Developmemts at Bishop Gwynne College

South-west of Juba on the road to Yei

Things have settled down somewhat from the first weeks of our time here. We are now enmeshed in the awful business of winding up Bishop Gwynne College which has provided a family for the teaching staff, cleaners, cooks and other ancillaries for many years. Despite the fact that they have not been paid for the last three months, and they are desperate for even the basics, the idea of disbanding the college family is coming very hard. Counting all the staff on the pay-role they number thirteen - only two less than the number of students. The college has run almost like a religious community except that their salaries come to around £1800 per month which is not at all sustainable. Nevertheless, trusting in God, they have stuck at it and one can only admire them for it. Finance is therefore a major reason for suspending the college for a year. The Archbishop has ordered its re-opening in January 2010 as an "upgraded" institution. For this we will need a more qualified head of college. It may be that that person will be the only academic employee until we can increase the number of students. The vision is that eventually the college has university status - but looking at the state of things at the moment, and the lack of any kind of real sustainable funding, this will take a long time. In the meantime we will try to link in with another East African Christian University.

Trevor with staff and students of the college all sent home last week

One of the problems of being in Juba is that accommodation for the students is so expensive. We have to buy in all the food for them as well as provide a house. Outside the town (and Juba is a big place extending over several square miles) a place could be found, but it would then be isolated from the rest of society. The object is to make the institution available for more than a few resident students. It should be a place with open-doors and much coming and going. In the short-term we will probably still be in the same building, but in the medium term we will, hopefully, have found a new site.
Our job here at the moment is not to lead from the front but to provide the support, encouragement and prayer to those whose job it has been entrusted to get on and do things. Important as this is, it can be very frustrating. And we spend a lot of time being "on time" for meetings and finding that, on average, we start 20 - 30 minutes late. Well, this is Africa! And, truth to tell, in Britain we put ourselves under a huge amount of pressure to do three things in the time an African would do one - and suffer from stress and do a job less well than we would want to.
And things take much longer here because we don't have the facilities. There is no power in the day-time so when the computer runs out of juice that's it until 7 pm. The Internet access is 15 minutes walk through baking hot streets. Not having a fridge means that shopping for meat and fish is hard work. The market is a mile away, so we eat more vegetables and fruit than anything else. But we have a house that is ours alone for much of the time, with a three ring calor gas stove. There is tapped water that runs most of the time (we keep a bucket filled for the times when it doesn't!), so we are comfortably situated and can manage on the money we have for the rest of our expenses. We do not have an electricity bill, and the heating comes gratis care of the Lord.
In fact, God is so much in evidence here. There are prayer meetings and chorus singing coming from a number of different directions. The Sudanese love their amplification, and while most of the singing is in tune, sometimes it isn't. Yet there is a huge amount of enthusiasm for worship. And people know God in a very personal way. Whatever life throws at them (and it has thrown some pretty dreadful things to these folk over generations) they turn to the Lord who looks after them. They would be amazed if anyone told them he doesn't - they have the evidence he does! They do not allow deprivation to get in the way of a relationship with God, but the same cannotr be said for materialism.
God is certainly looking after us as we acclimatize to a place rather different from Dorset. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we do you in ours.

A typical street corner in Juba.

We appreciate that folk are wanting to know what its like for us living here in some detail so in our next blog we'll try and do more on the "human interest" things - the things we particularly enjoy, and the things we miss most! You will have to forgive us if we don't manage to upload many pictures. They take an an age on this slow system.

A Fabulous Introduction

Our house in Juba

Last week we returned to Juba from almost a fortnight at the first Episcopal Church of the Sudan Bishops' and Spouses' Conference. It took place in Yei, a town near the border with Uganda and the Congo. A beautiful place which is greener and cooler than Juba. The town was liberated by the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) from Government forces in 1997 and since then has gradually come back to life. There are a number of congregations and churches in the town and the Church is on the move. Hundreds of young people take turns in leading the worship at the three morning services. The Cathedral choir has a total of 200 members that range in age from about 8 to young adult. They sing and dance using a keyboard and drums. Amazing!




Each new arrival was greeted enthusiastically by members of the Mothers' Union complete with banner, uniforms and musical instruments. They danced and sang a welcome taking people by the hand and leaping up and down.



The first two days of the conference were especially for the bishops' spouses. They were addressed by Mama Phoebe Orembi the wife of the Archbishop of Uganda. This was the first time the wives had come together for such an occasion and the emphasis was on taking an active part in the ministry as well as being housewives and mothers. They were urged to pass on the message to other women in their dioceses. The joint retreat which followed also acknowledged the important role the women had to play, and the bishops were called to look after their wives as their first priority. The Archbishop of Uganda, who was one of the distinguished speakers, pointed out that they were bishops for as long as they held their posts, but they were husbands all their lives. It was a ministry they couldn't retire from! The Church is in the forefront of raising the status of women in the Sudan.
Meeting most of the Sudanese bishops and their wives was a wonderful start for us. They are inspirational - men and women of phenomenal faith and commitment. Their stories of suffering, displacement, deprivation, starvation, intimidation, imprisonment and separation from their families is bad enough. But many of them can tell stories of massacre and unimaginable horrors that they have witnessed that will be with them all through their lives. None of the bishops and parish priests are paid a stipend. They have to find their own housing, transport and food. Mostly this consists of native thatched huts (called locally "tukuls"). Their congregations are in many cases just returning from their places of exile and struggle to feed themselves. Often it is the bishops and pastors who have stayed in their dioceses despite the threat of war and so are the ones tending to the returnees before they have managed to grow anything or find animals to feed themselves. These bishops, pastors and their congregations are among the world's most dedicated disciples, because they know that, in the midst of their pain, the Lord provides. They are so conscious of the power of the Holy Spirit to see them through. They really know how to pray - and the praying comes from the depth of their being. They are living witnesses of the power of what Paul speaks about in Romans 5. The suffering produces endurance and faith. These people have experienced first hand what Paul talks about in his epistles and the Acts of the Apostles. The biblical experience of the people of God in both Old and New Testaments is reproduced here so authentically. This is why the Church has grown and grows still.
So we are now back in our lodgings in Juba and gradually getting ourselves together to make a comfortable place. The bishops' wives presented Tina with a nest of cooking pans (see the picture).

Today we bought some other essentials. We splashed out on a small pressure cooker so we can cook meat more quickly, a fan to keep us cool in the evening when the power is on. (Often the evening is more humid than the day and therefore feels "closer". ) We also have an iron to help us look as smart as the locals - here the men do most of the ironing and since there are not going to be many evening meetings, it might turn out to be Trevor's job. We are venturing to the local market to get food. Last night a local man, Charles the archbishop's chaplain, took us to his favourite restaurant which is very economical. We had chicken which is served with raw onions, peanut butter and bread. They drink a lot of "pop" (Coke etc.) which they call "soda". Although knives and forks are becoming more common, the local custom is to eat everything with the right hand.
Bishop Gwynne College has just been suspended because of the need to address the financial crisis and other matters. The plan is to re-open next year and it will be Trevor's responsibility, working with the college governors, to see this happens. And when the college re-opens we want it to be delivering an upgraded course. So we need your prayers as we tackle this challenging job. But if God can act in this country with the power we have already witnessed, then it will come together. One of the speakers from the Bishops' and Spouses' Conference was George Carey, the retired Archbishop of Canterbury. He spoke some very encouraging words to us. We are honoured to be on his prayer list.

L to R: Mama Deborah (wife of Archbishop of the Sudan), Lady Carey, Lord Carey, Archbishop Orembi of Uganda,
and Bishop Nathaniel Garang, Bishop of Bor and Dean of the ECS.

The primary schools are all off for their long holidays this month which enables us to learn a little bit of the local Juba Arabic before taking on any teaching.

Arrived in Juba

We are delighted to report that we have arrived in a warm, sunny Juba - while all our English and French friends are suffering from blissards it seems. Just heard on a news clip. Most of the news we have picked up about the world is about the English football league which seems to dominate the airwaves in Africa. We even managed to see the goals in Northampton v Leicester (in which the Cobblers lost 2-1) whilst waiting in the departure lounge at Entebbe.
We came a long way round (via Kampala) to make sure we obtained the right kind of papers to enable us to stay here for an extended period. We flew Emirates which should have worked except the plane from London was delayed and we missed our connection in Dubai. They put us up in a good hotel there which was quite interesting. We were astounded to have been reunited with our baggage at Entebbe despitre being shuffled via Nairobi.
We have a comforatble place to stay on a temporary basis in the provincial Guest House here which by local standards is fine. We have met up with old friends including Bishop Peter Amidi and Mama Linda and their family in Kampala. They gave us a lovely feast for which we are very grateful. As indeed we are grateful to all our friends in Bridport who came and helped us pack up the house, dispose of the rubbish and recycling, took stuff to the charity shops and fed us and took us to the airport - among a host of others things. God bless you all!

An Amazing Day!

We have been recovering from the truly fantastic day we had yesterday (our last official day in the Bridport Team), the nice things that were said, and the gifts showered on us! We are aware that this is as much about the grace and power of God as anything we have done - but we are so happy that people feel as blessed as they say. The service was brilliant. It was just the right balance of praise, prayer and fun. Thanks for all who prepared the food - including a cake for us to cut! People came from Yorkshire, Bristol, Wool, Sherborne, Normandy and Paris, as well as the Bridport Team and the Lyme Bay Deanery.
The total amount given in one way or another in the Good Books account for the Sudan now stands at £4293.50 (Wow! Thanks!). The picture was taken yesterday in St Mary's Bridport by one of our French friends. They had come across the channel specially for the occasion.


We are now looking forward to moving to the Sudan and beginning our work there. We have a few days left to pack up the house, tell everyone we are moving, and visit relatives and friends. It will be good to start proper work again and not have to worry about sorting things that have not been touched for 14 years!

General Licence for Salisbury Diocese

On 13th January Trevor was given a "general licence" for the Diocese of Salisbury, one that does not mention any particular parish. This will mean that he will still be "owned" by Salisbury even though he will be working in the Sudan.

The licensing was performed in an official ceremony in the Bishop's chapel in South Canonry and attended by a few supporters as seen in the photograph below.



From Left to right: The Venerable Paul Taylor (Archdeacon of Sherborne), Mrs Sarah Stancliffe (supporter of the Sudan Link and wife of Bishop David), Canon Ian Woodward (secretary of the Salisbury Sudan Link Committee), Trevor, Rt Revd. David Stancliffe (Lord Bishop of Salisbury), Tina, Venerable Alistair Magowan (Archdeacon of Dorset).

Dates of Departure

Happy New Year.
We have now fixed our dates for leaving Bridport and the UK. Our final services in Bridport are to be on 18th January. Trevor's programme that day will run as follows:

• 8am. In attendance at Holy Trinity Bradpole
• 9.30 am. Preach and celebrate at St Mary's Bridport
• 11 am. Preach at Holy Trinity Bothenhampton
• 11.35 am Arrive in time to preach and celebrate at St John's West Bay (the service begins at the normal time of 11.15 am.)
  
• 3 pm. Final "Leaving Service" in St Mary's Bridport

The following week Tina will be doing a TEFL course in Exeter in among the final preparations for our departure from the UK on 29th January. We fly to Uganda and then on to Juba.

We thank everyone for their continued support and prayers.

Garage Sale

Hi Everyone.
We have, today, held a huge sale of stuff that we cannot store whilst we are away in the Sudan. We had lots of people who came and bought, and a good number of volunteers who helped us to sell. A total of £360 was collected - but the piles of books and unsold items seems as big as it was when we started! It cannot be of course. We had intended to take a photo but we have been far too busy to find the time to do so - so you will just have to imagine our front courtyard with a about 6-7 meters of books, two to three tables of small items, 10 of so chairs and a garage with bedding, bikes, pictures and garden things.
Many thanks to all those who came and left, not only with a contribution of cash, but their love and support for our work.

We are delighted to say that "Good Books",our local Christian Bookshop, has adopted us into their charity. They will collect and administer any contribution to our work in the Sudan. Donations can be gift-aided through them too. Just send everything to them (made out to "Good Books") at the address on the right of our blog page indicating that it is for the Sudan. Many thanks to all at Good Books. This means we will not have to use our Listening People account, although that will remain open.

We have just heard of another substantial gift this afternoon. We are amazed at people's generosity. We will make sure that every penny goes to buy the things that will make the most impact in the Sudan.