Facts cannot explain our South Sudan journey and I am afraid my words cannot either. Returning to South Sudan after two years I was equally excited and nervous. I had an idea of what lay ahead for our team. Yet, our completely inefficient budget, the drowning of our host’s daughter, an emigration officer’s irrational behavior and the way God worked caught also me off guard. Once again I was overwhelmed by the need I saw, and I realized that my best place to start helping, is to tell their stories to the world.
Summary
-Overland from Kampala to Juba
-Spend four hours at the border in a queue for a visa we already had
-Get shocked by inflation in South Sudan
-I spend two days being very sick in Juba
-Overland for 21 hours to Akuem, 8 people + luggage squashed into Toyota Land Cruiser
-Preach at 3 churches
-3 day Women’s Conference
-2 Day Youth Conference
-Visit hospital
-Visit school
-Listen to the needs of the church
-Spend one day negotiating with government
-Be overwhelmed by God’s provision
South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, separated from Sudan in July 2011. As result of disputed separation questions, South Sudan stopped mining oil in February. Crude oil constitutes 98% of the South Sudan Government’s income. Inflation is rocking the country and many locals eat only one meal a day. NGO’s are pulling out – assuming that the crisis is over- yet government is incapable to continue the services where they are handed over.
During the 22 year civil war with North Sudan, South Africans played a big part in support, theological training and general education of South Sudanese. South Africa has a legacy here, one they fully expect us to uphold. Our history of the past century also serves as great encouragement and learning curve to the South Sudanese.
I gladly tell the success stories we encountered.
-The Sudan Pentecostal Church in Northern Bahr al Ghazel province started as a result of two soldiers meeting Jesus in a dream and then walking for 3 months to take the Gospel to their own people. Their stories of hunger, imprisonment, beatings and miraculous healings once again resembles that of apostle Paul.
-The SPC congregation of Akuem was planted in 2004. In 2008 they started a primary school with 4 teachers, teaching 600 students in 4 educational levels. In 2012 they have 11 teachers, 2-4 volunteers teaching 926 students in 8 levels. Only one of these teachers has college training, the rest annually receives a 4 week training course. In 2011 (the first year with a Primary 8 class) they had a 100% pass rate in the national exams. Teachers, being paid by the local church, receive a salary of R600 per month. Food prices in South Sudan are higher than that of South Africa. We visited this same school in 2010 and then gave a word of encouragement to the teachers. Teacher James, the only one with training, explains how he was ready to quit teaching and return to the army when we visited them in 2010. That word (however small it seemed to us) reminded him of his calling and the importance of rising up the next generation. Today they teach, not for a salary, but for the sake of their country’s future. They have also seen many children accepting Christ because of devotionals in class.
-Samaritan’s Purse, a US based NGO, has just finished their one-of-a-kind Church rebuilding project. In the last few years they have rebuild 502 churches. They left the floor and windows for the congregation to complete by them self. In this way the congregation takes ownership of their own church. Now they run a literacy and discipleship program in the churches they have built. This program also provides the opportunity for congregation members to fulfill their calling, while receiving an income. 80% of the staff of Samaritan’s Purse is locals.
- The SPC church in Aguat village started a theological training college, working under Open Doors. Their first class 58 have recently graduated. They have 5 lecturers who rotate to come and teach, as each of them has his own church in different towns. The leader dreams of expanding this college to the disciplines of Community Development, Literacy and English, Woman’s training and Children’s ministry.
The reality
-The local church in Omdurman village also started a primary school. Currently they have 2 trained teachers, 2 volunteers and 460 children. They do not have a school building yet, only thatched roofs and raised poles to sit on. The next available school (also under thatched roofs) is 2 hours walk away. They desperately need a school building and resources.
- In the same village the NGO that ran the 4 Primary Health Care Units are pulling out and handing over to the government. They leave the trained staff and equipped building behind. Though to the locals, handing over to the government equals closing down. The government does not have the means to provide medicine, to service equipment or pay salaries. The government health institutions provide free health care (the little that is available at the institutions) and the next government health institution is the one in Akuem, six hours walk (if you are healthy) away. Many patients die in the walk to the hospital. There are no ambulances available.
The hospital in Akuem, started by Doctor’s without Borders, has been run by the government since 2007. They have 5 trained nurses, no doctor and they treat an average of 300 people per day. This hospital however has not had malaria treatment drugs for over a month.
The pictures drawn on the walls of the waiting room, tell stories of war and cold blooded murder. The ICU has no bedding or cover for sponge mattresses, there are holes in the cement floor and each patient has a family member fanning away the flies. The maternity ward has two beds for waiting or recovering mothers. Behind a curtain is a special chair for giving birth. As I walked in, I met a mother with her 20 minute old baby. If there are no complications a mother will walk home with her child only an hour after giving birth. Woman in this country have to be strong.
The Dinka’s (the biggest tribe in South Sudan, among whom we worked) only have the New Testament translated into their language. The pastor explains that it was translated by Catholics and some of the evangelical meaning was lost. They have 5 pastors able to translate the whole Bible into their language, they only need the equipment and resources.
What God did in our time in South Sudan-
-At one church service Willy preached on forgiveness. After the service we heard numerous stories of the congregation spontaneously confessing to one another and asking forgiveness for wrongs committed years ago. We met with an evangelist confessing that he struggles to forgive and asking for prayer.
-South Sudan was the height of our financial struggle this year. Our original budget was completely inefficient for the high prices of food and transport, and the added ministry expectations. We requested that everything we had previously saved be send to us through Western Union. Unfortunately, because of bad exchange rates, we received R3000 less than what we budgeted. We had no choice but rely on God. Through the kindness of various NGO’s and the sacrificial care of SPC members, we survived. We even had some meat to eat. As we left to the airport to fly down to Juba, we gave our last cash to the church. We had the promise of food and accommodation in Juba, and kept only enough for our transport from Juba to Kampala. This set the stage for God’s grand finale of provision.
After our plane was almost commissioned for the transport of a regional soccer team, we checked in and entered the queue for luggage check. The emigration officer refused us access to the plane, demanding that we need a registration stamp. A Catholic priest, who was booked on the same flight, tried his best negotiation skills and that of his contacts. The emigration officer would not budge. The priest offered his vehicle and driver to take us to town for this registration stamp, he would try and keep the plane for us. Just as were about to leave, the officer announced that this stamp would cost almost R400 per person. Alarmed, we said that we do not have cash left. The priest emptied his pockets and handed over a roll of notes. After we pooled every little bit of cash and US Dollar’s we had on us, combined with the priest’s donation, we had exactly enough for the registration (that we do not need on a tourist visa) and our bus tickets to Kampala. Yet, God showed up to show His mighty power. After two hours at their office the emigration director admitted that they made a mistake and that we do not need that stamp. By now, we had already missed the flight, and the next available flight would be in 10 days. By God’s favour we ended in the office of the Secretary General who ordered the emigration office to pay for our flight tickets and gave us space on the next morning’s chartered flight for the soccer team. We do serve a God of miracles. After a fabulous visit with South Africans and a supper at a newly acquired friend we left South Sudan - with a R1000 left of the priest’s contribution, which will be used for next year’s South Sudan team.
-God has touched each of our team member’s hearts. He softened hard hearts, proved His faithfulness, restored our joy amid dire circumstances, and showed the resulting character growth after living on the bread line for the past 6 months.
God did great and many things. We have been changed forever.
