The church at Malek Alel...

Here are some of the congregation of the Malek Alel Church of Christ in Aweil South where Ronald Ruay Deng is the Pastor.

Pastor Ruay and the "Grass Cathedral"...

You've heard of the Crystal Cathedral. Well this is one of many "grass cathedrals" in the south of Sudan. In front is Pastor Ronald Ruay Deng who I wrote about in my last blog.

Soon I will write about the kind of partnerships we hope to develop.

Pastor Ronald Ruay...

I wrote briefy about meeting Ruay and Anger earlier (See blog on 24th June), but before I tell you more, let me share a story from a few years ago. In 2004 some of the Sudanese leaders in Adelaide, including Joseph, were asking for my help to establish a Dinka congregation. Joseph told me about a vibrant young COC pastor from Sudan who was planning to come to Adelaide, and we hoped he would be the one who would lead this new church. His name was Ronald. I remember my disappointment when I heard Ronald wasnt coming to Australia after all, but as it has turned out Joseph has led the church admirably.

A few weeks ago in Aweil I finally met Pastor Ruay, the young pastor who I had been communicating with for several months by email, and had been so helpful with making arrangements for our trip. During our conversation I heard Joseph comment about how Ruay's plans to come to Australia hadnt eventuated. That was when the penny dropped! Pastor Ronald Ruay was the same man I had expected to be working with in Adelaide, and now, four years later we find ourselves working together in Sudan! I am amazed!!!

Ruay, like his sister Anger, is an intelligent, articulate and visionary leader. As Yournew Wol took up responsibilities with the government it was Ruay who was given much of the oversight and coordination of the COC movement in Aweil. He pastors the church at Malek Alel and teaches in the Aweil Bible College. But now his passion is to establish a Church of Christ in Aweil Centre. His sister Anger is making plans to start her clinic (which I will write more about another time) and they will minister together to the spiritual and physical needs of the Aweil community.

I have told Ruay we will support his vision, and one way is to help them purchase land. I was able to speak with various people in the Northern Bahr El Ghazel government, asking for their support of the COC leaders in Aweil and assuring them of our commitment to partner with them in the work. Ruay is currently looking for suitable land for their church and will contact me about how Churches of Christ in South Australia can help them.

The internet connection is too slow to post the photo, but hopefully I can add some more pictures soon.

Yournew Wol...

This is a photo of Joseph with an old friend and ministry colleague, Yournew Wol. Yournew Wol was working in Khartoum in the 1980s as an electrical engineer. When there was flooding in 1988 Yournew was working at the hospital and met an American named Paul Douglas. Although raised a Catholic Yournew had a deeply personal spiritual experience which changed his life, and through the guidance and support of Paul Douglas commenced a journey which would lead to the establishment of Churches of Christ in Kenya and Sudan. Paul left in 1990, but was able to sponsor Yournew in his Bible College studies in Zimbabwe, where he studied with Wol Wek. In 1995 they both moved to Nairobi and started evangelistic work amongst Sudanese refugees. In 1999 Yournew started a new work in Kakuma refugee camp with Victor Deng (who I have mentioned earlier). Some of the members of my church at Magill, and several leaders within the Sudanese community in Adelaide were members of Churches of Christ in Nairobi or Kakuma as a result of the ministry of Yournew Wol and others. In 2001 Yournew Wol and Victor Deng returned to Sudan and commenced a ministry in Aweil East at Malual Kon (which I wrote about in the article featuring Pastor Philip Akot). The following year they began another congregation in the Awiel South county at Malek Alel, and this is where the Aweil Bible College is based.

When I met Yournew a few weeks ago he was the Commissioner of the Aweil South County. As my sister Anger put it "The people love him so much they called him to be their Commisisoner." Certainly Yournew is a highly respected leader, not only within the church community but within the government and the wider community. We had only just left Aweil when we heard the Governor had dismissed the Government, including Yournew Wol, and so I am unsure where that leaves him placed. However I know many within Churches of Christ will be hoping that Yournew will soon be free to focus more energy on church leadership once again.

Next I will tell you more about another young pastor who has taken much of the leadership while Yournew has been involved in the government.

A few photos...

Under the mango tree at Juba on a branch of the River Nile. Here, Sudan seems the most peaceful place on earth.



Joseph and Mother Adut - meeting again after 25 years. Adut didnt know if she would ever see her son again.



The Aweil Hilton. Our home (on the right) for 3 weeks in Adut's compound.

Pastor Philip Akot...

