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Purpose for the TripThe purpose for this trip was to view firsthand the situation in Kiryandongo Refugee Camp in the Bweyale region of western Uganda, where some 53,000 South Sudanese refugees are living. These people have fled the warfare resulting from the incursion of Muslim militia fighters from Sudan in the north, but they are also running away from intertribal warfare within South Sudan itself. The y have found their way over the border into Uganda, where the United Nations and the Ugandan government have set up 13 camps like Kiryandongo, which is the largest one.When I began organizing Africa Sunrise Communities and trying to decide what my focus should be in working with my own people, I had thought that my mission was to return to Uganda to work within this refugee camp in setting up an elementary school, teaching the children, and, through them, begin to reach their parents with Christ’s message of peace and reconciliation. However, this trip showed me that there are already educational opportunities available for children in the camp.Conditions Within the Camp Several organizations are working within the camp. These include the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, International Rescue Committee, Windle Trust International, and several others.This Kiryandongo refugee settlement is on 27 square miles and contains a total of 18 “clusters.” Clusters are structured and designed to ease management of people and are basically smaller groups of people, families living together with an elected leader and supportive community structures.There is now much more tribal diversification in the camp than what I found when I was there last in 2014, though the Dinka and the Nuer tribes are still the largest groups.Living conditions are very primitive, with no running water or electricity. Homes are mostly mud huts. There are many water wells available, so water does not seem to be in short supply.There are schools, all of which charge at least a minimal tuition fee, even if they are called “free” schools. All children must purchase uniforms to attend school. School fees for children are typically about $12 tuition per child per month. One uniform costs around $9.School materials, such as chalkboards, textbooks, exercise books, etc., are procured by the United Nations. Because of all the variety of dialects spoken within the camp, the schools are taught in English. Most of the orphan children are out of school, as they have no one to pay their tuition and fees and to buy them uniforms.Orphans Will Become My New FocusI learned that the one group that is not being served well in the camp is that of young orphans. These boys and girls have lost their families to war and have fled alone to the refugee camp, much as I did at the age of 7 when war first broke out between Sudan and South Sudan. While they may be assigned in the camp to other families in which to be raised, the truth is that many of these children end up abandoned and having to fend for themselves. I am beginning to see that my focus should be on these children.From what I could find out, the official number of orphan children is 1,800 within the camp, but the chances are good that there are many more not included in this official count.These children are in need of a place of their own – a safe place to sleep, where they can be taken care of, with food available, with the means to go to school, and a place to come back to after school. Group homes seem to me to be the best way to care for the children. A group home would house 10-12 young children, ages about 4-10. Setting up such a group home will involve renting a dwelling within the camp and hiring a woman or a couple to be houseparents to see to the needs of the children.Where Do I Go From Here?It is necessary for me to set up a local non-government organization (NGO) with a different name, as my American-based Africa Sunrise Communities will not be recognized in Uganda. My local Ugandan organization’s name will be “Rising Hope Africa.” One of the reasons for my trip to Uganda was to begin the process of setting up this organization and registering it with the Ugandan authorities. The registration process is complicated by the fact that I am not a Ugandan citizen. I am in the process of filling out the registration forms and sending them back to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Each step in this process calls for the payment of fees, such as the $150 registration fee, which I must send back with the papers.When Rising Hope Africa is registered in Uganda, I will have to set up a physical office in Kampala, which is about 3 hours away from the camp. This means renting office space there. The office will need to be staffed, at last minimally. This demonstrates to the Ugandan government that my intentions are to stay in Uganda and to work with government and other officials within the refugee camp. I will be partnering in every way possible with the Ugandan government and the United Nations and other NGOs working there.How You Can Help I am currently raising support to enable my family and myself to relocate to East Africa. As my family will not be living within the refugee camp themselves, I must set up a home for them, in Uganda or in Kenya, and send my children to school. I myself will also not be living in the refugee camp, but must find lodging nearby.It will cost $100,000 for the first year. This amount includes travel to Uganda, renting and setting up a home there, getting the children settled in school, finding a place for me to live, setting up an office in Kampala, renting and setting up an orphan group home in the refugee camp, hiring houseparents, in-country transportation costs, my salary, and ministry expenses. After that, my personal expenses will be $50,000 per year (including salary, living expenses, transportation, fees, etc.,) and the cost for running one group home will be $30,000 per year. Africa Sunrise Communities needs partners who will come alongside and commit to this ministry. We need you to pledge to give regularly (monthly, quarterly, or yearly) at a level that you can give to sustain this work. If one hundred supporters would pledge to give $100 a month, that would provide funds for me to go back to East Africa and to begin the ministry to which God has called me. Will you partner with me to help the orphan South Sudanese refugee children in Kiryandongo Camp? Will you support me in my mission to bring hope, education, and the Good News of Jesus Christ to my people?  May God bless you as you consider partnering with me in this work.Jacob Guot, Executive Director and Founder

The Lost is Found: A “Lost Boy’s” Story of Faith, Hope, Charity, and Love is now available in paperback from Amazon. My book tells my story of running for my life at age 7 as radical Muslims attacked my village in Sudan, and spending the next 14 years either on the run or living in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. I came to the United States as a “Lost Boy” of Sudan in 2001 and since then have learned a new language, become an American citizen, and obtained an education. Now that I have graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary, I am turning my attention to raising funds through Africa Sunrise Communities to fulfill my mission to help bring education, peace, and reconciliation to South Sudanese refugees in Bweyale Refugee Camp in Uganda. My people of South Sudan need the opportunity to obtain an education and to find a better way to live together if my country is to grow and prosper.A portion of proceeds from the purchase of this book will go to support the mission of Africa Sunrise Communities. An EBook will be available soon and you can purchase a paperback on Amazon.Jacob GuotExecutive Director and Founder

