Working Together For Everybody
A Word from the Diocesan Bishop of Wau
By Rt, Rev, Moses Deng. Something that Should be Obvious Just the other day I listened to someone speaking and this phrase came out “Rome was not built in a day”. I wonder sometimes at phrases like this. If you know about the history of the world you will know about the Roman Empire and the way that is spread all over the whole known world many years ago. Really I can say that making Rome took many days not to mention much work. But it is important to know that this phrase does not mean exactly what it says. You are meant to understand another meaning that the phrase does not actually say, something that really should be obvious. To achieve a great goal takes time, patience and great effort. There are many quotes of patience in the Bible – here is just one, from Romans “To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life” it is in Chapter 2 verse 7. The people negotiating the IGAD peace deal for South Sudan must have thought that truly the day would never come when a peace deal was signed. But I can tell you that it did come and I am so pleased because after so many backward steps of hatred and violence we have finally taken a step forward. No one can pretend that the future will be easy for South Sudan. Juba airport is filled with aid flights and even still there is isolated fighting. But we can regard this time as a new beginning for us, a time to start again. The season for Christians now is Advent. Advent is a time of preparation where we get ready for the coming of a baby that marks a new start for everyone. One of the great stories from Advent is when An angel greets Mary and tells her about God’s plan. You can read the whole story in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1 verses 26 to 38 but here is a highlight. God’s Angel tells
Index A Word From The Bishop ....................................2 BBUC Link News....................................................4 Memorandum of Understanding.........................6 Kenneth Hearn Memorial Library.........................8 Food Distribution..................................................9 Adult Education in Kuajok...................................10 International Peace Day .....................................12 Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron.........................14 Street Children Boarding School.........................15 Akon Borehole ....................................................17 SMARD................................................................19 A Vision for Wau Diocese....................................21 A Request to Upgrade.........................................22 Development Project Summaries......................23 Contact Us ........................................................24 Please Pray with us ...........................................25
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Mary she is to have a baby who will be Jesus. Mary accepts this and her faith in doing this has become legendary. Like every mother Mary must have courage and patience, the birth of Jesus was not easy. I am pleased to say that we have new beginnings in Wau Diocese too. Both Area Dioceses are growing and becoming more active and we have selected a person to be a bishop for Gogrial, Rev Abraham Ngor –please pray for him. But I want to focus on just one aspect, St John’s College of Theology and Development. From very humble beginnings this institute has grown and expanded by the hard work and sacrifice of everyone involved. So I am very pleased to say that St John’s has now made a very important connection with Bishop Barham University College which will help us to develop this vital resource. We have signed a memorandum of understanding that teachers will come from Bishop Barham and students will be allowed to study there too. Please remember that St John’s does not just serve Wau Diocese but all the dioceses in the Bahr el Ghazel cluster and all the other church groups in this area too. I must mention also that theology is just one subject and that St John’s provides education for community groups too. Early next year I am pleased to say that we will have guest teachers from America including Dr Susan Mead a Professor of Sociology who will teach sociology, peace building and conflict transformation from January to March. This is important, education is development – we all know this to be true. I am determined to have educated pastors and church workers, because the people that they serve deserve that. But now we are thinking of the Romans again, because truly this is a big, big task. I have noticed however that new beginnings make big tasks seem more possible and I think this has to do with hope. People that came from Bishop Barham University College helped us rearrange our college library and catalogue all the books. We have taken great pleasure now in renaming this The Kenneth Hearn Memorial
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Library – after a great friend that gave us much hope. What the Angel told Mary helped to fulfil a prophecy made by Isaiah an Old Testament prophet. He foresaw the coming of Jesus and told people in these words “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” This sentence gives people hope. Isaiah Chapter 9 verse 6 and 7 is a prophecy all about Jesus, written hundreds of years before his birth. It gives great hope because it speaks of a new beginning. “ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” Hope helps us to remember that things can be better, good things can happen. God can fill you with hope it is you who must accept it. Many times I have seen people come to South Sudan from much wealthier places to help us and bring hope. These people are truly an example to us. I had the great pleasure of making a video with some people from an American organisation called 5Talents. Their work affects many people, because they enable ordinary people to organise finances and run businesses. Their work brings hope because it enables change. So armed with hope even the biggest task can be possible. We must truly learn this. The big event that Advent leads us to is the birth of Jesus our Lord in Bethlehem. On that evening Angels sang and poor shepherds left their sheep to go and see Jesus. This truly was a new beginning, I recommend that you read the whole story in the Gospel of Luke – simply start at the beginning. But as you will see Jesus did not start doing miracles or preaching straight away. It took time for this new beginning to take shape.
