Wild Tales on the long trail

Here it is from Kipling

It's North you may run to the rime-ringed sun,
Or South to the blind Horn's hate;
Or East all the way into Mississippi Bay,
Or West to the Golden Gate;
Where the blindest bluffs hold good, dear lass,
And the wildest tales are true,
And the men bulk big on the old trail, our own trail, the out trail,
And life runs large on the Long Trail -- the trail that is always new.

Preparing for Afghanistan Trip

Elsie and I are heading out on the 'Long Trail' to Afghanistan next Saturday 19th March.

'And it's time to turn on the old trail, our own trail, the out trail,
Pull out, pull out, on the Long Trail -- the trail that is always new'.

Our first stop is Dubai for a SERVE Board Meeting and then over to Kabul for 10 days or so, heading back on 02 April. We are so looking forward to being with Chris, Esther and Zara in Kabul. Language study is going well there, I was actually able to greet Chris in Dari a few minutes ago on the phone and he responded.

Dad and Mum - Walking in the Light

During this time as a District Commissioner Dad felt cold towards the Lord and too reliant on his own abilities. A visit to Uganda brought him to repentance. Here it is again from his diary.

We always rather despised revival language and “techniques” in Ruanda, and yet we wanted the blessing! Then in the 1949 down there God met and blessed us (through an accident to my hand) and brought us into a new place of blessing with each other and the children, and we returned to the Sudan with a new testimony of God’s forgiveness and of our getting right with each other and “walking in the light” together.

And then we found to our amazement, that this was what God had been waiting for, and he began to work in powerful ways in the lives of very many – amongst our servants, police, civilian staff, and missionaries and their school, children and people, and hundreds of lives were touched by the Spirit of God. Restoration was made of things stolen, relationships were put right, confessions were made (even one of murder) and there was very much joy.

District Commissioner - Southern Sudan

After the war in 1945 Dad took over administration of a chunk of the wilds of Southern Sudan about 30,000 square miles. He set up a police force to discourage slave raiding and gun running. Here is a brief insight from his diary .

From his diary They crept in at night, speared the men, drove off the cattle and seized the women and children (for sale as slaves over the border). When word reached us of such a raid the mounted police (and I if around) set off and hopefully rounded them up before they crossed back over the border. The bandits usually put up some resistance.

t one stage a bandit leader put a price on Dad’s head. It took courage to sit out at night outside your tent with the long grass all around, and expecting a spear.

War in Southern Sudan

His active life starts in the Southern Sudan as a mission teacher in December 1938. Then came the war and the Italians invaded Ethiopia and started moving towards the Sudan. Almost immediately, without consulting the mission leaders he signed up with the Sudan Defence Force.

He led 500 men in gruelling tip and run attacks designed to persuade the Italians that there were twice as many allied troops as there actually were. Attack at night, march all night and attack a dawn, march all day and attack at Sundown. Then rest.

Dad estimated he marched 22,000 miles on foot during those war years

Dad at Oxford

Then it was up to Oxford to Read Logic (a major influence throughout his life) and English and Military History,

From the diary again

‘I joined Oxford Christian Union at once and the next 3 years were immensely formative – through the gifted speakers, mission breakfasts, daily prayer meetings, evangelistic services and missions, Sunday school teaching at a little local chapel. The close fellowship with other Christians in college.

Endless 4 feet-on-the-mantelpiece talks far into the night. Serious study of the Bible. Very little time for work. Graciously used by the Lord to bring fellow-students to Him.

A call was coming with increasing clarity that the Lord wanted me in Africa,

Dad's Diary - First Meeting with Jesus

At 16 he met up with the challenge of Christ. Here it is from his diary when he went on a camp on the Norfolk Broads.

Saw vital Christian life and witness really for the first time I heard the challenge of Christ upon my life. He helped me to open my heart to Him and surrender my life to Him. (I’d been a bad lad and getting worse – proud, deceitful, moody, bad tempered.) Life took on completely new meaning.

It was an encounter with Christ which changed Dad for ever.

Dad and Mum as I remember so well in Kabale in South Western Uganda 

Dad - Early Sudan Days  

Dad Goes t o Glory

Here is what I wrote as brief account for the papers

Richard Edward Lyth – Dick as he was known to his friends (Aged 88) went with rejoicing on 18 February to meet the Lord Jesus whom he has served so long and so faithfully. Death hasn’t got a lot of sting when you have lived as Dick lived. He packed 8 separate careers into one life - from soldiering along the wild areas of Eastern Sudan during the war to becoming a Bishop in Uganda when they wanted a new diocese set up. In Sudan - Teacher, Soldier, District Commissioner. In England -Farmer, Church Minister. In Uganda – Headmaster, Pioneering Head of a Rural Development project, Bishop and then a heart attack. He filled the years after his heart attack with wise patient ministry to ordinary people. He didn’t have much time for pomp and ceremony and always loved to be out meeting people where they were.

We who are left behind - Nora your wife, four children, 16 grandchildren, four great grandchildren have been immensely enriched through your life. So here’s to you Dick Lyth - we will meet you soon in the great Resurrection.