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September 26, 2006
News of Secondary School
Dear Friends,
By God's grace, lots of things are happening with the secondary school project.
We were anxiously waiting for two weeks for some news of government approval. On Saturday, the approval came in the form of a text message relayed from our SIM colleague in Khartoum: "Hi Chris. Stphn cld, meetng wth cmsner hd pstve rsults."
Translation: "Stephen Amad, the SPLM official and friend of the church, called to say the Kurmuk County commissioner had given us the green light." Praise God! We are trying to get written approval, but we feel it's enough to move forward. I'm trying to get a flight to south Sudan and it's proving a challenge. I can get to the surrounding areas like Doro and Kurmuk, but they are 2-days walk away through tall grass, mud, and rivers. We are anxious to meet with the SIC church leaders, appoint a groundskeeper, and start to clean up the facilities.
Community interest is on the increase too. Can we share with you the coolest email from Sudan? Some church leaders from Yabus stopped by the Samaritan's Purse office in Kurmuk and sent the following:
Subject: From Yabus Church leaders
dear Chris,
We church people send the best greeting to you in Khartoum. We are fine in yabus. We still waiting for you. I am happy time that you came in Yabus when I was in Addis Ababa. Me and Edwina when I arrived here they told me about you and your wife. And now are you ready to come or you change your mind? If you ready to come please write us a letter or you should call us in GOAL compound. I am Yuna Bulan Nick. I want to ask you about your wife. If she have a new born or not yet. You have to tell us in the letter then we should know. Michael Soga and I also greet you that is all we have.
Thank you by Michael Soga from Yabus Kubure
Also on a really encouraging note, Bob Blees from SIM International visited us at the office and offered his expertise with setting up a Constitution and By-Laws to govern the school. Experience has shown that a strong governing document can help guide an institution far into the future. We feel the combination of community support, church involvement, and excellent national leadership all guided by an authoritative set of by-laws are the keys to long-term success. This is especially important in Blue Nile State, with such an uncertain political future.
We've hired our first teacher! Nathaniel Garimba Soko is traveling to Wau to get his diplomas and a release from his responsibilities there. We've agreed that he can travel to Blue Nile and be "boots on the ground" as the project starts. Nathaniel is a perfect fit for a teacher: 20 years of secondary teaching experience, born in Blue Nile state, and has ministry training. Please pray for his return from Wau.
Prayer Requests:
*Written approval for the school
*Travel arrangements for Chris
*Wisdom in our management - good beginnings make for good projects
*That God would speak to some Sudanese or ex-patriate teachers about serving in the school
*Safety and comfort in Beverly's final 6 weeks or pregnancy
Many blessings,
Chris for Crowders
Published at September 26, 2006 12:51 PM
