AFRECS E-Blast: October 21, 2021

Posted on by AmerFriendSudan

President’s Message 

I have long deferred to Executive Director Dane Smith in this space (and rightfully so, as his messages are always thoughtful and full of good content), but Dane and spouse Judy are off on some long-delayed and well-earned pleasure travel, so it is time that I chime in.  Although news from South Sudan lately has generally not been good, with numerous accounts of violent outbreaks commonly described as “intercommunal” or “tribal” conflict (but which may in fact reflect the ongoing struggle for political power among those few who have any power), our experience with our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church in Sudan and South Sudan continues to offer rays of hope and examples of faithful perseverance in overcoming daunting challenges.
The former fledgling “Orphan School” in the displaced persons camp (formerly known as  “POC3”) outside of Juba is now appropriately known as “Glow Mission Academic Primary School”, reflecting both the glowing test scores of its students on the national exams, which rival those of any other school in South Sudan, and the fact that, with the strong support of St. Margaret’s Annapolis and AFRECS, the school has built new classrooms and other facilities, hired additional teachers and reached a capacity of 500 students, making itself eligible for in-kind support from UNICEF, in addition to the continuing financial support from AFRECS and friends.
On another academic front, we have had consultations with Vice Chancellor Dr. Joseph Bilal and his staff at the nascent Episcopal University of South Sudan, AFRECS regarding the transfer to the EUSS of the personal bequest of our late Executive Director C. Richard Parkins, to be used to establish the well and pumping system at the future EUSS “hub” campus in Rokon. Although the cornerstone of the campus was laid previously, further development cannot proceed without the water system. I will never forget reading Archbishop Hilary Garang’s message at Richard’s memorial service, which quoted Psalm 1, noting that Richard was “like a tree planted by a stream of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither.”  Thanks to his bequest, Richard will always be remembered beside the stream of water flowing to the new university.
Let us not be deterred by whatever stream of bad news may come from South Sudan.  We have brothers and sisters there walking steadfastly toward the light, with great determination and faith. It will do us good to walk with them in whatever way we can.

AFRECS encourages prayers for safe travel and productive deliberations and discernment at the upcoming Synod of the Archbishops and Bishops of the ECSS, planned to convene on November 10.

Philip H. Darrow, President of AFRECS

ECSS Redeploys Reverend Stephen Mou for Reconciliation Work

by Richard J. Jones

The Reverend Stephen M. Mou, until recently National Coordinator of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Committee (JPRC) in Juba, will be moving to Wau. There, he will be based at the ECSS Internal Province of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, whose Finance Office will provide accounting and financial-reporting support. Stephen will also be supporting the ECSS Internal Provinces of Upper Nile and Jonglei. In resolutions of Synod over the past decade and in statements from Archbishop Justin Badi Arama, Primate of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, the reconciling of intercommunal conflicts has long been a priority in the work of the ECSS. Senior clergy including Enock Tombe, retired bishop of Rajaf and sometime Provincial Secretary, as well as local clergy have been deployed to mediate conflicts in diverse locations. However, other urgent needs have prevented reliable and adequate funding for the Provincial JPRC staff and peace-building activities. Central Equatoria Internal Province’s Archbishop Samuel Enosa Peni, Chairman of the Board of the ECSS Mission and Evangelism Department, which includes JPRC, has therefore had to end Stephen’s contract as JPRC National Coordinator and Stephen has been given responsibility for ECSS’s peace work in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile and Jonglei Internal Provinces. For the past three years the Diocese of Salisbury and Christian Aid in the UK, along with the Church in Wales, provided funds towards part-salaries for the Provincial JPRC staff. The Reverend David Copley, Director of Mission Personnel and Global Partnerships for The Episcopal Church in the U.S., is seeking donors to provide a salary for Stephen and his peace-building work in those three ECSS Internal Provinces.

