There is so much going on these days we are finding it difficult to get to the blog. Trevor is doing two reports (one for the Bishops here and one for Salisbury).
We are sorting out the buildings in the wake of the the builders and decorators. This has been a very lively time. Most of the college has been overhauled and redecorated. The furniture is painted, varnished and cleaned but now has to be put back and everything properly organised. A huge task.
Then there is a huge pile of stored dusty files to go through. We mean huge!
This weekend we are in Terekeka with Bishop Micah (our chairman who is being installed as the first bishop there in a new diocese).
Then back for our first official staff meeting on Monday. We have a new lecturer joining us, Simon Lual Bang.
Then it won't be long before Trevor is off to Rumbek for 10 days for the Bishops' standing committee - time he could do with in the college but liaising with them is also vital.
The library was sorted into boxes and cupboards but all has been moved for the decorating. Now we have to get the shelves in place in the new library and get the books on them in order.
Our first books have arrived from the UK. We are in great need of new books and have the funding - but getting them here is a real challenge. If you are coming this way then please fill up your allowance with books. We now have the teachers but they need the tools.
Trevor and Tina are both teaching. Trevor has an 'evening class' (4 pm to 6 pm) on Sin and Salvation and Tina is teaching English three times a week on a one to one basis at the Secondary School.
The work of getting around the Juba primary schools to sort out links is hard work without transport. Patience is so important here. It took three visits to the bank and several hours just to get the signatures changed on one bank account.
Any way keep praying ...! It works.
Friday 30 October 2009
Wednesday 7 October 2009
Special Happenings - Sadness and Joy
Four recent events deserve special mention.
First the funeral of the late Archbishop Joseph Morona. He died in Khartoum on Friday 18th September and his funeral took place a week later here in Juba. We are in the nearest house to his grave. As the third archbishop he is buried next to his two predecessors outside the cathedral.
His body was brought into the cathedral with prayer and a short (one hour) service on the Thursday evening at around 5 o'clock. Those who could had gone to the airport and received the body from the plane. His coffin was then left in the chancel all night when a vigil was kept. This meant singing, prayers and preaching using the cathedral sound system - silent vigils are not a thing of the ECS. (It was pretty difficult to sleep that night - the cathedral doors are always wide open of course -but we have got used to it having now lived next to the cathedral for a few months). We went for a few minutes at 9 pm. and found people sleeping on the floor of the cathedral all around the coffin, on the pews, in the vestibule and even under the stars outside.
The service began at 9.30 am in the morning, and everything was concluded at around 4.30 pm. We had a very well put together funeral service that, however, as always in the Sudan, was surrounded and interspersed by many speeches and talks of varying quality and length from a plethora of people including family, colleagues, politicians and church representatives of different backgrounds. We heard about his work and his death, his kindness and generosity and the contribution he made to the peace process and the advance of women within the ECS. He spent much time as a teacher and education was near his heart. The cathedral was, of course, full to overflowing and many people used the outdoor area specially covered for the occasion.
An event of this nature is not complete without refreshments and a lot of Sudanese food (meat, beans, rice, greens and bread) was prepared and distributed among those who had spent so much time keeping vigil for him.
The same day we learned that a young man called Biar, living with the archbishop, had been killed along with two others - a man and a young woman - in a road accident in Juba. They were all on the same motorbike. In Juba there are a lot of 'motor bike taxis' and very few people wear helmets. They are very dangerous and road deaths are far too common. This man was an only son whose mother had died when he was two. His father died only 5 months ago and thus the family were quite distraught. We had his Juba service at the archbishop's house on Tuesday afternoon (29th September). This was accompanied by speeches and prayers too - and food. This a particularly sad event.
On a happier note we have spent two Sundays in inaugurating two new archdeaconries in Juba Diocese. In fact there are three new archdeaconries but we only managed to get to two! Here the day began at 10.30 am and finished around 5.30 pm. The service itself lasted from 11.15 am to 4 pm. including songs and dances from the young families group, the Sunday Schools and the youth groups - in fact anyone who can muster a dozen or more people to sing two or three songs and dance to them. These are always impressive and some are astounding. At the one this last Sunday we were even presented with a gift of soap! Everyone who has any role in the ECS has to make a speech and that, of course, means Trevor and Tina! When Tina says she is going to teach English it always goes down extremely well - as does her membership of the Mothers' Union.