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Jesus did not preach at all until he was a full grown man and the first stories we have about him tell us only that he was special to God. We know that Jesus was presented at the temple which you can read in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 2 verses 22 to 38. It was at this time that Simeon recognised him and said “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” Simeon recognised Jesus and had deep hope in what he would one day do. But it would be more than thirty years before Jesus began his work. Even at the famous wedding at Cana when Mary asks him to make water in to wine he tells her that his time has not yet come. To achieve a great task takes patience, hard work and time – Rome was not built in a day. In truth God has a plan and the plan is always going forward even if sometimes we cannot tell. But please remember the Mustard seed parable that Jesus taught when he said “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” So you see a very
small beginning but leading to something truly great and mighty. Even though the resurrection and teaching that Jesus brought us took thirty years to appear the effects of that last forever. The hope Jesus brings is eternal and is as precious as a giant pearl (see the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 13 verses 45 and 46). This is the hope we look for through Advent and we must seek to apply t this hope to our everyday lives if we are going to make the IGAD peace talks worth waiting for. Rome was not built in a day, that is something that should be obvious. Nothing that was worthwhile was ever easy but I think this is a new beginning and we have an opportunity to work together rebuilding South Sudan one little bit at a time until we have created something of great value and beauty. Please let us hear from Romans one more time “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” May God bless you all with peace this Christmas and in the New Year to come.
Every blessing
+Moses
Bishop Barham University College Link News By Rev Matthias Dear Friends,
Our travelling to South Sudan was a real experience. On 7th September, our Student Rev. Abraham and I travelled to Kampala. There, we met Daniel Irankunda and Ceasar Alenya who joined us to teach at St. John's College theology for one semester. After 30 years of war, there is an urgent need in the country to train people - but qualified teachers are lacking.
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So we went as a team with the night bus from Kampala to Juba. Before the journey started, Rev. Abraham investigated that I can get a visa at the border. However, as we reached there, the officers told us to go back to the South Sudanese Embassy in Kampala. So, Rev. Abraham and I went back, as the rest of the team continued to Juba. As we reached the embassy, they just closed their doors and told us to come tomorrow. Unfortunately, Rev. Abraham lost his phone in the bus with all the contacts for the journey. So we set down in silence, dusty, tired and exhausted after two days in busses, no visa, no contacts, no open doors. Then we contacted Rev. Manuel Muranga. He offered us accommodation and his encouragement gave us new strength. On the following day we got the visa within 1.5 hours in a miraculous way and Rev. Abraham's phone was found. On this evening, we went back to the bus for Juba - full of motivation ... until people told us in the bus that the airport in Juba is closed from Friday to Sunday because of urgent repair. We passed the border to South Sudan and contacted friends from Rev. Abraham in Juba to help us with flights. They found out, there is a last private plane going on Friday morning and we can still book two seats - if we hurry. So we went to book - but the people refused to give us any receipt or accountability for the money to pay... and that was really difficult for me, since we didn't know these people at all. As we were discussing, the owner of the plane came in and instructed the staff that the plane must fly now. Everyone who
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has paid should get his money back tomorrow and in case anyone is present - they can join the flight. Since we were discussing - we were the only passengers present. But there was a great hurry - no security check, not even time for paying at the airport... (We paid in the plane and got a receipt :-)... and 5 min later we were three people in a small plane moving through the clouds upwards. Two hours later we arrived in Wau. We really felt that God succeeded in bringing as safely to the destiny. Wau is the second largest town in South Sudan with a good airport. Since the town is in the North West of the country, it is not directly affected by the conflicts in the east and the south. But after 30 years of war, the education system has not reached many parts of the country and most young men are left with two options. Either they look after cows or they join the army to get some salary. This situation prompts about 70 % of the young men to join either the army or rebel groups - and as long as there are no other alternatives - peace in South Sudan might remain a challenge. There are a few shops and companies - but about 95% of them seem to be run by foreigners while the local people are starving. As we visited villages, we saw many people with sicknesses but medicine is hardly available there. People request in these desperate situations often their ancestors for help. On the picture is a shrine and the two traditional priests of the village
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on the right side - however, we were not sure how convinced these priests are of their job done, since they requested us to build a nice church and a health centre in their village. The Diocese in Wau welcomed us very warmly and cared for us as good as possible... and we really felt Christ in our midst. The Diocese has a bold plan to register their College at the Ministry of Higher Education and to start with Diploma courses in Education, Theology, Business and other courses in January 2016. Since there are only about 4 operating Universities with about 10.000 Students in the whole country, a College will open young people a perspective for their lives to empower their communities. On the way back to Kabale, the Bishop of Wau travelled with me to meet the Bible translators in Juba. The Diocese has about the size of England in UK - but the Old Testament in not available in any of the vernacular languages - which denies people [and even priests from the villages] the access to grow in faith through reading the Old Testament. The meeting was very encouraging and we pray that the translation project of the OT gets organised, accepted and starts soon.
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We further went on to Bishop Barham University College. We had an encouraging meeting with the leaders of BBUC in which we were thinking of creating a partnership. This might help St. John's College in South Sudan in creating courses and identifying qualified teachers - for a better future of our neighbours in South Sudan. On one photo, you see Daniel Irankunda, Rev. Abraham and Ceasar Alenya at a church in South Sudan. On the other photo, you see our family (the children have grown :-) together with Bishop Moses of Wau Diocese in Kabale. Prayer Items We thank God for his protection on the way and for opening doors for mission to South Sudan; We pray for registering St. John's College and for missionaries from Uganda who are willing to go and teach Diploma courses, especially in Education, at St John's College; We pray for the translation project of the OT in Dinka Rek; We pray for peace in South Sudan.
