A letter from Jacob and Aliamma George serving in South Sudan
fall 2014 - Ministry with the displaced
Isaiah 55:11: "My word that goes out, will not return empty, but will accomplish which I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." We are trying to send His word from the Bible wherever we go in Juba. We are teaching “Theological Education by Extension” (TEE) through the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan until the Giffen Institute of Theology reopens. There is a local pastor as TEE Coordinator who accompanies us to different stations. We use different congregational sites for classes. There are 20 to 30 students in each class—students who have signed up because of their deep interest.
There are six centers with three different courses:
1. Long-term, 12 months, with Arabic and English diploma in Theology.
2. Short-term, Arabic and English, TEE program Certificate for three months.
3. Short-term, tribal languages, for three months.
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Worship service of one Dinka congregation in the village of Juba
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Encouraging children in their song practice in an internally displaced camp
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Rev O explaining about his miraculous escape
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Praying for a church woman who was sick at home, requested to come to pray for healing, and got healed
We also visit different congregations for worship and Jacob gives the sermon. Last Sunday 330 people dedicated their lives for renewed lives. Mr. J interpreted it into the people's dialect. All the congregations are growing; each building will be overflowing with many standing outside listening. Many come from Malakal, our previous station.
The following is the account of Rev. O, who was a part-time teacher at the Giffen Institute of Theology. We met him in Juba just a week ago since we all had been displaced. After we greeted each other, he said, “God helped me to be alive.” During the fighting in December last year he was in the Catholic Church campus for safety. There were a lot of people from different denominations and tribes. Any church campus would give refuge during the war to any tribe. One evening four soldiers came with big guns to the men’s side, and Rev. O told them in a polite way not to shoot anyone. He said that these poor people do not know what is happening in the government and the reason for the fighting. Moreover, there was no phone connection, TV or newspaper. Then one soldier asked him, “Who are you?” He told them that he was a pastor and showed his big cross chain that he always wore on his neck. Then the soldier said. “Pastor, you sit down.” Within a minute a second soldier came near him and, pointing his gun at him, ordered, “Pastor, you stand up.” Rev. O stood up and ran as fast as he could; the soldier's gunshot hit a wall, and he escaped. His wife and children are also safe—they are in a refugee camp in Juba. We shared a little money with the family and gave him some suggestions about finding a teaching position. After exchanging new phone numbers and praising God for different responsibilities we departed.
Another incident is about Mrs. D, who I met in Malakal after a church service. She told me she had been married for a couple of years and had had a baby who died after one week. Now they had no new baby coming. We just stood there on the rocky ground and prayed for a baby and also for the happiness of her husband and in-laws, who were staying with her. God heard the prayers and they later had a son—they showed us their handsome boy. A few days ago we met Mr. D, who told us that they had twins this year, a boy and a girl. We congratulated them and sent a small amount to be given to Mrs. D to use for the babies.
All the displaced people are struggling financially. Our hometown is not safe yet. The church administration hired a small plane and went to Malakal to reevaluate. One person said it looks like a ghost town, with the grass growing very tall, and when the dry season comes, fire and fighting can be expected. There is a fight going on in Dolieb Hill, which is closer to Malakal. Let us pray that people choose life and not death. The broken lives can be renewed and reshaped when they are touched by God’s love and grace. We are not too badly broken for God to reshape. He loves people in spite of our imperfections and past mistakes. When we are melted by trials, like a potter He can mold us into a different shape.
All our displaced people lost all their belongings, and their animals were stolen. If they had crops, they were destroyed by flood or drought, or they had to leave them. We use community health and trauma healing principles wherever possible. One evening when we were coming from the market, it was raining heavily and we had to stand under the pavilion of a building, where we met four children and their uncle. One of the kids had malaria and was coming back after a hospital visit. We explained how we can avoid mosquito bites and how to prevent mosquitoes by keeping water drained so it doesn't stagnate. All the others standing by also listened and joined the conversation.
The new area where the displaced people are is not their own to cultivate. They are waiting for a time to go back and restart as they did many times in their lives. They are the most resilient people; wherever they gather there is singing, dancing and laughter. The worship places are filled with joy from the Lord even though the seats are not comfortable and there may be flies and mosquitoes, lizards, ants and other insects, but nobody gets hurt or gets an allergic reaction. You never get sleepy or distracted but keep moving in the spirit.
We thank you for your financial support through PC(USA) World Mission, and prayer is the mightiest force that will keep us alive and useful for God’s work. We use the Bible, the book of relationship with God, with others and ourselves. Without your support we cannot do it, and we would like to invite you to be a part of this journey.
Blessings,
Jacob and Aliamma
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 129
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