Trips Blog

On the second day of refugee camp visits, we started in Tierkidi (Kule 1) camp. We visited the congregation at Pagak where the Bible school (Pagak Mercery Institute)  is located. Rev. John Chuol Duel is the Principal of the school. Earlier this year they graduated 17 students in their second class, including 8 women.

On June 5, we traveled to the first refugee camp to visit the preschools and a Bible school, and to meet hundreds of refugee children (some who were born and raised in the camp that opened in 2014). We started at the school at Center One.

Sunday, June 4 in Gambella, Pastor William Deng Tut (San Diego) and I attended the Newland church at West Gambella Bethel Synod compound. West Gambella Bethel Synod President, Rev. James Gadet Tang, has helped to host the visiting Outreach Foundation teams for the past 5 years.

On Saturday, June 3, I had the opportunity to visit with John Jock Gatwech, refugee camp coordinator for education and trauma healing for the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, and his family. Since 2015, John, a trained teacher, has helped to direct the projects in 6 camps supported by The Outreach Foundation. His wife has recently completed her nursing training.

The Outreach Foundation is pleased to help financially support the construction of the Newland – West Gambella Bethel Synod Church. This large church is being constructed with the help of youth (under engineer supervision). It will be in the shape of the Arc and will seat thousands.

Yesterday, upon arriving, I was able to process documents for permission to enter the South Sudanese refugee camps in Gambella, western Ethiopia. The Outreach Foundation has been working with Presbyterian partners in South Sudan (PCoSS) to reach thousands of their displaced members in six camps near the border with South Sudan.