Martyns in Africa

• Production in Sudan (2011)

  Posted: March 31, 2011, 7:46 pm by Taylor

  In early March I set off to the North East region of Southern Sudan, soon to be the independent nation of the Republic of South Sudan. Freelance photographer Lane Davis and AIM media missionary Mike Saum came along to fill out the crew.

  Our first stop was a small town/village called Yabus, right on the Eastern border with Ethiopia.
  
  Sometimes you have to get your hands a little dirty to get the shot.

  Even though the weather in Yabus was the nicest we would experience in Sudan, it was still quite hot. We took off the middle of the day to relax and edit our scripts.
  
  Mike and Taylor discuss and edit the script.

  Traveling light on these trips is a must. We made our way through Sudan in a Cessna 206. It can seat up to 5 people, with almost no luggage. We were not only taking clothes, but food and all our gear. Despite our weight limitations, we made it fit, after taking some food and gear out on the tarmac in Nairobi before we left

  
  The rear of the 206 with our luggage.

  I’m never in front of the camera, but I’ve been brain storming about trying out a new style of video that would be hosted. We’ll see how it goes. I’m curious to see how the audience thinks of a host for a missions video.
  
  Mike and Taylor discussing script revisions during a host ‘bit’.

  After Yabus we headed to Doro, where SIM opperates the majority of their medical and health related ministries. After receiving the all-clear from the local government administrators, we were taken on a tour of the destroyed military vehcicles that have remained since the peace agreement.
  
  Taylor chats it up with some kids while observing an old personel carrier.

  
  Mike and Taylor climb on a destroyed tank for some pictures. A comon problem is that bees have made their homes in the old vehicles. That was the case with every vehicle we visited.

  
  Taylor takes a break while filming at the clinic.

  
  While we were in Doro, AIM’s DC3 made 3 runs from Lokichogio with new equipment for the hospital being built.

  After a few days in Doro we hopped on the 206 again and headed for a small village called Rom. The aid arm of the SIC church, SIA, has a clinic there. Unfortunately there is a large family of bees who have made their home there next to the clinic. That day they were out in force and the clinic was almost deserted. On my last trip there, for the opening ceremonies, I was stung. This time I was spared, but both Mike and Lane were not so lucky.
  
  Taylor and Mike head back to the plane after a quick shoot.

  We were only on the ground in Rom for 2 hours before we made our way to Thiangrial, another small village which is right on the Nile. SIA opperates a welding shop there, teaching a much needed skill to many in the community. For the most part our team was spared the need for long hikes, but the plane landed about a mile from the work shed and the old SIM base there, so we took a short hike.
  
  Taylor and Lane hike toward the work shop.

  Lighting is always a struggle in a place like Sudan. The sun is harsh, even late into the evening, making any video have a strong contrast.
  
  Lane sets up a shot inside the work shed for one of Taylor’s hosting pieces.

  On our way out of Thiangrial we popped up the windows of the plane and took advantage of the new perspective to capture a few more interesting photos and video.
  
  Taylor holds his camera with a death grip as his snaps a few photos out of the plane window.

• Only 47 more days?

  Posted: March 31, 2011, 2:59 pm by Taylor

  I have been feeling the urge to start packing up but felt it was a bit too soon. I just counted the days and we only have 47 of them left before we will land in Dallas for our home assignment! We are still planning our travels and would love to visit with as many of you as possible. Can’t wait to share in person about what the Lord has taught us over the last two and a half years. Please feel free to comment here on the blog or email us if you would be interested in us visiting your church, small group or just catching up over coffee. Our emails are taylor.martyn@sim.org and allison.martyn@sim.org. And as always thank you very much for your many ways of support that allows us to be doing this!

• 3s!

  Posted: March 25, 2011, 7:05 pm by Taylor

  As of last Tuesday we are a household of 3s. Two 30 year olds, one 3 year old and one 3 month old!
  

• HUGE Praise

  Posted: March 24, 2011, 1:42 pm by Taylor

  As you all know from an earlier post we are going to have some changes for our next term. We are looking into be seconded to AIM for Taylor to work with their media group, On Field Media (OFM). One of the many little details begin worked out is an issue of housing. We will not be with SIM Kenya anymore so we will not be able to continue to live on the SIM Kenya compound. This was a big stressor for us as we have enjoyed this home and the huge common yard for Avery to run around in, a VERY rare treat here in the city. Another stressor was the fact that we had to sell or find somewhere to move all of our furniture and household goods while on home assignment. From others’ experience of storage where their things got stolen or ruined due to rain, mold, rodents, etc. we were not too excited about this option. To make a long story short the ladies who will move into this home after us have graciously agreed to use our furniture while we are on home assignment! This is such a huge praise and is also a blessing of having a lot less to pack up before we go!

