Trip Blog – End of the trip, by Becky
News from the new Clinic
Caroline and Jan
Once again another trip is done and dusted – everyone is home and recovering from the long journeys each day and cultural challenges but enormously encouraged by the continual comments and gratitude of those CRESS is helping.
This year was quite a milestone with it being exactly 10 years since I first visited South Sudan with the Flame team and what could have been more appropriate than to be out in Moyo this year at the same time as Flame and to meet up with Jan Ransom !
Isaac Kwaje has gained his Diploma in Business and accountancy
So meeting the 80 sponsored children and students and hearing their stories was so encouraging, celebrating the graduation of Beatrice with BA Sc in Computers and then Jo Jo Seme with a diploma in Clinical medicine and Isaac Kwaje with a diploma in Business and accountancy what could be more fitting for 10 years? CRESS is now going to encourage those with more practical skills to take vocational courses so watch this space!
Clinic staff outside the new clinic
Another milestone on this visit was the opening of the new clinic and latrine – the Clinic staff had done an amazing job getting it ready in a week for the move and even painted it themselves. Now babies can be delivered and more in patients can stay overnight. Seeing the staff in their smart Ugandan uniforms was uplifting.
The biggest encouragement to myself was hearing of the new savings groups – some 30 of them spread in the camps with others in the bush. Here with the support of the CRESS savings Co -Ordinator, Noel Lilija and CRESS providing some savings boxes and equipment these groups have surpassed our expectations – one group saving over $1000 in just 15 weeks, starting agriculture with no inputs from CRESS and several members starting their own businesses. One especially resourceful lady opening a restaurant opposite the clinic which the staff eat at each night
We travelled into Imvepi camp and saw agriculture groups working in the harshest environment with poor soils, huge distances, poor markets and no outside support except CRESS – I never imagined when CRESS started that it would be able to function in such condition and deliver such hope.
Thank you to the whole team and especially Becky and Fiona each running 2 day courses – Parenting for Faith and Emotional Resilience. CRESS continues to provide training and support to the very people that need it as summarised by Bishop Joseph Aba. VIDEO
Everyone is home now so it is back to work – seeking funds , sending reports and spreading the stories – why not become a regular supporter of CRESS and thereby join the CRESS family?
Caroline Lamb
