DiAnn Mills

Monday, November 6th began with the anticipation of flying into Juba. At the airport, I met several people representing non government organizations (NGO) who were flying into Juba. I also met two women who were members of parliament. While we waited, Rosemary explained how the south cannot travel to the north, but the north can travel to the south. After a three hour wait, Rosemary and I learned the flight was cancelled. Everyone was disappointed. The airline bussed us to a very expensive hotel for the night.

Early the next morning, all of us waited outside to be transported to the airport. We soon learned the airlines had not paid our bill, and we were not permitted to leave the hotel compound. Everyone was angry with the knowledge that we might miss this flight too. I became very assertive and accompanied four other women - all from different countries - to the manager. We were so insistent that he finally agreed for us to leave, but I think it was to rid himself of the irate women.
 
The flight was late in leaving, but finally we arrived in Juba. My first impression of the country was desolation. I felt as though a cloud of oppression had settled upon me, and I wondered if what I sensed was spiritual warfare with Southern Sudan struggling to be independent from Muslim rule. Many soldiers stood guard and searched through belongings as we made our way through the visa line. And did I say it was quite warm? And yet, I am very excited and curious about everything I see. The liaison and logistics officer for ACROSS - African Committee for Rehabilitation of the Southern Sudan, Charles Ramadan met us at the airport. From there we drove to their compound. The dirt road into town was a clay color. I had not expected such poverty. Goats everywhere. Most of the people live in tukuls - straw covered huts.

 
The Across compound is composed of concrete buildings. No electricity or running water, but safe and clean housed by strong Christians. It used to be the home of the Archbishop of Sudan for the Episcopal Church. Thomas Kedini is the ACROSS field director for the Juba office. He’d been living in Canada for the past 14 years with his family before taking this position. He and his family had been forced out of Southern Sudan during the beginning years of the war. Now he’s back to help. Thomas received two master degrees in Texas, a highly educated man who loves his country. He hopes some of his family members will join him soon.

 
 
Because Juba was once a city controlled by the Northern Government, Arabic is the predominant language but the Southern government leaders are advocating English. Also at the compound is Anthony Pogo, executive director of ACROSS for Africa. Charles and Anthony are in Juba for various meetings. We met Sadaraka Alimas, a Sudanese who fled to Uganda with his family and now works at the compound, and Elizabeth who is the cook and generally whatever needs to be done person. Rosemary and I have a small room, and we are grateful. Without this compound, we would have been staying in a tent along the banks of the Nile. While the others drank coke, I drank a bottle of Stim, an apple beverage bottled in Khartoum. I hear the same needs from Thomas, Anthony, and Charles - training for teachers and pastors, grass roots assistance, and health needs. This was the first time that I learned that 25% of the population in Southern Sudan is Christian. This is due to the war. His words reminded me of “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”
 
Charles took us for a ride around Juba. Couldn’t see the road for the dust. Lots of motor bikes. Lots of trash. Passed the former Islamic Children’s Hospital where little boy babies from the area never survived. We passed a mud hut that was a Pentecostal Church. Charles stopped and asked if we could visit and I could take a few pictures. While we talked - or rather they did - I discovered that several women and men inside their church were pounding goat dung into the floor with rocks so they could have church. The church was open in the back, so I imagined they’d be doing the same thing next week.

 
An interesting and eye-opener day. We stayed outside of the building at the compound long after dark to talk and enjoy the cooler temperatures.

Additional photos can be found here.