• New family pic

  Posted: March 21, 2011, 8:22 am by Taylor

• One year anniv of Dr Tokunboh Adeyemo’s passing. His legacy lives on and memorials held today.

  Posted: March 20, 2011, 11:35 am by Taylor

  –
  tm

  Please excuse the short reply as I am writing from my mobile.

  Posted via email from Martyns In Africa

• Glad he is home!

  Posted: March 19, 2011, 7:21 pm by Taylor

  Taylor is busy working on this final project (a look at the last five years of SIM Sudan ministries) before our home assignment but we are all very much enjoying having him home!
  

• Happy belated St. Patrick’s Day!

  Posted: March 18, 2011, 1:30 pm by Taylor

  Wanted to pass along a quote from Saint Patrick sent via e-card from my mom. As you probably know, many celebrate the holiday in a very different way from what he stood for. If you can, take a moment to look into his life.

  Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
  Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
  Christ on my right, Christ on my left
  Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise
  Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
  Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
  Christ in every eye that sees me,
  Christ in every ear that hears me.

• Crap. Seacom cable cut close to Dubai. Provides around 75% of bandwidth to kenya

  Posted: March 17, 2011, 8:30 am by Taylor

  Seacom cable cut close to Dubai. Provides around 75% of bandwidth to kenya

  Posted via email from Martyns In Africa

• Anchor verse

  Posted: March 14, 2011, 7:00 pm by Taylor

  One of our supporting churches recently asked us some questions they will use during a missions week. One of them was what was our family or anchor verse. It has been awhile since I thought about this but wanted to share it with you all.

  Philippians 2:1-11
  Be Like Christ
  Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
  4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus (W)EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  It is a section of verses I would call an oldie but a goodie. Oh, to be able to imitate Christ and not get caught up daily with my selfish tendencies. And what a joy and honor it will be to be able to hear in all languages a cry that Jesus is Lord!

  What is your anchor verse?

• Landed in Nairobi safe and sound.

  Posted: March 11, 2011, 7:20 pm by Taylor

• Taking off from Thiangrial Sudan shortly, on our way to Nairobi via loki

  Posted: March 11, 2011, 7:55 am by Taylor

  Posted via email from Martyns In Africa

• Cute kiddos picture of the week

  Posted: March 10, 2011, 10:48 pm by Taylor

  Just because it was too cute to not share here is a recent picture of Avery and Larson.

• Salvation

  Posted: March 8, 2011, 7:37 pm by Taylor

  I came across something this past week in Bible study and it was a great encouragement to me so I wanted to share. We were looking over Revelation 7. It was a nice break from the previous chapter to be able to focus on the joy of our salvation. I usually focus on verse nine and feel my heart swell and fight the tears thinking of the glorious sight of people from all tribes, nations and tongues worshiping Him. But this time the focus was on verse ten where the redeemed cry out that salvation belongs to God and to the Lamb. Our study then pointed us to look at 1 Peter 1:10-12 to give us another look at that word, salvation. Here it is in the New Living Translation.

  1 Peter 1:10-12
  10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
  12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

  I put it in the NLT because of the way it phrases verse 12. I have read and imagined the angles celebrating new believers but never quite pictured them “eagerly watching these things happen”. Reading it this way made me see afresh the joy that is our Salvation. Keeping my eyes fixed on how our just, merciful, loving Father paved a way for us to have eternity to worship Him really helped in giving me a much needed refocus.

• Evening time in Mabaan, Sudan – going to enjoy some coffee in town

  Posted: March 7, 2011, 7:43 pm by Taylor

• Pink

  Posted: March 7, 2011, 7:25 pm by Taylor

  We have been starting to talk with Avery about coming to visit the States. Thanks to many of you who have sent pictures it has been helpful in going through them and letting her see your faces! She was looking at the Wilson family Christmas card and exclaimed, “They are pink, pink like me!”. Maybe we should also start talking about some of the differences between Kenya and the States.

• Doro, Sudan clinic run by the Sudanese CHWs

  Posted: March 7, 2011, 10:42 am by Taylor

• Tickets are purchased!

  Posted: March 6, 2011, 5:00 pm by Taylor

  We are set to land in the good ‘ol U.S.A. May 17th! Things are starting to finalize with our travel plans while in country. If you would like to have us come talk with your church or small group please let us know and we can work it into our travels.
  Thanks!

• Taylor Update

  Posted: March 5, 2011, 1:08 pm by Taylor

  Taylor has been in Sudan for five days now and will be moving today or tomorrow to his second location. There has been a few items that got fried due to solar power charging being a bit wonky at times. Please keep praying for good team communication, good health, travel safety and for the equipment to run well and efficiently and that nothing else will break. Thanks!

  Edit: Got word last night from Taylor that he is safe and sound at Doro. He will be there for a few more days before heading off to the last two locations.

• Off to Sudan

  Posted: March 1, 2011, 7:29 am by Taylor

  Posted via email from Martyns In Africa

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes