Security, Secondary and Scripture

Thank you for your messages and prayers this week. Some days in South Sudan are filled with intense sadness. Other days are filled with the hard, continuing struggle beneath the sun: things that should be easy to achieve never get done; one moment beneath a cold shower or eating a bowl of fruit salad seems a cruel and distant fantasy; and people become lost in unrealistic expectations. Yet, somehow, there are moments that fill you with fresh awe at what God is doing here and how far we've come.

Update On The "Sadness of South Sudan"
Little Jok and The Truck
The truck has made it safely to Wau and now everyone is resting. Little Jok is obviously shaken and someone else is driving his vehicle for the time being. Yet, they are glad to be back in the safety of familiar faces and places.

Diing's Cousins
Both Diing's cousins have survived despite their severe bullet injuries. The boy who received five bullet wounds is still in extreme pain but they are confident that he will recover.

Please Pray For:
1) Peace and Security
The word in the market is that 5am this morning there was a Nuer raid on a village about half-an-hour north of Lietnhom. The raiders were shocked to find the cattle-camp defended and heavy fighting followed. Numbers are not yet known, but it is said that eighteen injured have already been taken to Lietnhom hospital (it is a small, brick building without doctors). The remains of the dead of other conflicts still lay scattered around this county, having never been buried. South Sudan has tasted endless violence and, as independence approaches, the conflicts are again mounting. Pray for protection for these people. Yet where we are, far from the cattle, I feel in no danger at all.

2) Marol's Secondary School
In its first weeks, the secondary school is settling into a rhythm. Yet, with uncertain syllabuses and inexperienced teachers, the challenges are still too high. Please pray, especially for Gordon, as he leads the emergence of this new venture and for Grace (a possible Kenyan, Christian, new recruit to Marol).

3) Little Bits of Scripture
A box of little, red New Testaments was once given and sent the thousands of miles from Berkshire to Marol Academy. Some of these were distributed to the senior pupils last week. They held them knowing they were as precious as diamonds and more weighty than gold. We will be reading these bits of scripture together in class but pray that God would speak through them.