Let your light shine before others

Katy — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 01:41:38 +0000

This year, Harriet plans to publish Shukuru Yesu (Thanks to Jesus), as well as hymn books, prayer books and literacy learning aids. Pray that these publications will equip churches to bring hope to those who most need it.

You can help Harriet Maneno and her team bring hope to those who most need it.

My name is Harriet Maneno. I am 43 years old and married with 5 children; I have 2 boys and 3 girls.

I gave my life to Jesus in my youth. At the age of 17 years I was baptised. At our local church I was chosen to be a Sunday school teacher and choir mistress. I was confirmed in 2002. As I continued to serve the Lord, my faith started growing and my lifestyle changed.

We are God’s handiwork

In 2006 I married Abui. I moved to Yei, my husband’s town, and started again. This was challenging in every way; financially, physically, emotionally and socially. I concentrated on building good relationships. God offered me my first job as a cook at Nimaya Primary School.

At my new church I was elected to be a prayer leader and counsellor for women and youth. I attended seminars, Bible studies and conferences, and visited the sick and needy. I was issued with certificates in secretarial work, trauma healing and child protection.

A friend introduced me to the Sudan Literature Centre (SLC). I was interviewed by the Sector Head, James Zindo, and started work on 2 February 2010 as a casual labourer. Because of the war, the SLC in Yei closed and in 2016 I was asked to relocate to the SLC in Arua, Uganda.

God is using me

God has given me valuable gifts for working with books. I work hard and am patient and always striving for perfection. Rules and regulations must be followed, and time and resources must be carefully managed. To produce quality books we have to maintain our machines. To avoid disappointing our customers, we must keep our promises. Marketable books must be ready for sale. I advertise them over the radio, and in churches and refugee settlements. I now supervise our casual workers and am learning how to accurately calculate the cost of each project.

To do good works

In the area of Arua where I live, drug abuse, quarrels and breaking marriages are common. Self-control and forgiveness don’t come naturally. Without books it is difficult for people to change. Unlike many organisations, we teach that if we want to claim rights, we must also fulfil responsibilities.

However, hymn books, prayer books, Sunday school materials, catechisms, Bible story books and training manuals alone do not transform lives. We must also set an example. People see what we do in our family. Do we make time to pray together, read the Bible, sing praises and restore broken relationships? Many families in our neighbourhood now have evening prayers before going to bed. This is how I see the hand of God at work.

Please pray that our Lord’s grace will be sufficient for me and that his power will be made perfect in my weakness.

Harriet Maneno is the Production Supervisor for the Sudan Literature Centre in Arua, Uganda.

$16k will enable the Sudan Literature Centre in Arua, Uganda, to publish 12 new books and reprint 8 books in two Dinka dialects.

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We Will Sing to the Lord a New Song

Katy — Fri, 27 May 2022 05:09:42 +0000

I was born in Panawac, a remote village in Pacong County. My tribe is Dinka, my clan is Agaar. We are a stubborn, unforgiving and hostile people.

During the rainy season I looked after the goats and worked in our garden to grow food. In the dry season when the village pasture had been eaten, I became a nomad and roamed and camped with the cattle.

I was fourteen years old and already bore the ritual scars of manhood on my forehead when a primary school was opened in Panawac. Our lessons were in Arabic.

I want to read

One Sunday, my cousin invited me to go to church in a nearby town. A young girl stood in front of the congregation and read aloud from a Dinka Bible. I was stunned and hot with shame. I wanted to learn to read in my mother tongue so that I too could read the Bible like that girl.

After the service I asked my cousin, “Where is the school of Dinka language?” My cousin took advantage of my desperation. He offered to introduce me to a Dinka teacher on the condition that I agree to go to church every Sunday, attend catechism classes two afternoons a week, walk wherever he walked and do whatever he told me to do. This is how I became a Christian.

After school a wise old man called Petero Awan Kuac used the Dinka Book of Common Prayer to teach us both the Dinka language and the catechism.

I want to teach

In Khartoum in 1991 I graduated with a degree from the Faculty of Education at Wadi El-Nil (Nile Valley) University and was ordained a deacon. I began to write, edit and translate books in order to teach evangelists, lay leaders and Sunday school teachers how to read and write, and help our communities resist Islam.

I married Rebeca Agel Job Majak and God has blessed us with six children: three boys and three girls. We also care for another seven children. They can all read and write.

Before the civil war in the 1980s, Christianity was largely confined to the towns and cities. Christians fleeing the fighting took the gospel to every corner of the Lakes States. Dinka-speaking Christians transmit their faith through liturgy and song. During this revival many songs were composed to evangelise, instruct and encourage the people.

In 2010, I was made Bishop of Cueibet. This diocese now includes all of Gok State. We continue to use liturgy and hymns to bring literacy and the gospel to neglected people and build up village churches. Will you help us compile and print a new hymnbook?

Rt Revd Elijah Matueny Awet Maciek is Bishop of Cueibet Diocese, Episcopal Church of South Sudan.

$5,000 will enable the Sudan Literature Centre in Arua, Uganda, to test and publish a Dinka Agaar hymnbook.

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South Sudan – SparkLit

Let your light shine before others

We Will Sing to the Lord a New Song