Prayer Partners Update

Dear Bishop Gwynne College Prayer Partners,

Thank you so much for all the prayers you have offered for BGC, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan and the people of those countries in the past few months. Tina and I have booked to go to Juba on 21^st October.

The college is now re-convening for the beginning of a new semester with the potential of 32 new students as well as those continuing in their first and second years.

Ten of these new first year students will be studying for the St Paul's Limuru University diploma but the other 22 do not meet the SPU admission levels. In the present conditions in South Sudan this is inevitable. But the need to educate men and women in the ministry is urgent, so the college is offering an internal diploma for these students.

The college ran a course during the long vacation in reconciliation and peace-making which was well attended.

The ECSSS has now established a new internal province for Sudan with Bishop Ezekiel of Khartoum as its head. Archbishop Daniel's address, which includes an excellent historical summary of the ECSSS, is here: http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/resources-library/mission/sudan/news-and-info/Archbishops%20declaration%20Statement%20during%20Entrhonement%20of%20Inter.pdf/view?searchterm=declaration%20statement

The political and humanitarian situation in South Sudan is dire. Talks have taken place in Addis Abba but previous agreements have not been implemented. The latest communiqué from IGAD that commends the protocol on the arrangements for a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGONU) can be found here: http://igad.int/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=943:communique-of-the-27th-extra-ordinary-summit-of-igad-heads-of-state-and-government-on-south-sudan&catid=47:communique&Itemid=149

https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/s-sudans-president-kiir-agrees-prime-minister-position-rebels

The mood in Juba is reported as calm but imbued with disillusionment and shame. The churches are a beacon of hope and peace, and the Archbishop, leaders of other churches, pastors and lay-leaders are outspoken in the need for an end to the forces of destruction.

The people of the Nuba Mountains and South Blue Nile continue to suffer attacks as they resist the Khartoum government. http://enoughproject.org/blogs/doctors-view-foxhole-sudan?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+enoughblog+%28Enough+Said%29

Keep praying,

Trevor.

The College

1. We give thanks for the well-attended course on Peace on Reconciliation. We pray that the participants may have the opportunity and courage to implement what they have learnt.

2. We praise God for 32 new applicants. Please pray that they will all be able to take up the places offered and manage to arrive on time.

3. Pray for Samuel and all the members of the teaching faculty and other staff at the college as they engage with this new semester.

4. Pray for those who are waiting for the results of the exams sat in June, especially those hoping to graduate in October.

The Church

Give thanks for the determination and courage of the Churches to speak out and work for peace and humanitarian relief. Pray for Archbishop Daniel, leaders of other churches and all those engaged in Christian ministry throughout Sudan and South Sudan. Pray for Bishop Ezekiel and the new internal province based on Khartoum.

The Nations

1. Give thanks for the continued work for the formation of a transitional government in South Sudan led by IGAD (assisted by the UN, AU, the Troika (US, UK & Norway), the EU, the Sudan and China and others) and pray for them as they continue to engage the parties in talks in Addis Ababa and encourage implementation.

2. Pray for the people of the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile as they continue to suffer attacks from the Sudan Armed Forces.

Threat to Maridi

The following posted by Trish Wicks (Church Mission Society) today (5th July 2014)

Greetings. The security situation in Maridi is deteriorating and it is possible serious fighting may break out. Bishop Justin has advised all missionaries (10 of us) to evacuate as soon as possible. We are trying to get a plane but needs urgent prayer as needs permission from authorities here to land which is difficult for us to get. We need God's over ruling.  At the moment Maridi is calm but this could change at any moment. Please pray but DO NOT ANSWER THIS EMAIL AS PHONE CAN'T COPE WITH BIG INFLUX OF EMAILS.

Many thanks. We trust God.

Trisha (Wick)

Please keep Trish, her colleagues and the local people in your prayers.

Trevor

Further updates for BGC Prayer Partners

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for your prayers which continue to bear fruit for BGC.

• The college remains among the poorest among colleges of tertiary education in Africa. But we have come a long long way from 2008 and the trend is still upwards despite all the problems in South Sudan. We give thanks for all of this.

• Give thanks for the arrival of computers for the students at the college. The first we have had since the college re-opened in 2010. Pray that we can now get connected in some way. Internet connectivity is important but very expensive.
  

• All went well for the final exams which finished earlier this month. All the students have now gone home - or at least to wherever they can find to be. We await the results which will not be published until the end of September. The graduation for those who have completed there three year diploma will be on 25th October 2014. Some of these students began in a foundation year in 2010 and have been at BGC four years. We give thanks for their commitment though tough times and their generous sponsors.

• The Principal, Samuel, has just had a two week holiday with his wife in Uganda and is now back at the college overseeing ...

• The completion of the library and foundation works to hold back the variable river that is constantly breaking down the bank. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• The neighbouring hotel has given a substantial sum which has been allocated to building a guest house for visiting lecturers and college supporters. Here is Samuel's email:

Dear Canon Trevor,

Greetings to you once again in Christ's name. I hope this email finds you well with Tina and your mother.

We are also doing well.

By God's grace, I came back from Uganda through Kenya as I mentioned it to you in my last email.

School is closed [for the recess] and we still have final touches on the library work but we are done with more basic stuffs. As you can see on the photos attached; the shelves are already in their places including the counter at the library reception. The white stripe you can see from the bases of shelves are aluminum fixed there to protect them from the water or moisture. You will see the details of these when you come to us. All these works including the labour has cost us $9,300. We thank God to find such skillful carpenter who did this great job.

Secondly, the river behind us has been causing us trouble for a couple of years now. There has been an erosion and that has taken off almost two metres from our land. In consultation with our chairman of BGC council, we released 54, 000 SSP ($11,134) from guest house project to make gabion or dyke to protect our land from this fast moving erosion. The work is still underway but I took these photos for you at least to have an idea of what we are doing here. We are going to anchor metal fence on the dyke to keep strangers off from the college.

Third, I have asked John Jal, one of the students who finished this semester to help our librarian. The purpose of this is that, I did not want him to go back to UNMISS' harsh living.

Thanks so much and God's blessings

Rev. Samuel G. Marial, BA, MAR, STM.
Principal,
Bishop Gwynne College

• The next event scheduled for the college is a short course for the training of pastors in peace and reconciliation work. Please pray for this.
  

• New applicants are due to sit the entrance exam in the middle to July. Your are prayers needed. May they be able to travel, do well and then get the money to come.

Thank you all so much for your prayers,
Trevor

Prayer Partners Update

Dear BGC Prayer Partners

There are a number of things in addition to the huge challenges to South Sudan that you could pray for at this moment. Thank you for all you do. Your prayers are keeping BGC working and effect amid much chaos.

Students

• We give thanks for the students sitting their exams. We pray for them as they try to return home.
• Sadly Juba is not safe for people of the Nuer tribe and some of the other tribes from Jonglei. Most of them have retreated to safe havens and that includes our staff and students. I have just learned that Wal Geng (a very industrious and enterprising student) is now in Kakuma camp in Kenya. I am sure he will be working there with Bishop Moses to minister to the people of all tribes.

Staff

• Simon Lual is also a Nuer. I can report that he is completing his studies safely in Nairobi. He has the opportunity of a second year at Africa Inernational University if anyone can come up with $5000 for him.
• Pray for our principal Samuel as he has a two week holiday with his wife in Uganda.

Associates

Please pray for:

• Bishop Justin Badi of Maridi our chairman of governors. Bishop Justin hopes to study for an MA in September.
• Revd. Moses Kose (Juba Diocesan Secretary) who was very instrumental in getting BGC back up and running in 2009 and 2010. Moses is currently in South Africa studying as a guest of the Archbishop of Cape Town. He has asked for our prayers as he takes his exams 16^th-20^th June. Sadly he has no money to go home to see his family before he recommences his studies in September.

Blessings to you all,

Trevor

BGC Prayer Partners Update

Dear BGC Prayer Partners

Nothing stands still in South Sudan. There are daily developments on the political scene, yet the college continues on as we approach the end of the semester and the academic year.

The presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church (in the USA, etc.) has issued a special call for prayer to which we can all heed wherever we are in the world. http://publicaffairs.cmail3.com/t/ViewEmail/r/06957364C8DF2BAA2540EF23F30FEDED/6DB46F76DA8470C884E5AAD5A6C37FC6

Thank you all for your devoted service.

Blessings,

Trevor

The Politics and Hostilities

• Please pray for the leaders of the nation and those who have power. We give thanks for the signing of a treaty to cease hostilities and to set up an interim government (attached). There is much to resolve in the detail. Please pray that this will hold on the ground.
• We pray for the people of South Kordofan – in particular the patients and staff of the RC mission hospital there has been bombed by the SAF.

