Apel Mary Mading (10 months) and Aguto Elijah Mading (3 years) (True orphans)

Mary and Elijah with their grandmother, who takes care of them
Aguto Elijah Mading (Age 3)

Apel Mary Mading

Elijah and Mary live with their grandmother, who also takes care of
two other grandchildren. Their father died in the war, and their
mother died of typhoid when Mary was just two months old. Their
grandmother tries to plant some sorghum, but has hardly any income
from that. We provide her with the necessary means to be able to care
for these two children.

Abraham Ngong Kueth (Age 12)

Subject: Abraham Ngong Kueth (Age 12)



Abraham grew up with his uncle. "I hear my father and mother are
around, but I don't know... My mother was wife number 2 to my father,
and they got divorced. My uncle took care of me, but then he took me
to a cattle camp. I stayed at the cattle camp since I was small. I
don't have any brothers or sisters."

Abraham is in Grade 1. He likes to play football, and wants to be a
doctor when he's big. Why a doctor? "Everyone says, 'I'm sick, I'm
sick!' But there are few doctors around. I want to be like the people
who came and helped people by making them feel better."

(He was brought to the home by Abraham Mayan.)

Rachel Amer Kuol (Age 11)

Rachel's father was a soldier in the SPLA army and was killed in the
war. Her mother was abducted by guerillas. "I don't know my mother,"
she explains. "My grandmother took care of me. But my grandmother
doesn't care about me. So when I heard about the school, I decided to
come here. I decided by myself. My grandmother didn't care."

When asked what she liked about school, Rachel replies, "I like to
think, think, think!" She also likes reading in the afternoons.

"When I'm big, I want to be an evangelist!" she says.

David Luar Banchol (Age 9)

David grew up in a cattle camp with Peter, one of the other boys at
the children's home. "I don't know anything about my family," he says.
"I cannot remember them at all. I've always been living with the
cows."

David likes school. He also likes to dance and play football. He
doesn't like to have to wear clothes!

Asked what he'd like to do when he's big, David answers without
hesitation, "I want to be a headmaster!"

Peter Mango Akuch (Age 11) (True orphan)

Peter has lived in a cattle camp for as long as he can remember. "People tell me my parents were killed in a raid during the war," he says. He has no siblings. He was brought to the children's home from the cattle camp by Zachariah Maluk, the principle of the ELI school in Sudan. "Peter has some problems with his stomach from living with the cows so long, so I brought him home," Zachariah explains.

Peter likes learning. And he loves?playing football! "I also like helping people. I like it when they call me to help!" he says with a smile.

When he grows up, Peter would like to be a pilot. "People will know me," he says. "They will know that I'm special."

Mary Diyo Akech (Age 11)

Mary's father used to be a major in the SPLA before he was hit by a
stray bullet and killed. Her mother is in the hospital in Equatoria
due to sleeping sickness. Mary's sister Rachel also lives at the
childrens' home in Kolmarek. A relative brought the two girls from
Equatoria to Juba, from where they were put on a motorboat to Bor. In
Bor they lived in a cattle camp where they were responsible for taking
care of calves. Their grandmother heard that there is a school in
Kolmarek and brought the two girls to receive an education.

"I like to study," this first-grader says. "I also like cooking. And
to read and write."

When she grows up, Mary wants to be a pastor.

Kuol siblings (True orphans)

Monica Arok Kuol (Age 11)
Grace Adhiang Kuol (Age 8)

William Reech Kuol (Age 5)
>
> Monica, Grace and William's father died in the war. He was a soldier
> for SPLA. After their father's death, their mother committed suicide
> by drinking poison. William was about 2 years old when their mother
> died. The three siblings went to stay with their grandmother along the
> banks of the Nile River.
For Monica, the best thing about school is learning. Grace likes
reading, while William enjoys playing football with his friends at
school.