Memorandum of Understanding-St John’s and BBUC Marburg Mission and BBUC have been working together for a long time, even when BBUC was still a Theological College. Through Marburg Mission, two students from the Anglican Diocese of Wau got a scholarship to study at BBUC in 2013. Then, the Bishop of Wau Diocese developed an interest in BBUC to promote Education in his Diocese. In 2015 Rev. Matthias Scheitacker together with a team of BBUC Graduates visited the Diocese of Wau and the Bishop shared his vision of partnership. He later came to BBUC and had a meeting with the Principal
of BBUC and his team and the Bishop of Kigezi Diocese, who also welcomed the partnership. Thus, the purpose of this partnership is to strengthen each other. Purpose The purpose of this partnership is to strengthen each other and to promote education and spreading the Gospel of Christ in South Sudan.
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Aims and Objectives 1) St John’s College aims to send five students to BBUC every year while BBUC and the Diocese of Kigezi aim to identify and send Lecturers and Graduates as Missionaries to St. John’s College every year. 2) BBUC and Kigezi Diocese will send Missionaries who are committed to the Christian Faith and the Gospel, qualified and gifted in teaching and willing to serve and live a simple life as a calling. 3) BBUC to help St John’s College in developing its own curriculum and course units for Certificate and Diploma Courses to be accredited at the National Council of Higher Education in South Sudan. 4) BBUC to donate reading materials to the library of St. Johns College.
Funding and Support St. John’s College will provide feeding, accommodation and incentives to the Lecturers. The Diocese of Kigezi will offer the Missionaries a platform in their local Churches to raise funds for their transport. Marburger Mission also aims to support a few Lecturers with transport who may not be able to raise it from their local Churches.
Benefits to St John’s College 1) Capacity building: BBUC will raise the capacity of St John’s College so that those who graduate with diplomas at St John’s College can be admitted for degrees at BBUC. 2) Validation and recognition: St John’s College will be recognized both locally and internationally as a strong college which produces qualified professionals who will transform South Sudanese society from war
minded to business and development minded people. Above all they will teach the South Sudanese communities to obey the Great Commandment of Loving God and your neighbour as yourself and of course the Great Commission “Go and tell them, Jesus is Lord”.
Benefits to BBUC 1) Publicity: BBUC will be very popular in Bhar El Ghazal which is the largest region in South Sudan with an area of 896606 km2 with a population of 3,156, 184 people indeed the whole of South Sudan. This will increase the number of South Sudanese student’s enrolment to UCU not only in Kabale but other campuses as well. Further, the admitted Students from South Sudan strengthen the University financially. 2) Lecturer’s capacity building: BBUC uses St. John’s College to build up their lecturers through giving them cross-cultural teaching experience and training graduates as potential lecturers and missionaries for the future. 3) Fulfilment of the Great Commission: The Motto of BBUC is “Go and tell them Jesus is Lord.” Our going is part and parcel of the fulfilment of the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus. This is a blessing for those who are involved.
Duration: The MO will keep in force as long as there is mutual consent between the parties. In the absent of mutual agreement, this MO shall end.
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Kenneth Hearn Memorial Library By Rev Samuel Mabith The only Theological College in the state of western Bahr-El-Ghazal, St Johns established a small library in 2011. This would help the many church ministers who would come to be trained in their pursuit of much needed knowledge to enhance their service in the churches they serve in. I use the words ‘much needed’ due to the many ordained pastors who lack basic theological training in South-Sudan. When the College started in the same year 2011, it needed to have a Library but by that time there was not much to start up with. Instead, some individuals who felt moved decided to offer their own personal books as a start. These included the Bishop of the Diocese of Wau Rt Rev Moses Deng Bol, the first principal of the College Rev Joseph Mamer and the current Principal Rev. Abraham Ngor. However there was still a huge need for more books if the Library was ever going to fit in with the vision behind the starting of St John’s College. The late Canon Kenneth Hearn was at that time a
member of Wau Cathedral and was the representative of Wau Diocese in the United Kingdom or the Bishop’s UK Commissary. He fundraised in Northern Ireland and the collected money was used to buy books. Theological Books Network also organised a donation from the US. The books were packaged, crated and shipped. They were brought to the College and were piled up in the Library. A missionary from Marburg Mission (Germany) to Bishop Barham University College in Uganda made a mission trip recently to St John’s College. Seeing the need to re-arrange the books in the Library he offered his time and strength working together with the students. He accomplished a very great work of re-arranging the Library by putting each book where it belongs. With the new re-arranged Library, it was decided that the Library be named, ‘Canon Kenneth Hearn Memorial Library in honour of his
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huge contribution to the whole process of making the Library the way it is now. We as South-Sudan, Wau Diocese will forever be grateful for the efforts he made in contribution to the success of St John’s College in particular and Wau Diocese as a whole.
