posted with permission
Dear Friends & Family,
One morning several weeks ago, I had breakfast under the tent at the ECS Guest House here in Juba. I sat at table with a friend - who is also a bishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS). He asked me how the students had done on their tests.
"Well," I said with an eye on the time, knowing that I would need to be leaving soon to make the ten minute walk to the new BGC campus & arrive on time for morning devotions. The answer would have to be brief.
"Well, you know I teach three courses." He nodded, based on our previous conversations. "In two of the courses the test results were good & I was pleased, as were the students. On the third test, though" and here I shook my head & wrinkled my nose, "the results were not so good. So the students must study and take the test again." We shook our heads together at the disappointing news. "I don't think the students liked that so much," I said, "but I think they understand after seeing the results."
With understanding, the bishop laughed gently. "You don't think they liked that so much," he said.
"No, but I think they understand that we need to work together. I consider that the test results are as much my responsibility as theirs," I said wrapping up my bread & boiled egg to take with me & eat later for lunch. I put them in my book bag and looked at the small clock I keep nearby. "Now, I really have to go," I said.
"The clock tells you to go now," he said & I nodded. We wished each other a good day before I departed for my regular brisk morning walk.
A week or so later, we revisited this topic at another, more relaxed breakfast meeting under the tent at the ECS Guest House. As I expected, the results of the next test were much more positive, enabling us to build on a firm foundation in this course - introduction to sociology - and move forward.
As I mentioned earlier, the other two courses - Paul's letter to the Romans and introduction to the New Testament - are going well. Overall, I believe we're moving in the right direction. I know I'm learning from them and I trust they are learning from me as well. By the grace of God, I feel sure we are enriching each others' lives as we spend time together learning the assigned material.
###
Another place where I frequently spend time in my daily life in Juba is at the house of friends, Larry & Rebecca. Both of them have been here in what is now the capitol city of South Sudan for approximately two years. That means they both experienced the peaceful Referendum held in January 2011 and then the Independence Day Celebration six months later, on July 9th.
Each of them has shared their gifts & talents with the Church, through the ECS, during their stay in this newly formed country. Within the next few months their time of service here will come to an end. They will be moving on to continue their lives of service in different settings. Only the good Lord knows the details of their future as they approach this time of transition. Please keep them in your prayers.
Their house serves as a community house as well as serving their personal needs. It's fair to say that 'deferred maintenance' has been the practice of their landlord.
That part is obvious. What is not so easy to see with eye sight is how much spiritual community has come in the doors & been absorbed in the walls of this house.
On any given Sunday, it is customary for an after church gathering to take place at this house where coffee, tea, and rolexes are served. Here in Juba, a rolex is not a usually a wrist watch, but an egg roll made for breakfast & bought from a neighborhood market stall.
Over time, many people have accepted Larry & Rebecca's invitation to come around for a bit of social time after the 8 o'clock church service at nearby All Saints' Cathedral. One recent Sunday in Lent, more than a dozen people sat in a circle in the living room of this remarkable house. At the request of one of the guests, those present agreed to the unusual practice of introducing themselves to the group at large, rather than carrying on the usual practice of conversation in small groups.
Here is a sampling of those who were in the circle of friends that day:
- Two people from India who are working in the field of micro-finance - lending small, well-placed amounts of money to individuals who need funding for their projects & promise to repay the loan.
- Two from Iowa - a father who has been involved in mission work for his lifetime and his son who is completing a year of independent study as a freshman in college here in South Sudan.
- A woman who recently came from Alexandria, Virginia to be an officer for an NGO - a non-governmental organization.
- A man who has lived here for four years, moving from Michigan to serve as a consultant to translating the Bible into local native languages.
- An African woman who directs CCC which stands for Confident Children out of Conflict, an organization which gives shelter & nurture to young girls who otherwise would be on the street.
- Someone working with the Tear Fund, which originates in the United Kingdom & focuses on relief and development at various locations around the world.
- And finally, a woman from Uganda who has been working in Sudan for five years with CHS - the Christian Health Service - setting up health clinics in many, often remote, locations. She shared that she is now a new grandmother and looks forward to the day when she can move & live closer to the little one.
Together, what we shared that day was community in a holy, spiritual sense. Many times, I have seen it happen here in this humble abode. The Spirit works with us where we are and we all have many blessings.
As I sign off for now, I send you greetings from Juba, South Sudan & wish you well wherever you are. Please send us prayers for peace & stability in this new nation.
Until the next time, may God continue to bless you & yours,
Ellen+
PS
You may send a tax-deductible, charitable gift to American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan:
AFRECS Treasurer
3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304
Please be sure to put my name on the memo line. Faithfully, EJH+
Dear Friends & Family,
One morning several weeks ago, I had breakfast under the tent at the ECS Guest House here in Juba. I sat at table with a friend - who is also a bishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS). He asked me how the students had done on their tests.
