The Foreward.

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 We are the Omot's! Thanks for journeying with us. This is a journey that started in 1960's when young missionaries and their families, Harvey Hoekstra and Don McClure, went to serve the Anuak people in South Sudan. This was an unreached people group, coming out of years of animism and desiring new things. There was a young Anuak man named Akway. This man was a new follower of Jesus, disciples by the missionaries. He travelled with the missionaries, helped them with language learning, and he was equipped him in how to teach and share with his tribe in a way that missionaries couldn't. He started Christ-centered churches, discipled others, and lived a long life that honored God. A man mobilized by missionaries to take Jesus to his own people.

-Pastor Akway and his wife in 2015-

Fast-forward to 1989, when another young Anuak man was born in South Sudan. He was named after the day he was born, Friday! He came to the United States when he was 9 years old out of a refugee camp in Ethiopia. All this time, the Lords' hand was on him; bringing him through disease, sickness, soldiers, and many trials. His father knew the Lord and read his Bible, written in Arabic, sharing truths and the life of Christ with his son Friday. All because missionaries chose to disciple and train up pastors to go back to their own people, Akway, Jay (Friday's dad), Friday and countless other Anuak people know and love God and are no longer considered an Unreached People Group.

Jumping ahead to 2015, South Sudan met South Dakota. Although from different worlds, Friday and Karen realized they had similar hearts to serve Him in a unique way. After 5 years of marriage, 3 kids, and one house later, they are following His heart back to East Africa with their family and an excitement to serve Him. They desire to see Christ-centered churches among all African peoples.

Here we are in present day 2021, preparing our hearts and home to move our family to Marsabit, Kenya. The Lord is bringing us full circle back to the story of Pastor Akway's discipleship story from South Sudan. Friday will be working with young men from different unreached people groups (UPG) of Northern Kenya to point them towards Jesus and Biblical truth, in order that they can take what they learn back to their people, as Pastor Akway did with the Anuak. I will be teaching English as time allows, building relationships, and loving on our kiddos. The honor and gift of being able to know God and share Him is not lost on us. We are excited to partner with Africa Inland Mission to walk in the calling from God to build Christ-centered churches amongst all African people groups. (https://aimint.org/) 

This is the beginning of a new chapter in our story. Thank you for reading, praying, and partnering with our story in ways that God calls. Our heart for prayer and having seen the power of it in our lives, it is not lost on us how important this is in our journey. Below are ways to specifically pray at this time and partner with us financially.


Prayer Needs

+ Heart preparation for this next chapter and those we will work with and serve

+Space and intentionality to be present in the community and life we are in before leaving for Kenya.

+Summer, school coming up, new baby coming in October, lots of things filling our plate!  

+Prayer Partners

+Financial Partners 


We're excited you're here and excited to keep sharing what God is doing!




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