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May each benefit that the library gives to each student that uses it be a reminder of what God did through Canon Kenneth
Food Distribution in Maanangui IDP Camp By Rev Andre Ngong A team from the Gogrial Area Diocese CARD office went to Maanangui Village of Twich County where a camp of internally displaced persons (IDPs) was allocated to be distributed food there in the camp. It was not first time for ECSS Gogrial area Diocese to send a team with food to them, but rather it was a usual duty because the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) provide the funds for the food through ECSS Gogrial area Diocese administration for implementation. The camp is comprised of different tribes Nuer, Dinka, Madari, Zande and Mabaan from Malakal, Bentiu and Mayom. The IDPs established a new system that is based on the value of all tribal tradition norms and human right that gives a voice and role to all the people in the camp to exercises their ideas in any meeting and contribute their feelings on how and who will address their social and harmony interaction in the camp. It is very organized camp which is headed by a female well known as Alueldit who made the camp become well organize and has very strong leadership than any other camps in the area. They
have organized themselves and choose some people who led them in a camp and take a responsibility of anything happened in the camp or to distribute their food. They have chosen very influential leaders who have some leadership experiences in the past. One of their top leaders who very much appreciated Gogrial area administration for its usual willingness to see them in the camp as it happened now, who is well known as Alueldit has further stated that “Your support from the ECSS Gogrial area Diocese has actually paved the way forward to the restoration of social relationships and good interaction by considering our human dignity and well-being, security and equality for all of us within the camp. It also strengthens our hearts to feel encouraged with the words of God and apply the relationship needed by our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ” The Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral Rev Andrea Ngong Deng who led a team to Maanangui IDPs
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camp has strongly comforted them with the words of God from the Gospel of (Luke 10: 27. ESV 2011) emphasizing the relationship of God with Human beings and between each other on earth as well as written that “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself This summary emphasized the Ten Commandments when an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” he just wanted to see, how He will answer him, Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Therefore the message addressed the feelings of the IDPs and exactly touched their hearts through the mood we have seen from their faces.
Thank you all for your time you used to read our news, we are very happy for that and May God bless you.
Rev. Andrea Ngong Deng concluded the words of God with a prayer. After that we shook hands to say farewell to each other and finally Alueldit expressed their congratulation to the Gogrial area administration for it’s tireless support to their camp through its collaboration with the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART) which funded the programs. It was a very joyful and successful mission to be among the team visiting the Maanangui IDPs camp which has shown social interaction with South Sudan tribes as one family.
ECSSS Adults Education in Kuajok By Rev John Bol Angui Gogrial area Diocese administration is privileged to publically announce the re-opening of Accelerated Learning Programs (ALP) in Kuajok, headquarter of Gogrial Area Diocese to support all overage learners whose studies have been interrupted by other circumstances and are still
lower in their academic education progress. We want to provide Accelerated Learning Programs as an education system to help them catch up their schooling quickly through a shortcut from eight (8) years of mainstream classes to just four (4) years of accelerated learning program
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We have decided to implement the Accelerated Learning Programs based on the ALP system to enable/support older children who are far below their age mates to catch up with their learning process in order to cover/complete a gap left out from school in the beginning of their learning time. It is important to educate our community through formal education which should include all people who are willing to get educational skills in the community. That needs all of us to mobilize the community to understand and participate in the programs so that they allow some of their family’s members to join it. classes. This system makes it short for them to complete their studies within a reasonable period of time. Education doesn’t have a specific age group that are supposed to attend it as we have all known that it is for all, both male and female, children and adults. One must learn more and even freely compete in the class room activities with each other as well as he/she can do. It usually requires someone to depend on his/her personal ability of understanding and intelligence. We have introduced accelerated learning programs which can be useful for the adult learners to catch up on their studies so that one can cover two classes within one academic year.
Class room learning activities will initiative a process that will be providing conflict sensitive education for children and youth people that have missed out formal education in the early schooling ages due to other family circumstances as I have mentioned above. Therefore our next plan is to mobilize the funds that we use for improvement of the schools administrative structures like office building, classes, chairs, other learning stationaries and school sports facilities. Thank you for your concern to read our news, May God bless you all
ALP education was introduced to help drop out school children to get back to their normal schooling activities and will proceed ahead to secondary level as well as to reach higher education together with their former classmates through the high speed provided by the ALP system. The target group for ALP education systems are drop out children from school, former child soldiers, teenage mothers, young mothers and any other group who are willing to join it.
Please Pray for education and all teachers here
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International Peace Day in Kuajok - Warrap By Rev John Bol Angui The Inter church committee acting chairperson of Kuajok in Warrap state, all denominations of the churches within and around Kuajok town, together with other international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Warrap state have organized an international peace day celebration in the Warrap state main town of Kuajok on 21st Sep 2015. The church groups and the organized police musicians were getting ready early in the morning of this official international peace day celebration for matching. The marching was done around the town to show the happy international peace day celebration to the entire community of Warrap state. They started marching from the Catholic Church and went to St. Mary’s ECSSS Cathedral in Kuajok opposite the ministry of finance behind it at the western site and finally led to Freedom Square. It was there all the community leaders, the government officials from all Warrap state united and the congregations from all denominations awaited the marching people arrive before starting the speeches and program prepared for this event. The marching was well organized by the church groups and successfully led by police musicians towards freedom square Kuajok.
