To Sudan and back again..

PSALM 13

How long, O LORD?

How long will you hide your face from me...?

How long shall I take counsel...having sorrow in my soul daily?

How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

The WHM-Sudan Team sprouted from the vine from the WHM-Bundibugyo Team so it's only natural that we would be involved in the development, formation, and advising of our fledgling Team Leaders, Michael and Karen Masso.  So, last week I (Scott) embarked on my third trip to Southern Sudan and my first to the town of Mundri where our new team will take root.  

From the air  Southern Sudan sprawls endlessly, now a lush lime which will fade to burnt umber in a matter of months.  (Michael's fondness of seasonal change will be rewarded in Sudan where the passage of time is easily marked by the color and height of the grass.)  The Mundri airstrip appears like a light chocolate cross from the sky, because the Mundri-Lui road cuts straight across the airstrip!

The Episcopal Church of Sudan (Diocese of Mundri) invited WHM to partner in the rebuilding, retraining, and  equipping ministries so critical to the healing and restoration of Southern Sudan as it recovers from decades of civil war.  Michael has done a phenomenal job of developing a productive partnership with the Bishop of Mundri.   The ECS staff picked us up from the airstrip, housed us, fed us, toured us, introduced us, and generally hung out under the shade of the big mango tree in the heat of the sultry afternoons.  Their told their stories stoically, but the facts were breath-taking.  The story which sticks so vividly in my mind was told by Peter (not his real name), a 50-something ECS pastor.  He recounted the bombing raids on Mundri which happened as recently as 2004.  They would hear the distant drone of the Antonov bombers, the whistle of the plummeting bombs, and then dive into their hand-dug trenches.  The domestic animals even learned to follow them into the trenches.  The thunderous earthquakes and flying soil followed.  He also described the low-flying helicopter gunships heralded by their low-pitch thumping which flew through Mundri mowing people down with their machine guns.  Forty women and children died from the helicopter guns in the last attack.  (While we were there a mine sweeping organization was combing the river banks for unexploded ordinance).

Not surprisingly these Mundri residents are bitter about the repeated deceptions and murderous betrayals by the northern government.  They said, "We cannot forgive..."

The other experience etched in my memory is of our visit to Lui Hospital, 20 km to the east of Mundri.  Built in 1920 by a missionary, Dr. Frasier, this hospital closely resembles the Bundibugyo District Hospital in size and services.  About 100 beds, 100 deliveries/month, one doctor....it felt so familiar.  Several differences became clear during our tour.  We found two children on the surgical ward with hands bandaged up like boxing mitts.  Two separate hand grenade accidents.  The kids found the weapons and played with them not knowing what they were.  Also, there is a separate African Sleeping Sickness ward, to serve those afflicted with this indolent, but deadly disease.  The most striking finding, however, was that the staff of Lui Hospital continuing to work long hours ... and yet they HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SALARY IN TEN MONTHS.  When asked why they keep coming to work, they quietly responded one after another,  "We must serve our people."  Basically, they work for nothing.  The Government of Southern Sudan should be paying them, but has no money in the coffers to do so.  Unimaginable in Uganda.  Even for me.  How would I manage to continue with no salary for ten months.  Would I not slip into survival mode and stop going to the hospital?  Not the Sudanese.  Their sense of duty and service to community, country, and God runs very deep.

In the last two verses of Psalm 13, there is the abrupt transition from Self to Other.  "With a disturbing clarity", David acknowledges God's hesed (his "enemy-love", his mercy) and melts into worship.  We need to pray that as we work to with the people of Southern Sudan to rebuild their country, that we can help them by faith to "cross the line" over to reconciliation and worship.