These occasions begin with breakfast (meat, maize-meal, bread) at 10.30 am and finish with a meal (several sorts of meat, maize-meal, rice, greens and bread) all cooked on charcoal. The Sudanese eat meat all the time. Although they can grow bananas, pineapples, pawpaws, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, peanuts etc. these things are only served for the most part in small quantities as side-dishes - and then not always).
So we have had a very busy couple of week-ends. We are always made extremely welcome and are looked after so well here.
First the funeral of the late Archbishop Joseph Morona. He died in Khartoum on Friday 18th September and his funeral took place a week later here in Juba. We are in the nearest house to his grave. As the third archbishop he is buried next to his two predecessors outside the cathedral.
His body was brought into the cathedral with prayer and a short (one hour) service on the Thursday evening at around 5 o'clock. Those who could had gone to the airport and received the body from the plane. His coffin was then left in the chancel all night when a vigil was kept. This meant singing, prayers and preaching using the cathedral sound system - silent vigils are not a thing of the ECS. (It was pretty difficult to sleep that night - the cathedral doors are always wide open of course -but we have got used to it having now lived next to the cathedral for a few months). We went for a few minutes at 9 pm. and found people sleeping on the floor of the cathedral all around the coffin, on the pews, in the vestibule and even under the stars outside.
The service began at 9.30 am in the morning, and everything was concluded at around 4.30 pm. We had a very well put together funeral service that, however, as always in the Sudan, was surrounded and interspersed by many speeches and talks of varying quality and length from a plethora of people including family, colleagues, politicians and church representatives of different backgrounds. We heard about his work and his death, his kindness and generosity and the contribution he made to the peace process and the advance of women within the ECS. He spent much time as a teacher and education was near his heart. The cathedral was, of course, full to overflowing and many people used the outdoor area specially covered for the occasion.
An event of this nature is not complete without refreshments and a lot of Sudanese food (meat, beans, rice, greens and bread) was prepared and distributed among those who had spent so much time keeping vigil for him.
The same day we learned that a young man called Biar, living with the archbishop, had been killed along with two others - a man and a young woman - in a road accident in Juba. They were all on the same motorbike. In Juba there are a lot of 'motor bike taxis' and very few people wear helmets. They are very dangerous and road deaths are far too common. This man was an only son whose mother had died when he was two. His father died only 5 months ago and thus the family were quite distraught. We had his Juba service at the archbishop's house on Tuesday afternoon (29th September). This was accompanied by speeches and prayers too - and food. This a particularly sad event.
On a happier note we have spent two Sundays in inaugurating two new archdeaconries in Juba Diocese. In fact there are three new archdeaconries but we only managed to get to two! Here the day began at 10.30 am and finished around 5.30 pm. The service itself lasted from 11.15 am to 4 pm. including songs and dances from the young families group, the Sunday Schools and the youth groups - in fact anyone who can muster a dozen or more people to sing two or three songs and dance to them. These are always impressive and some are astounding. At the one this last Sunday we were even presented with a gift of soap! Everyone who has any role in the ECS has to make a speech and that, of course, means Trevor and Tina! When Tina says she is going to teach English it always goes down extremely well - as does her membership of the Mothers' Union.
These occasions begin with breakfast (meat, maize-meal, bread) at 10.30 am and finish with a meal (several sorts of meat, maize-meal, rice, greens and bread) all cooked on charcoal. The Sudanese eat meat all the time. Although they can grow bananas, pineapples, pawpaws, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, peanuts etc. these things are only served for the most part in small quantities as side-dishes - and then not always).
So we have had a very busy couple of week-ends. We are always made extremely welcome and are looked after so well here.
Friday 2 October 2009
Prayer Points
October 2009
Prayer Answers, Thanksgivings and Petitions
1. The College
Praise God for the way things are working out in the existing building. We now have quotations for a complete overhaul of the building. Essential repairs to the windows and doors etc., restoration of the water supply and the replacement of the toilets, complete internal painting and decorating and the varnishing of all the shelves are all quoted for. One of our let properties has come up for re-letting and it looks as if this will just about facilitate the work. We are also going to built on a new kitchen - which in Sudanese terms means a ten feet square piece of concrete with a zinc roof and half open sides. The cooks put their charcoal burners on the floor.
Pray that those who still occupy houses without paying the proper rent (if any) will soon be sorted out. We don't want to go through the law because we want to remain friends - but at the same time we cannot run a college without the income we are due.