It was a pleasant and joyous day for all the churches, all the communities and all the governmental organizations of Warrap state. Good also to join their efforts in celebrating such an important, joyous and happily International Peace Day together in Warrap state in Kuajok’s Freedom Square today. Just the same as it has recently been successful for them to organize and achieve according to their expectation this event, so that the community may feel encouraged and comfortable through the speeches delivered about lasting peace, social interaction, and democratic systems, human rights, and gender equality from the church leaders and from the state government officials who attended the event. All the churches grouped themselves in the marching according to their different denominations and some of the government groups like the police did likewise to celebrate such an important event. Our community is eager to get a lasting peace, social justice and the values of ethnic groups in the general community, which will positively promote a social interaction of the community. Everyone
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was intent on expressing his or her feelings about peace because all the church leaders want South Sudan to be a peaceful new country which considers human rights, justice, peace, democracy and social interaction among the community. The celebration of international peace day was marked by a symbolic signing of the peace led by ECSSS Dean of St. Mary Cathedral, Rev. Andrea Ngong Deng who symbolically signed the peace agreement. “We want to be in social justice, lasting peace and democratic systems which will provide gender equality, human rights and social interaction among the communities of South Sudan� he stated, to mark the willingness and seeking of a lasting peace by all church leaders in South Sudan and the community itself. Deng was followed in this action by government officials from the Police operation of Warrap State, the LT. Col Joseph Mayiei Aru who conscientiously signed the symbolic peace agreement after Deng with the same call for lasting peace and social interaction of the community in harmony. This example was followed by many people of Warrap state at Freedom Square. Even the children were also involved in signing a symbolic peace before the community at Freedom Square to show the willingness of religious leaders and the entire community for a lasting peace in the community of South Sudan.
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Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron - Update A KING AND HIS CLOWN.
Once a king said to his clown, "when you know a man more strange than you, introduce him to me". "Alright," said the clown. After some time the king fell seriously sick, but was not at all thinking of his end. The clown came to the king and said, "Sir, I have found a man more strange than I." The king said to the clown, "Let me know him, you fool." The clown continued, "Your majesty is about to go on a long journey, isn't it true?" "Perhaps," said the king. "And have you thought of and prepared yourself for the journey?" said the clown. "I did not think of it," said the king. "Then you are the one more strange than I am, for it is madness to be at the point of death and not thinking about it," replied the clown.
Jesus said, "Be ready at all times, for death is coming like a thief at the time you don't expect".
and more, and the peace village community, to own this peace village like a cooperative peace village and a peace academy. I send the government, donors and the international community all good wishes, to support them for peace in the world. Thank you for listening to me. God is love, and love is service, and service is peace. I love you. Thank you. Let us then remember one another, united in mind and heart. Let us pray without ceasing, you for us, we for you, by love we share, we shall thus relieve the strains of these great trials and the suffering of the people of the Republic of South Sudan and Sudan. I LOVE YOU.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Bishop Paride Taban Kenyi, bishoptabanparide@yahoo.com
I am therefore preparing the Diocese of Torit, all my staff and friends, all who have supported Holy Trinity Peace Village, Kuron, for ten years
+211955094202/+211928272512 +8821643339000 www.kuronvillage.net
The Strategic Overview Document for Kuron Peace Village can be read and downloaded through the Wau Diocese website.
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Boarding Primary School for Street Children Announced By Rev John Bol Angui
Gogrial area diocese administration under Wau Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSSS) has decided a new plan that will help to control or reduce rapid movement of young children in the state of Warrap and around its towns on the streets, which starts from town to town and latter involves state to state. We are very pleased to publically announce it to you all that we decided to build the quality boarding school that we can accommodate such children for studies. We invite all of you to join hands with us for this implementation, anyone who feels interest to contribute for such project is highly welcome. The movement of young children on a street and their living far away from their parents is very risky to their lives, families and the society in general because they are not well protected when they are out from their parents. It is a great task and role for the parents to control and teach their young ones on how the currently behalf in a present day and later on when they become mature in the future for better society
There are a lot of challenges caused by a rapidly growing number of street children on the streets in Warrap state towns and its neighbouring states like Northern-Bahr El Ghazal (Aweil), Western Bahr El Ghazal (Wau) and Lake state (Rumbek) which include a civil war destructions, poverty, civilization, materialism, and the rest of causes like being an orphan and others are also contributed their part on this. All these causes occurred within the community of South Sudan where both adults and children experienced them and are affected the minds and feelings of children more than adults. Than the effect of these challenges actually caused a high growing number of the street children roaming in the streets and markets of all towns of the mentioned states. This does not mean that the orphans of both or single parents are the only ones make the number of the streets children growing higher as we have been experienced but include those whom their parents are responsible and the children reject their advices due to the newly civilization, we have received a modern town lives while we are not ready for it. The attitudes of the children today are not as the same as with
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those in the past, because there has been a
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though it is too hard to meet all the basic needs of human being. Therefore our positive solution for the issues of street children is to mobilize the funds that will facilitate a building of boarding school in the selecting centre for which will be little a bit far from the state main town to discourage their such experiences of difference criminal activities in the town. We can use our means to gather all of them for the studies. And that will be a wise idea because education will transform their attitudes in the society.
strong tradition norms which everyone must observed and that contribute a way toward the right cannel which maintain such children attitudes of being out of family while small. But are currently spoiled by different experiences. Poverty is one of the problems that is facing our children today in every state and can caused a lot of deaths to them when they are out from their parents’ control. There is a great desire for materialistic possession as we have observed it in the community of South Sudan and that turn poverty to be such an issue to all human being because most of the children who have the same attitudes and ideologies, had given them a restless minded and decision of going out from their parents’ households or relatives when they are orphans. There are the needs of difference things from the children currently and if there has been a positive responses of them like boarding school which meet their basic needs such as food, clothes and shelters then it could have been a bit reduced such high growing number of street children or discouraged such attitudes, even
We are looking forward to join hands with those who are really willing and usually desire to take led for such contribution in order to join our hands for the sufficient and effective efforts which will minimize a rapid ongoing growing number of street children on the street. This will be a wise decision rather than taking them to their parents or relatives and latter return back again as it has usual happened in the past.
