Transforming 20,000 Lives with Clean Water

As we have been sharing for the past couple of months, our mission at Transform South Sudan is to empower the people of South Sudan with good health, knowledge, and skills to achieve sustainable peace and gospel-driven transformation.

One of the most basic ways we can empower the people of South Sudan with good health is by making clean water available. And according to UNICEF, 59% of the population in South Sudan lacks access to clean water. To survive, families are often forced to drink dirty ground water, putting them at risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery, and enteric fever, which remain the leading causes of death among children in South Sudan.

Our two most recent updates to you in April and May described a massive outbreak of cholera that ravaged large portions of South Sudan. This outbreak alone has claimed many lives in South Sudan, and it would have been averted if everyone simply had access to safe drinking water.

Yet, thanks to your generous response to the cholera outbreak, we were able to provide much needed medicine and treatment to so many suffering from cholera. Thousands of lives were saved because of your response! At the same time, it is essential to be more proactive in order to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

In response to this overwhelming need, Transform South Sudan, in partnership with Water For South Sudan Foundation (WFSSF), has recently implemented a vital initiative to provide 10 clean water hand pumps aimed at significantly enhancing the health and well-being of communities surrounding Lietnhom. This area has been notably affected by a high prevalence of water-borne diseases, which have posed serious health risks to its residents.

A young boy is drinking water from the new hand pump.

Ten (10) specific locations were carefully selected to receive new clean water wells based on the alarming rates of water-borne diseases reported in Gogrial East County. Each clean water well serves approximately 2,000 people, meaning 20,000 people have been served by the 10 new clean water wells, significantly improving the health in Gogrial East County.

During the month of April, Rev. James Baak made his inaugural pastoral visits to each of the 10 villages that received a new clean water hand pump. His arrival was met with great enthusiasm and a warm welcome from the congregations who gathered to hear his preaching of the Gospel. He presided over a special ceremony at each location in which he officially handed over the hand pump to the community, symbolizing hope and a new beginning in their struggle against water scarcity. The community's joy was palpable, and residents were united in gratitude to God for this much-needed relief.

One church member, Mary, emotionally shared her heartfelt testimony:

“I was about to give up on serving God because I have been following Him for more than 20 years without access to clean water. This lack of water caused my hair to fall out, as I had to carry water from a distance every day. But now that the hand pump is here, my spirit is revived and my hair on my head will grow again and today I have realized that God’s promises are unfailing no matter how long it will take!”

— Mary

A church member, Mary.

Our team in South Sudan noted, “In every location where the hand pumps were installed, the communities exhibited immense excitement and gratitude, evident in their heartfelt thanks toward the donors who made this initiative a reality. The gifts brought new hope, much-needed relief, and a renewed faith in the support of the broader community, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward better health and well-being.”

In fact, both believers and non-believers attended the official “hand over” ceremonies as James preached the Gospel to all in attendance. In all, over 400 people publicly declared their faith in Christ. Not only did they receive clean water, but living water as well!

A grateful James summed it up best when he said:

Bishop James during handpump handing over to community.

“We take this opportunity to express our gratitude and thanks to donors and partners who have given funds to invest in improving the lives of people in our community. The gift of clean water has an immediate and long-term transformation in people’s lives. Our beneficiaries knows that the clean water well has been given in the name of Jesus Christ communicating the message of love to them.”

— James

“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink… Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? … The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matt 25: 35,37,40

Education Transforms Lives

As we shared last month, our mission at Transform South Sudan is to empower the people of South Sudan with good health, knowledge, and skills to achieve sustainable peace and gospel-driven transformation.  One of the primary ways we seek to accomplish this is through providing a quality, gospel-centered education in Lietnhom.

So why education?  Why the Linda Primary School and the Hope Secondary School!?  Why now?

According to UNICEF, more than a decade after their independence, South Sudan remains in a protracted humanitarian crisis, impacted by conflict, economic stagnation, and instability as well as being highly prone and vulnerable to climate-related shocks. One of the outcomes of this protracted crisis is the lack of educational opportunities for children and adolescents.

More than 2.8 million children, or over 70%, are out of school in South Sudan, putting at risk their futures and the future of the country. Some of the out-of-school children are living in rural communities, moving with their cattle and are not able to attend regular classes. The largest group of out-of-school children in South Sudan are girls. Poverty, teenage marriage and cultural and religious views all hinder girls' education.

In fact, few are aware that South Sudan is the youngest nation on the earth.  And if you measure the 193 counties on the plant in terms of a human development index (health, education, the ability to earn income, and provide for themselves), South Sudan ranks 192nd out of those 193 countries .

As a result of that reality, at Transform South Sudan we are committed to:

• Discipleship through education.  We believe discipleship through education (in the context of relationship) is the most effective way to reach students for Christ in South Sudan.  Our Students go to school where they will receive a Christ-based education, encouragement, hope, safety and more than a few hugs.  Hearts are changed.  Lives are changed.  Families are changed.  Communities are changed.

• Offering an excellent education so that individuals and families can do more than just memorize information, but apply their knowledge to solve problems for a better future for themselves and their country.

• Modeling what James Baak learned as a lost boy in a refugee camp.  After receiving an education and coming to know Christ, He was passionate to return to South Sudan as opposed to starting a “new life” that was offered to him in America.  The number one reason he desired to return was to preach the gospel, but the number two reason was to build schools because he saw how the absence of schools really held back people and kept them in almost a perpetual hardship.  

• Providing the opportunity for both boys AND girls to hear the gospel and receive a life-changing education for a better future.  This year, our student enrollment is almost 50% female.  The barriers that marginalize the spiritual and educational development of females are coming down.

Thanks for your faithful partnership. Together we are making a difference.