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Education is crucial to preparing the next generation of leaders for South Sudan, a country that received its independence just eleven years ago. It has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. My vision is to build an elementary school at the Rising Hope Christian Center in Bor. But the wall must be finished first, or all our good work will be in vain!

My vision of Rising Hope in South Sudan came from the book of Nehemiah. So, my goal is to tell my story through Nehemiah’s viewpoint. I am in exile like Nehemiah, and my home country needs rebuilding. And this is why I have invited Rt. Rev. Bishop Anyieth to bless my ministry work before its kick-off.

Thank you for helping us make a difference in Bor, South Sudan! The COVID-19 pandemic slowed everything, and it took us longer to finish our Perimeter Wall Project at Rising Hope Christian Center.

We are praising God that we’ve received enough money to begin construction on the final phase of the wall. Construction is resuming now and we have sufficient funds to complete nearly the entire wall. The only part lacking will be the gate. We are praying the remaining $6,000 will come in to finalize the project before the new year.

Perimeter wall on our land in Bor, South Sudan. This wall completely encloses our property and will provide security for our school and other buildings, which are on the drawing board to be built next.

This past year has been a wild ride. For better or worse, I have tended to do a lot of sighing when thinking of you (as individuals or families) as I pray for you. That’s in part, because I miss you, but it’s also because so many of you are finding these days challenging.

This is the latest report on our project of building a school in Bor. We at Africa Sunrise Communities have given the name Rising Hope Christian Center to the overall project. After the perimeter security wall is in place, we will begin building the Akechkuai School. Our goal is that eventually we will have other buildings surrounding the school, a church, and perhaps even a medical clinic.

A quick post to say that Jacob returned from South Sudan in mid-July after a successful two weeks in Juba and Bor Town.  We have details to share in the coming weeks, but here are a couple of quick snapshots.  He saw family, met with government leaders about permits and construction plans, and worshiped with the Episcopal Church community.  

The next steps in Africa Sunrise Communities’ school-building project are underway.  Executive Director Jacob Guot will arrive in South Sudan in a day or two. He will spend two weeks completing necessary steps for construction to begin.

We heard about the shoeshine boy in Bor in one of Jacob’s accounts of his trip there last January. This enterprising youngster is one of Africa Sunrise’s prospective students, insofar as he has expressed an interest in being in school but said his parents cannot afford to send him to school right now.