Thank you once more for your time and energy used to read our news, May God bless you all
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Akon Borehole Drilling By Rev Jon Bol Angui The Gogrial Area Diocese under Wau Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSSS) is very pleased to thank Anglican Relief Development Fund (ARDF Canada) for supporting a water project in the Gogrial Area Diocese to implement drilling of bore holes in various areas which don’t have clean water in the past. The community is very much concerned to receive more boreholes from ARDF Canada as they have done before and also are requesting ARDF Canada to coordinate this program with other organization colleagues in America and elsewhere around the world. This is so that they can provide enough through collaboration with each other organization which has the same program of water projects in their plans and might be willing to join hands with them for this issue. Therefore, one of the community leaders who asked a lot of questions about this support has requested that “we want to see those who think of doing these great gifts to help us with such clean water”. They told us to convey their message to ARDF Canada so that they may send their team to come and see the community they have supported and talk to them in person or face to face so that they may know each other physically.
The community of Gogrial west, Gogrial East and Twich County need a lot to be done in the community by the churches to improve some areas in the community, such as providing of clean water, quality education and proper health centres. But in fact the water project is a part of a health project as supported by ARDF Canada through the ECSSS administration of Gogrial Area Diocese under Wau Diocese which implemented a project to meet ARDF Canada expectations. This project was to discourage the rapid spreading of water borne diseases among the community, which made Gogrial Area Diocese staff so proud and pleased that such an important program was achieved properly. Clean water keeps people free from water borne diseases which cause a lot of deaths to the people in South Sudan who fetch water from unprotected dams, pools, rivers, holes and other natural sources of water that are accessible to animals. These animals, wild and other domestic animals of different kinds defecate and urinate into water that is later drawn by the people for their daily life uses.
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Things seem to be a bit better but are not complete, during a dry season it is a great struggle to get water from the long distance of 30 minutes walk or up to an hour away from the households, rather than using a nearer but unclean source which during the rainy season causes a lot of diseases such as Guinea worms and other water borne diseases to the community. It was actually our pleasure to hear a special thank and good recommendation from the Gogrial West Community, especially Akon South Payam and Malek Akeerec, Alek West Payam which were selected for borehole drilling soon after the completion in Kuajok of St Mary’s Cathedral borehole due to their long time suffering from water borne diseases. We have been fully encouraged by the words from the community leaders, children and elders for such a good decision and joyous news to have a special friend’s concern from abroad. Someone who might be willing to share in anything affecting the community with us and take the lead to contribute something for the solution of the matter. ARDF Canada has done it, by providing some funds for the implementation of a water project so that the community may be rescued from the risk of unclean water. The community was actually very spoiled by unclean water, some of the community had taken their water from the dams which through erosion became contaminated by materials on the ground, such as leaves off trees and other detritus which gave the water a different taste. Everyone disliked water of such type but they were forced by the circumstances of the situation to use it as it is.
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It is a real need for the community to have clean water the way that ARDF Canada have funded it. The community were overjoyed to see this support and tell us to convey their congratulatory message and happiness to ARDF Canada which organized such an important gift for them. It is also our privilege and concern to publically announce it to you all, so that we together share the feeling of happiness with those whom we have seen their feelings and the result of that in the community, especially those areas selected for boreholes. ARDF Canada which supported Gogrial Area Diocese administration to implement the water project program has done truly successful work in the community. It is very helpful to have clean water in the community and in every public place like schools, clinics and church buildings. As an example Akon ECSSS church congregation was struggling to get drinking water after every Sunday service because the congregation of the church come from all different directions and the children get thirty before going back home. The nearest households around the church building tried their level best to provide the children with some water after ever Sunday service but there was never enough. The community is very much appreciating this program and the help from ARDF through the ECSSS Gogrial Area Diocese administration as they have now been given their own borehole which is now ready for them to use. Gogrial Area Diocese administrator Rev Peter Angui Akook has eventually noticed two important things that we achieved from the water project funded by ARDF Canada, “clean water and evangelism”. These two words are
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very important in our daily activities and in human life and are actually helping the community in different functions and meanings. They are all addressing the same personal life. A need for clean water is also a need to have a good healthy life; as well a need for evangelism is also seeking a close relationship with God which results in eternal life. Most of the community leaders who don’t choose Christ as their Savior in the past
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confessed that, they have understood the relationship within Christianity and some may decide to become a Christian member through a motivation of such activities that occurred in the community. We are also very happy that a borehole which was promised to be taken to Majook Noon in Twich County is now ready there and will be used soon, within two days before the end of the week.
