When the lands of southern Sudan are burned, one of the first things to return is flowers. As we drove along the bumpy roads, I was captured by the sight of small purple morning glories sprouting out of a blackened ground. To me, it was a reminder of God’s promise to bring new life and that He values beauty, even in the bush lands of Sudan where the random traveler is passing by.
The promise of new life and beginnings continued on during our week in Magwi. In the month since our first visit, hundreds, if not thousands of Sudanese were repatriated. All along the road from the small rural village of Panykwara into Magwi there were piles of building materials for new tukals – bundles of long grasses for roofing, mud bricks laid out in the sun, and timbers for framing. The people are working very hard to begin their new lives! (click for pics)
We attended the local church that first Sunday and sang worship songs in Acholi, Juba Arabic and English. It’s a young church that reminds me a lot of our own home community group, everyone below the age of thirty and all new families. Throughout the rest of the week we sat with these people, listening to their stories of what life was like there in Magwi and also their hopes for the future. It struck me, that while they honestly admit that life in Magwi is difficult with little community infrastructures like adequate healthcare or proper housing, that they are still drawn back to the place because it is home. One day while transporting bundles of grasses for the Sudanese men’s families that we’re working with, we were greeted by a man whose eyes were clouded over with age and who walked with the support of cane. At age 85, this man was thankful to finally have returned to Sudan so that he may die in his homeland.
Jeff spent most of the week meeting with local officials to secure land and staff from other non-government organizations (NGOs) to continue developing relationships in the community. SudanVenture also hired on five young Sudanese men (those pictured in our previous blog) who will help us greatly in the development of the NGO. We’ll be sharing more about their stories in future blog postings. It is a joy for me to get to know the wives of these men, women my own age who are either expecting or have one or two small children. Over tea and chapatti they’ve shared a bit of their stories and I feel have welcomed me in as a fellow sister. My favorite memory from this trip was carrying Irene’s baby on my back while chopping firewood for their cooking, and carrying atop my head down the hill, across the river, and back up the hill to their homes. Rick declares that I’m really African now.
Jeff spent most of the week meeting with local officials to secure land and staff from other non-government organizations (NGOs) to continue developing relationships in the community. SudanVenture also hired on five young Sudanese men (those pictured in our previous blog) who will help us greatly in the development of the NGO. We’ll be sharing more about their stories in future blog postings. It is a joy for me to get to know the wives of these men, women my own age who are either expecting or have one or two small children. Over tea and chapatti they’ve shared a bit of their stories and I feel have welcomed me in as a fellow sister. My favorite memory from this trip was carrying Irene’s baby on my back while chopping firewood for their cooking, and carrying atop my head down the hill, across the river, and back up the hill to their homes. Rick declares that I’m really African now.
3 comments:
Great photos! You look like you're doing well, and that the land where you live is treating you well too. Best wishes on this lunar new year!
Looks exciting! I'm sure that by now you have been in Africa long enough that you are probably experiencing homesickness. To me, homesickness is usually a good sign because it means you had really meaningful relationships where you came from - it's hard to miss people you don't like or who don't like you! So be encouraged that your homesickness proves that there are people back home who love you, miss you, and are excited that you are in Africa serving God with your lives! Keep up the good work!
Rick I always knew you were too much of a woman to pick-up your share of the work load. I am dissapointed you just took photos while your wife worked.
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