Newsletter of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji, South Sudan Issue # 20 September 2017

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1 Voice of Hope kj Newsletter of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji, South Sudan Issue # 20 September 2017 P.O. Box, 110 Juba, Republic of South Sudan Or P.O. Box 183, Moyo, Uganda, newsletter@kajokeji.anglican.org Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda visit to the refugees camps Word from the Bishop Hope and trust in God Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Murye The Lord has led us to make pastoral visits to the camps. We recently encouraged the refugees in the camps in Moyo, Yumbe, and Adjumani districts and the IDPs in Liwolo in Kajo-Keji. Our message was Hope and Trust in God that people should accept the situation with the hope that God will one day restore and gather his people and take them back to South Sudan as He took the Israelites (internally displaced people in Egypt) back to their ancestral land. In both the Refugee camps and in Internally Displaced Persons camps, there are four main areas of concern that touch every age group, the 3 listed below, plus inadequate health facilities. Issue # 20 Word from the Bishop 1-2 Archbishop of Canterbury 3 New Hope for hope 4 Trauma Healing 4 Youth Ministry 5 New faces at College 6 College facilities 6 Empowering teenage girls 7 Bishop Collins 7 Flame training 6 Prayers & Fasting 8 The Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017 Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 1

2 1. Spiritual Restoration There is spiritual dryness. Many had questions such as: Where is God in this situation? Why did he allow South Sudan to suffer this unbearable situation? We encouraged people to open Preaching Centres under the trees and engaged leaders to continue preaching the good news. Currently we have more than fifty local churches I am presiding over in the camps Bishop Emmanuel Murye Modi Children who have no school and are traumatized The pictures above show a few of the local churches among the fifty that I have mentioned 2. Trauma among the Refugees and IDPs During our pastoral visits in the camps we discovered that many families have broken up due to the trauma that has entered into the hearts and minds of the refugees and internally displaced people. Some of the causes are loss of homes and property and separation of families. The problem is compounded by many youth turning to alcohol, drugs and discos, which makes the trauma worse. 3. Education One of the things that contributes to the trauma of both parents and children is lack of educational facilities in the refugee and IDP camps. We have encouraged the refugee communities to organise schools for the children. We thank teachers from South Sudan, who have voluntarily started teaching under the trees, but without resources. This initiative has reduced idleness of children and crime levels in the camps. The diocese has given emergency educational support to eleven refugee schools. We would like to express appreciation to our partners who have contributed this invaluable support. Our own conviction in the Diocese is that the problem of South Sudan is spiritual. We would therefore aim To reach out to all in Love and Unity of purpose for the glory of God. In order to change South Sudan we must focus on children and youth through empowering women, education, and the training of pastors and different groups on trauma healing and peace building. Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 2

3 Welcome to the Archbishop of Canterbury! Cathie Rutter Archbishop of Canterbury at the refugee camp When the Diocese learned in early July of the planned visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury to refugee camps near Moyo and Adjumani on Wednesday August 2 nd, there was a lot of hurried activity to put all the plans into place to facilitate this important visit. What a privilege to be able to host the Archbishop, to show him the suffering of the South Sudanese people in exile, and to hear his wise and thoughtful words. Greeted by a host of Bishops at Moyo airstrip, a convoy of 14 vehicles headed initially to Belameling, and then onto Adjumani. The Archbishop responded to the evident needs by agreeing to be an advocate and ambassador for refugees wherever possible. In addition to speaking to those assembled in both places, the Archbishop made sure he had an opportunity to visit a home and speak to a family direct about the problems of their current existence. We thank God that the leader of the Anglican Church worldwide is a man of such faith, sincerity and integrity, and we remember him in our prayers. Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 3

