Darah's Perspective: Resistance, Persistence

The stars hanging over southern Sudan create for their audience a spectacular open-air planetarium with a ceiling that stretches four light years high. This galactic grandeur is the perfect background for the nightly storytelling held on the IPHC compound. Each night as the stars unveil themselves, lawn chairs are gathered from near and far to form the native ‘nyakiriket’ (circle). Attending this event regularly are over twenty members of the Toposa tribe and, oddly enough, four members of an enemy tribe, the Turkanas.

It was to this special meeting place that Max and Jessica Barroso and The Awakening intern, Brittney Virtue, ventured during their recent journey to the Sudan. Their evening began with the low, rhythmic singing of the natives and afterwards, a prayer of blessing spoken by the group’s leader, Locaca. From there, the torch was passed to Max, who opened the subject of prayer by asking, “What kind of tools do the Toposa use, and what are their functions?”

Immediately, the group’s attention was captured, for one of the favorite conversation pieces in Toposaland is that of tools and weaponry. Answers were readily given, ranging from a common flint knife to a swing blade to a machete. From these answers, Max began drawing comparisons to the way prayer can be used as a tool for the tribesmen. Everyone listened intently as the Holy Spirit led Max to expound on the topic.

At the conclusion of his teaching, Max said a prayer of blessing over those gathered, and a joyous time of singing ensued. What we thought would be the end of the evening, however, was only the beginning. Something was weighing on the hearts of the young men present, and as the visitors continued to show interest in their lives, they began to confide . Douno (20 yrs.) and Lopua (17 yrs.) carried the discussion….

“We went late at night, when all the Toposas are gathering,” Douno began. “We brought the Proclaimer with us so the people could hear of Jesus over radio. And we also were ready to share with them stories that we learn here. We were happy to be sharing with them, but the people became very angry. This village was resistant to the Gospel, and there are many others like it. Once we were chased away and ran back here. And once we were caught and beaten for trying to share God’s Book. This is a difficult situation for us.” “So how should we deal with those villages resisting God’s Book?” Lopua asked. “And what should we do after being beaten there?”

In exhortation, Max used the method of teaching best understood by the Toposa. He told a story – a story from God’s Book of a similar situation, when disciples of Christ were chased away and even beaten for sharing their faith. But those disciples continued on; their faith did not decrease, and their witness did not lose its fervor. And because of their persistence, many thousands of people came to know Christ as their Savior.

What an unforgettable night for every Toposa, Turkana, American, and Argentine present. As magnificent as were the stars, they didn’t hold a candle to the Spirit.