Sky_Walk_13,_Monteverde,_Costa_RicaSeveral other Asbury Seminary students and I went to Costa Rica for a week-long workshop in June. My experience to Costa Rica was wonderful and I loved it. One of the strong points of Costa Rica is that it an extremely peaceful country. They even did away with their army in 1949 and all of their crime problems are handled by their police force. Everywhere you go the people are very welcoming as they greet you with smiles and seem happy to see you. It has become known as an unchanged tropical paradise due to its quiet history as a backwoods area, which protected it from early historical colonial turmoil and exploitation. Today’s Costa Rica cashes in on its purity and cleanliness. It has a famous jungle awning and they have constructed an “awning walk” tour that lets you travel through the jungle like a monkey. It’s also known for its zip-lining tours. There are world-famous surfing waves on the beaches on both sides of the country and they are known as one of the top three surfing destinations in the world. In addition to all of the exciting and adventurous things to do in Costa Rica, it is also a great place for those who just need a break in between adventures or who want a time of rest and relaxation. The rainy season can be the best time to go since it is not so crowded.With the peaceful and prosperous atmosphere of Costa Rica, it is no surprise that their pastors and the bishop are among the happiest in the church. The food in Costa Rica is also some of the best I have ever tasted. It’s main staple foods are rice and beans, known as gallo pinto. Much of the flavor of their food comes from their main sauce called lizano salsa. They put it on everything and the people love it. They even sell it at the airport. Costa Rica is also a huge producer of coffee, along with bananas and chocolate. Anyone who goes there should be sure to take a tour of Villa Vanilla farms to see how they make chocolate and vanilla, along with pepper, cinnamon and more. Our group sings to begin one of the sessions.During my recent visit to Costa Rica for a one-week workshop concerning mission experiences, I met a friend who asked me a very interesting question that I had never thought about. Alex never gave me his full name, because of security reasons, he said. He said he would give me his heart forever, but not his name.Alex was interested in my life experience, because, as he said, “My life experiences have not been like yours, Jacob. All my experiences were from drugs, running after women, prostitutes, and so on. All that bad stuff has gone through my life. But, my amigo Jacob, you were facing such difficulties, even death, in your life experience. I am always interested in looking at the experiences of others so that I can learn from them and adjust my life. I am very excited to learn from you by knowing about your life.“First of all, I am very excited to meet you. Also, I am very thankful to God to bring you here to Alajuela Provenance in Costa Rica. I have never met an African or African-American in my life. God brought you here so I could meet you.“You remember what happened in I Kings 18:21 when Elijah said to the people, ‘How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ I know, Jacob, you will be like Elijah to your people by bringing them peace and justice. If they choose peace and restoration, then they will live. If they do not choose peace, then the refugees in East African countries will continue to be dead like they are already.”Alex asked me why black Africans don’t do mission outside of their world like white people do. Is it because they lack the resources? Or because they don’t like mission and don’t want to do mission in the world? He reminded me that only three of us in this workshop are black. When I asked him how many times he had been to this workshop, he replied he had been here four times. “This is a part of my knowledge and experience,” he said, “so I know what I am talking about.”When I asked him why he asked me such a searching question, he said, “Jacob, I know mission. I know more than you do. I am 67 years old, and have been a pastor leading a church for 27 years.”He told me about a man who had come to do mission work in Costa Rica with his family, but after a year he and his family left. They had five children and no support – no insurance, no money for school fees or for transportation, no money for rent. “I want to warn you, Jacob: is it about you or is it about God? I mean your family comes first, then the mission. Other people can pick up your mission but no one else can pick up and care for your family.”I can see good and evil in this advice. If God calls you into His service, you can’t say no. But evil can cause all sorts of problems for you and your family while following God’s call. It happened in my village when Muslims came and attacked my family just for being Christians.Alex told me that he had heard of many people leading in ministries and encouraging others to support them and then later backing out because the ministry had not been what they expected. “I am not saying that this is what you will do, amigo,” Alex said. “I am praying for your mission. I have a lot of sympathy for what you have been through and I know that God is on His throne. At the same time I worry about your family. I know you have already paid a heavy price and that God has given you a mission, but be careful in your journey and with the people who come alongside to help you.”He encouraged me to keep close to the people who helped me since I came to the United States and those who have supported my education. “They love you and your family,” Alex said. “Listen to them and work with them, whether they continue to help you financially or not.”Alex continued, “They have invested in you and they have big hearts towards you. Be strong in your mission. Keep looking ahead, even if some people turn negative towards you. Know that God is your guide, your protector, your helper, and He will provide your resources. Don’t be fearful; if God has called you He will make a way for you.”“I advise you to put your family first and your mission second,” Alex said. “Don’t leave for Africa unless you have a clear idea of your support and when it will begin and end. I see you like a Martin Luther King or a Gandhi, bringing change to your people. Don’t become discouraged if some people do not get on board with your mission right away; sometimes people need to see something in action before they can bring themselves to support it. As Jesus said, look for the ‘house of peace’ in the community and work through that. Look for those who are ready to be helped.“I will be praying for you that God will bring people who will support you in your mission. Costa Rica is a very poor country and we don’t have much to support our ministry, but we can pray.”I appreciated talking with Alex because he was encouraging me while at the same time giving me advice from long experience in ministry. He reminded me to be grateful for those who have supported me in my education, my family and my mission. He also encouraged me to put God in charge of my mission. I realize that I need to look at my current reality to determine the direction I must go. I have been discussing his conversations with my wife. It was a blessing to me to meet this godly man, Alex. I will never forget him, because he is truly a man of God. If you want to see more of my time in Costa Rica, check out this videohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UpKmVu6XO0  Blessings,Jacob GuotASC Founder, and President