The Church

• We give thanks that the Sudan Council of Churches – especially Archbishop Daniel and his Roman Catholic colleague – are working effectively in the peace process.
• We pray for the bishops and the their diocese throughout South Sudan – especially those in Malakal, Renk, Twic East and Bor.

The College

• We pray for God's blessing on the students as they come up to their exams. Some to their finals.
• We give thanks for the ten new computers recently delivered to the new library and the equipping of that library with the shelving and furniture required for a final transfer.
• We pray for the prospect of a short course in reconciliation studies during the vacation.
• We pray for the process of new applicants for the new semester in September.

Very disturbing news from South Sudan

 I have just received the following from Larry Duffee who once worked in the ECSSS provincial office and now for an NGO in Juba. Please pray. Our hearts are broken.

Dear Friends:

I have been contacted by some of you recently regarding the current situation in South Sudan. I appreciate everyone's concern.

Bottom line is, the situation is not good. Last week was an especially disturbing week with fresh reports of assaults upon civilians of a horrific scale. Further attacks by rebel forces upon the territory of Upper Nile State make it quite probable that Upper Nile will fall, possibly within the next few days. If that happens the government of South Sudan will be mortally wounded since the last remaining oil fields are in Upper Nile - without them the government has no other revenue, no other means of paying soldiers and civil servants. Once the soldiers - most of whom have not been paid for months anyway - become disgruntled there could be a complete breakdown of law and order, even in Juba, which has largely been spared the suffering being experienced in other parts of the country.

We still feel safe in Juba, though we are keeping a close eye on developments. We had staff we had to evacuate from Renk over the Easter weekend, and we are discussing evacuation strategies should we decide we need to leave South Sudan. At this point we prefer to remain here, but should conditions begin to deteriorate in Juba then we would evacuate towards Kenya.

At this point I would ask people to continue to pray for South Sudan, for the people and the leaders, and for those of us that are serving here. If conditions deteriorate or we find ourselves evacuating, I will let you know so we can keep in touch.

You may share as much as you want, and you can identify me if you like. My heart breaks for what is happening. I cannot believe I was here to cheer this country into existence and may yet see it whimper into non-existence. This country needs prayers - for the leadership to abandon their warring ways, and for the suffering people. It's all just so, so sad.

Please take care of yourselves. Regardless of what happens, the people here will still need us and we have to be prepared to continue on as best we can.

Much love,

Larry

Pray for Bishop Gwynne College

Dear BGC Prayer Partners, I trust and pray that you all have an good Holy Week and Easter. Please accept the attached ecard! The college continues to battle on positively despite the many hardships in South Sudan.

• The immediate future of the country is not positive. There are setbacks on many fronts - especially in the Upper Nile State and Jonglei, but this has ramifications for the rest of the nation - political, economic, and social. Development in education, health and infrastructure has stagnated.

• The religious institutions (both Christian and Islamic) have remained united and committed to peace-building and reconciliation across the nation. The people of faith, led by Archbishop Daniel and other religious leaders, are taking a strong, positive non-biased line telling politicians and the international community what they believe is necessary for the people of South Sudan while they struggle to minister to the needs on the ground. I attach a statement from the South Sudan Council of Churches. This link to a statement from the UK Government you might find helpful https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/south-sudan-country-of-concern/south-sudan-country-of-concern-latest-update-31-march-2014.

• The college has had good results from its exams sat just before 15th December when the violence erupted. One of two of the first years have a bit more work to do, but it was their first semester and if things continue as they have in the last couple of years, they will realise what is expected of them and their results will improve. The main problem is English and that only comes with practice. Nevertheless the results overall are very encouraging. Please pray for the students as they lead up to this semester's exams at the end of May.

• We are very grateful for a recent gift of ten computers and two printers for the new college library which is gradually coming together.  This new building gives us so much more scope. (Because of personal circumstances, I have not been able to go to the college in person this year and have no photos. However, I hope this will soon be rectified and will let you all know when some are posted.)

• Finances are a challenge but the remarkable response from so many of you has meant a huge increase in money coming to us from overseas. The local income base is very limited this year and we now rely on this giving for our running costs. We have had to suspended the 500*500 appeal for building development while this situation continues. We do not want to deflect funds from the everyday needs. All giving to the college is now going to paying salaries, feeding students, paying for medicines and buying fuel for the generator and transport. We thank God for this generosity and pray for its continuance.

• Please continue to pray for our principal Samual Galuak upon whom so much rests.  Also Esparanza Emil and Benjamin Disi, both vital members of the team that keep the college going day to day.

Blessings,
Trevor