Pray for the existing students who have now all been recalled to recommence their studies on 30th January 2010. Please pray that they will all be in a position to return and prosper.
Pray also for those who are being proposed to begin in a new first year in 2010. We pray that we may get the applications from the right candidates and that they are properly supported by their communities and dioceses.
We give thanks for the progress Tina is making with the library in cleaning and re-cataloguing. This is a mammoth task and we thank God that there will be other volunteers on hand from the end of September.
Pray that we may be able to get all the new books we need into Juba in time for the studies. Many of the books in the library are old - some very old. Few books have been received since 1980.
We thank God for the continued support of St Paul's, Limuru.
Praise God for the way that the necessary members of staff are becoming available. Pray for those still making u their minds about their availability. May the Lord open the way for them to come if that is his will.
2. The New Site
We still await developments regarding this. Things are going forward beneath the surface. Pray that there may be visible progress. This will become urgent before the beginning of the new year.
Continue to pray that the suggestion of a BGC Guest House will indeed come to pass and that the investment sought by Anglican International Development will be found.
3. The Schools
Pray for Tina as she revisits the primary schools to build up and establish the links that are increasing from the Diocese of Salisbury. Getting to these schools is not easy without transport of her own.
4. Sickness
Thank God that both Archbishop Daniel and Bishop Peter had thanksgiving services last week for their recovery. The archbishop is back in full-time work. Bishop Peter has to take it steady for the next few weeks but he is now back home in Lainya.
5. The Nation
Violence continues to erupt in Jonglei. On 21st September 100 people (including 50 soldiers and policemen) died in a raid on security compound in Jonglei. Much of this it seems is due to angry young men, many psychologically damaged as a result of the traumas of the war, going on the rampage.
Pray for healing.
Pray that the availability of weapons will be restricted.
Pray for the relatives and friends of those who have lost their lives in this most recent violence.
Give thanks that two young people (one a 13 year old girl) managed to escape the LRA last week. Pray for them as they come to terms with the horrors of the experience of being captive for many months, and pray for the many children who still remain captive in the bush.
Pray for the international community and those who work here from abroad in places where they are at great risk.
Pray for Muslims in the Sudan who struggle to pursue their faith amidst the pressures of extremism.
6. The Church
We rejoice in the enthusiasm and devotion of many very brave Christian people. Pastors and lay people risk their lives to proclaim the peace of God.
We thank God for the very close relationship between the denominations and the good relationships between the Christian leaders.
Pray for the work of the Sudan Council of Churches.
Pray for the bishops of the ECS as they come together at the end of October to elect new bishops
Thursday 1 October 2009
Calling All Angels!
This is a general appeal from the new Bishop Gwynne College.to everyone who is coming to the Sudan.
Tina is digging the library out of the dust and re-cataloguing. However there are very few books newer than 1985. We are aim to teach the diploma at the level determined by St Paul's University, Limuru in Kenya and they have furnished us with their book list. Sadly, very few of the books are already in the library.
Good Books in Bridport have undertaken to get the books for us but getting them to Juba is the hardest part of the exercise. (The other day it cost us $200 to get books out of the post office here even though full postage was paid for their transport in America). The easiest way is for anyone coming to Juba to fill up their baggage allowance for us. Ethiopian Airways, for example, allows two items of luggage per person not exceeding 23 kilos each. This means each person can bring in 46 kilos!
So if you are coming to Juba, or you know of anyone coming, we would be exceedingly grateful if you could check with Good Books, Bridport (email address on the right of this page)
Very many thanks. You are indeed all angels!
Tina is digging the library out of the dust and re-cataloguing. However there are very few books newer than 1985. We are aim to teach the diploma at the level determined by St Paul's University, Limuru in Kenya and they have furnished us with their book list. Sadly, very few of the books are already in the library.
Good Books in Bridport have undertaken to get the books for us but getting them to Juba is the hardest part of the exercise. (The other day it cost us $200 to get books out of the post office here even though full postage was paid for their transport in America). The easiest way is for anyone coming to Juba to fill up their baggage allowance for us. Ethiopian Airways, for example, allows two items of luggage per person not exceeding 23 kilos each. This means each person can bring in 46 kilos!
So if you are coming to Juba, or you know of anyone coming, we would be exceedingly grateful if you could check with Good Books, Bridport (email address on the right of this page)
Very many thanks. You are indeed all angels!
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