Tuesday, September 2, 2014

A Difficult Year for South Sudan

     This has been a particularly difficult year for the people of South Sudan, and for those here in the U.S. that know and love them.  The ongoing internal struggles that have engulfed the country since November of 2013 has damaged the already tenuous existence of so many hoping for a life of peace and stability.  Instead of rebuilding their lives, hundreds of thousands of people have fled to refugee camps or into the bush (called internally displaced persons) to escape the ongoing conflicts.  We are told, thankfully, that the people of Malual and Bethlehem are out of the path of direct conflict since they are in such a remote location.
     As you can imagine, the situation is difficult even for those not directly in the path of conflict, and is hardest for the children and most vulnerable.  People still living in South Sudan are desperate for medicine and for basic survival provisions.  For this reason, we are focusing our fundraising effort to do as much as we can to provide basic survival necessities.  Martha P recently returned from South Sudan where she discussed their priorities with people living in Malual, and videotaped what she could to bring their story to us.  We will be including the information she brought back with her to set priorities and to plan our approach for KLC-SSCRP this fall.
    In order to avoid the additional cost of travel for a larger group, and in order to ensure we direct as much needed assistance as possible to those who so desperately need it, we will again be postponing the 2014 mission trip.  We will instead purchase and send supplies with a couple of our members who plan to travel to South Sudan in November.  When the situation has improved and we are able to continue our restoration efforts, we will again work with the people of Longechuk County to help build the future they are hoping for including establishing a clinic and a school.
    Please continue to pray for those impacted by the conflict, and for their leaders to open their hearts to ways of love and peace for the world's newest nation of South Sudan.        

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Successful 2013 Mission Team Heading Home

Success!

  Thank you!  We have a well in Malual thanks to the grace of God, your generosity, and the labor of a committed few.  Andrew returned from South Sudan this week, and Jacob has already started the journey home.  Clean water brings with it the promise of health, education, and development.   As stories and pictures arrive we will share them with all of you.

Looking forward...

  While Jacob and Andrew were in South Sudan, work here continued as we look forward to the next phase. Our 2014 trip will be a larger team focused on medical care, education, and the building and furnishing of a school building.  This is a big project complicated by the distance from resources and lack of infrastructure in Malual.  In addition to primary education, this school will provide opportunities for worship gatherings, community leadership development during a time of major change, help for girls and women to fulfill their dreams of education and personal choice for participatory voice in their communities, and bring hope to a community struggling to build a future as a functioning part of the newest country in the world.

  I hope you will support our 2014  effort by signing up for the"Strides 4 Students" 5K run/walk (see http://strides4students.com/), purchasing a raffle ticket, or both.  The fun run will be held on August 24th starting at the ShoWare Center parking lot.  The fun run registration fee is a $20 donation before August 1st and $25 after (with discounts for teams/families that register together).  If you register early you will also receive a t-shirt.  Grand prize for the raffle is 2 round trip tickets courtesy of Alaska Airlines, and are available for a donation of $10.

World Dance Party

  Saturday, June 22, is the Kent International Festival.  We had a group share some South Sudanese
culture by participating in the Friday World Dance Party at the Kent Senior Activity Center.  They were enthusiastically received by the crowd, and Machar did a great job sharing some facts about South Sudan, inviting people to learn more about the country and people, and representing the SSCRP effort at Kent Lutheran Church. He said he it was very important for  everyone in Washington to know that they wanted to dance to show everyone how they are doing back home, and that they came from Kent Lutheran Church that has a big group called South Sudan Community Restoration Program that is helping the people back home to get clean water. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

2013 Mission Trip Fundraiser Dinner Scheduled

   You've heard the statistics. 80% of fatal diseases in Africa's developing countries are preventable with clean water.  For those of us in the U.S. clean water is something we take for granted. We turn on a faucet and water comes out. Many of us dispense filtered water and ice from our refrigerator. We wash our clothes from clean water in our washing machines. But for millions of people around the world access to clean water is not so easy.

   We may not be able to help everybody, but there are people -- family and friends of our KLC members -- that we can help.

   On April 6, 2013, we will send our second mission trip to South Sudan. Our primary goal this year will be to drill a well in Malual, South Sudan. The travelers will also be delivering essential first aid and medical supplies, education supplies, Nuer Bibles and ministry supplies, and, as space permits, Little Dresses and Little Shorts for Africa.

   There have been several activities to fund this trip, but there is still a ways to go before we reach our goal. Most activities -- the shoe drive, calendar sales, and card sales -- are ongoing.  there was a carnival in November which was fun, but not as well attended as we'd hoped it would be. There will be one more fundraising event before the team leaves.  Please join us for dinner on Saturday, February 23, 2013, 5:00 PM, in the Kent Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Tickets are only $10.00 for dinner. A silent auction and live auction will also be held.  Please RSVP on e-Vite to let us know your coming. We hope to see you there.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Fundraiser Featuring "Faces of Malwal" Photo Series

We have great news for you!  After many requests for more of Kathlyn Kinney's beautiful portrait photos, we have released a calendar and greeting card series as a thank-you gift for your donation this winter.

The calendars are 12-months and feature Kathlyn's stunning portraits. (Suggested donation $20)


The greeting cards are two copies of each of six of the most-loved photos in the series.  These beautiful photos show Malwal's people--it's heart and soul! Their beauty and pride and resiliency.  (Suggested donation $15).

Proceeds from card sales will benefit the well project in Malwal which will occur in April 2013.

You can purchase cards at the church (Kent Lutheran Church 336 2nd Ave N Kent, WA 98032) or make a donation on our Fundly page (http://fundly.com/klcsouthsudan) and forward your receipt to Debbie Hunt or Jessica Ward(deborahjhunt @ att.net or jessc098 @ gmail.com) be sure to include instructions of which items you want, and  if you need your cards or calendar shipped.

Please note: Please add $4 per item to cover shipping/packaging.

Kent Lutheran Church is a non-profit 501(c)3.  Thank you for considering us this holiday season! 

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Kent Lutheran Shoe Drive "Kicks Off" Again!

After last year's tremendous success with the shoe drive, we'll be re-launching the shoe drive this winter.

Who:  Anyone can participate!
What:  Used shoes in re-usable condition.
When: October 15 through January 31 at various locations in Western Washington.
Why:  The used shoes are collected and re-sold to wholesalers who make the available in developing nations, thus providing high-quality and low-cost footwear for people who may not have otherwise been able to purchase them--it also provides our team with an income for our ministry work in South Sudan.
How:  You collect shoes at your place of work, school or worship, and we'll collect them whenever you need it.  Our shoes get packed/sorted and shipped abroad.

To sign up to host a collection drive at your school, church or office, email us at klcsouthsudan@gmail.com or call Jessica Ward at 253-350-5427 with questions.

To sign up to recieve shoe drive progress, updates, pickup schedules, etc, please register here:
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Image Credit: Stuart Miles with freedigitalphotos.net

Monday, June 11, 2012

To see the new well in Bethlehem (a neighboring village to Malwal, about 90 minutes walk away) see here.