After school, Monica likes to help around the house. She usually helps
for at least an hour, then she likes to read. She doesn't know yet
what she'd like to be when she grows up.

After school, Grace likes to read. She wants to be a doctor when she
grows up.

Though William's favorite pastime is to play football, he agrees with
his sister Grace. He, too, would like to be a doctor someday.

John Mangany Mongrach (Age 9)

Mangany (pronounced Man-'gai) is an only child. His father died in the
war, and he does not know where his mother is. Until coming to the
children's home, he lived in a cattle camp. Mangany is in Grade 1. "I
used to play a lot when I was living in the cattle camp," he explains.
"But now, it's better to know to read and write." He dreams about
being a pilot. "You fly so high, and everyone can see you. They stop
and look at the airplane," Mangany says.

At the children's home, Mangany enjoys being with other kids and
playing with them.

Zachariah Machar Abraham Deng (Age 11)

Machar's father died in the war. His mother and older brother lives in
Malakal. "I heard about the school here and that there are orphans, so
I came here. I was staying with a relative at the time. I came here on
foot."

Machar likes learning. "If I have a good education, I'll have a better
life," he says. "I want to be a doctor."

When he's not in school, he likes to take care of the goats at the
children's home.

Samuel Gai Alier (Age 8)

Samuel is the oldest of three children. He used to have older
stepbrothers and -sisters (from his fathers marriage to other wives),
but his olderr siblings all died in the war. He has two younger
sisters who live with his mother in Equatoria, Southern Sudan. Their
father was killed in the war. Samuel lived with his grandmother, who
sent him to Kolmarek when she heard that there's a school. Now that
Samuel is able to go to school, he most enjoys reading and writing.
For fun, he practices to read and write. He also likes to invent new
games, which can keep him busy for long periods of time. "I also like
to play ball, and I really like to tell stories," Samuel says. "I like
being here because of school."

Rachel Yom Akech (age 8)

Rachel's father used to be a major in the SPLA before he was hit by a
stray bullet and killed. "My father taught me about Jesus," she says.

Her mother is in the hospital in Equatoria due to sleeping sickness.
Rachel's sister Mary also lives at the childrens' home in Kolmarek. A
relative brought the two girls from Equatoria to Juba, from where they
were put on a motorboat to Bor. In Bor they lived in a cattle camp
where they were responsible for taking care of calves. Their
grandmother heard that there is a school in Kolmarek and brought the
two girls to receive an education. "I like to be educated," Rachel
says. "I really like learning to read and write."

For fun, Rachel likes "playing carefully, with love. And I like
playing soccer. But I don't like fighting."

David Manyang Amor (Age 10)

Like all the other children at the children's home, David is in Grade
1. He came to Kolmarek because he heard that there was a school.
David does not know where his parents are. "I last saw them when I was
very small. I also have an older brother, but I don't know where he
is."

David loves playing football. His dream is to be the president of
Southern Sudan. "I want to be like John Garang," he says confidently.
"I want to learn so that people will respect me. I want to make money
so I can give things to other people."

Peter Makwen Samuel (Age 8)

During the war, Peter's parents abandoned him. He lived in the forest
with his uncle, hiding from the war. He is not sure where his parents
are now. He's in first grade, and he loves learning, especially
English. "I also like the respect that I see at school." After school,
Peter likes to read his school books. When he's big, he wants to be a
doctor.

Martha Achock Anyot, Age 9

Martha is the oldest of three girls. Her father was an SPLA soldier

who died in the war. Her mother lives south of Bor.

Her step sister (an older sister from her father's first wife) took

her to a cattle camp to live because there was no food at home. When

this sister heart that there is a school in Kolmarek, she brought

Martha so that she could have an education. "Life here is better than

in the cattle camp," Martha explained. "There, I had to take care of

calves. Now I get to go to school."

Martha doesn't yet know what she wants to do when she grows up.

"Right now, I just like to learn," she said with a shy smile. Her

favorite thing to do at school is to learn how to read. She's looking

forward to being able to read the Bible.