4 New Hope provides Hope! Stephen Tomor Kenyi Victoria Leach School, Morobi. New Hope, an American partner of the Diocese of Kajo Keji, having previously set up New Hope Schools in Kajo-Keji, is now supporting two schools on Morobi camp (Barebo Primary School and Victoria Leach Primary School) with basic text books, chalk, chalkboards and materials for putting up temporary classroom structures. This is to enable the children stay in school. New Hope in turn depends on the back donors. If more is given, New Hope can even do more. The cost of putting up a temporary school is US $16,000. In addition to the above, this includes minimal teachers allowances for one year. Currently, the target is to have temporary 7 classroom blocks in each of 6 New Hope schools in the camps. But even when this is done, we will still have to be thinking of the following: Pit latrines Staff /store room, Desks or chairs Classroom space will not be enough in some of the schools. Please pray for funding but above all for the children and especially their dedicated teachers. Trauma Healing for Peace and Reconciliation. As stated by the Bishop in his article, there is a great need of Trauma Healing. Rev Alex Aciga writes: Currently we are lobbying for support for ToT Trauma Healing workshops and seminars to empower church leaders, Mothers Union leaders, youth leaders, young mothers, and community elders. Some friends of the diocese like Brickworks UK, One Tribe from USA, Words of Hope Uganda with friends from overseas and Flame International UK have supported these trauma healing seminars. A session during Trauma Healing Flame international UK Captain Moses Myamara writes Flame international UK recently held a mission for youth and pastors in two camps. The youth were involved in enjoyable creative activities such as sports, hand sewing of bags, making key holders and drawing. The facilitators encouraged them to listen to what God was saying to them, and used these activities to bring healing. We look forward to follow up programmes with those who were born again, and training discipleship leaders who will lead this. There are many challenges: lack of bibles for the youth, lack of training resources, and lack of materials to improve the temporary structure of the youth center. Please pray for the youth ministry in the refugee camps. Any support towards overcoming the challenges will help keep the flame burning amongst youth in Kajo-Keji diocese here in exile. Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 4

5 Youth Outreach Ministry Capt. Moss Nyamara The youth Department in the Diocese of Kajo-keji conducted door to door evangelism and a crusade in Zone 2 Morobi Parolinya Refugee Settlement on 27 th -29 th July missioners participated in 5 churches. We reached 6770 people (men, women and children) with the word of God, 361 received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, 110 sick people were prayed for and 7 people were delivered from demon. On the last day I talked to one of the newly born again youth. She told me that she has no Bible yet we didn t have any Bible to give her. On the other hand, the Zonal youth leader Mr. Lui Emmanuel thanked God that so many people have been added to the church. This means that we have a lot of work to do on discipleship for spiritual growth. Activities like games and sport, music dance and drama among others are good for the young people to keep them busy and creative. The youth department is planning to introduce soccer for the youth and teens but at the moment we do not have the equipment (balls, playing booths, and sport attire). Therefore, we would welcome your support for this ministry to the glory of God. Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 5

6 New faces at Kajo-Keji Christian College Principal Rev. James Lule Kenyi Our new semester started on September 4 th, and we have admitted 15 new students, from 5 different dioceses, into Diploma of Theology Year 1, who are accommodated in the new dormitory below. We also very warmly welcome Rev Scopas Taban as a new full time lecturer in the College, and thank God that he wishes to serve the people of South Sudan in this way. Please pray for the financial survival of the College, as none of the new students are able to pay their own tuition fees, and only a few are currently sponsored by partners. College facilities progress Cathie Rutter As you know from previous editions, the College (& Diocese) struggles with the reduced facilities here in Moyo. But we are progressing and doing our best in difficult circumstances. It is important for us to be the best we can be here in Moyo, and to settle here, although of course the longing is to return to Romogi when it is safe. Similarly, in Jeremiah 29:5-7, the Children of Israel were longing to return from exile, but God told them Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. We have to settle well here. So, a new temporary dormitory has been built in the compound, enabling us to accommodate students admitted for the new Diploma 1 class. Photo of new tutor with some of the new students Installation of Solar at the college Further to this, we have now installed solar in the main college building so we are not dependent on the fickle electricity supply, and have set up a computer area at the back of the larger classroom (essential for the Research projects). And at a more basic level, but essential for health, the pit latrines, which were in a terrible and unsafe condition have been drained and cleaned, and a water filter purchased to enable the students to drink healthy water. All these developments have been possible only due to a generous donation for capital projects received from UK for which we thank God. New Dormitory for male students Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 6

