Starting, Suffering and Struggling

The clouds are thickening ready for rain above the slippery sands of Gogrial East. Yet, still the sun seeps through leaving the ground pounding with heat. Mangoes are in abundant supply in Wau but I am still carefully watching the ones on the tree besides my room swell. Patience and promise are in the air. While the start of Marol's Secondary School, Joyce's work and the use of the library have brought thanksgiving. There are still many struggles to face and too much suffering to see.

Thank you again for all your prayers. As we step into new phases and adventures, we are desperate for your prayers.

Things To Thank God For:
1) The Starting of the Secondary School
On Wednesday, the first pupils sat beneath a tin-roof classroom for the first lesson at Marol Academy's Secondary School. Over twenty have registered but only four attended on that first day. Gordon was their first teacher with a lesson in something scientific. His wisdom, experience and wit have made him the strength of the secondary school already. And RE lessons, filled with reading the school's new Bibles, have witnessed some incredible conversations.

2) The Start of Joyce's Work
Joyce (a trained midwife) has also now started work at the pan akim (small, health clinic). Her first day was a hard introduction to the unhidden suffering here. Two babies died that day during labour in the small, dust-covered maternity room. The second child would have survived if the mother had been given a few fizzy drinks earlier in labour to keep her energy high. Many of the simplest skills still to be taught here.

3) The Start of Life in the Library
This year the 90,000 Apuk Dinka have their first library hidden at Marol. Surrounded with textbooks, bibles and novels, the library is always quietly filled with teachers and older pupils. Having struggled for a year to see the foundations dug, the books delivered and the doors opened, it is a privilege to sit amongst what God has given us.

Things To Ask God For:
1) The Suffering in the Toc
Last Sunday, over a dozen people from our county were killed in deadly cattle-raiding in the Toc (the swampy areas). Having driven their cattle to the swamps for pasture, they found themselves closer to the neighbouring tribe and the potential for raiding. The attack swept away hundreds of head of cattle and injured even more than it killed in the accomanying gun battle. Fears remain of further attacks into our state and revenge attacks are already being planned with care. It feels like this local, deadly conflict is unending.

2) The Struggle of the Secondary School
Pupils are still only slowly filtering through the doors and the exact teaching arrangements are yet to be confirmed. There needs to be massive protection over this small gathering of students as it starts to grow.

3) Struggles of Omar
Marol Academy has, this year, invited its first teacher from Uganda to teach English to its highest classes. With few people of the Apuk having ever attended school, it is difficult to find people with the education to teach at primary level and impossible to find teachers for secondary level. Omar's teaching will be a blessing to us. However, on Thursday, an old injury reoccured and he has rushed to Wau for treatment. Please pray for him and that our prayers will be a good witness to him.