A Coalition of Hope

For the last year, several of us who were trained last year in Rwanda to conduct healing and reconciliation workshops have been meeting together, trying to find ways to work together. We come from different churches and organizations, and our vision has been to promote this work within our churches, but also to cooperate and promote an ecumenical effort. But it has proved to be harder than we anticipated. We are an informal group of people with a common passion; we want to be faithful to work within the priorities and interests of our own churches, but we also want this message to reach a wider audience and promote cooperation. But when we approach the council of churches or other organizations to support our ecumenical efforts, we struggle to describe who we are and we don’t have credibility as a ‘known entity’. The church partner I work with, the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church, has been active in promoting this work of reconciliation, and we have organized a few workshops this year. But we know that long term the work will have more impact and reach more people if we collaborate with others than if we try to ‘go it alone’.

Last week our loosely connected group came together for two days, facilitated by Joseph Nyamutera from Rwanda and Allan Waihumbu from Kenya, both having experience in this ministry of reconciliation and experience promoting it at the grass-roots level. We reviewed with them the current situation in South Sudan and the factors that have contributed to division and conflict in specific regions. Together we discussed a vision for the future, and what our role could be in promoting healing and peace. We explored what exactly we are as a group, and what structure we could work with. Are we a network? Are we an organization? We finally settled on ‘coalition’, and hope that describes our desire to be distinct parts/groups who come together to work as one united group.

We worked together on a vision statement, although that task will take some more time to nail down. And we dreamed together about what we want to see happen in South Sudan – that children could grow up in a safe environment, that people would be healed from their trauma, that displaced people could return home, and that churches would faithfully disciple people to follow Jesus’ example of breaking down barriers. We are excited, but it also feels a little intimidating to me. Please pray for us! It is never easy forming something new, while also trying to work with existing structures and processes. We know that God wants to bring healing and renewal to South Sudan, and trust that He will guide us in this process.

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Rwanda N’ziza*

Rwanda N’ziza, you have come so far
Towers, your peaks in Kigali
Shines modernity in the face
Nations, coming to you.

You are a thrill to see, a wonder
Young people, dotting and doting
Smiling leisure, you have arrived
The pain of yesteryear, behind.

Or is it...actually...behind -
Hiding beneath, surface, smiles
Rwanda, my beloved, Rwanda N’ziza
What stories, not told, which stories.

Yes, there is the story, the one we all know
"The Genocide Against the Tutsi"
Danger in a single story there is -
As Sister Nigerian likes to tell.

Rwanda N’ziza, our dear sister people
Whose voice, now given voice?
Whose voice, not given voice?
Rests now, deep silence now.

Oh, Rwanda N’ziza, could it be true -
"Revenge with diplomacy"
As my friends says...
The order of the day.

Oh, Rwanda N’ziza, have you
Conquered the monster within,
You, truly renewed, new
All that glimmer, something true?

Rwanda N’ziza, Good Rwanda
Remain I, forever your friend
Do justice, to all, your people,
Do not…close…in.


* "Rwanda N'ziza" means "Rwanda is good."As some of you know, Kristi and I lived in Rwanda in the early 2000's. Kristi and I actually met in Rwanda in 2003, on the placid and majestic shores of Lake Kivu while attending a missionary conference. Rwanda continues to carry a special place in our hearts and it always will. I wrote this poem shortly after a recent visit. May the Lord's hand of grace and healing rest upon this beautiful land and all her peoples. 

Daily Challenges in Juba

There are not many ‘big’ events going on right now, so we are plugging away at the every-day tasks. Bob is teaching and staying busy at NTC, and I am meeting with people and trying to make progress related to Community Health Evangelism and some future healing and reconciliation workshops. So we thought we would share a few of the things that make life in Juba interesting, and remind us we are ‘not in Kansas’ anymore.

1. Sleeping under a mosquito net – after tucking in the mosquito net around our bed at night, it can be a challenge to get out for a mid-night bathroom run, or the net gets twisted and you feel like you can’t get away from it. We discovered that in the dry season there are fewer mosquitos, so we can sleep without the net. One night while brushing his teeth, Bob commented that sleeping without the net was “better than he had ever imagined.” The little joys in life!

