Birthday Offering grant will help “build minds” in South Sudan

Editor’s Note: Linda Werts, PW moderator, Park Presbyterian Church, Newark, NY, was present for the groundbreaking ceremonies for Majok-Keen Girls’ School in South Sudan. This school is being built with funds from the 2015 Birthday Offering of Presbyterian Women. (See the January/February 2016 issue of Horizons magazine for information about the Birthday Offering.) Linda sent this photo and note on the day of the groundbreaking, January 8, 2016.

So happy to be part of the ground breaking ceremonies today for the Majok-Keen Girls’ School in Mayen Abun, South Sudan! Thank you, Presbyterian Women. PW’s support for the Building Minds in South Sudan (BMISS) project, through the Birthday Offering grant, was highly praised by community leaders, students, Sebastian Maroundit [director of the BMISS program] and myself. Improving the lives of girls through education is a wonderful accomplishment and will bring hope and a bright future to each of these girls.

One woman speaker today had this comment to offer: “Educating our daughters will bring benefits to our community, and for those who need cows, an educated daughter will bring 100 cows [marriage dowry]!”

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my day! Dancing, speeches, presentation of solar lanterns and shared fellowship with truly appreciative sisters and brothers.

Kindest regards and many blessings from South Sudan,
Linda Werts, PW moderator, Park Presbyterian Church, Newark, NY