A letter from Jacob and Aliamma George serving in South Sudan
Year-End 2014 - An Eventful Year
Isaiah 54:10: The mountain shall depart and the hills will be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you.
View of a Theological Education by Extension class
This year was an eventful one for us. On December 15 fighting started in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and is four days it reached Malakal! About 12 hours before the destruction of our neighborhood, we were airlifted safely by the hard work of our mission administration. We are grateful to God and everyone involved in the matter. The whole year was filled with challenges, but at every step we could feel God’s hands and could learn valuable lessons.
In South Sudan thousands died and 1.5 million have been displaced. We had a chance to visit some camps where people are staying. It is a very sad situation and United Nation teams are trying to do the best they can; God takes care of them in special way. Nobody can blame God; fighting and war are manmade. On a T-shirt of a young man a slogan says, “Violence is a sign of weakness not strength.”
The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan has started Theological Education by Extension in South Sudan (TEE) in six centers. People are excited to learn English, Bible, counseling, psychology, stewardship, general management, trauma healing, and Community Health Education. We have 40 to 60 people signed up for the classes and English-speaking members of the congregation willing to interpret the subjects we teach. There is a local pastor to coordinate. After one class a few people came forward and said, “Some of us are displaced people. We may have to return to our original state, town or village—please come and teach us. These things will help us to have better living. We never get to learn these things as our school system is broken due to frequent fighting."
Jacob preaching at the Murle congregation
On the road we met Mr. P, who used to be in the registrar's office in the Upper Nile University in Malakal. He said that all the 40 computers, all the library books, chairs, tables, and all the movable items were stolen. His private credentials and identification papers are gone and he was on a visit to different offices to get what he needed to apply for a job. He was happy that his family is safe. We blessed him with a promise from the Lord and assurance that he would be successful.
God gives us a chance to talk with people about health-related matters. On a hot day we were traveling on a nine-passenger bus. A 16-year-old sitting near us had two cuts on his right hand as though he tried to climb a wire fence. He had two other friends in the next seat. As the wounds were superficial but dirty, cleaning and putting an antibacterial cream on them would help. Aliamma explained about washing hands with salt water and putting antibiotic cream on, and she gave them the names bacitracin or neomycin or similar ointment to get from a pharmacy. And she gave the money needed for it to the boy and another passenger, explaining in his dialect about salt water, washing, etc. They were all happy. We had to get out first and hope and pray that the boys are doing well.
Aliamma teaching a class with the help of an Interpreter
Mr.J, who was in Malakal, saw us on the road and invited us to come and see the new place of his job. There were four other employees in the office and we all introduced each other. When they learned that we might go to the Lokki Choggio area when our school started there, Mr. J said: ”No. We need you here in South Sudan. The Lokki area is on the border of Kenya, though Sudanese people are in the refugee camp.” Then another gentleman said, “Please do not worry, all your Bibles and other books from your house will be put to good use. I heard that soldiers are staying in your house.”
We hope good things will come from people reading those 65 Bibles and different commentaries and Biblical textbooks. It will be a special way of spreading the good news. When we encounter unusual difficulties, we can learn some spiritual lessons embedded in those situations as God will make them good and bring glory to Himself. We are getting plenty of chances to explain God’s special love for each one of us on this earth who are put in different places with special purposes.
Our main aim is to encourage people to live like Jesus, spread the good news like Paul, be faithful like Moses, godly like Job, work like Nehemiah, trust like Abraham, pray like Daniel, worship like Abel, depend on God like David, act like Noah, lead like Joshua, and cry like Jeremiah. This will transform individuals, families and the nation.
We thank you for the past support and invite you to come beside us in our journey during the upcoming year.
Blessings,
Jacob and Aliamma
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 129
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Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery).
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