nashville on the way up to visit some good friends, and then spent a few weeks visiting churches in the St. Louis area before returning to Kansas City.  We get to be in one place for a couple of months now!  Ezekiel had his birthday on October 23 and he got quite the royal treatment.  We had a birthday party in Wentzville, another one at a church on his actual birthday, one at our church in Lawrence on Sunday morning and then ANOTHER on Sunday afternoon at Gammy and Papa’s house!  When we were getting ready for the first party I asked him what he wanted, he wanted a cake, a piñata, a campfire, s’mores and games, so we made it all happen…it was a lot!  The pictures in this letter are of Ezekiel and Caleb having S’mores for the first time.

 We’re in Kansas City now until Christmas.  Thank you all for praying and supporting us.  Keep praying that God would provide the rest of the monthly support we need for going back, the one-time giving we need for our return travel and other projects, and a few more opportunities to speak at churches where we have openings.

Thanks!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp

September 27, 2019

               We have been in travel mode for the last few weeks.  After two weeks in Kansas City that was spent getting settled (vehicles, phones, clothes, etc.) we spoke at Overbrook Bible Church and then left a couple of days later for St. Louis.  A week in St. Louis, a week in Corinth, Mississippi and now we find ourselves in Columbus, GA to visit Amy’s family and celebrate mom’s birthday.  In a week we will be back on the road to St. Louis where we will spend a few weeks visiting churches and then we’re back to Kansas City for the remainder of our home assignment.

               Being back in the USA has been quite a transition for our family.  Ezekiel and Caleb are still getting used to new rules (You can’t poop here, the street is not a “fun place to play” etc.) and other unfamiliar things.  I bought a 10lb bag of chicken leg-quarters that were on sale for Labor Day, and the next day I was thawing them out in the sink.  Caleb came downstairs, looked in the sink and said “Daddy?!”  When I asked him what was wrong he said, “You killed something without me?”  Ezekiel heard Caleb’s perceived offence and came over to look, then he said “Aww man, I would have liked to see that chicken that had ten legs!”  We’re people of two worlds…

               We have had some fun along the way.  During our week in Corinth we saw some Civil War historical sites and spent a few nights at the Alcorn County Fair.  At the fair the kids got to see their first bull ride and enjoyed the carnival rides, but with all of the excitement around them they really wanted to spend all of their time in the petting zoo feeding the goats, porcupine, camel and cows!  On the way from Corinth to Columbus we stopped in Huntsville to visit the US Rocket and Space Museum…that is how missionary parents on the road celebrate a wedding anniversary (8 years!).  Ezekiel started getting sick the night before the museum, so he saw most of the museum from a stroller between cries, but at the end of the day he still said, “That was the most fun I’ve ever had!”

               Pray for us as we visit with Amy’s family, travel, speak, fundraise, and try to help our kids work through all of the changes, new people, new places, and time in the car.  It’s hard for them, even though it is good to see everyone!

Thanks for your prayers and encouraging emails!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb Culp