Welcome to South Sudan

I arrived in South Sudan on Saturday, 9-14.  I was with my friend Joy and a new friend Margit.  We arrived in Juba from Nairobi, Kenya.  Juba is the capital of South Sudan, a country just 2 years old.  I think it has some growing pains.  The airport was extremely crowded and confusing.  It was wall to wall people and luggage.  We had to stand in line to have our visa stamped and then have our bags checked.  Thankfully we didn't have to open them.  Joy had a friend pick us up and take us to a missionary guest house.  (like a very very low budget motel)  Everything is expensive partly due to so many NGO' s willing to pay higher prices.  We tried to rest but the room was almost suffocating even with a fan, mid to high 90's.  Next door is  a large church.  There was a wedding going on and I could see through the open door that it was packed.  I was shocked to see that the couple's car was a decorated Hummer limo!  There is some money in Juba.

At 5 pm, we took a short tour of the city including driving on a bridge over the Nile River.  I wanted a photo from the bridge so we took the walking path on the bridge.  I snapped a couple of photos from the bridge and then 4 young men in civilian clothing came up to us and said I could not take a photo from the bridge.  They said it was illegal.  There were no signs that said that.  One of them told me to give him my camera.  I refused but he said I needed to delete the photos which I did.  My thoughts are they were hoping for a bribe.  Joy' s friend took us to a motel with outdoor restaurant on the river.  I took all the photos I wanted and we enjoyed cold sodas and a beautiful view of the Nile!  The city is 1.2 million.  Small huts as well as new several story buildings being built.

The next day we flew from Juba to Wau (pronounced wow).  Then a 3 hour trip over a bumpy road with huge ruts and holes with mud.  Staff from the clinic picked us up in the only vehicle currently working, the clinic's Toyota ambulance!  I was fortunate to be in the front seat.  We were very happy for a safe trip.  Today was my first day at the clinic but that is for another blog.

Thank You!

Asante (Swahili), Kongoi (Kipsigis), Yin aca leec (Dinka), Thank you!

Swahili is a language commonly spoken in Kenya and I know a few words.  Kipsigis is a tribal language and was spoken in the community that I worked in at Tenwek Hospital over 30 years ago.  I still remember a few words in Kipsigis.  Dinka is the name of a tribe and their language.  When I am in South Sudan I will be using an interpreter for Dinka.  I do not know any of the language.  I looked up this word on the internet and it might not be correct.   I will let you know.

I want to thank those of you that have encouraged and supported me in recent weeks as I have been preparing to go to Kenya and South Sudan.  I leave tomorrow afternoon and have a 8 hour flight from Minneapolis to Amsterdam and after a 5 hour layover another 8 hour flight to Nairobi.

In preparing to go I have read 3 books that had a big impact on me.  They were recommended by my friend Joy Phillips that is a missionary in South Sudan with World Gospel Mission.  First I read SIX MONTHS IN SUDAN by James Maskalyk.  It was written by a doctor that told very interesting stories and was an eye opener to the medical conditions and the political environment.  He didn't try to cover up how he felt emotionally either but told it the way it was.
The book WHAT IS THE WHAT by Dave Engers gave me a fresh look at the extreme suffering that occurs in war and the amazing capacity for some to survive without bitterness.  This book was based on a boy that became a "lost boy" and eventuality went to the US as a young man refugee.
Another book I read was about 3 "lost boys" that told their stories in THEY POURED FIRE ON US FROM THE SKY.  The boys almost did not survive many times.  They too became refugees to the US.   I highly recommend all 3 books.

Several years ago when I was working at Family HealthCare Center in Fargo I cared for several of the young men that had been "lost boys."  I was struck then as I am now with my reading that so many have overcome so many obstacles, though they suffered so much.
I am impressed with the Dinka people of South Sudan and I am looking forward to get to know many as friends during my time there.
Thanks again for your gifts and prayers.

More Thorn Trees...

 Thorn trees are common in the African Sub-Sahara.  I remember them from my travels in Kenya many years ago.  Another name is the Acacia tree.  Often they are the only shade in the hot sun for man or beast.

 Thorn trees are actually food for the giraffe.  With their long necks they can reach high and maneuver around the thorns to find the tasty leaves.

I chose "Under the Thorn Tree" for my blog because Thorns trees will be commonly seen during my travels in both Kenya and South Sudan.  I expect I will  benefit from the shade from a Thorn tree too.  It reminds me of the safety and security I find in God, resting in "the shadow of the Almighty."  That is where I want to be.  "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  Psalm 91:1.

South Sudan was in the news in July due to the president dismissing the vice president and cabinet.  Earlier this month he replaced the cabinet with a new smaller cabinet.  Please pray for peace for the people of this new nation (just 2 years old).  Kenya was also in the news this past week due to a fire at the airport in Nairobi.  Fortunately there were no casualties.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation but terrorism was ruled out.  My tickets are purchased and I am planning on leaving September 10.
Photos are from http://www.morguefile.com/

Adventure to Africa...

Over 30 years ago I spent 2 years working as a RN in a rural mission hospital in Kenya with World Gospel Mission.  I have dreamed for a long time of returning to Africa and now I am going back!  I have an incredible opportunity to serve as a Missionary Volunteer Partner with World Gospel Mission to South Sudan and Kenya.  I will be spending about one month each in the 2 countries, flying out about September 10.  God has given me a heart for the people of South Sudan and Kenya.  I am excited to know that I can show love in action to the people of another culture and be an encouragement to missionaries serving in the 2 countries.  I will be able to use my skills as a family nurse practitioner though it will be a challenge.  Many of the common medical conditions there are not typically seen in the US.  A visiting doctor to South Sudan told me his first 5 patients were "malaria, malaria, malaria, scorpion sting, malaria."

Twins I delivered at Tenwek Hospital, Kenya, 1980

Helped with surgeries while working at Tenwek Hospital, Kenya, 1978-1980

 

What I will be doing-

1- In South Sudan I will be working at the In Deed and Truth Clinic as a Family Nurse Practitioner.   The clinic partners with World Gospel Mission's Mango Ministry in South Sudan.  The In Deed and Truth (IDAT) Clinic in Tonj offers preventive and curative health care predominantly to women and children.  IDAT also runs a weekly outreach clinic to a remote village with no health care services for miles.   I will join a small team of nurses, a clinical officer (similar to a physician assistant) and a midwife at the clinic that sees as many as 600 patients weekly.  I will work alongside South Sudanese Community Health Workers who will translate into Dinka for me.  We will diagnose (with limited lab facilities), prescribe treatments, and offer spiritual care to the patients and their families. Many people come to the clinic and hear about Jesus for the first time in their lives.  For the month that I am there I will take turns with the other health care provider for 24/7 emergency call.                                     

I hope to be an encouragement to the small full time international medical team and participate in local church services.  On Saturdays I may go out with Community Health Evangelism workers to Tonj on home visits and perhaps take tea and observe local customs and life.

2- In Kenya I will be working with missionary Robyn Moore, RN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with the Least of These Ministry.  The Least of These is devoted to taking health care to the children of Nairobi. Workers run mobile clinics that aim to prevent and treat current health issues. They also work closely with HIV/AIDS children, taking care of their physical needs and educating them about how to stay healthy and have nutritional diets. A monthly pediatric HIV clinic is held in the Kibera slum.

Please pray:

1. I will be able to study and prepare to treat medical conditions found in South Sudan and Kenya.
2. That I will stay close to the heart of God and listen to his leading.
3. I will be open to learning from the Africans I meet and work with.
4. That God will work through me to bring healing to patients and encouragement to clinic staff and missionaries while I am there.