7 Empowering women and teenage girls Irene Maziina For two days (28-29 August 2017) a team from Mothers Union had a wonderful training in making re-usable sanitary pads. The purpose of this is to empower women and teenage girls with the knowledge and skills which will reduce the ongoing challenges that girls are facing in the camps. The majority of our teenage girls are hindered from attending school because they lack pads, and the money to buy them. Re-usable sanitary pads are sustainable and can last for 12 months if well maintained in terms of hygiene and cleanliness. As one of the MU members said during the training this will help reduce the rate of girls not going to school during their monthly cycle. The team will now train others in how to make the pads. Special thanks to our sister Elizabeth and One Tribe for initiating this project and providing the materials. Bishop Collins at Morobi Refugees Camp Thousands of Christians in Morobi Refugee camp attended the 27th Aug 2017 Sunday service as Bishop Collins of Madi and West Nile Diocese shared prayers with the refugees. The Bishop of Kajo Keji Diocese Bishop Emmanuel Murye, Bishop Joseph Aba of Liwolo area Diocese and the entire Christians warmly welcomed Bishop Collins and the team, witnessing to the unity we share in the body of Christ. Before the Sunday service started, the 3 Bishops cut the ribbon for the opening of the Carpet roof church constructed by the Christians in Morobi refugee camp. Bishop Emmanuel Murye (Kajo-Keji), Bishop Charles Collins (Madi and West Nile), and Bishop Joseph Aba (Liwolo Area Diocese) Bishop Charles thanked the Christians for their warm welcome and for those especially the breastfeeding mothers who endured sitting in the direct heat of the sun. His message was taken from Jeremiah 29:11, and he encouraged Christians to remain faithful in good times and bad times and to be agents of peace, love and to promote forgiveness among the communities. As a sign of love in Christ, Bishop Charles presented gifts (elements of Holy Communion) to Bishop Emmanuel Murye of Kajo-Keji Diocese for the Holy Communion service in the church. In conclusion, he pledged to work together with the Bishops from South Sudan to take Gospel to the Refugee camps. Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 7

8 Prayer and Fasting days Rev. John Rutter July 9 th this year was the 6 th anniversary of South Sudan s independence, its birthday as a new country. The day, however, was a day of sadness not celebration. The conflict in South Sudan continues, breaking up communities, separating families and destroying the social and economic structures of the country. Warfare always brings suffering and poverty. One response to the situation has been to organise special days of Prayer and Fasting in the camps of Northern Uganda. The first such day was in Adjumani, and there have been others in Pasu, Morobi2, Morobi3 and Arua. The theme of these days was taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14, a declaration of the need to approach God with humility and repentance, before we can then hope for forgiveness and healing of the land. Alongside that was the understanding that, for Christians, there can only be one people, one tribe (Galatians 3:28) and we are called to forgive one another. Summary of prayer items Give thanks for the partners who are supporting our work with resources and prayers. Give thanks for the partnership between the Diocese of Kajo-Keji and the Diocese of Madi West Nile, and for the commitment of Bishop Emmanuel, Bishop Joseph and Bishop Collins to take the gospel to the camps Pray for resources for churches and pastors especially bibles and shelter Pray for the youth on the camps & for those who minister to them for equipment to provide activities and resources for discipleship Pray for the educational needs of schools, for shelters, resources and stipends for teachers. Pray for the provision of food and health services especially in the IDP camps Pray for resources to continue Trauma healing workshops and Family workshops Pray for the College, giving thanks for the new students, the provision of improved facilities and praying for sufficient funding and sponsorship to enable the College to continue and grow Pray for resources so that the workshops on sanitary towels can continue and grow Above all, for peace in South Sudan. At each gathering there were both joyful worship and deep expressions of pain. There were both teaching about discipleship and prayerful intercession for South Sudan. We pray that these events will lessen the trauma and weight of suffering experienced by the exiles, Voice of Hope Issue # 20 Sept 2017, Page 8