Goals & Objectives
The Nuba Christian Family Mission has a two fold mission, 1) to bring assistance to the work of the church in the Nuba Mountain region of the Sudan, building alliances with the Nuba Mountain people to meet their spiritual, social, economic, health, and educational needs; and 2) to assist in the resettlement of the Nubians in the United States.
In 2003, shortly following our becoming a 501c3 organization, plans were made to bring Bishop Andudu to the United States to tell the story of the Nuba people. A full report on this visit to eleven cities throughout the U.S. is available in the section of this web site titled “Donations.” In December 2003, Slater Armstrong, founder of Joining Our Voices, visited the Nuba and recorded their music. He was the first Episcopalian from the U.S.A. to visit the Nuba region since the beginning of the civil war. In the Fall of 2004, The Rev. Ken Leoncyzk of Holy Trinity, Garland, Texas visited the Nuba region. This was a trip he made with the full blessing of his Bishop, The Rt. Rev. James Stanton, Diocese of Dallas. This visit was followed by a visit by Deacon James Thomkins and Kori from the Baton Rouge, LA area. Both visits were made at the invitation of Bishop Andudu in order to assist in developing future plans.
Our Greatest Needs
The Rt. Rev. Andudu Adam Elnail, Bishop of the Diocese of Kadugli, Episcopal Church of the Sudan, March 8, 2003, sent us this information about their situation and needs: There is a cease-fire in the war zone, in place since 2002. Now there is the Comprehensive Peace agreement, signed January 2005. These unfolding events make possible the people of Nuba to return home from various refugee camps. But the area of the Nuba Mountains is lacking in the basics such as food, clothing, even blankets, to sustain their return. Rebuilding the schools for the children is critical.
Education. All the old schools in the Nuba Mountains were destroyed during the war. As a result, the children have no place to acquire a formal education. Those who might try to send their children to other communities for their schooling find they cannot pay the fees. Thus, the children are roaming the streets. Many are orphaned, so this intensifies the gravity of the situation. Recently, some missionaries have initiated a few schools, but they are inadequate in both staff and supplies. We need to serve these children and others nearby through construction of an elementary and a secondary schools and by providing staff and materials for the new schools as well as adequate learning materials for the missionary schools. Helping with this project are the following Christian traditions: Church of Christ, Episcopal, Evangelical, Orthodox or Coptic, and Roman Catholic. The Islamic religion is also helping. Construction of the first Christian High School with three classrooms and an administration building took place in the summer and fall of 2004 in the community in Kuichy. As I listened to George Tuto describe how this happened, I was reminded of the way the Amish gather to help their neighbors build a barn. All the labor is donated, and all the meals are provided for the workers. Pictures of the High School will be posted on this web site. See details about this in the "Donation" section.
In a conversation with Mr. Kornolius Mangatee, the Nuba Mountain Relief Rehabilitation and Development Organization (NRROD) Education Coordinator for the Nuba Province, George Tuto learned that at this point in time 102 Primary Schools have been reestablished enrolling a total of 60,000 students. This includes some bush type schools by local communities.
One lovely story in regard to the Episcopal Primary School development that George tells was about a school that was to be closed by Mr. Mangatee for lack of resources. The SPLM Commander Abdel Azziz, who also donated the land for the Christian High School, when he learned of this, suggested to Mr. Mangatee that the primary school which they could not fund, be turned over to Bishop Andudu. With support of the community and Mr. Mangatee the school was turned over and is called ECS Hope Primary School. Bishop Andudu had the funds because of a grant from the Gadsen Foundation of Virginia. There are now 423 students. See the full report on this in the "Donation" section.
ECS Hope Primary School was officially opened by Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, this January 15, 2005. With Lord Carey was Archbishop Marona of ECS, and Bishop Ezekiel Kondo of Khartoum, and Bishop Andudu, and as Bishop Andudu said, "thousands and thousands."
Church. The diocese was newly formed in the 1980s. Because of the civil war the church was greatly affected. Many church buildings were destroyed. The priests then scattered all over the cities of the Sudan. Those loyal men, struggling with their people, have worked all these years without salary. The diocese has no proper income sources to pay them. We need proper building materials to construct churches and a diocesan office. Two cars for the bishop and staff are urgently needed in traveling throughout the diocese. As the work cannot stop, they currently walk for hours, even days, to meet the needs of the ministry. See the "Donation" section and the 2004 Donation Report at the "Resource Center" for more details.
Water. Water is one of the major problems in the area. Local wells are not clean and there is a need for more equipment to dig new ones.
Medical Services. There are few clinics and with little in the way of medical equipment. There are no specialists or qualified doctors. Those who are able travel to neighboring countries for treatment, but most people cannot afford to do so. Therefore, many are dying because of lack of a proper medical delivery system. Two hospitals need to be constructed and staffed with adequate medical personnel in the Nuba Mountains.
All of these areas noted cry out to be addressed through the prayers and charity of those more fortunate.