SMARD – Emergency Food Assistance From Rev James Baak Nhial – SMARD Executive Director, SMARD is a registered grass root Christian national organization founded in 2012 in South Sudan. The organization has its Head quarters in Juba, South Sudan and field offices at YiikAdoor Warrap State and Yirol, Lake State. It supports Livelihood programs, Education, Peace building and Reconciliation, among others in South Sudan. Currently SMARD is supporting Livelihoods-Emergency Food Assistance Project (EFAP) and Adult Literacy Programs (ALP) funded by FBC, USA, in Gogrial East County, Warrap state and Peace building Project funded by UNDP, in Greater Yirol, Lake State.
This report was prepared by John Chol Akot to capture the series of activities done to make sure food distribution done at Yiik-Adoor to the most vulnerable households was successful. Key of the activities done during food assistance distribution includes: Community Consultation Meeting: Consultation meeting was done at Yiik-Adoor to create awareness about the emergency food assistance program that SMARD is implementing in Gogrial East County. This meeting was organized with the local churches, community leaders and local government authorities at Pathuon East payam to let the community leaders and local government know the objectives of the food assistance intended to help
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the most vulnerable household in the area. Formation of Beneficiaries Committee (BSC):
Selection
A committee of 9 members was formed and tasked with the responsibilities of selecting the most vulnerable households to be supported by SMARD with emergency food assistance program.
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Purchase for food items for emergency food assistance was done in Wau, the nearest main town in the region to avoid heavy cost of transport and delay on the way. 50 bags of 50 kg were purchased in Wau and transported to Yiik-Adoor, the SMARD Field Office in Gogrial East County of Warrap State in the first week of Sept 2015. Distribution of food items to the selected
Create awareness of the SMARD emergency food assistance program objectives. Help in distributing food items to the selected most vulnerable households. Selection of the members for the beneficiaries’ selection committee was done in such a way that it reflects the representation of the community and local authority as well as the implementing agency, SMARD. Two members from the churches, one from the local government, three from the community leaders, one from education department, one from the youths and one from the SMARD. Selection and registration of vulnerable households to be supported with emergency food assistance: A total of 50 female-headed households with average number of seven (7) members were selected through the committee. The criteria for identifying the most vulnerable household was put in place to ensure that the food go to the intended most famine stricken vulnerable including the IDPS, female headed households, disabled poor pregnant mothers and orphans. Purchase of food items:
vulnerable households: The BSC helped the SMARD staff in distribution of food the vulnerable households. All the 50 selected vulnerable famlies were given 50 kg bag of sorghum each family that a average of 7 members to benefit from this food assistance. The direct beneficiaries are therefore 350 vulnerable people who benefited from this Emergency Food Assistance Project (EFAP). Thanksgiving The local churches, community leaders and local government thanks SMARD and her partners for assisting the most vulnerable people affected by inter-communal conflict that prevent people to cultivate. The challenge for the community will be getting seeds to plant for the next raining session if current peace process will not hold
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A Vision of a United and Vibrant Church in Wau, South Sudan and Beyond That is a Church led by well trained and experienced Clergy, Mothers Union, Youth, Sunday school and Church Council Leaders.
A Church which promotes love and unity among South Sudanese and all people living in South Sudan based on the great commandment “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF� MATHEW 22:39
A Church which encourages Holistic Ministry where Mission & Evangelism and Social Development are well integrated resulting in Transformational Development among the communities in Wau, South Sudan and beyond.
A Church which encourages forgiveness, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among the different tribes, sub tribes, clans and sub clans in Wau, South Sudan and beyond.
A Church which promotes justice, equality and respect for human rights specially the rights of the most vulnerable members of the society including women and children particularly orphans and Widows.
A Church which encourages participatory Leadership and decision making, in which Clergy and Christians equally participate in decision making on matters that affect their lives and faith.
A Church which encourages partnership and collaboration with sister dioceses (within Anglican Communion) other denominations, Non-Governmental Organizations, Governments and Communities where necessary.
A Church which encourages dialogue between Christians and members of other faiths including Islam and African Traditional Religion.
A Church which advocates for fair and equitable distribution of resources, environmental protection and proper exploitation of natural resources for the benefit of local communities.
A Church which fights against corruption, tribalism, nepotism and other malpractices in the society.
A Church which promotes Democracy, Good Governance and Accountability in all sectors of the Society in South Sudan and beyond
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A Request to Upgrade Nyieth Village Nyieth Village is attempting to upgrade to a Boma and here is a copy of the official request letter.
