Friday.

    March 3rd, 1989 in Renk, present day South Sudan a young man was born on a Friday. His parents named him Friday. He grew up in the heat and with the scorpions. The firstborn son of Jay and Elizabeth, from the beautiful ethnic group called the Anyua or Anuak. His ethnic group was one of the first Nilotic groups to become Christian. Missionaries went in the 1960's to teach and train. He spoke only Arabic though and grew up in a town with one road through it. 

    This road eventually led his family to seek shelter from fighting and war in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. He travelled as a 6 year old, walking the three day journey on foot, while his new younger brother was carried. They travelled at night and slept in the day. His 6 year old body was tired and weary, on the look-out for soldiers and dangers of the road. They were eventually found by soldiers, the good ones. The ones who would help lead them to a small Anuak village, where he embarked on a new journey with a second language, Anuak. 

(The only picture from Friday's childhood. Taken before they left East Africa)

    The village life was filled with baboons, corn, and playing outside; many adventures with new family in a new village. This was not sustainable for them and his father moved them again to a refugee camp. He was watching out for his growing family and looking ahead for a future for them in a different way than the village could provide. He knew of hardship, he knew of war from a young age, and he knew he wanted more for his own.
    They landed in Pinyudo Refugee camp for about 3 years. Lie in a refugee camp is not easy. His mom was pregnant with twins and his little sister was lost in childbirth. He went to school with all ages and was still learning this new language called Anuak after growing up only knowing Arabic. The adventures didn't stop. His dad worked through the paper work to help his family and they were chosen to be settled in Australia. This little boy, born on a Friday, came down with Tuberculosis, and Australia was not happening. The process continued and the paperwork grew. The Lord had good plans for them. They were eventually placed in Clarkston, Georgia, USA. 

(Map with labels of Friday's locations in East Africa-Past and future)

    Landing in a new world as a 9 year old brought with it many changes. Their family continued to grow, their parents worked hard to provide for them in a new world and yet another new language. This young boy turned into a man pretty quickly; learning how to take care of his brothers, navigating bully's in a new school, and eventually a move to Minnesota. 

     His story continues to grow with ups and downs, highs and lows, challenges and victories. Minnesota brought more brothers to the Omot family. This strong mom had 6 wonderful boys. Friday was able to help nurture and support them as well as the Lord providing families in Minnesota to come alongside and provide sleep overs, and birthday presents, quality time and adventures to Twins games. The Schmitt's and Jahnke's, as well as many others, stepped in to show a new refugee family love in special ways. They were amongst many other Anuak families as well in Minnesota. There would be many moves in Minnesota, but smaller ones. 

    The highlight of this young man's summers came about at age 12 going to Trout Lake Camp up in Northern Minnesota. His dad knew Jesus and read about him in his Bible written in Arabic. Friday got to read about him in his Bible written in English on the lake and surrounded by other youth. Camp transformed this young man's life. It helped him to have a community and sense of direction that pointed him to Jesus. He was blessed. Every summer for seven years he spent growing in so many ways at Trout Lake. 

(Friday at Trout Lake Camp)

    College was a dream for him. The first graduate from high school in his family. The first college student. The Lord had grown in him a desire to be in the medical field. He had a heart to go back and use practical skills back home in East Africa. Things that are easy to access in his new country, are not so easy to access there. Right away he got sucked into a wonderful church community with young men growing towards Jesus. They weren't just growing, they were actively seeking together. He was taught and discipled in how to pray, how to read his Bible in depth, and how to love others with the love of Christ. He finished a degree in Biology, but the Lord had shifted his heart of HOW he wanted to take him back to East Africa. He was growing in understanding the power of discipleship, of intimate relationship with the Father, that he'd not known prior. 

    A biology degree in hand, he headed out for a long trip to visit South Sudan and Kenya. He picked up the language of his childhood (Arabic) easily and fell in love. He was there when the war broke out again in the new country of South Sudan and spent the rest of his time with family in Kenya. Coming home, the Lord used this trip to shift his heart even further towards growing in learning and studying Scriptures. He decided to get his Masters in Theology. 

    This equipping and training taught him of the Fathers' heart in new and deeper ways. He was being equipped with a growing heart for others and for Jesus. Friday was not one to stick to one friend group. He loved all and loved well. His friends were from different languages and backgrounds. Although from a small and private ethnic group, this young man built bridges, engaged others, and did not deter himself from allowing Christ to reach through him to all people. He shared this hope of Jesus that the missionaries brought to the Anuak people 60 years prior, moving them from Unreached to a Reached People group. 

Guiding an Anuak lady through Scriptures in their own Anuak Lanuguage in Ethiopia.

    When the Lord brought Karen into Friday's life, it brought two hearts with a big vision to a little town. They were both committed to their heart to serve the Lord overseas before they ever thought they would commit to marriage. With both of their pre-requisite's being met of moving to East Africa for a future, they continued to grow in this season that the Lord had for them. Their hearts were to leave the country ASAP. That didn't happen, and they were grateful it didn't. Friday continued to grow in understanding what it means to lead in a pastoral setting. A small church with a heart to grow came alongside him to develop and lead him deeper into who God was shaping him to be. Their hearts were praying together now and longing for a time when Jesus would take them overseas. 

    After 5 years of marriage, he continues to share this love of Jesus, this relationship, that all in the world do not yet know about. His heart is and has been for serving and training those who want to grow, who want to spread the depth and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    July 2022 will lead him and his family to Marsabit Kenya; a training ground for him and so many others. He will take all these years of stories, growth, and Jesus to help others understand their own stories, growth, and Jesus. The years of prayer spent for his return to East Africa have laid a foundation that will continue to grow and deepen himself and those around him. 

Prayer Requests

— the Lord the continue to lead and be present as we have witnessed in Friday’s story

- Balance in continuing to grow roots in Worthington, while preparing for a new world

-Wisdom and healthy structure with all that is going on

-Baby, Financial Partnerships, preparing for a new school year

-Financial and Prayer partners