For fun, Martha likes helping in the kitchen. She also enjoys playing

games with the other children.

Last note

Many of the tree seeds that Steve Fitch left have germinated and they learned much through some of the challenges they faced with some termites eating some of the seeds. He is ready to keep trying and we will send more Mango seeds in a couple of weeks when Juli and a medical team return to Kolmarek around May 3rd to be there until the 9th. Pray for this team please. They will be staying in tents on the Kolmarek property. The winds and rains are present and could present a challenge.

Steven successfully returned to Kolmarek a couple of weeks ago after coming to Kenya to visit his wife and his new son. Yes - his wife delivered a boy while she was in Kenya. His other son Immanuel (now 2 years old) is still not doing very well health wise so Steven and his wife took him to Nairobi to see the doctor that did the first surgery on the baby. We arranged for Steven to again take a large truck all the way to Kolmarek with school books, cement, chalk boards, food to feed the orphans and school children. Praise God that he traveled safely during the several day trip and nothing was lost. God is good.

You remember how so many of the children had flies in their eyes and how that can lead to blindness (trachoma). Juli and Allison and seven others from our ELI staff in Kenya are flying on May 3rd to join with Steven for a mobile clinic and health trainings. David Tarus and Pastor Peter Maru from our Kipkaren Staff are also going to hold several hours of seminars and discussions with the local pastors. We want to help these Christian leaders grow in Christ and leadership. David is especially god at encouraging pastors and we hope to learn more about how we can partner with these local churches to help them grow and to help their members to grow in knowledge of Christ and also how to reduce the poverty and suffering that surrounds their daily lives.

The three structures that you remember seeing on the ELI property with you help will now continue to be built. One of the rooms will be used as a temporary health clinic during this teams trip in May. It will then be used as a classroom for the school and our training center and another of the buildings will be used to house the 15 orphans that we now have under our care.

We have 9 boys and 6 girls that we feed and educate at this time. There are 38 full orphans in the school.

Thanks so much KEVIN.

I'll send the important answers to question 2 asap!!!!!!!!!!!!

Serving together,

Don

Question 6

What information, if any, will the sponsor receive?

Photo and profile - ability to send and receive letters at least twice a year (via internet).

Question 5

What will this support pay for?

Daily food, clothing, parental care, education, Christian loving home environment.

Question 4

What will be the monthly financial commitment for a sponsor?

$90 per month per child

Question 3

Most specifically, what needs are being directly addressed as a result of funding from MCF?

Marina Christian Fellowship has been instrumental in helping this entire ministry to be launched into the Sudan! It was your initial investment of $10,000 that helped Steven to travel there to continue building crucial relationships with the local leaders and villagers. With this additional investment just received ( $20,000) we have been able to not only move further to reach our goals for Phase one but also to support the staff and feed these needy children and orphans.
These are the needs that so far have been directly addressed as a result of funding from MCF:
1. Enabled key leadership (Steven Reech, Zacharia Maluk, Abraham Mayen Kon) to move from Kenya and Uganda to set up life at the Southern Sudan ministry site of Kolmarek.
2. Helped with the costs of purchasing and trucking vital construction materials and supplies from Kenya to Kolmarek in January. These initial supplies include 100 bags of cement, roofing timber, iron sheeting, fence wire, food for the children, seeds.
3. Helped with the labor costs for constructing the roofs of the first three School and Training Center structures.
4. Helped with a second truck of supplies in April. These vital supplies needed to reach Kolmarek before the rains began (Apri15th) so that construction and the feeding program could continue. Steven personally escorted these supplies as well as carried funds given by MCF to pay the teachers and staff their compensation for their ministry service up through April.
NEEDS BEING ADDRESSED BY MCF:
* 180 children most of whom have been malnourished are now being fed three important meals each week.
* 15 orphaned children are being feed three meals a day and live in simple temporary shelters.
* Vital construction materials have been trucked into Sudan from Kenya which will enable us to complete one building for the school campus, one building for the Training Center, and one structure to house the orphans (while the permanent orphanage is constructed later this year and into next year - We already have a donor willing to cover this Orphanage/Boarding facility cost).
* MFC has provided funds to support the teachers in this new Christian School for the first several months of its existence. This is extremely significant in that this is the first school in this area teaching children for over a decade - all schools and in fact most of the village was destroyed during the war. MCF has helped initiate and support this important Christian school with food for the children and with support for the teachers and construction materials for several of the permanent buildings now being constructed.
* MFC has invested in the school books for the school. Steven Reech just two weeks ago returned to Kenya to be able to visit his family as well as to return with more construction materials as well as supplies for the school. he returned with over $1,000 value in school text books. Before this the teachers were teaching from the one book that they alone had as they would read out loud from the text book and then write some things on the chalk board (two of the four classrooms did not even have a chalk board).
* MFC has provided the chalk boards for each class room and writing books for each of the over 170 children in the school!
*MFC has provided a portion of the funds needed to be able to buy the fencing posts and wire to demark the Empowering Lives Sudan School / Children's Home / Skills for Life Training Center Property.

