Nyamlell: Father Michael Barton's Sudan mission: July 2013

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Journey from South Sudan to Indianapolis, with many stops along the way

July 2nd, 2013 Comboni Missionaries- South Sudan P.O. Box 21102 Nairobi, KENYA 00505 I do not know what address to use. I do know that I shall return to Africa although I shall not return to Nyamlell. I don’t know where I will be assigned either, but I shall go back to South Sudan in mid December. Until then I plan to just enjoy my home leave. July 4th, 1776-2013 -- which equals to 237 years of independence of the United States of America. July 9th, 2011-2013 -- which is two years of independence of the Republic of the South Sudan. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the second most populated country in Africa, on my way home. I got to visit Helwassa, Addis Ababa, and then went to Gamuz to see how the Comboni confreres, one of whom is a long time friend, are doing first evangelization among the Gamuz. They go out after dark and teach Christianity. This is a very different method as most of the time we would run schools and teach in the day and run catechumen in the afternoon. I went out one evening to see how they do it. Then I went to Bahr Dar to see the source of the Blue Nile. I then went to visit Lailabella to visit three groups of Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Churches, which are about 15 altogether, all carved from the mountains and is stone. Orthodoxy is the main religion in that African country. I then went for a day to Axum and many historical sites of interest. They claim to have the Ark of the Covenant, which no one is shown, with a beautiful church built in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary that they let everyone see for a fee. I then went to Turkey to follow some of the steps of Saint Paul and some other sights. I then went to Greece and did more of the same. I had celebrated Easter in Mapuordit (Latin Rite) and when I got to Ethiopia I found myself back in Lent (Eastern Rite Calendar) and had a second Easter in Thessalonica, Greece. So many things happened to make me feel Saint Paul guiding me in my journey in Turkey and Greece all by bus with many interesting and spiritual experiences. Then I came home, I saw Vancouver and Seattle, Portland, Sacramento and San Francisco and then Indianapolis. I have been helping the Comboni Missionaries to do some mission appeals in Indiana and in New Orleans. So far I have done four and have four more or so to do. I try to visit friends and also to read and rest and cycle from here to there. I want to thank you for all your support and help. Yours in the Heart of the Pierced One, Father Michael D. Barton, MCCJ 317-902-8489(mdbnyamllel@aol.com) 3830 Sherman Circle. Indianapolis, IN. 46220

Message from Father Michael Barton

Saint Teresa Parish

Comboni School

Nyamlell (Aweil West)

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State

South Sudan

The permanent school and the Activity Center that serves as the Saint Joseph Church, as well as a block of four classrooms in the Comboni School in Marial Baai in Aweil West in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, were completed and the Church is used for two classes of Comboni School there. Until further plans or possibilities present themselves, the Marial Baai Community will have to maintain two locally built classrooms. However, in 2009, six classrooms were built – two of them in the first permanent Church built in the entire state since the 1950s.

The Science Laboratory and two more classrooms were roofed and completed in Nyamlell, also in 2009

We celebrated the 75 years of foundation and of existence of the Catholic Church in Nyamlell, which is the second mission built by the Comboni Missionaries among the Dinka. It began in 1934 for the first evangelization of the Dinka Malual so there have been 75 years of the gospel and the sacraments in our state. It was a very big celebration and many thousands of people came and so much preparation went into it.

There was a drive to get donations from the local Christians especially by the youth, and to my amazement the youth and the elders responded marvelously and most of the costs was covered by the Catholics of the parish; the OLSH sisters helped so much in organizing so many details. It was a Christ-centered celebration of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus and a strengthening of the Church for continued preaching of the gospel in this parish, state and country of the South Sudan.

Our school did very well and got first place in the whole state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal in the state-run class eight leavers certificate examination in 2009. Our best was first in the state and our worst was 99^th out of 1,568 class eight leavers. The best went on to high school and the worst became a policeman. The class eight in 2010 should be sitting soon for theirs and we shall see how they will do.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) in Juba had promised $50,000 when the Activity Center was being built in Marial Baai, but when finished they said that it looked like a church to them and in the end did not give a red cent or piaster of any kind. So all this was done by money that had been donated by people like you.

There are NGOs who have built classrooms but they will only do it for the South Sudan Government and not for the Church even though our results are far superior than those of the government. All these took great effort.

In 2009 the Christmas collection all over the parish in all its centers and chapels was dedicated to building of the first permanent Church in the entire County of Aweil North. This building will be for two purposes. It will serve as a Church and as an Activity Center. It will be called Saint William Church and Saint Julia Activity Center and is being built in Gok Macar, the county seat of Aweil North.

We started the construction as of December 2009 and it is much too early to say when we shall finish but it will be done some time in 2010. I am thinking that U.S. $80,000 will be the cost and one thousand will come from the local community in the form of Sudanese pounds of items.

Next we would like to build a smaller chapel in Ariath, another important center in Aweil North with a good population and many Catholics in both Gok Macar and Ariath.

We have another Comboni school in Makuei, also in Aweil North, which is up to class five. Not far is a large church that has only local grass structures. I would like to build a block of four classrooms that will cost close to U.S. $100,000, which will only be started when we have the money. So I am looking for that too. I hope to get something from some organization. Much cheaper will the repair and finishing of our last classrooms if we can by 2012. I shall move one step at a time.

In 2010 there will be two schools that are up to class eight. They are Nyamlell and Marial Baai, both in Aweil West. As I have said Makuei is our smallest school and has class five this year.

Sacred Heart High School had a great year and in 2010 we shall have Form One and Form Two and growing but also struggling as students coming from other schools like the government ones are very difficult to find as to fit the poorly taught and the well taught who have the basics in place.

We all need help, so that something can get done and that what is up and running stays that way.

Sincerely yours in the Lord of all,
Father Michael Barton, MCCJ.
Comboni Missionaries-Nyamlell,South Sudan.
Post Office Box 21102
Nairobi, Kenya 00505.