Some of you will remember our friend and former church member, the Rev. Gershon Dotse. Gershon and his wife Pamela hosted my family when we visited Ghana in 2017; he had returned there from Eden Seminary, just a month before we arrived.

Gershon became a chaplain in the Ghanaian military in 2019 and is currenting serving with a peacekeeping unit in South Sudan. He writes, “The war there has rendered many homeless. In fact, the poverty level is extreme. Some are actually getting food from the garbage dump.  Their situation is worsened by flooding from the Nile River. It’s very bad. No farming activity can go on, and the settlement where my unit is located is taken over by flood.”

His battalion has partnered with churches there, and Gershon now is appealing to friends across the world for aid in a relief effort they have spearheaded. As part of his battalion’s assistance in these Christian communities, they have committed resources to training some of the locals in tailoring. They have eight months to complete the mission, which includes a six-month course of study. In the end it is hoped that the training will help them earn a decent living, improve students’ dignity, and prevent them from returning to war or conflict.

The program started on February 1 in two localities. Accompanying this article is a photo of the reopening ceremony under the auspices of Gershon’s Battalion Commander and the Priest of the church. (Gershon is the one with the microphone.)

“We could really use your help,” Gershon says. “The machines the 20 students are using cannot be left with them after their coursework is done, because we need them for training others. Perhaps First Church or another benevolent organization there could help us buy sewing machines for the students to use, after the course.”

Purchased in Africa, the cost of each sewing machine is about $100.00. Twenty are needed – one for each trainee. Gershon suggests that it might be cheaper in the US, though perhaps not, once shipping is added in.

Graduation will be in July. Gershon concludes, “I will be extremely glad if you can help me put a smile on the faces of our beloved graduates here in South Sudan.”