So Much To Learn

So here's another understatement of the week... I seriously have so much to learn about South Sudan.

We are still in Juba and today we met with representatives from the Diocese of Juba and then visited two literacy groups that the Mothers' Union trainers have been working with for some time.

During the Diocese meeting, we had the opportunity to talk with Micah Lesowa, who is the Diocesan development coordinator. He recounted the impact of years of civil war in South Sudan and how it had influenced the country's education level. He said women had suffered most with a lack of education but that now is the time to educate as the country is in relative peace.

In describing Sudan's need for education as a bird, he said, "If you only develop one side (men), it's like a bird with only one wing. It cannot fly. We must develop both sides (both men and women)."

In our meetings with the literacy groups, we met women who were going through the Mothers' Union program to learn to read and write and who now have hopes of saving money and receiving small loans. Again, these women were not able to gain an education as children because of war, displacement and instability. And yet, they are now working to gain this knowledge, even as adults.

"It's enough for us to read the Bible," Lesowa said recounting what many of the elderly literacy students say.