Getting A Receipt...

Today I asked one of our contractors for a receipt for the fund transfer he received from our office. He provided me with the following photographs. They are very convincing, but Im not sure what our book-keeper will say.

1 - The Money

2 - My Contact With The Money

3 - My Contact Handing The Money To The Contractor

4 - The Contractor With The Money

Some photos of Ros...

I'm fairly sure Ros took over 1000 photos while in Sudan - but she wasnt so keen about being on the other side of the camera. In spite of being a bit camera shy I managed to get a few pictures which I hope give a small insight into Ros' experience.

Ros (or  Mama Ayak as Adut Dit named her) getting into traditional dress

Doing laundry in Marialbai

Cute and delicious - but no Ros, you cant take it home!

With Anwon and Achol

Joseph and I were amazed at what came out of Ros' luggage - even a battery powered fan! Very useful in 39 degree heat and 80% humidity.

A farewell gift from Adut Dit

Provision of Birthing Kits…

We put Ros on a plane at lunch time and she is now on the slow journey home via Addis Ababa, Dubai, Kuala Lumpar and Perth. I told her I wouldnt let her leave until she had written a report on the birthing kits and medical equipment. She finished it this morning.


A report by Ros Stafford-Green
Following the 2008 trip by Steve and Joseph, there was interest expressed for birthing kits to be made available. 200 Zonta Birthing Kits were provided by Birthing Kit Foundation Australia (BKFA) for this trip. To ensure they would be used appropriately and that maternal and foetal outcomes would be known it was necessary to make contact with those who would use them. It soon became apparent that a new hospital at Malek Alel Church of Christ worked with some trained Traditional Birthing Attendants (TBAs) who could use these for home births. They had some experience using them some years back and realised their benefit. One bag of 100 kits along with a small amount of medical equipment was gratefully accepted for use in this community in Aweil South County.

Then travelling to the north west of Aweil we spent time in communities that have been decimated by the effects of war. However, with greater stability at the moment, Darfuri refugees and returnees from the north of Sudan are settling in the region. In a society where large families are expected, safe childbirth is a real issue. Here, complications at delivery can result in both maternal and foetal death. This is particularly pertinent in the Marialbai area where they are isolated and have no means of transportation when problems occur. As there are three trained TBAs there who had previous experience using the kits, the other bag of 100 birthing kits was offered to them. Cecilia, the head TBA, delivers three to four babies a week and was very keen to use the kits and receive further training.

At both these locations we were requested to provide further training for TBAs, as well as other medical, laboratory and nursing staff. We have begun to put in place the necessary administrative processes required by BKFA for an ongoing supply of birthing kits in these areas.


Whilst the optimal situation would be for all women to have access to a hospital and medical staff, the kits provide an immediate resource to help prevent infection, one of the major causes of death in Sudan.

Ros delivering birthing kits to Cecilia at Marialbai

Cecilia with one of the kits

Providing medical equipment to Philip Garang, the Clinical Officer at Malek Christian Hospital

Leaving Aweil...

This morning we were up at 4 AM to commence the first leg of our journey home. Now we are back in Juba and tomorrow Ros will start her way home. Joseph and I will be here till Saturday to meet a few more people and put in place some organisational matters.

Here are a few more photos from our time in Northern Bahr Al Ghazel...

Walking the streets of Aweil Town

 Marialbai Primary School

Making Bread

Wau Airport

Going to Church at Malek Alel

Two children who shared our lunch in Ayat

Photos of Aweil...

Campaigning prior to the coming elections

Making tahini at the markets

Meeting Pastor Yournew Wol after his return from Nairobi

Our first breakfast at Mama Adut's home in Aweil

Juba Town...

Joseph and I had a chat and decided to appoint Ros the official team photographer. Here are a few of her shots of our time in Juba Town.

Joseph with sister Ajok and brother Maluak. They couldnt remember the last time the three of them were together.

The view from the back of our hotel

The central business district of Juba.

Shopping for a phone - Because 3 phones is just not enough in Sudan.

From Magill to Awiel...

Late last year I showed our Sunday School at Magill Church of Christ some video of a Sunday School in Awiel, Southern Sudan where I had recently visited. Our kids got involved making a banner, writing cards and donating clothes to send over. One of my Sudanese friends recently took them over and presented our small gift as a symbolic link between the children in our two communities. Here are the photos...

With Pastor Tanya Nokes and children from our Cafe Service








And then at the front of our Chapel Service










To its new home at the front of the Episcopal Church in Awiel Town










The children holding cards they have received from Australia










With Rev Angelo outside their grass cathedral

The last blog of my trip...

It has been an amazing trip, but I guess I always knew I would have to come home someday! I left on the first day of what people have told me has been Adelaide's coldest winter, and will be back to enjoy (???) the last two days. I dont expect too much sympathy when I tell people about enduring 37 degree heat, jelly-fish stings, and sunburn. Sigh...

So for my last blog from overseas, here are a few photos...


This day started hot, humid and dusty. Then it rained! The compound flooded, then it soaked away in an hour or so. Then it rained and flooded again, even more then the first time.


Achai, one of the gorgeous Aweil children who won my heart.


Joseph at the Aweil markets


Our farewell from our home in Aweil. Joseph and I with mother Adut and sister Achol


Aweil airport, complete with luggage area, cafe, reception, baggage inspection, customs - and grazing area for goats. Joseph and Adut are seated to the right with our friend Majok.

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.

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.