I started writing this earlier today, but got distracted when I discovered my hotel in Addis Ababa has charged my credit card 7 times for our stay. Thats about 20,000 Birr or $2000 - after I already paid in cash! Its probably an honest mistake and is the kind of thing that happens in countries where Visa is a new phenomenon. Hopefully it can be sorted out quickly.

But let me introduce you to Pastor Philip Akot. Joseph and I bumped into Philip while walking through the markets in Juba. Philip is the pastor of the Malual Kon Church of Christ and also lectures at the Aweil Bible College. Malual Kon was the first COC in South Sudan.

When Joseph and I visited Malual Kon I had the feeling of standing on Holy Ground. One reason was that this was the site where Churches of Christ in South Sudan began - just a few years ago in 2001. In fact under the tree in the photo was where the church met before they had a building, and the hut on the left was the first COC building in South Sudan! The other reason is that members of this church lost their lives on this property. One of the first people I met lost her husband in this compound when the Arab militia attacked just a few years ago. The soil I stand on as I walk around this property has soaked up the blood of its church members. I cant describe how I feel.

Churches of Christ have spread from this church to every County in Aweil - except Aweil centre. Joseph's mother, Adut, tells me when she was living in Wanyjok she would walk to the church's clinic to get treatment for her family. Now however, the clinic is closed. The property is badly in need of repairs and the congregation itself needs some "rebuilding". The church wouldnt be here at all without the support of Paul Douglas and COCs in America (More about that another time), but seeing the rapid growth and decline of this congregation is a powerful lesson to me about how "support" can either empower or create dependancy. Their reliance on the American churches has left this young church vulnerable, and unable to maintain its ministry on its own.

Philip is a gracious and gregarious Pastor who radiates enthusiasm. We discuss sustainable and empowering models of partnership - projects that empower the church to sustain, develop and expand the ministries of their church within the Malual Kon community. Philip and I both have some research to do to see how this might eventuate, but suffice to say we are both excited by the possibilities.

Pictures...

Strange... a month a ago Bangkok seemed a dirty, smelly, chaotic city. Today it seems so clean and orderly! Joseph and I arrived yesterday from Addis Ababa. We said goodbye at the airport and Joseph is now back home in Australia. I know how pleased Magdeline and the children will be to see him. Im enjoying being in a more relaxing environment. Our time in Africa has been amazing and very productive - but hard work both physically and emotionally. Its time for a rest.

It has been frustrating not to be able to post photos on here, but I think I will be able to now that I have better internet connections. Until I get organised to do that, here are some "pictures" I would have liked to have photographed...

* Two soldiers, both about 6' 6" and built like buffalos, in combat uniform and with automatic weapons over their shoulders, walking along holding hands.

* Two gorgeous young women, immaculately dresed in traditional clothing and hats, smiling and laughing as they talk together. They walk proudly, like models on a cat-walk. Then one spits and the other does the same. Then she blocks one nostril and ejects the contents of her nose onto the road side. They continue walking, looking glamorous.

* Two men on a pushbike on a long, straight stretch of road, miles from anywhere. Just two men amongst thousands - most walking. The man on the parcel carrier has a lap top computer and an automatic rifle slung over one shoulder. A man on the side of the road tries to wave down a 4WD driving east. It doesnt stop. Soon he tries to wave down a car going west. It seems he wants to go somewhere. Anywhere.

* Dozens of big 4WD vehicles roaring around the dirst roads of Aweil - most labelled UN, WFP, Unicef or some other organisation - amidst donkeys pulling carts, locals walking to the market and groups of school children holding hands and singing songs.

* (From the plane) Thousands and thousands of tiny ant colonies, joined together by tracks which look like a mosaic. Until I realise the ant colonies are actually grass huts, joined together in huge communities. In places I can see thousands of them.

Awebyawk...

