Wintermantel Family Africa Expedition FAQS

1.  When would you plan to leave for Africa?

The timing is of course in the Lord’s hands, but we would hope to move to Africa sometime in the summer of 2018.

2.  What will you do for the next year or more in Minnesota?

We will begin raising prayer and financial support.  This role is a “faith supported” position.  We trust that God will raise up individuals and churches who believe in us, and the mission to which God has called us, and will pledge to support our financial needs through their gifts and prayers.  We will complete the application process as required by AIM and CVM.  We will be getting our house ready for sale next spring/early summer.  We will also be looking for new homes for pets (chickens, Bearded Dragon lizard, a crazy Border Collie, a Blue-Front Amazon parrot, and a couple fish- interested?)    (Steve:  anyone want to open a pet store?)

3.  How long will Steve remain on the Buffalo Covenant staff?

 We will work together with the BCC staff and elders to establish a time frame.  Hopefully we can arrange for a departure sometime in the first half of 2018.

4.  Once you arrive in Africa, would you go immediately to South Sudan?

Good question.  We don’t know.  The two families who currently comprise the team are in, or on their way to Torit, South Sudan.  Although there has been insecurity in some places around the country (especially in the northern part), the area in and around Torit (the southern part of the country) has been relatively secure for the past several months.  Working together with our two sending agencies (Africa Inland Mission/AIM and Christian Veterinary Mission/CVM) we will develop a contingency plan for what we will do in the case that we are unable to go to Torit when we first arrive in Africa, or need to leave Torit after arriving.

5.  What will you do once you get there? 

 Once we are in Africa—whether in Torit or somewhere else—we will begin learning Juba Arabic, the “trade” language of South Sudan.  Thankfully many young people and educated adults speak some, or even a good deal of English.  However, most people in the villages speak only their tribal language, and Juba Arabic.  We will also use the first year to learn about the cultural and religious beliefs of the Lotuko tribe.  Much of our first year in Africa will be devoted to this work, and also beginning to build relationships, and lots of prayer as we seek the Lord’s guidance to reach the Lotuko people.

6.  What about education for the kids?

We plan to take the “home school plunge.”  The other two families we would be working with have always home-schooled.  Between these two families they have seven kids, four of whom are about the same ages as Josiah and Cyrus.  AIM has put out a request for a teacher to come to Torit and help educate these 10 or 11 kids (hint, hint).  There may be only ten kids who are home schooled because there is a possibility that Hazel would attend Rift Valley Academy, a top-notch Christian boarding school in Kenya.

7.  How long will you be on mission in Africa?

We plan to make an initial four-year commitment (usually 3 years serving, 9 months furlough).  At the end of that time we will evaluate and determine if the Lord is calling us to return to serve in Africa for another term.

8.  Can we come and visit you, and be a part of what God is doing in South Sudan?

Wahoo- thanks for asking! For those who might like to do this, we would welcome you as the situation allows others to come and serve. Details to be worked out in the future. We are praying for you already 😊

South Sudan Expedition: What's next for the Wintermantels?

Recently, Cyrus was studying for a test and shared with us the definition of expedition: “a journey undertaken by a group of people with a particular purpose.”

Following a season of prayer, fasting and seeking the Lord, we have determined that God is calling us to take next steps on our family expedition.  We plan to move forward in the process of moving to, and serving Him full-time in Africa.  So many of you have come to us and told us that you have prayed with us in this decision.  We are grateful for your prayers.

This expedition has two beginnings. It started initially when God placed a love for Africa, and its multitude of lost peoples, in the heart of Gina when she was a young veterinarian.  The second beginning occurred 18 months ago when we learned of the missionary team being formed in Torit, South Sudan.  While the journey has taken some time, it has been a blessing to follow the Lord, and wait on His revelation about what is next.

Our recent family trip to Torit helped greatly to solidify God’s calling for us.
Our first and primary calling will be to help fulfill the mission, “We glorify God by being disciples who make disciples of Jesus Christ.”  Our plan is to work together with the members of our missionary team and church leaders in Torit to help raise up and equip young disciple-makers who will return to the Lotuko tribal villages around Torit.  Their mission will be to make disciples who make disciples, and plant/start new churches.  We will support these young men and women in their ministry through relational discipleship, theological education, fellowship, and prayer.
 

Just as Jesus met both spiritual and physical needs, we want to follow him in that mission.  Along with making disciples, and helping to plant churches, we hope to help people raise and grow more food. South Sudan has great potential to feed its people, and more. And yet people are starving, even in Torit.  With Gina’s veterinary degree and experience, and Steve’s agricultural degree and farming experience we will seek ways to help people to provide better nutrition for their families.

South Sudan is hungry.  There is a deep hunger for the nourishing food of the gospel.  Jesus is the Bread of Life.  He is our Hope.  He is our Peace.  He is Life.  We look forward to bringing and sharing the good news with the lost, and help make disciples of those who have found Christ.

By God’s grace, and with your prayers and support, we hope to keep our family on an expedition for our Lord Jesus.

We have another entry on the blog that goes through some "FAQs" on our expedition!

Grateful to be serving Jesus together with you,
Steve, Gina, Hazel, Abe, Josiah, and Cyrus