Recent Trip Update - South Sudan

Purpose of November - December Trip

- re-establish networks and introduce new GYA leadership to the on the ground leadership in South Sudan

- monitor and evaluate clean water projects in South Sudan as self sustained small business initiatives in:

         * Mundri South Sudan

         * Yei River County South Sudan

         * Nimule South Sudan

- introduce 5 module education program, with education pieces in the following areas:

         * Biblical Entrepreneurship

         * Theology of Work and Christian Work Ethic

         * Biblical Stewardship

         * Community Banking and skills

         * Church Planting Training

- renew all MOU’s of GYA in South Sudan with:

         * ECC Emmanuel Christian College

         * ECSS & S Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan

         * SSEMNET South Sudan Evangelical Missions Network

         * Regional Leaders in South Sudan in two States

- introduce cost sharing for all future trips (as well as part of the 5 module education)

Establishing Networks:

     In August of 2015 we lost the president of Go Ye Africa, and South Sudan Leader, Eric Musee, to illness leading to death and so Go Ye Africa had to act quickly in reinstating a new CEO and representative for the work and ministry in South Sudan.   

     That was accomplished by October 2015 and Omari Omollo is the new leader of South Sudan.  With Gordon Skopnik (long term worker in South  Sudan of 12 years) Omari was introduced to all the previous networks to continue the planting of churches and development in South Sudan in the areas of 1. Leadership Training and Church Planting 2. Social Economic Development and 3. Children ministry and trauma care.  These areas cover many other facets as will be stated in the following report. 

    

Clean Water Business Projects

     Water, and sanitation hygiene (WASH) is a major public health challenge, not only globally, but also in the Republic of South Sudan. It is estimated that 1 in 10 (768 million) of the world’s population do not have access to safe drinking water, most of whom are in developing countries, while a third of the world’s population (2.5 billion people) do not have access to adequate sanitation.

     In South Sudan, the official statistics indicate that only a minority of the population does not have access to clean water and that most cases of illness are water related.

       Although the government set a target of reducing the number of people who did not have sustainable access to safe drinking water those targets have not been met, coupled with the current conflict which started on the night of 15 December 2013 in the country, and poor infrastructure, the little progress that might have been made in relation to improvements in water and sanitation provision, has been terminated, if not reversed, in the parts of South Sudan most affected by the conflict. Most NGOs funding such programmes have withdrawn.

       One example of how Impact South Sudan (name given in South Sudan by regional leaders) is moving forward is through the Diocese of Yei Youth Group with support from Impact South Sudan started Bio Sand Filter (BSF) project in the month of November 2014 at Yei Vocation Training Centre (YVTC).

       The group has so far constructed and sold filters which have served over 300 people with clean water in their community.  As the conflict continues it become more difficult to make this a viable business, though we believe we can move forward with the proper training and education.

       Two other projects were evaluated and it was found that Nimule could move forward with providing clean water to their community but because of the ongoing civil war and unrest the Mundri project has been stalled in providing clean water to their community.  Overall through the years these water projects have provided clean water to 1000’s in South Sudan.

Five Module Education Program

      

The five modules Education program is geared towards the main objectives of Planting Churches to the un-reached people groups in South Sudan, especially, the nomadic people groups, displaced people groups due to civil war, enhanced peace and reconciliation, developing strong networks, and engaging young people moving them to a better understanding of Christian work ethics, and socioeconomic development.

       It is important to realize that South Sudanese have lived their entire lives in civil war.  However, the introduction of Theology of Work, Biblical Entrepreneurship Development, Community Banking System, and Call to Stewardship Education will be able to play a greater role in food and financial security/stability, while these church planters continue advancing God’s kingdom.

       Community Banking Systems is one of the key components in Biblical Entrepreneurship Development towards team building that enables all participants in the class organise themselves  to start a bank within the community. Hence, leading towards local based resource development and the alleviation of poverty.

