HOUSEWARES FOR HOPE HOUSE
With the growing insecurities in South Sudan, Peter Yuol Gur realized several years ago that educating the children within South Sudan would not offer them consistent, adequate academic preparation. Since clergy are paid no salary in South Sudan, Peter had taken a job with a petrol company so that he might earn enough to care for the household of 20 children whose parents had died or were unable to care for them. He found sponsors to send them to primary and secondary school in Kenya, where several of them excelled, consistently vying for the the top positions in their classes.
Peter decided it would be best to secure a small seven room house in Kitale to which the children could go home during short and long school breaks. Several children without sponsors have been enrolled in day schools nearby, and return home each night. When Peter has to be away, his wife Deborah or his nephew Gabriel takes over, with Peter guiding from afar. On school breaks the household really comes alive as the older children keep the younger children occupied with songs, stories, and homeschooling. Everyone has their chores, and everyone has their own brand of fun. But no matter what is happening during the day, in the evening the whole family gathers for Bible study and prayers led by a different child each night. It is quite a full and lively household, full of spiritual blessings and the love of God.
When Peter was elected Bishop of Tonj Diocese, he no longer could work his job outside of the church, and even bishops receive no salary. Archbishop Moses and Bishop Peter asked Susan Mead to take over the rent at Hope House and the household feeding expenses each month. Rent is $350.00 per month; on average, food for the household of more than 20 costs about $600 per month; Bishop Peter’s living expenses in Tonj are $200 per month (some of which he often donates to school and agricultural projects); and transfer fees are $50, for a total of $1200 per month. That equates to nearly $15,000 per year that Diversity Serves must raise in partnership with other individuals and organizations. Looking towards 2019, Diversity Serves is committed to finding 12 partnership communities that will raise $1200 per year in order to compile the $1440 it takes to a fund a whole calendar year, on an ongoing basis. Until these partnerships are solidified, Diversity Serves must use its general funds or find individual donors to cover these expenses. While Diversity Serves has had tremendous help from major partners such as Lexington Presbyterian Church and The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville, and of course, Hometown Hope 2017, to keep Hope House going, until those 12 sustainable partnerships are found, the monthly commitment to Hope House is a bit daunting! Please help us find those 12 sustainable partners!!
Diversity Serves’ 2018 goal for Hope House is
$15,000
Peter decided it would be best to secure a small seven room house in Kitale to which the children could go home during short and long school breaks. Several children without sponsors have been enrolled in day schools nearby, and return home each night. When Peter has to be away, his wife Deborah or his nephew Gabriel takes over, with Peter guiding from afar. On school breaks the household really comes alive as the older children keep the younger children occupied with songs, stories, and homeschooling. Everyone has their chores, and everyone has their own brand of fun. But no matter what is happening during the day, in the evening the whole family gathers for Bible study and prayers led by a different child each night. It is quite a full and lively household, full of spiritual blessings and the love of God.
When Peter was elected Bishop of Tonj Diocese, he no longer could work his job outside of the church, and even bishops receive no salary. Archbishop Moses and Bishop Peter asked Susan Mead to take over the rent at Hope House and the household feeding expenses each month. Rent is $350.00 per month; on average, food for the household of more than 20 costs about $600 per month; Bishop Peter’s living expenses in Tonj are $200 per month (some of which he often donates to school and agricultural projects); and transfer fees are $50, for a total of $1200 per month. That equates to nearly $15,000 per year that Diversity Serves must raise in partnership with other individuals and organizations. Looking towards 2019, Diversity Serves is committed to finding 12 partnership communities that will raise $1200 per year in order to compile the $1440 it takes to a fund a whole calendar year, on an ongoing basis. Until these partnerships are solidified, Diversity Serves must use its general funds or find individual donors to cover these expenses. While Diversity Serves has had tremendous help from major partners such as Lexington Presbyterian Church and The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Danville, and of course, Hometown Hope 2017, to keep Hope House going, until those 12 sustainable partnerships are found, the monthly commitment to Hope House is a bit daunting! Please help us find those 12 sustainable partners!!
Diversity Serves’ 2018 goal for Hope House is
$15,000