The new bank account

We have been blessed with very kind partners in our project, namely CMS Africa, who have very kindly agreed to receive and pass on funding for Mike. Lately, however, we have been having some problems getting money to Mike, and part of the difficulty seemed to be due to the fact that CMS had opened a new, Kenya-based bank account. After waiting in suspense for over a month for the money for the new laptop to arrive, I heard today that it is finally there, together with the fees for next term, which starts in August. Here is Mike's latest e-mail:

Am happy to hear from you I also received am e-mail from CMS about the delay in the fund I think the money will reach soon since the 1200 has reached it might be the delay in the banking system.
The new account hat CMS has opened is going to cost you much due to the high rates charged the idea of sending it large amount is better that is if the money is there if not then you have to take time and send what you have.

The money that you have sent is enough to pay for my end of semester expense and my fees for my next semester that is 117,500 ksh which is quite expensive but enough for the money sent. I appreciate your effort for the support. I feel so happy because my degree program is coming to an end since I will be joining fourth year on August.
Thank you

with love Mike

Hope and a uture

All the South Sudanese I know worked very hard to make sure that they and all their friends and family could vote in the recent referendum. Mike was able to vote in Nairobi, his brother Mogga voted in Juba, and Bishop Francis, who was still recovering from brucellosis was in hospital in Uganda, but managed to vote in Kampala. There is now much joy and hope, but also a realisation that there is so much to be done.

Bishop Ezekiel (from Twik Diocese, I think) spoke at a training event last weekend, and reminded us that all - but all - of South Sudan's infrastructure was destroyed in the civil war, and many people do not even have a roof over their heads.

But Mike and Mogga remain indestructibly positive.

Mike is now in his third year of university, and so far has passed all the exams - he has some every single term! We have discovered that he and my sister share a love of Manchester United. Because of a childhood illness, Mike can no longer play, but he loves following Man United, and looks forward to their game every week.

A the moment, I am hoping to raise some extra money to replace his second-hand laptop, which has finally and irrevocably died. So far, we have sent over £8,000 in all, which has paid for university fees, and basic expenses like rent, books, travel and food.

Mike's latest message ends:We all need God's help in what we are doing May God bless you abundantly and your hands for the work you are doing God bless you all.

Happy Easter season

Happy Easter season. I am doing good and we had a wonderful palm Sunday where we went to All Saints for prayers and I really liked it. I hope you had a wonderful march since last time the donkey had a problem and you did not have a march.

In the photo, the lady standing on my right is our CUEASA chairperson. On her right is the secretary and on the right of the secretary is a father called Father Yigga and a Sudanese lecturer in catholic university. WE have a sister putting on veil (taking the veil - JG) she is our treasurer responsible for the money we contribute whenever we have a get together. On my left (in the next photo - not this one - JG) is a Kenyan friend i invited to attend the get together. Mogga was our Vice chairperson. Others not included in the photo but I will send them if we meet on 10th. (CUESA is the Catholic University of Eastern Africa Sudanese Association - JG)

I liked to photos Mady have posted with Emily - they have done great for my support. I appreciate their work and you all before and during the Easter season.

About the trimester (I have said we couldn't at present fund 3 terms a year - JG) I understand how hard it is really to raise that lots of amount in a year. I understand and will continue with the semester program. Don't worry about that. I will go for a break to Sudan during the holiday and resume for the next semester and God willing I will complete through your support within the four years.

Soon you will be licensed a Lay minister and everything will be okay. What we need in life is to succeed in life and empower others in what they want to achieve. Soon the four years I am remaining will be over and you will be licensed.

I really appreciate what Julia has done and I will write to her for the great help she has done for me may God bless her and heal her through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ soon. I always prayed that one day God will touch the heart of his people to support me in my education. Now he has answered my prayers.

This Easter week I will be taking a tour to Naivasha around Kenya. It is a nice tourism centre where we shall be going with friends for a break. We will return to prepare for our Exams which is to start on 15th April. I ask for your prayers during the exams season. God bless you all.

yours Brother in Christ Mike

e-mail from Bishop Francis

Lovely to hear from you Jenny regarding the weather conditions in your area and the growing flowers coming as it is surely the spring.

Yes, we always experience a new life every year and that our lives can be renewed too, especially when we soon will enter the Easter season. We hope that Lent has taken us more closely than ever in our journey and that we see new things happening and new life as we experience the new beginning.

You are right Jenny that Yemba will go on normally [i.e. for two terms per year - JG] and that he should rather be thinking of the possibility of getting in touch with any Christian organisation here in Juba so that when he is on vacation he will work to know his profession voluntarily before the next semester begins.

I will try to find an organisation like Tear Fund UK based in Juba, MAF-Juba, World Vision International-Juba. CMS is not operating here in Juba but in Nairobi. We need to encourage Yemba to do that so that he gets some experiences, and plans for his future work

God's blessings

Bishop Loyo

Sudanese association/ test results

How are you doing?

I know you are working hard for the trimester issue to raise the fund but I'm really sorry for putting you into that. If you don't raise on time or if it delays don't worry about that. I will continue with the semester program if not possible. Please don't be stressed.

I am doing a bit fine although for the past weekends we have been for meeting for Sudanese association. Catholic University of Eastern Africa Sudanese Association (CUEASA) is organised every year to welcome new students so that we can interact and get to know each other. It was fun and interesting to feel at home. Photos to follow.

I have just got my transcript results and it is not pleasing to me but hope to work well in the next semester. I really feel bad because you are really doing a lot for me and some things are not to expectation. I'm working for the end to be successful. Thank you very much for your support I appreciate what you friends are doing. God bless you. (Transcript to follow.)

Greetings to all family members

Your brother in Christ, Mike.

Good news from Rokon

Mogga Loyo also e-mailed this week, to let me know about an environemental workshop that he had led in Rokon.

The background to this is the deforestation and environmental degradation inflicted on South Sudan by the occupying troops during the civil war.

South Sudan's Forestry Officers are working to grow seedlings to aid in the reforestation of their countryside. This picture shows Mogga (right) with his twin sister Kulang and a Forestry Officer.

Having wisely secured the backing of three local chiefs, Mogga's workshop got people thoroughly involved in planning for action. If I have understood correctly, one immediate outcome was the ceremonial planting of a seedling tree.

Please pray that the people of South Sudan will be able to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to rehabilitate their war-ravaged country.

Good news from Juba

This week Mike forwarded a news story to me, which told of a thousand illegal arms having been seized by the Government of South Sudan's security forces in Juba. The Minister of Internal Affairs said the search for these hidden weapons had been prompted by many killings carried out at night in Juba by men wearing military uniforms. Many people were said to have expressed happiness about a successful operation to improve security in Juba.

My question was:
I think and hope it is an answer to prayer. Do you? But what about the General tracking down the LRA and stopping them? I think that should be the highest priority. What do the people of South Sudan say about that?

Mike replied:
Through a joint prayer every thing will improve one by one [one thing at a time - JG]. i think it is just the start. they want to provide security in town areas then expand further .For the LRA i think it will take time because they usually come and cause problems then runs to Central African Republic whereby Sudan has no power to go and face them from another country we pray everything will be okay after some tome [time -JG].