Question 2

What is the current status of the work in there? Some of this is addressed in the last email (3-29-06).

Yes - my last email did cover much of this. The rains have now started in Southern Sudan so the possibility of getting more supplies into Kolmarek for construction, well drilling, or anything else is very limited if not impossible at this time. It was so fantastic to receive your gift from the church just in time for Steven to buy the cement, school supplies, chalk boards, food, and funds for salaries for the staff and teachers. What an incredible blessing! Our strategy is initiated with direct ministry to children while at the same time we are constructing the "Skills for Life Training Center" and some staff housing. All of these things weave together and overlap as we work to change and empower lives.
TREES / WATER - Trees (seeds) have been planted using the seeds that Steve Fitch brought and instructed Steven on. So far many of them have germinated and now that the rains have come they are planting more seeds in the plastic tubes since getting water to the seedlings was one of the biggest challenges they faced daily. The rains will help to relieve some of this burden until we are able to have a company come into the area and drill the borehole and install the water pump system. The company we were in dialogue with said that they must first finish a contract they have with US-AID before they can visit our area again -AND they must wait until the rains subside enough for their heavy machinery to be able to get in and out of the village. This might still be a couple of months or more before we can get the borehole drilled but we are hopeful that sometime sooner something can happen and it can be done sooner than we are now thinking.
SCHOOL - we are still using the community hall building across the road for the time being. There are 170 children but most likely more than that at this time. We are feeding the children lunch 3 times a week at this time. Corn must be brought in from Kenya so all foods at this time are expensive. We look forward to the future when we will have our borehole and demonstration farm - producing our own foods there locally for a portion of the cost and at the same time demonstrating to the people ideas for agriculture and food production.
SKILLS FOR LIFE CENTER: This center is next to and in fact a part of the future school and children's home. We want all of the great ideas that we will be implementing to be front and center in the lives of the children at the school and Children's Home (Orphanage). There were three iron sheet structures in February. They are going to be very useful when the medical team arrives in a couple of weeks. Even as I write we are hoping that Steven was able to borrow the cement block forming machine from the Fisheries (where we stayed) so that they can put in the foundation and walls for one or more of those three buildings.
All of these buildings will initially be used as classrooms for the school and one will be housing for the orphans while we are securing funds and staff for the Housing for Orphans.
ORPHAN CARE: There are 38 orphans in the school and 15 of them have no where to live. These 15 are the first group of children we feel God has brought to us and we are providing temporary housing for them at this time in simple mud structures we are borrowing. There are 9 boys and 6 girls. The girls are staying in the home of one of the women teachers.
We are feeding these 15 orphans every day of the week and providing their schooling.