"Well," I said with an eye on the time, knowing that I would need to be leaving soon to make the ten minute walk to the new BGC campus & arrive on time for morning devotions. The answer would have to be brief.
"Well, you know I teach three courses." He nodded, based on our previous conversations. "In two of the courses the test results were good & I was pleased, as were the students. On the third test, though" and here I shook my head & wrinkled my nose, "the results were not so good. So the students must study and take the test again." We shook our heads together at the disappointing news. "I don't think the students liked that so much," I said, "but I think they understand after seeing the results."
With understanding, the bishop laughed gently. "You don't think they liked that so much," he said.
"No, but I think they understand that we need to work together. I consider that the test results are as much my responsibility as theirs," I said wrapping up my bread & boiled egg to take with me & eat later for lunch. I put them in my book bag and looked at the small clock I keep nearby. "Now, I really have to go," I said.
"The clock tells you to go now," he said & I nodded. We wished each other a good day before I departed for my regular brisk morning walk.
A week or so later, we revisited this topic at another, more relaxed breakfast meeting under the tent at the ECS Guest House. As I expected, the results of the next test were much more positive, enabling us to build on a firm foundation in this course - introduction to sociology - and move forward.
As I mentioned earlier, the other two courses - Paul's letter to the Romans and introduction to the New Testament - are going well. Overall, I believe we're moving in the right direction. I know I'm learning from them and I trust they are learning from me as well. By the grace of God, I feel sure we are enriching each others' lives as we spend time together learning the assigned material.
###
Another place where I frequently spend time in my daily life in Juba is at the house of friends, Larry & Rebecca. Both of them have been here in what is now the capitol city of South Sudan for approximately two years. That means they both experienced the peaceful Referendum held in January 2011 and then the Independence Day Celebration six months later, on July 9th.
Each of them has shared their gifts & talents with the Church, through the ECS, during their stay in this newly formed country. Within the next few months their time of service here will come to an end. They will be moving on to continue their lives of service in different settings. Only the good Lord knows the details of their future as they approach this time of transition. Please keep them in your prayers.
Their house serves as a community house as well as serving their personal needs. It's fair to say that 'deferred maintenance' has been the practice of their landlord.
That part is obvious. What is not so easy to see with eye sight is how much spiritual community has come in the doors & been absorbed in the walls of this house.
On any given Sunday, it is customary for an after church gathering to take place at this house where coffee, tea, and rolexes are served. Here in Juba, a rolex is not a usually a wrist watch, but an egg roll made for breakfast & bought from a neighborhood market stall.
Over time, many people have accepted Larry & Rebecca's invitation to come around for a bit of social time after the 8 o'clock church service at nearby All Saints' Cathedral. One recent Sunday in Lent, more than a dozen people sat in a circle in the living room of this remarkable house. At the request of one of the guests, those present agreed to the unusual practice of introducing themselves to the group at large, rather than carrying on the usual practice of conversation in small groups.
Here is a sampling of those who were in the circle of friends that day:
- Two people from India who are working in the field of micro-finance - lending small, well-placed amounts of money to individuals who need funding for their projects & promise to repay the loan.
- Two from Iowa - a father who has been involved in mission work for his lifetime and his son who is completing a year of independent study as a freshman in college here in South Sudan.
- A woman who recently came from Alexandria, Virginia to be an officer for an NGO - a non-governmental organization.
- A man who has lived here for four years, moving from Michigan to serve as a consultant to translating the Bible into local native languages.
- An African woman who directs CCC which stands for Confident Children out of Conflict, an organization which gives shelter & nurture to young girls who otherwise would be on the street.
- Someone working with the Tear Fund, which originates in the United Kingdom & focuses on relief and development at various locations around the world.
- And finally, a woman from Uganda who has been working in Sudan for five years with CHS - the Christian Health Service - setting up health clinics in many, often remote, locations. She shared that she is now a new grandmother and looks forward to the day when she can move & live closer to the little one.
Together, what we shared that day was community in a holy, spiritual sense. Many times, I have seen it happen here in this humble abode. The Spirit works with us where we are and we all have many blessings.
As I sign off for now, I send you greetings from Juba, South Sudan & wish you well wherever you are. Please send us prayers for peace & stability in this new nation.
Until the next time, may God continue to bless you & yours,
Ellen+
PS
You may send a tax-deductible, charitable gift to American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan:
AFRECS Treasurer
3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304
Please be sure to put my name on the memo line. Faithfully, EJH+
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