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 The June Juba Team did a phenomenal job! Tim and Annette Gulick (OC International), together with Dr. Joe Bonga (Int’l. Christian Youthworks), overcame communication and cultural obstacles to co-create a curriculum to teach youth and women’s ministry at Grace Theological College, contextualized for S. Sudan. Missionary Ellen Fox, who has served at Lohutok village since 2010, without returning to the USA, joined the team for 5 days, getting rest, great food and wonderful company. Arnold Polk, founder of Polk Building Ministries, flew to Torit, where he worked in 2013 training a team to use his interlocking block machine, before chaos hit with civil war. His fact-finding mission gave clear guidance as to future involvement in S. Sudan. The machine is not useable.
In partnership with TECH-USA.com Dr. Edith Mwebe, a dentist from Uganda, and Dr. Christian Irakoze, an MD and dentist from Burundi, provided uptraining to three who were trained to do tooth extractions during our 2019 trip. One of them has continued professionally in Torit, S. Sudan.
Tim, Annette and Joe were very impressed with Hope Secondary School at the UN Camp, funded by Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. Ninety-six percent of students passed recent national exams for high school seniors!
About two hours before catching a shuttle to Atlanta, an email revealed a positive Covid PCR test result, cancelling my trip. The team quickly decided to travel anyway. The Gulicks have traveled to 40 countries, Arnold to 16. Without the test I would have infected fellow travelers, and have no idea how I would have dealt with the fever, etc. without my wife’s care and a course of Paxlovid.
The Juba-side team, led by Michael Ojok of Agape Mission, got high praise for the extra care and concern they showed. Others can confidently work in Juba without my presence. Major Bob Talbot, of Whole Armor of God, was an excellent security consultant, and the team had no security issues, for the 14th time, by God’s grace. I’m trying to coordinate my Juba trip with a colleague. A report with more photos is planned. Thanks for prayers!
Jim Sutherland
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