Putting up our mosquito net

2. Immigration – We have to have a visa to be in South Sudan, and a work permit, and also have to register with the police every 6 months. Every time we have to visit immigration I find myself frustrated – by the unexpected fees, by the complicated process, by what feels like unreasonable requests. Recently they came out with a new registration requirement for foreigners, so I went down to the police station to register us. All the way there I prayed and tried to mentally prepare myself not to get frustrated but to accept the way things are done here. But then an officer asked for a $7 ‘tip’ for filling out a form, and in another office the worker was rude to some applicants. A Kenyan man I was standing in line with said “it is experiences like this that make me hate all of Africa!” I tried to encourage him, and found myself encouraged by remembering that this is just a small piece frustration in the larger scope of a country with many vibrant and beautiful people.

3. Shopping – I enjoy my regular walks down to the produce market, and there is a good variety of fruits and vegetables available. But availability is somewhat unpredictable, and sometimes I find myself looking for a specific thing (lemons, or bell peppers, for example) that has just gone out of season or is not available that day. At the shops, something simple like a can of kidney beans that seems to be ubiquitous will suddenly become hard to find. So for any given meal, usually food from the produce market and at least 3 different shops are the source. This week I am wondering how I am going to get to the five different stores where the things on my list can be found. So we get to practice being flexible, planning ahead, and trying to stock up when possible on things we might not find later.

One of the neighborhood stores we frequent

4. Calling people on the phone – the telephone networks here are terrible. Last night I tried calling someone, and a message said they were ‘out of the coverage area’. I tried again – ‘network busy’. I tried again – he answered, but I could not hear him. Try the fourth time – and we finally were able to talk. Most of the phone call ends up being “can you hear me? Say that again…” and shouting to try to be heard. It is really frustrating when most people don’t have ready access to e-mail that phone is also so hard. Text messages do work sometimes, but we find that with most people face-to-face interactions are the best way to make sure that we’ve connected with someone.

5. Planning – As you might know, this is an event-oriented culture, not a time-oriented culture. I still struggle sometimes with that difference, especially in trying to plan or anticipate how my day will go. A few weeks ago I came home from a women’s prayer meeting at around 3pm and said to Bob “How am I still so naive to think that a prayer meeting could just last 2 hours??" If someone says they are coming at 4pm, we know that just means the approximate time of day. “I’m coming now” can mean “I’m intending to come when I finish the current event” (which could be an hour or more from now)…so the phrase “now now” evolved to mean ‘at the present moment’. As in, “are you coming now now?”

We thank God for these little challenges that help us to adjust, to be humble, and to appreciate the differences in our cultures. You can pray for us to continue to learn, appreciate, and connect with our adopted culture in South Sudan.

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17

Monday Morning Commute and Devotions

7:55am.

After bathing, breakfast and our family devotions, I kiss Kristi and am out the door. Going down the two flights of stairs I again offer myself to God. Lord, bless this day. Hitting the bottom stairwell Deng greets me in Dinka Aweil, “Invual?” “Anvual” I reply shaking his hand and smiling at him as I now leave our building into the thin, cool morning air where I greet young Lual from Aweil, shaking his hand. I then shake that of two others, Emmanuel, a guard, and a man I don’t know who adjusts his cigarette butt so he can greet me as I continue my way to Unity Drive. “Ah, mosalat” (public transport), I exclaim silently as each full rickshaw passes by. A bus stops but fills before I can enter. Just then a rickshaw stops…empty! I climb in and, surprisingly, off goes the driver not waiting for another. As we cruise along the driver greets fellow rickshaw drivers with his hand stretched out; they are like a small fraternity, looking out for each other. Getting off at “mushtefa talimi” (the teaching hospital), I give the driver a little extra for his work and because of our almsgiving during Lent. From here I walk. At the “sinia” (roundabout), I notice soldiers stationed at each corner and in the middle. “Hmmm….that is not normal,” I mutter to myself. I wonder if the president or someone else important will pass through. I slow at my prayer mound, not stopping, as usual, due to the presence of soldiers.

8:20am.

