I'm back from Juba. I got there safely, stayed safely, and returned safely, thanks to Darius and Stephen. The conference was enlightening; we talked a lot about the issue of returnees from the North who may come under attack as noncitizens if the referendum goes for separation. There is a lot more fear of conflict, war, and immediate reprisals against Southerners in the North in Juba than we're hearing in Lui, where the sense is that they are pretty far away from the likely hot spots. Concerns of ECS and its partners revolve around the arrears (past-due salaries that are keeping former employees on the payroll), financial transparency, the need for a chief accountant, the desire to hire a health chief, and the way to achieve self-sufficiency. A big highlight for me was getting to go to church in Arabic on Sunday and seeing a real Arabic prayer book; I understood the sermon (on the responsibility and limits that come with freedom) and was very moved to be standing on the ground in Sudan praying for peace and justice in Arabic with my fellow Episcopalians.
In Lui, the rest of the team carried out the youth and Sunday School conferences Friday and Saturday, and they went to church on Sunday. The big obstacles, as usual, seem to be the need for transportation and permanent buildings. The car broke down on the way home from Doroh, and Goran and Jeannie had quite an adventure, but I'll let them tell their own story. (The Swedes did arrive in Kampala, and we all had a good chance to get acquainted before leaving for Lui.)
We've gotten to visit Bishop Bullen at the hospital today. He had a second hernia surgery Sunday after some deliberation about going back in so soon after the operation last week. He seems to be in some discomfort and looks a bit frail but was talking with us about his priorities and seemed in amazingly good spirits for someone less than 24 hours post-op. Please continue to pray for him!
The pastors' and Mothers' Union conferences are half done. In the MU conference we are having some good discussions about our joys and challenges and about the consequences of development. The women have been asking Jeannie and me about marriage and having children in western culture and telling us about their norms in these areas -- great fun sharing! We have discussed everything from wedding dresses to HIV/AIDS, from being shamed for having too few children to being shamed for having too many. They have shared their plans for an MU center, which they are funding by selling some of their now-grown teak, using the small profit from the sale of the last chickens (Western-style chicken farming having turned out to be not so effective here), and renting out the chicken house to a family! They are making great strides toward self-suffciency!
I've seen photos of the 30 bicycles that Biking for Bikes at Trinity St. Charles along with efforts at Trinity CWE bought, and we'll post those here or on Ning as soon as Stephen and I can upload them from his camera. It became very clear today in the pastors' conference that more bicycles are craved, despite what the administration has been telling us. So that's something to talk about at home.
Noel Knight approached me today to ask my intervention in our plans to get someone out to Lozoh to photograph the rebuilding of the church for Advent's children, who raised a lot of money to help with it. So Rick and Noel are going tomorrow -- stand by, Advent.
I'm sure there's more news, but my hold on the only computer currently online is about to have to give way to the other missioners. We have not had Internet in either Juba or Lui till today, so please forgive us for our lack of communication.
Thank you all for your continuing prayers -- we feel as safe here as ever, maybe even safer as this time we are allowed to go to market without minders and even walk along the main road alone for exercise -- we do very much feel that we are borne along through each day in a protective bubble of prayers from home.
