We hope to have lunch with Linda and Phil Byler today.  Linda is Anna Ruth’s niece, daughter of Raymond and Anna Lois Charles.  It must be well over fifteen years ago that they began their medical trips to Northern Uganda where they worked mainly among the displaced people from Southern Sudan, then living in Uganda.  Phil is a doctor and Linda a nurse.  They then left Williamsport, joined AIM full time and moved to Africa.

A new career.  For a while they were responsible for AIC work in Uganda a work that stretches West into heavily Islamic nations.  Their last assignment was in Southern Sudan, in church planting and evangelism and fraternal relationships with the small believers groups there.

I am spinning this from memory.  Sorry.

They were missionaries under the African Inland Missions that had access to these settings.  For some years, after they moved to Kampala as directors,  they were responsible for AIM ministries in that part of Africa – Uganda and West, but their hearts were in the villages of South Sudan where they spent their last years in direct interaction with the few Christians where they were located, directing a team of missionaries.

They have completed their assignment with AIM because of age and are now in US staying with family scattered in California, Honduras, West Virginia and Boston.

The Bylers had spent many years in their medical practice in Williamsport, PA.  When the children were married and on their own, so to speak, Phil and Linda picked up and moved to the Sudan where they had volunteered for short term medical missions while still residents of Williamsport.   Phil eventually became the director of AIM work in that part of Africa.

On the ministry of such people the Kingdom of God is spreading around the world.

We will enjoy being with these admirable people!  Bring on the waffles and maple syrup.