My dear friends,
Since 2008 this diocese has been in the process of deepening a relationship between Mississippi and the Diocese of Twic East in South Sudan. It is from this diocese in South Sudan that many of the Sudanese who have been in our churches since their arrival in 2000 have come.
We have done much together over these past five years including visits by Bishop Ezekiel Diing Malangdit and me to each other’s diocese. In both of my visits to South Sudan our teachers, clergy and medical personnel have been hosted by the community of Maar, the diocesan seat and center for Twic East. Their graciousness and hospitality were more than I could have imagined or expected.
On Sunday morning, October 20, Maar and a neighboring village, Paliau, were attacked by a renegade South Sudan rebel militia. Homes, markets, churches, schools and the clinics in which we worked were burned or damaged in other ways. News reports indicate five Episcopal clergy were killed. The total death toll will reach 100+. Rapes and abduction of many children were a terrifying part of this attack.
Much has been destroyed in the community that so opened its arms to us in 2010 and in January of this year.
This letter is an appeal to the people of this diocese to support the appeal of Bishop Ezekiel (see attachment, below). We will be establishing a fund here in the office entitled “Twic East Relief” and ask you to prayerfully consider a contribution.
I invite your response to this horrific attack on those many of us had begun to know as friends and fellow Anglican/Episcopal Christians. Bishop Ezekiel once told me that he most cherished our prayers. “Please don’t forget us,” he pleaded. In this terrible moment we cannot forget.
If you would like to contribute to our relief fund, please send your check to Diocese of Mississippi, P.O. Box 23107, Jackson, MS 39225-3107 with the designation “Twic East Relief.”
Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray, III
From: Ezekiel diing [mailto:malangajang@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 5:42 PM
To: dmgraiii@gmail.com; pjones@dioms.org
Subject: Disaster in Twic East County of Jongeli State in South Sudan
Appeal for relief from the Rt Rev Canon Ezekiel Diing Ajang Malangdit.
Bishop of the Diocese of Twic East.
On October the 20th, 2013, over three thousand men in green uniformed armed with all sorts of guns included heavy artillery launched a deadly attack on civilian population in Twic East County killing over 70 people. Several others were wounded, children and women were abducted and close to quarter of million of cattle were looted. Over 50 houses in the adjacent payams (districts) of Pakeer and Ajoung where the attack occurred were also put on blaze by the attackers. The attackers were from rebel led by the man called David Yau Yau who is supported by the Sudan and have been fighting the government of South Sudan since 2010. On the other front, the Twic East County is prone to flooding because of its proximity to the largest swamp (Sudd) along the River Nile. As we speak thousands of people are displaced by the flood after the area experienced heavy downpour and the mud-made dykes were overflow and destroyed by water surge from the Nile. As the result of the two mentioned calamities, people of Twic East County are not only dealing with the aftermath of deadly attack in the area but also are exposed to water born disease, lack of shelter, food and potable water. As the Bishop of the affected area, I am appealing for prayers and any kind materials supports such as mosquito nets, blankets, clothes, water jerry cans, medicines or cash and off course food items to relief the situations in Twic East area.
The people of Twic East Diocese and the whole area at large kindly requesting for yours prayers for those innocent people who lost their love ones and those whose proprieties are destroyed or looted during the heinous attacks of the David Yau Yau rebels.
As followers of Jesus Christ, I wanted you to remember the book of Mathew 25: 34 where our Lord said that those who render good services to the needy will inherit the kingdom of God. We are new Diocese in a country which has just come of war therefore we are overwhelmed to provide assistance needed by the victims of the recent attacks and flood. I am writing this letter of concern while in Sioux-Fall South Dakota USA, where I am attending operation for my son Paul Diing, who is sick from brain Tumor.
Yours Rt Rev Canon Ezekiel Diing Ajang Malangdit
For more information, please read this press release from the Bishops of the Diocese of Bor and Twic East.
