His Voice Newsletter 8/23
Back To School
August signals not only the end of summer vacation for students, but also the beginning of school. Parents turn their attention to the purchase of supplies and needed clothes. Everyone, it seems, must prepare for the new school year.
We so appreciate the prayers and financial support many of you give to our Family Mentors serving in Uganda and South Sudan and our partners Rift Valley Hope in Kenya as they also make preparations for the 93 students currently in our care. Like parents everywhere, we are busy seeing to the complete well-being of our students as we seek to provide a "Circle of Care" within our Thrive Program.
Watch this week’s video to hear Vernon and Amber Burger discuss our Thrive program and it's impact.
Did You Know?
South Sudan has one of the highest percentages in the world of children who do not attend school
60%of seven year-old girls are not in school
10% of sixteen year-old boys are in secondary school at age 16
Only 1.3% of sixteen year-old girls are in secondary school at age 16
Primary and secondary schools in South Sudan and Kenya are NOT free
Your gifts to our Thrive program are helping to change these numbers!
Changing the world is not an impossible dream!
Raising Up Leaders
Welcome to a new section of our feed, Raising Up Leaders.
From the vulnerable days of childhood to becoming future adult leaders in their communities, our hope is that monthly you will get to know our students individually and catch a glimpse of their world. We can’t wait for you to see how God has allowed you to be a part of relationships restored, communities renewed.
Meet Bida.
Hi, my name is Tony Bida Emmanuel. Most people just call me Bida. I was born in December of 1999. I lost both parents at a very early age. I don’t have any memory of them. Instead, I grew up at Rock the Desert primary school in Morobo. It became my home. I liked living there. God brought me a lot of brothers and sisters from living at Rock the Desert. They taught me God’s word while I was growing up there. I came to know God and was baptized by immersion in 2014.
I went to school and lived there for eight years until February of 2014, when I joined Nehemiah Orphanage and Secondary School. At NOSS, I was able to link up with my biological 4 brothers after a longtime. My brothers are currently settled in Abriamajo refugee camp. I get to visit them and spend time with them yearly.
After finishing high school in 2018, I received an invitation by the EPC management to work in their medical clinic because the guys who were working before us moved to go to school.
I had the privilege of working in EPC Clinic for a year. During my work there, Megan Elkins visited EPC. I got the chance to meet her, and we talked about my work and further schooling. In January 2019, I finally made it to Arua to begin the college program with His Voice Global. I'm currently attending Clarke International University in Kampala.
I’ve had a hard time trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to do. There were a lot of program choices since I knew I wanted to be in public health. I chose public health because I really enjoyed working at the EPC clinic. I am currently taking a foundation program for public health. I have been able to learn and find out a lot about what exactly I want to do. I have decided that I'll be doing medical laboratory science!
Medical laboratory science is understanding diseases and how they function and grow. It is working to find solutions to help heal or contain the virus/disease. Also examining and finding root causes of illness. Even as young boy my favorite subject was science because I got to see how things worked, were made, grew, and find solutions to problems. Just something inside me loves science. It allows me to be creative and work with my hands. I will need higher education in order to learn more about diseases and it will allow me to decide if I want to work in a hospital, a smaller clinic, or even at a medical lab when I graduate. After graduation my goals are to get a job wherever a job opens and settle there.
I see God every day in my life, in my waking up in the morning to doing school. I have seen God open doors for me and I know He will guide me in the future. I have learned that God has a purpose for every person.
I like doing art, playing volleyball, futbol, watching futbol and my favorite team is Chelsea. Burgers are my favorite food.
Thank you for reading this short summary of my life. I am so thankful for this opportunity to continue my education with His Voice Global. Thank you for your support and prayers.
Thank you for your support of His Voice Global! It is a joy to serve those God has given to us with you!