Sunday

A big week has just started here at the Across base in Yei; Yesterday was the Graduation ceremony for 48 new teachers from the Across "Yei Teachers Training College", The South Sudan Minister of Education, The Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS- on whos land the whole Across complex stands), The Yei district Commisioner, The Yei country Education officer, The Across Director of Education Services, The Leader of the Student Body, Donor organisations ... and a few others, all made considerable speaches, most of which were quite interesting... and quite political. Speaches pointed out that teachers were concerened about employment now that their course was complete... How is it that vast numbers of teachers currently have no qualifications, but previous trained graduates have not been able to secure employment? How are teachers expected to stay at their schools when many are owed months of pay? etc... To his great credit the Minister for Education rose to the occasion, and gave credible answers to criticisms and hope for a better future.
We were treated to traditional Kakwa dancing, and a big feed for the hundreds of guests was provided... all that took from 10am until lunch was served after 4pm!!
Nathanael and Philliam were photographers for the event... Nat got quite dehydrated, being in the hot sun for so long and doesn't feel the best today, but Philliam seems fine. They still have found the energy to start to download the videos this afternoon. That will be a big job as all the video is on tape and so can only be transfered in real time... 6 hours worth!

Today we journeyed across town to the "Evangelical Presbyterian Church" which is a congregation of probably 400 (guessing), meeting in a traditional thatched Tukul. Nat and I really enjoyed the service... Good preaching, clear translation and not so noisey!!. There was the biggest group of westerners there that we have seen here, as a group of about 8 Dentists and some of their families had come from Texas, to provide free Dental Assistance here in Yei. The service had been cut short so that church staff were able to assist the dentists to attend  a group of 30 children coming in from an outlying orphanage.
Rhys and Rhondda have spoken well of the great generousity of this church, The Church has frequently arranged help like this from overseas, and assisting even other non aligned churches pastors and needy ones arround Yei.

Here at Across we are preparing for the Across staff Retreat in this coming week. People are driving, catching public transport, or flying in from Sudan and East Africa, for a week of meetings, to encourage and prepare for the future. We are looking forward to some good challenging preaching in the meetings, and some great time with other staff.

Still there is work for us to do in this last week... Nat has just been given sketches for 4 new building projects which need his skills, to draw them up on the computer. I have not been able to get the second old Riso printer to work properly... it will print ok, but master making is unsatisfactory. Also there is 2 copying machines at other NGO's which I still have not got to.

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Colin Mills