Serious Tensions in Khartoum

Sudanese protesters take part in a rally demanding the dissolution of the transitional government, outside the presidential palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali)

In the last few days there has been a flurry of messages coming from church leaders in Sudan and elsewhere worrying about demonstrations in Khartoum allegedly calling for resumption of military rule.  The perception appears to be slightly miscast.  There was a protest on Saturday involving  5-7000 people, some of them bused in for the event.  A second day of protest occurred Sunday.  On Monday protesters were dispersed by police.  Sudan’s cabinet held an emergency meeting that day, after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok called recent unrest the “worst and most dangerous crisis” of the country’s precarious two-year transition since the fall of Bashir.  The cabinet meeting urged protesters not to escalate the situation.  The protesters are calling for the dissolution of the interim government and its replacement by something else, but not explicitly for the resumption of military rule, although informed observers fear that pro-military elements may take advantage of the situation.  A pro-government counter-protest is reportedly planned for October 21. In response the US Government is urging the Government of Sudan to move forward with measures needed to implement the transition to elections.  Stay tuned.

Devastating Floods in South Sudan

The main story in South Sudan so far this month is floods, which again this year have had a devastating impact. One report indicates that 623,000 have been displaced since May, including 90% of the population of Unity State.  The worst hit areas are Unity and Jonglei states, which account for more than half of the displaced.  Some of those who have lost their homes have fled to Juba, while others have organized makeshift camps along roadsides. The UN and international NGOs are providing food, water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, and mosquito nets.  The floods have reported destroyed 200 schools in Jonglei.
World Food Program approves Diocese of Nzara Schools for Food Supplies

Report from Ray Gaebler, Diocese of Iowa (September 6)

I received wonderful news from The Rev. Capt. Emmanuel Ramadan that on August 31 The World Food Program approved the Nzara schools for food support.  Many thanks for the persistence and hard work of the people in Nzara and Iowa to make this possible.  The schools had to meet three criteria.  They had to have a good kitchen.  They had to have secure storage.  They had to have a good fence.  A WFP representative came in December and judged the kitchen and storage adequate but a fence was needed.  Special appreciation goes to The Rev. Bob North for his leadership in raising the needed funds.  This is not insignificant because the school that needed the fence has land about the size of two football fields.  It required a lot of fencing and Fr. Bob was able to find sufficient donors to make it happen.  Additionally the One World One Church Commission endorsed a grant of $2000 to help pay off the final loan to complete the fence.

This feeding program will benefit four schools operated by the Diocese of Nzara; St. Timothy Nursery and Primary School, ECS (Episcopal Church of South Sudan) Nursery and Primary School Nzara, Zereda Nursery and Primary School, and Nzara one Nursery and Primary School Nzara.  Today the schools launched a campaign to spread the word that all four schools are open and providing a meal for the students.  More children will attend and will learn more when they are not worried about where to get their next meal.

If this is not enough good news, I am also pleased to spread the word that Nzara has started a secondary school.  Approximately 77 students in Nzara passed the test to complete Primary Eight level.  The nearest secondary school is in Yambio.  Although it is only 15 miles away it is not practical for a daily commute.  To continue their education these students would have to find a friend or relative that could take them in for a school year.  The state of Western Equatoria has only six secondary schools.  Based on the population you could compare that to Iowa if we had only twelve high schools.  This school started outside “under the mango trees” in early August.  They started with 11 teachers, 3 full time, and 28 students.  They borrowed chairs from St. Timothy’s School or brought a chair from home so they could learn socially distanced during Covid.  These students are the future of South Sudan.  If they succeed, South Sudan will succeed.  St. Timothy’s Nursery and Primary School started the same way eleven years ago with 36 students.  The Nzara schools now serve almost 2,000 students.  The people of Nzara can make this work and we can help them.  The grant mentioned above for the fence added another $1,000 to help pay the teachers and purchase supplies, which right now consist mainly of chalk for the blackboard.

Praise and thanks to God for the faith and determination of the people of Nzara and for this  accomplishment.
We give thanks for your continued support in prayer and generosity

We are deeply that grateful that contributions from you, our supporters, continue to nurture AFRECS in expanding our impact.  You make a difference in the essential peacebuilding work of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, so needed in these challenging times. We hope you will consider taking a moment to consider a gift for our work with the people of the Sudans and to offer a prayer for their nations. You can contribute online at https://afrecs.org or send a check made out to AFRECS to P.O. Box 3327, Alexandria, VA 22302

Back Issues of this E–Blast remain accessible at www.afrecs.org/News under the heading “E–Blast”.
Specific names, words, and phrases may be located using the “Search” field.

This issue of the AFRECS E–Blast was compiled by Board member Richard Jones.

AFRECS Editors encourage readers to submit their news for publication; Please submit your news to Caroline Klam at klamcd621@gmail.com.