Its been over a week since my last post - A lot has happened but access to the internet has been difficult.
Our farewell from Aweil was quite moving. Mother Adut literally killed the fattened calf for our send off party and close to 100 people came to say goodbye. Although as their word "awebyawk" expresses, I told people that we will see each other again. Quite a few came to the airport to see us off. When I saw the plane I asked Joseph if had told his mum that he loves her. He laughed, but then got serious and told me our lives are in God's hands. I wasnt sure if he meant "trust God that everything will be ok" or "prepare to die". I decided not to ask. Its hard to describe the airport - The most hi teck equipment I saw was the horn used to clear the runway of donkeys, goats, bicycles and people taking their carts to market. But with a mixture of hugs and traditional greetings we were on our way to Juba.
Juba seemes like a modern city after Aweil. For example, some roads have bitumen (mostly pot-holes but with bits of bitumen around them). We went back to the same hotel by the Nile. Where else in the world will you pay $250 USD for a twin room where the doors dont close properly, the toilet doesnt work, the shower has no water, all fittings are loose on the wall and the hand basin is virtualy falling off? However the air conditioning works perfectly! The friendly staff get the toilet working and turn on the water for the shower. It dosesnt have a shower head so it is like standing under a hose - but after using a bucket for 3 weeks it was still one of the best showers of my life.
Joseph and I are now relaxing in Addis Ababa and enjoying the rich history and friendly people - although many people will ask for money for simply talking to us or showing us something we didnt even want to see. I have grown used to being the only white person, but here people have been more aggressive in their sales pitch. I find explaining that I dont speak American works quite well.
I will write soon about our connections with Church of Christ leaders in Aweil, which has been both insightful and full of potential. Stay tuned...

From Joseph...

Out mission to northern Bahr El Ghazel, Aweil, started on 13 June 2008, in Juba capital of the seat of government of Southern Sudan where we met with government officials as well as in Aweil with community leaders which has been successful.

Next Monday, 7th July we will be flying back to Juba and staying two days and then we leave Juba Wednesday afternoon on our way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We will stay for a few days then I will leave to Australia and Pastor Steve wil spend some few weeks on his holiday until the end of August and he will join us in Adelaide.

Our discussion and deliberation with The Governor, The Deputy Governor and the Minister for Social Development, Culture and Sport have really paid back in fruitful outcome. In the grassroot level we have explored windows of opportunities and also the local community leaders of COC pastors and church workers and we have encountered Episcopal Church of Sudan pastor who is working amongst the refugees from Darfur. A positive relationship. This gave us a clear vision and a link with these groups.

We believe these have given us an opportunity to say we have created partnerships with them. And we have planted a seed which might last for a few years. Our mission has been so good and successful, but not you might think a road of roses - there are thorny issues we have encountered and have overcome them with prayers. These challenges give us a clear vision to coordinate and work with them in the future. Our misison is not a coincident - we believe God's hand is with us. We have faced so many challenges - some which broke our hearts and some we laugh over. But the demand is so huge and so great.

We feel these are the areas which are important now to oversee and think over them: Primary health care; Education in general, especially training of teachers, nurses and agriculture for full sustainability which demands a new technology for farming more than traditional farming in Sudan.

Lonely planet guide to Aweil…

Like many travelers I consulted the Lonely Planet guide before heading off on my trip. It didnt give much information about Sudan, and basically all it said about Southern Sudan is that you shouldnt go there. The Australian Government web site "Smart Traveler", another excellent source for travel advice, went further by giving the reasons you shouldn’t go - you might be shot, abducted or tread on a land mine; you might contract AIDS, cholera or typhoid; Your plane might crash or you might get eaten by a lion. All of which should be taken quite seriously. However if you have the good fortune to travel to this special place some time here is some advice to assist your journey...

Money...
Cheques, travelers cheques and credit cards are useless here. There are no ATMs and you cant withdraw money from a bank. The only thing to do is carry cash. Cattle can also work well but it is hard to carry them on the plane. A Sudanese Pound note which looks like a piece of paper picked out of the garbage will work fine. But a crisp, spotless US note will be scrutinised carefully. It seems a US$100 note dated 2006 is worth about 200 Sudanese pounds. If it is dated 2003 it may be worth half that. I had one dated 1999 - still in perfect condition - and they refused it altogether!

Toilets...
Going to the toilet in Sudan takes some preparation and shouldnt be left till the last minute. First you need to apply repellant, locate your toilet paper and find a jug of water for you to flush the latrine. No matter how much of a hurry you are in, take care to duck your head (as I found out on my first day!) and lift your feet at the same time. If you are not sure how to squat, dont worry. Take a short walk around town and you will see many children willing to demonstrate - without even being asked! They will even smile, wave and call "Kawaja" at the same time. In the corner of the latrine you will find a stick placed for your convenience. This is to assist "flushing" the latrine - which is not designed for toilet paper. Please take care to pick up the stick by the correct end. No matter how much of a hurry you are in to leave, take care to duck your head and lift your feet at the same time. And no matter what you suspect the neighbours are saying as you leave, give them a smile and return the water jug to its place.