Dear Prayer
Partners,
Our
Principal
I am writing this in
Addis Ababa airport transit lounge on our way back to the UK. We
have
just spent a wonderful afternoon in Nairobi with Joseph Taban and
Esparanza. He is far better than we had hoped. He is full of his
former energy, talking of everything in the way he always did. His
recovery from an illness that had rendered him unable to walk and
talk, in some pain, and which at one time left him in a coma has
been
remarkable. The operation is a resounding success and he seems to
be
taking the radiotherapy with fewer side effects than most. Joseph
and Esparanza are deeply grateful for all your prayers. On the day
of
his operation he was aware of a cushion of prayer for him from
around
the world. We are so pleased to report that God has answered our
prayer for him, his family and the college in such a powerful way.
We
thank God for this!
There are just two
weeks of treatment left and he will be free to return to Juba
possibly at the end of the month. His doctors are recommending
that
he does not return to work just yet – we would be amazed if their
guidance was otherwise. Please pray for
the
future, asking God for patience for Joseph.
We
thank
God, too, for the great generosity of those people
who have funded Joseph's treatment and other costs in Nairobi with
whom he could not have such care. It has all been very worthwhile.
So
now
we pray that the radiotherapy will do its job of
eliminating all possibility of this disease returning.
Tina, Esparanza, Trevor and Joseph (28/2/2013)
The
College
The college is
progressing very well. I attach an update. Please
continue
to pray for Samuel Galuak who is doing so well as
acting principal. Pray also
for
Simon Lual, another member of staff, at a time of change in his
ministry. He was hoping to be studying in Nairobi this semester
but
his admission to Africa International University has been delayed
until September. We pray that
his
future will be now be made clear for him.
The building work next
to the college is very noisy, and this, combined with the heat and
dust of the dry season, makes for a difficult learning
environment.
But it is amazing just how resilient and purposeful our students
are.
We praise God for them.
We
pray
that potential new students will emerge for the
Special Entrance Exam in July (Sat. 17th). This will
require a great effort from the dioceses to fund them because
there
are not enough sponsorships available from abroad. We are
encouraging the dioceses and parishes to plant and farm some of
their
land and use the income for the payment of fees and transport. We
are detecting a new determination to use local resources now that
we
are getting used to the freedom of independence. This is a healthy
development. Please pray for
our
dioceses and their bishops as they seek to secure the fees and
transport costs for their students.
Political
Situation
Sudan (as opposed to
South Sudan) is still suffering from the ravages of civil war.
Despite bombing and other forms of attack in the Nuba mountains
and
Blue Nile, it is clear that the rebels control a lot of territory
outside the towns (in a similar way to how it was in the south
before
the CPA). Civilians are in constant danger and deprived of food
and
medical help. Please pray
that
the government of Sudan abandons its policy of repression and
ethnic
cleansing.
There has also been an
increase in persecution of Christians and other opponents of the
regime in Khartoum. We need to pray
for our churches and their leaders there.
There also many
ordinary people who are finding life extremely hard. The Sudanese
Pound is now trading at 7 to the dollar (in 2008 it was just 2)
and
food is very expensive. Oil revenues have plummeted of course, but
it
is the north that is suffering the most. Please
pray for all there that this situation is soon
resolved
with freedoms for all the people from these privations.
I apologise to
those
of you who have missed out over the past few weeks when I was in
Juba. I did not have the computer with me that contains the
latest
contacts and contact addresses. You have not been forgotten!!
Now
we are back I hope your direct contact will be restored!
I will post all the
prayer partner information on our blog (address below).
Accessing the
Internet is a challenge when we are in Juba. There is no city
power
and in any case the college is not online. It means a fifteen
minute's walk to the Provincial Office (open only in office
hours)
but I am enormously grateful to them for accommodating me there.
Please keep up the
prayer. It makes such a difference!
Trevor.
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