Republic of South Sudan Warrap State, Kuajok Gogrial West County Akon South Payam Ayien Boma Date: October 3rd, 2015
Ref: REQUEST TO UPGRADE NYIETH FROM VILLAGE TO BOMA To: Payam Administrator of Akon South Payam, Mr Simon Apet Deng Kon Greetings! It is indeed a great pleasure and privilege at this juncture that the vision and slogan of the SPLM to bring towns to people rather than people to towns become evident and reality today. Too many congratulations to H.E. General Salva Kir Mayardit, the President of the Republic of South Sudan! We, the community members (i.e. Religious leaders, intellectuals, elders, women and Youth) of Nyieth village would therefore love to register our sincere gratitude and once more congratulate the President for this historic decision of the creation of 28 States in the Republic of South Sudan. We very much welcome the idea and hoping to be joining hands together in the implementation matrix. In line with this Vision Nyieth community would like to request the County Government of Gogrial West through the Office of the Payam Administrator for Akon South Payam to upgrade Nyieth village into Boma under the proposed Ayien Payam. Nyieth has about six hundred and fifty (650) tax- payers which qualifiers it to be upgraded to Boma status according to the Local Government Act 2011. We have agreed by consensus that the Boma Chief would be Bol Akoon Dhal and the rest of the Leadership Structure in the Boma would be determine later once this proposal has been approved by the County Government. Your positive consideration of this request will be highly appreciated. Ex. Chief Dut Pakak Ayom
Ayien Boma Chief
Rev Peter Angui Akook
Nyieth Church Leaders Representative
Wol Wol Akoon
Nyieth Intellectuals Representative
Manut Wieu Aleu
Nyieth Elders Representative
Mrs Daborah Aliet Akot
Nyieth Women Representative
Alfred Akech Akol
Nyieth Youth Representative
Deng Deng Luil
Gol, Leader (Tax-Collectors) Representative
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Project Page St Mary’s Cathedral Construction Saint Mary Cathedral Church was upgraded last year .The church has the skeleton and the roofing without the walls, windows doors or proper floor. Last year the believers and some of the community members started contributions to complete the construction. For a period of eleven months a total of 43,740 SSP was raised. The construction of the wall has started and at the moment it has reached up to the level of beam however the remaining part of the wall, doors, windows and the floor are still the major constraints to completing the construction. We have estimated the remaining activities would require a total of 160,000 SSP. Goal: To complete the necessary building work on St Mary’s Cathedral. Objectives:
To raise the remaining estimated sum of money needed or get assistance in kind. Complete the building work so that Gogrial Area Diocese has a completed cathedral.
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Contacting Us:
www.wau.anglican.org
By E-mail Diocesan Bishop Rt Rev Moses Deng Bol :
bishop@wau.anglican.org
Diocesan Secretary Rev Nathaniel Maral :
dio.secretary@wau.anglican.org
General Enquiries Rev Samuel Madut :
communications@wau.anglican.org
Mother’s Union Mrs Mary John Garang :
mucoordinator@wau.anglican.org
Gogrial Area Diocese Coordinator Rev Peter Angui Akook : gogrialcoordinator@wau.anglican.org Tonj Area Diocese Coordinator Rev Angok Achuil Angok : tonjcoordinator@wau.anglican.org
A full list of diocesan staff with contacts can be viewed on our website. By Post: Hai Mozephin, Opposite Wau Teaching Hospital, C/o ECS Provincial Office, P O BOX 110, Juba, South Sudan
Warrap State Peace Mobiliser By Telephone:
Mrs Rose Aciendhel Kacthiek
Tel +211 926954187 or +211 955602769 +254 716641233
+211 914191558 roseaciendel@yahoo.com
We give you thanks Lord for the chance to improve and do better, to make life better for those around us and those who will one day become our future. - Amen
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Please Pray With Us Pray for the hardworking clergy and volunteers of Wau Diocese who work without pay in difficult conditions. Give thanks to God for agencies that come to work with us such as SMARD. Pray for the Archbishop of the ECSSS and all in South Sudan so that all violence may be stopped and all peace initiatives be followed with vigour. Pray for lasting peace and strong development in South Sudan. Pray for ARDF Canada and the good work that they are doing by drilling bore holes. Pray for the refugees at Maanangui camp that they may one day be able to go home in peace. Give thanks to God for the work of the Kuron peace village and the work of Bishop Taban Paride. Pray for St John’s College of Theology and Development and its principal Rev Abraham Ngong . Pray for all farmers in our community in need of education particularly people new to farming. Pray for the street children in Warrap State and the boarding school project set to help them. Give Thanks for the partners working with CARD in development of our society. Pray for the situation of food security in South Sudan so that people may have enough to eat. Pray for the many South Sudanese people living with HIV or AIDS.
Church prayers needs Pray for our Bishop the Rt. Rev Moses Deng Bol, who works so hard for the Diocese, pray that God will help him to do what needs to be done. Pray for Rev Abraham Ngor – Bishop Elect of Gogrial Area Diocese that God will guide him. Give Thanks for the Wau Diocese pastors living away and studying. Pray for them to succeed in their efforts and enrich the life of our diocese. Pray for Captain Rev Paul Lueth the first Church Army Africa Officer in South Sudan. Pray for all pastors, priests, deacons and assistants working hard in Wau Diocese. Pray for the Mothers Union in Wau Diocese and the good work that they do. Pray for all schools and teachers in Wau Diocese and all those trying hard to learn. Pray for the development of the Area Dioceses of Gogrial and Tonj becoming full dioceses. Pray for Rev Peter Angui Akook the coordinator of Gogrial Area Diocese. Pray for Rev Angok Achuil Angok the coordinator of Tonj Area Diocese. Pray for all Christians working hard to build and sustain peaceful development in faith.. Give thanks to God for the valuable work of CARD in our community and the development it brings to make life better for the future.