Prayers for Peace

Salaama Alakoum, kef inta - tamam? Peace be with you, how are you - well?

As you can see, my Arabic is coming along shwayer shwayer (little by little), but I now feel confident in negotiating casual labour rates and coordinating workers. I have also learnt that being super dramatic with workers the more accepted your point is - which is great because I was born for the stage! BIG NEWS - on the 8th of September I proposed to Joanne on our favourite bench in Mayfield, and she said 'YES'! She finishes in Thailand early December, and I return in March. We are super excited about planning the wedding, starting a life together, living together and becoming each others family. Our families seemed very happy although I am sure that Joannes Dad and my Mum will be mortified to be losing us. Joannes Mum and my Dad still seem a bit shocked that someone wants us!?!

Anyway, I hope you are well and I am sorry that it has been so long since my last entry. I don’t know what is being reported on the news in the UK so I will start with the current news flash. War is looming here in the Upper Nile. Bombing of our neighbour counties in the Upper Nile by Antinovs began about five days ago, and confirmed by the UN recently. Renk is the first major town south of the border; it was recently affected by a massive influx of returnees following independence. Something like 25,000 people are living in temporary shelters there with little access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation. On the banks of the Nile mosquitos are a serious issue and these people will have no where to go should Bashir hit Renk.

Medair’s emergency response team are the only NGO working on the ground at this time, although with their neighbouring counties at a critical security level we are expecting them to be relocated very soon. Oxfam have relocated about 20 staff today through Melut to Juba.

Please remember South Sudan in your prayers this evening. Independence has been achieved, but the relationship between the north and south hangs by a thread. I am sure that any clear assault on SSAF (South Sudanese Armed Forces) by SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces) or SAF supported militias will invite a full on war. Last time the North and South went to war over 2.5 million people died – the vast majority were totally innocent men, women and children trying to live in peace.

My work has been continuing at a steady pace, which is slightly slower then I had hoped for, but the challenges of logistics in the rainy season and the inconsistent supply of materials continues to hold things up. I will be flying out of Melut on the 6th of December, and about 10 days later the last plane will leave as Medair completes it's exit of Melut county. Recently I have participated in some stakeholder workshops presenting the work the WASH team have carried out and fielding questions from the attendants. Medair was regularly referred to as Mother, so the general feeling surrounding our exit is one of fear of the unknown. The county commissioner is a Godly man and reminded us of a story of the three stages of leadership.

1. Carry out the activity with the student
2. Supervise the activity of the student
3. Allow the student the freedom to carry out the activity alone

I believe the third stage is the most difficult for both the leader and the student. Difficult for the student to muster the courage to step out with self-belief and faith. Difficult for the leader to step back and accept the inevitable failures and mistakes, holding faith that the student has learnt enough to rise above the mistakes.

As a leader, I am fearful of the sustainability of our projects. We have done as much as we can to ensure ownership, maintenance and correct operation however, the immediate failure of so many projects throughout this country and even within Melut town, suggests that these assets will fall into disrepair. I must continually remind myself that God's kingdom will come with or without these assets, and that my ministry to these communities is more then just the implementation of projects.

Have a great Christmas,
Blessings,