From pain to forgiveness to celebration

 I could hear the excitement in Nyakuma’s voice as she shared over the phone about the workshop. “The time of repentance during Standing in the Gap was really powerful!” she said. Standing in the Gap is when people are invited to confess wrongs done by their people that harmed people of another group who are represented in the workshop. A man who comes from the Nuer tribe in Akobo confessed before the group the ways that people of the Anywaa tribe had been mistreated and attacked in his region. The Anywaa participants in the workshop were moved and grateful for his confession and were able to offer forgiveness.

Standing in the gap - a confession of wrongs done in Akobo

Another session talks about wounds we might receive in our families from a failure to communicate love. One man shared how his father had falsely accused him of something and then had been mistreating other members of the family in anger of the event. This man shared that he was finally able to forgive his father for this mistreatment and feel free of the bitterness against him.

James shares his testimony of forgiveness

The South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SSPEC) had invited a few members from several different congregations in Juba. Even though it was a small group, they represented a diversity of tribes and ages, male and female. The diversity meant they could meaningfully hear pain experienced by different groups and appreciate different perspectives. Nyakuma described the joy that people felt during the “Celebration of the Holy Nation” at the end of the workshop. “We could not contain ourselves! Everyone started dancing and singing,” she said as she laughed. She was proud of how beautifully she had set up the snacks and drinks for that celebration, even spelling out the word “LOVE” with the soda bottles.

Nyakuma with the tables she prepared for the celebration

Each tribe demonstrates their style of dancing
during the Celebration of the Holy Nation

Nyakuma joyfully shared about the feedback that they received at the end. One person was there who comes from the Nuba Mountains region. He said that his people desperately need this workshop to help them find healing. Some other participants said that if the workshop could be given to some of the leaders in the government, the situation in South Sudan would improve. “Everyone needs this workshop,” she said, excited.

People take their pain (symbolized by papers with their source

of pain or hurt written on them) and nail it to the cross

I was especially grateful for this workshop because it was an opportunity for a few people who were trained last year at the School of Reconciliation in Rwanda to participate in the teaching and facilitation. Nyakuma affirmed that they did a great job, and we are excited to have more people in the ‘pool’ of people who can facilitate so that more workshops can happen.

On a separate but related note, we pray for God’s protection on people in South Sudan from an increase of cases of Covid-19. Large gatherings and travel are not possible yet, but we look forward to continuing this significant reconciliation work soon.