New news:
Deb has learned some startling and tragic statistics about the rising HIV/AIDS rate here in Lui. HIV/AIDS was almost nonexistent in 2003 when I first came to Lui; it had risen to 10 percent or so by 2005; now, at least for pregnant women, Deb has heard that the rate is 50 percent.
My "80 Moru churches in Khartoum" statistic yesterday had to be wrong. The other listeners agreed with me that Francis said 80, but we think he meant 8. Apologies for misleading you.
We have our assignments for Christmas day church: Robert and Nancy will go to Midah, Joe and Tammy to Kediba, Dan and Deb to Wandi, and Emily and I to Lui Parish. I'm excited to be able to take video greetings from St. Timothy's to Lui Parish in person. Emily and I have worked out a deal whereby I'll do greetings from St. Tim's and she'll preach -- playing to our strengths!
Emily has gotten to preach twice now. Today she preached a wonderful encouraging sermon to the Lui Mothers' Union about the way women are always carrying God with them. Among her examples, besides the BVM of course, were the women of Southern Sudan during the war years, when the women were the ones who preserved the church. The mamas were very excited to have such a young ordained woman among them, and they also pointed extensively to Tammy as an attorney for an example of what women can do if they get an education. Their own illiteracy is a grave concern for them.
During the Mothers' Union meeting, we were also able to present the certificate from UTO about the grant for the Kediba grinding mill. I gave a little talk about blue boxes all over America and the kinds of things the church does with that money, then announced the grant and gave Mama Jenifa the certificate. She made a very nice speech back, and all the women were very pleased about the grinding mill.
Edward, who visited Missouri with Bishop Bullen in 2005, came to see us in our payat (big eating tukul) today. He is now working for the International Bible Society checking translations from Greek and Hebrew into African languages. He is back in Moru land right now because after his brother's death, there was no one to finish paying the dowry price to the brother's wife's family except Edward, and he is going to Lakamadi to settle the matter.
It's a different world here.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Debbie, thanks for your disciplined blogging. It's wonderful to get these updates.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for the story about your session with the Mother's Union, your discussion about the "little blue boxes," and to hear you presented the UTO grant certificate to them. This is perfect -- just perfect.
My heart is warmed to hear how the Lui folks are responding to our newest clergy person from the Diocese of Missouri. I am so glad we were able to ordain Emily, even on that miserably icy night in Missouri!
I am stunned and appalled at the rise of HIV in Lui. I remember we were warned in 2006 that the HIV rates would rise once refugees began returning to Lui after the war. What can we do to help?
By the time you wake up and see this, it will be Christmas Eve in Lui. So I send you warm Christmas greetings. I hold you all in my heart, and I thank God for the work you are doing in this most holy season.