South Sudan
It was a Sunday morning when Vicky Waraka encountered Mary*. The 45-year-old was...
*name changed for privacy
It was a Sunday morning when Vicky Waraka encountered Mary*. The 45-year-old was suffering physically and spiritually.
Mary was plagued by a physical issue, triggered by a rat bite earlier that year. She was unable to sleep at night. She’d been hurt deeply in the past by members of her family.
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ITMI’s Vicky Waraka serves the Lord 7 days a week through a ministry of visitation, prayer, and counseling.
She meets with the hurting and broken and she listens to their troubles, then through prayer and Gospel counseling, she points them to Jesus.
Vicky and a fellow believer pray with and counsel people at her church's building during the week.
ITMI's Vicky Waraka and the children she has taken in because they needed a home and a family.
Forgiveness is a concept that seems to come up often in Vicky’s interactions with people. Many of them need to forgive others who have done terrible things to them, as well as receive forgiveness of their own sins from the Lord.
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Mary shared a little bit about her suffering with Vicky, who prayed for her and set up a time to meet with her the following day.
Mary told Vicky that, Sunday night - after Vicky prayed for her - she’d slept deeply for the first time in a long, long time.
During Vicky’s time with her, Vicky helped her walk through the process of forgiving those who had wronged her, and Mary opened her heart and Vicky led her to Christ!
New believer, Mary, in South Sudan.
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Eighteen-year-old Martha* was falling down and struggling to breathe when she came to Vicky.
Martha’s family was being torn apart by a conflict and quarreling amongst themselves. Martha’s mother was troubled, too.
Vicky counseled Martha to forgive everyone.
With tears running down her face, Martha released her bitterness and pain and replaced it with forgiveness as she accepted forgiveness from her own sins from Jesus Christ and became one of His people.
New believer Martha smiles after Vicky helped her forgive her quarreling family.
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Forty-year-old Mara* was facing a conflict in her extended family, who lives with her. Members of her family had wronged her and her children.
Vicky listened to the story of her difficulties and suffering, then encouraged her to seek first the face of God and put the situation in His hands.
They read Matthew 11:28 together.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
These words helped Mara open her heart and Vicky was able to lead her to the Lord!
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Vicky has many interactions like these with the people the Lord brings across her path each month. Some of them come to the church for help during the week, and others Vicky may visit at their home.
Vicky visits a hurting family in their home and reads the Bible with them.
This is what your support of her ministry enables her to do.
There are so many that need someone to listen to their troubles and then point them to Jesus in Juba, South Sudan.
There are so many people hurting in South Sudan, that need someone to listen to their troubles and point them to Christ.
ITMI supporters who have and continue to stand with Vicky financially and prayerfully are helping directly supplying this message of hope in Christ to the hurting in South Sudan.
Vicky writes,
“Thanks to those who contributed generously to support ministry to women. …May the Lord bless you all.”
About the Authors
Summer Kelley is a writer and follower of Jesus living in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three kids. She’s had the honor and privilege of telling ITMI’s stories since 2006. Summer loves reading, the outdoors and Coca-Cola Classic.
Steve Evers has advocated for and served the ITMI partners as ITMI Director since 2001. Approximately once a year, Steve visits with ITMI partners in their countries and brings stories back to encourage supporters. Steve enjoys photography and mechanics, (both hobbies that have greatly benefited ITMI partners!) Prior to becoming ITMI's Director, Steve served on the Board of Directors for 4 years. Steve lives in Arizona with his wife, Darlene.
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