James' family in Juba...

James has very kindly offered for me to stay with him and his family in Juba. In addition to saving us a lot of money at South Sudan’s over-priced hotels, I get to enjoy their warm South Sudanese hospitality.

Let me introduce you to a few of the family…

Jacqueline "No-Need" Agiyo

Elario is James’ older brother. He has been blind for about 18 months and doesn’t leave the compound. I gave him one of the bananas provided for our afternoon tea yesterday and when he had finished he threw the peel in the direction he thought was over the roof. It missed me by a few centre metres causing everyone to laugh. He was very embarrassed. “Sorry kawaja. Sorry sorry kawaja.”

Brother number three is Lukudu. He also has impaired vision, thought to be from repeated exposure to artillery. For about 7 years the family thought Lukudu had been killed in the war. James even brought his wife and children to Australia. Then they discovered that miraculously he had survived and had been living in the bush. His wife and children haven’t yet had the chance to reunite.

Agiyo is the daughter of James’ eldest brother. She is the one who does most of the cooking and cleaning for us. Her parents lost four of their six children within a few months of birth. So when their next daughter was born and they were asked what her name would be they simply replied “Agiyo” meaning “no need”. And that became her name. I prefer to call her by her Christian name Jacqueline.

Despite their various hardships, this family has welcomed me into their homes and their lives and shown unending kindness.