I arrive at the college a few minutes late for devotions. Students who are late, like me, sit in a neat line up against the “rackuba” classroom.* Having grabbed two chairs from the main office, I plant one ahead and one down next to Thon Mobil, one of my students who offers to usher me inside, but I gently refuse. Sitting, then standing next to Thon, I join in the chorus of Arabic worship. The worship leader this morning is Adam Mohamed Adam. Adam is a former Imam** in the Islamic faith. In 2003, when it was discovered that he was clandestinely going to church at night, he was thrown into prison. His life was in danger and he was only saved when someone miraculously got him out of prison and put him on a plane for Egypt. He then joined the liberation movement in Southern Sudan. Later, in the field, God spoke to him and told him to put down his gun and go serve in the church. Adam complied. Adam fully embraced Jesus in 2016 and now is one of our students! Our preacher this morning is Philip Thon Nyok, who, in his words, “struggled with all my comrades who were in the bush since 1983 until 2005.” Philip joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) when he was only fourteen, a child soldier. Philip thanks God because since 1988 he was taken to church by his parents and he has not forgotten his faith, today studying and preparing for God’s service at Nile Theological College (NTC). This morning he preaches from 1 John 3: 19, 20. He gives a rather long introduction about John, the author, then shares that though our hearts may condemn us at times, God is greater than our hearts and loves us. He summarizes the message of John in this short epistle, “God is love,” “God is a Spirit.”

As Philip preaches, I enjoy watching the puffy clouds in the sky with the large round tree in the foreground, one of the benefits of sitting outside (and being late!). Five planes pass near overhead during our short time together, a small Red Cross plane, the Missionary Aviation Fellowship twelve seater, then three other small humanitarian vessels, each plane off on some venture of helping those in need.

8:50am.

This is one of my favorite moments of the week. After the offering and final prayer, the preacher and conductor exit the rackuba and we move in procession to greet each of them and then stand to greet everyone else as they pass through, forming a line that grows with each handshake. I love looking into the faces of my students, shaking their hands, and singing as we begin our day and our week together. I enter the rackuba and prepare for class.


*A rackuba is a simple structure made from locally made and found material, mostly wood and some iron sheeting for the roof. We currently have two rackabas, one serving as the large classroom, the other as a study hall.

**Imam is a title for a Muslim religious leader or the officiating priest at a Mosque.

Here are a few images to give you a visual of some of the descriptions above...

Bob getting into rickshaw

Our "rackuba" classroom, students entering

Students greetings each other after Wednesday Chapel 

Simple Joys in Juba

At the end of each day we often reflect on the day and share something that we are grateful for – an event that stood out and gave us joy. I wanted to share a few glimpses of some of those joys from daily life that we have enjoyed in the last week or so.
1. Plants – Our language teacher brought us two new plants this week to add to our collection in the hallway. As Bob watered them one night, he exclaimed “if we can’t have pets, at least we have plants!”

2. Seeing our friends laugh, and laughing with them. We were at the tea shop in our neighborhood, and some of the ‘regulars’ were very intent on teaching us some Bari phrases. We all had a good laugh at our mispronounciations as we tried to imitate them and pretend that we knew what something meant. Just after Mary shared about the struggle to meet the expenses of a new term at school, she could joke with her friends with her full-bodied infectious laugh—great medicine!

Bob with Mary and her son Mogaa at his kindergarten graduation

3. Rain! After two months without rain during the dry season, the first rains were very refreshing. We pray that this will be a good season of rains and planting for South Sudan.

4. Language – On my 10-minute walk to the produce market, I usually greet several people along the way. There is Alan from Rwanda, who sells car-parts and is amused that I speak Kinywarwanda, there are the Burundian moto-taxi drivers parked on the corner who love to use their Kirundi or French, then always some South Sudanese who give greetings in the local Arabic or Bari, Bedradiin and Anwaar at the shop from Khartoum who like to teach us obscure phrases, and finally the sellers at the market who are from Uganda or South Sudan. By the time I get to the market I often feel so confused about which language is which, but I love trying to connect in various languages. Juba is a polyglot’s paradise!

5. Moonset and sunrise – this week we went for a jog one morning, and noticed the bright full moon setting as we left. Before our jog ended, we were also enjoying the big orange sun rising over the horizon. In the middle of a city, we are very grateful for the beauty of the sky!

6. A good movie – We pulled out a movie that we’ve had for a few months called “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” about the lives of Francis of Assisi and Claire. It was inspiring and refreshing, and a rare treat for us in Juba.

7. Greeting a new baby that we have prayed for. Our language teacher, Charles, has a new baby in his family, and we were excited to meet him and reconnect with their family. Joshua had to be treated for malaria at just a few weeks old, but seems to be recovering now.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever! (Psalm 107, 118, 136, etc.)