Ibba 2016 – Walking Together in Mission
The CMSI META team from St John’s Moira who visited Ibba Diocese, South Sudan. in January gave a presentation in the parish last week. Bishop Harold also attended.
Whilst in Juba, the team were able to see Bishop Wilson’s new community vehicle which by now should be in Ibba. This will make a massive difference to the bishop’s ministry, thanks to the generosity and fundraising efforts efforts of St John’s.
Many folk at home also gathered together materials for the Days for Girls programme. It’s hard to grasp just what practical and cultural difficulties surround menstruation for young women and the project is a vital and very practical response to the problem.
Read a few snippets from the Ibba blogs below and view a gallery here. (You can read all the Ibba blogs on the CMSI homepage here.)
“In Iggy, we were able to visit one of the boreholes that was installed as a result of the fundraising undertaken in our parish. The impact that this has had on this place cannot be underestimated – before there was a borehole people had to draw water from the local river. As you know we are here in the dry season. The nearby river is little more than a muddy stream and the people here have no choice but to use this water to cook, clean and also drink. I cannot find the words to explain the impact that the borehole has had on their lives.”
“The way the kits and teaching have been received is far beyond the expectation of the team. The conversations that Days for Girls has provoked have been particularly relevant and meaningful to the girls and women in Ibba. Everyone involved in these kits at home, in Moira and beyond, should be encouraged by the impact that your work is having in a very real way here in Ibba. The practical skill learning offers the opportunity to discuss many difficult issues faced by women here, issues where faith and culture collide.”
“Joanne and Olwen were leading pastor training, focussing on the key challenges faced by pastors and talking through opportunities to make real practical steps to work through these challenges.”
“David and Nigel continued to work with the local farmers co–operative – they have walked many miles now and have seen many of the local farms.”
“Joanne and I continued with training – this time with evangelists and youth leaders in the diocese. The evangelists (above) provided an outline of their work here and the challenges that they face. They fast, then pray, then go out to where God has called them to go. In their evangelistic outreach, they reported being chased, meeting armed men, having abuse hurled at them and witchcraft used against them – but put simply, they see their work as ‘the work that Jesus left for us to do’.”
“Saturday evening saw the final of the ‘peace, forgiveness and reconciliation football tournament’ organised though the bishop. Some years ago, the Logic Cafe in Moira held a football tournament, aimed at raising funds for a trophy for the bishop to take back to South Sudan. This has been the start of something very special here and we were invited to be guests of honour at the final of the tournament on Saturday afternoon.”
Pictured L–R: David and Joan Johnston, Revd Joanne Megarrell, Olwen Laird, Bishop Harold, Linda Abwa, Jenny Smyth and in front, Diane Graham.