       In response, a class that started with 30 participants made a commitment of remaining united through out the whole course of five modules, which is going to last for a period of one full year of education.

       Our expected impact is to see vibrant national leaders raised and taking the lead of ensuring that churches are planted in refugee camps and in rural areas. Peace building prevailing in South Sudan. All tribes that make up South Sudan country will be able to live in harmony with one another irrespective of tribal, political or religious divide.  National leaders are the answer in this difficult tapestry of culture in South Sudan as they understand the languages, the different tribal cultures, and can bring the unchanging Gospel message strategically and with depth. 

       Development can only occur where there is peace and harmony, that is why this education is vital at this point and time. It is a paradigm shift that will engage young people into turning their weapons into instruments of peace as stated in, Isaiah 2:4.

       They vowed in their commitment one after the other testifying that they are going to work hard and help bring transformation into their beloved nation which is full of natural resources. The class was represented by seven denominations.

       Investing your resources in these young, vibrant, passionate and well informed ladies, and gentlemen is actually supporting the future of South Sudan as well as  helping to expand the Kingdom of God.  It is an opportunity to engage in prayer and seek God’s intervention.

Transformational testimony by Rev. Gismala Beneth Aronason

       “As being one of the participants, this education on Theology of Work has fully enlightened, moved and focussed me to “WORK”. I was working but the truth on the matter is that, I didn’t understand exactly how work is such an important vocation to serve and worship the Almighty God.

       I would like to express my appreciation to Go Ye Africa, Gordon Skopnik, and Impact South Sudan for having organized this wonderful education of first of its kind in my life.  I have studied in many schools, and colleges in different parts of East Africa, and only now I understand work from a Godly perspective. I am now equipped to be good steward of God’s resources in this great nation of South Sudan, and beyond, by the virtue and grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

       I am now ready to go back to my church and to my community to reason together (Isaiah 1:18), and become an agent of change through peace building and poverty alleviation”.

Renewed Relationships

      

We are excited to say that all the partnerships that we had before the transition with GYA have been renewed.  The South Sudanese networks that we had MOU’s and MOP’s with all valued the content and the impact of what we have been doing and want to see God continue to transform lives, and communities through the power of God through GYA and Avant Ministries.

Cost Sharing

       Another exciting aspect of the development in partnership with our brothers and sisters in South Sudan is the investment made by the various communities.  Even though inflation is at an all time high in South Sudan, and poverty is ramped, the communities that we work with want to share costs of the ministry that we do together.   This is very exciting because it is true partnership as we in Canada partner with our friends in South Sudan.

Prayer Item

-       My appeal is that we pray for the peace and reconciliation to prevail in South Sudan

-       South Sudan is potentially rich of natural resources but because of war, the nation is at its ruin.

-       Pray that more workshops of such nature should be organized to see effectiveness and efficiency in raising up national leaders for mission work in South Sudan and beyond.

-       Pray that we as ministry partners would be willing to take up the challenge of cost sharing in equipping and empowering local church leaders for the advancement of the gospel to refugee camps. and un-reached people groups, especially the nomads and Muslim communities.

Moving Forward:

Plans and schedules for 2016

1. We will have a follow up mission work alongside Enviro-stewards in February with clean water projects and empowerment.
2. We will have another follow-up – monitoring and evaluation in April 
3. In May, we will have the second training for 4 days to continue strengthening the group mentioned in this report.
4. July – Monitoring and Evaluation with the trainees
5. October, continuing the investment in the 30 committed members leading to planting churches throughout the nation
6. December  – Monitoring and Evaluation of the same group and writing final impact report for the year 2016 and graduating the group and sending them into the nation with the Gospel of Christ in church teams.

In partnership with ECC we will plan to send teachers for the new year in partnership with GYA and according to their MOP with the institution:

-       Loney’s (Grace and or Grace and Paul)

-       Gary Cymbaluk

-       Gordon Skopnik