MENU:
ABOUT:
The South Sudan is the newest nation in the world but has struggled as a fledgling country due to fighting among their leadership. The Mabaan speaking ethnic group occupies Mabaan County of the Northern Upper Nile State.
In July 2019, heavy rainfall from a weather phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole flooded the war-torn county and an estimated 420,000 people have been displaced.
Tens of thousands of acres of cropland have been destroyed and scores of livestock have been lost. Freshwater has been contaminated. The South Sudan soil has been unable to absorb the water and, in some areas, it continues to rise. The U.N. said in a statement recently that it needs $61 million to save lives and ensure the continuity of response to flood victims in South Sudan.
There was no place to flee so people have lived in the murky flood waters for many months and are living in crowded makeshift shelters. Many villages are only accessible by boat. If efforts aren’t made soon, aid organizations fear that the cramped conditions will lead to a rise in diseases, diarrhea, respiratory infections, and malaria. The South Sudanese President has declared a state of national emergency. The UN estimates that 85% of the population, which is more than 7 million people, are at risk of starvation. With the lack of shelter, food, clean water and sanitation the need to assist them is a race against time.
Over the years some of the Mabaans have been relocated in the United States and specifically in the Des Moines area. The South Sudanese Mabaan United Methodist Church was formed and now worships at First United Methodist Church in Des Moines.
To provide aid to their families, the Mabaan Flood Relief committee has been formed. Their goal is to provide fundraising efforts through the United Methodist Church and beyond.
The U.S. Mabaans would like assistance to help their people reorganize their lives when the waters recede. The Iowa Annual Conference is committed to help the Mabaans drastically affected by this flooding. Donate by going online to https://www.iaumc.org/MFR or sending a check to: Iowa Annual Conference, Treasurer's Office, 2301 Rittenhouse St., Des Moines, IA 50321, On MEMO line: #53321-MF.
To learn more about the South Sudan flooding go to: www.NorthernUpperNileFlooding.com.
Read in Spanish | Read in Swahili | Read in French | Read in Korean
Please use these notes in your newsletter and/or include them in worship bulletins beginning in February and continuing periodically through June 30, 2020.
Thank you for your support!
FOR THE CHURCH
Noisy Money Sunday
On the month that has five Sundays, have a Noisy Money Sunday. Note this Sunday in your monthly newsletter, have four glass jars for the collection and encourage members to save their coins to throw in the jars. Put in your money first so everyone can hear the noise of the coins! Quiet money is also welcome!
Flood the Bucket
Secure a small metal or plastic bucket (at Lowe's/Menards) to use as a receptacle for money. Place it in a prominent location (church entryway, close to the coffee pot, etc.) and make a sign: “Flood the Bucket.” Encourage people to throw in money to fill the bucket.
Kid's Meal
Ask the kids to bring the cost of one McDonald's Happy Meal on a selected Sunday each month for three months. Prices vary but approximate cost for a Chicken Nugget meal is $4.59 and a Hamburger meal is $3.99. Donations will help families purchase necessary food items as rice, bean, flour, oil and water from their local market.
Water, Water Everywhere
The Flood in the Mabaan area caused water to reach roof levels. People had nowhere to go to avoid the flood, so they lived in water for over two months. Many of their water sources (boreholes) were flooded with dirty water so families must either drink this water or if they have funds, can purchase bottled water.
Provide each Sunday School child (four years and up) with a small notebook to keep track of how many glasses of water/juice/soda they drink each day for one week. At the end of the week calculate the number of drinks from a water source and multiply it by $1.00. Bring that money to Sunday School for the Mabaan Flood Relief.
Special Offering Sunday
Select a Sunday to take a special offering for the Mabaan Flood Relief. Ask pastor to give brief explanation about the Mabaan flood and the Iowa response to it. Tell flood story during children's time.
Lenten or Easter Offering
Donate a portion of your Lenten or Easter offering.
Silent Auction
Ask 10 persons in congregation to give a home-made or valued knick-knack, picture/painting, food item or white elephant to be placed for a silent auction on a selected Sunday. Use children's pictures to be auctioned off! Proceeds would go to Flood Relief.
Flood Walk-A-Thon
Target your youth and walkers in your church to sponsor a walk similar to the CROP walks. Determine length and location of the walk. Recruit participants who then secure sponsors to pledge funds per mile with proceeds going to the Mabaan Flood Relief. Try a DANCE-A-THON!
Raindrop Jar
Procure a large jar and fill it with flat clear decorative rocks/pebbles to represent raindrops. Allow church members including kids, to guess the number of rocks in the jar but to do so they have to pay $.25 cents (or choose amount). Perhaps each week you could add more rocks. Be sure you know the number of rocks in the jar!
Lawn Ornaments
Place a group of flamingos, rabbits, toys on someone's yard/lawn so they have to pay to get rid of the lawn attraction. You can pass these ornaments to others who also have to pay.
United Methodist Women
Prepare items for a kitchen raffle...hot pads, oven gloves, hand/tea towels, scratch pads, aprons, etc. with price placed on item. Set date and have fun raffling them off.
FUND RAISING IDEAS FOR KIDS
“Nickels for Noah”
Make an ark or place a bucket in Sunday School area then ask kids to bring nickels to throw in the ark/bucket to help Noah in his attempts to save the animals during a certain time period!
Pop Cans Collection
Bring a large trash receptacle and ask people to bring their (washed) pop cans to be taken for the 5 cents refund.
Kid's Carnival
Set up some games like “Go Fish” in which kids can participant by paying for a “ticket” to play.
Drawing Contest
Provide large piece of paper with crayons or markers to have children draw a picture of what they think the Mabaan flood looked like. Have children put a price on their drawing. Display pictures with 1st, 2nd, 3rd selections. Have people bid on the picture(s) with funds going to Mabaan Flood Relief.
Kid's Meal
Ask the kids to bring the cost of one McDonald's Happy Meal on a selected Sunday each month for three months. Prices vary but approximate cost for a Chicken Nugget meal is $4.59 and a Hamburger meal is $3.99. Donations will help families purchase necessary food items as rice, bean, flour, oil and water from their local market.
Fund Raising Ideas were generated by Pastor Lori Shannon of Gray UMC, a member of the Mabaan Flood Relief Committee. Marcia Peeler, Katherine Howell, Candy Sweeney, Christine McFarland, Linda Rowe, Amy Fuson, Martha McCallister and Beverly Nolte also contributed.
