From fear to freedom

Not really sure I can even express all that's in my heart for this blog but I want to give it a go now so I don't forget any details.
Feb 28th started out much as any other day. I was taking care of people who came in for dressing changes and just before lunch, Dennis, one of the medical staff asked if I would take over caring for a 5 month old baby that needed to be watched closely. Baby Anyar, had been very dehydrated and was in shock initially suffering from possible pneumonia and amebic dysentry. I gave some IV medications and kept an eye on him out on the back porch. After I had seen all my patients for dressings I went out with the translator to ask a few questions of the mother. There was a man sitting there also who I assumed was the dad but later found out was the baby's uncle.

I asked if I could pray for the baby. They said yes, and I did. The uncle asked if I prayed because the child  was suffering? I said yes, that's partly the reason, but that we all needed prayer and pointed to each of us.

I went to lunch and do some other things but felt drawn back to them. I asked Isaac who is a translator and part of the clinical staff if he had time to translate for me. He was happy to help. We started a conversation that lasted quite a while. Apparently the child had been sick for about 10 days. They had gone to another clinic quite some distance away and were given medicines. After 3 days the medicine did not seem to have made any difference. A family member said if it hasn't helped then they should go to the witch doctor.

I know that all of you reading this in various parts of the world, outside of Africa, think this is very strange. For those who have many questions about this I would love to talk with you some time face to face about it. Let me just say, it is very, very real. They ended up going to two witch doctors. The first one asked to be paid 50 Sudanese pounds. This is a huge amount for most people. This witch doctor said the baby had gases in it's belly, and rubbed oil all over him to remove the gases! It didn't help. The 2nd witch doctor wanted a bull, goat and chicken for payment. This was a big problem because when the mother of the child got married her uncle was supposed to pay with a bull, goat and chicken but never did. The witch doctor stated the baby won't get well without the payment. Fortunately they then brought baby Anyar to the clinic.

I asked them if they knew God to whom I had prayed earlier. They did not know about God at all. We talked about God, his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It was a long conversation that I can't go into here but it was very obvious that God had set this appointment for us to meet together this day.

In the end the brother and sister prayed with us to ask God's forgiveness for their wrong doings, accepting that Jesus paid the price for their sins. and invited Him into their lives. I explained that this was a free gift, no money, no bulls, goats or chickens for their healing.
They will never again go to, or trust in the witch doctor.

The power of the witch doctor pales in comparison to the power of the One who made heaven and earth and rules over all his creation.

 As I walked away a little later I couldn't stop the tears. God's mercy, love and grace are amazing gifts. He has given me the privilege of being among these people who need Him so desperately and allowing me to tell the story that so dramatically changes lives.

After getting the baby settled in the observation area for the night, Isaac, helped me do an interview with the man that will be broadcast later on the radio. I am praying that many who hear his story will believe also.

Mom and baby stayed the night while the uncle went to the market to buy some food for his sister before he left. He came back with 4 mangos. The patient's family provides food for them.

I thought to myself, what we would buy if we had to supply a loved one with food? It is certainly different here. She was happily chewing away on them when I left for the evening.

In the meantime Anyar was getting IV fluids, IV antibiotics and Oral Rehydration salts via a syringe. He seemed to be perking up by later in the afternoon.

This morning when the staff made rounds on the patients in observation I walked over to the bed where Anyar was laying. He actually reached out for me. This is highly unusual due to his age and the fact that most Sudanese babies scream at the sight of "kawaja" ( white people) Even with his little, bare bottom I couldn't resist picking him for a hug. I will not soon forget this family.

Sorry this is so ridiculously long but I didn't want to leave anything out.

Interviewing process

I have told you a little of my work in the clinic but today I want to tell you more about what I am doing the rest of the day. I usually finish doing dressings, giving injections, especially for tetanus and checking on those in observation around lunchtime. After some nourishment and a little breather I begin my other work.

I came here specifically to try and understand more about the culture and beliefs as it pertained to health so that I could write lessons that would address needs as I perceived them. It has been extremely helpful and eye opening. It is easier for me to gather information in the afternoons as the clinic has generally died down and translators are more available.  I sometimes just hang out on benches in front of the clinic and ask a lot of questions. I feel like I am turning into a full blown reporter! All the young men that work in the clinic are very eager to help me and seem to enjoy our discussions.

L-R Gabriel, Joseph and Martin

After I gather information I must then process and categorize it so that I can place it in the right lesson that I want to present. Next I have to write out my questions in English ahead of time so that the translator can review them and know what I am looking for. After some practice runs we finally get to record on my computer. This may sound easy but let me tell you for this computer novice, it's quite a feat. My kind and patient son- in law help me set up a the recording program.

That's not the end of the process by any means. After the interview it may be necessary for me to add information that will enhance the lesson. When it is all final I will send it to Houston where it will undergo editing and finally it will be sent via satellite going through Canada back to radio towers in Southern Sudan. Wow, modern technology!

Interviewing some local women

Water! Beautiful, clean water.

On Saturday afternoon I went with one of the compound staff to see a new bore hole that Aid Sudan recently raised money for.  Some generous donors made it possible for a whole community to enjoy what so many of us take completely for granted; that is clean water. There is much need all over South Sudan for wells.  In fact since I have been here I have been approached with written requests for another 16 wells.  My answer is that we have to pray and ask God to send funds so that we can drill more wells. Please join us to that end.

The community we visited is only about 3 kms from the compound but it might as well have been 300 kms. It is very isolated. When we pulled up in the middle of the afternoon a nearby family came over to see us. Please look carefully at the woman in yellow. She has a large growth on the right side of her face. It's been there 6 years now, untreated. Behind are their homes.

They told us how much they like having clean water and that they don't have to go so far to get it. While I was standing there a little boy came over,  cupped his hands and drank deeply. It was over 100 degrees outside and so dry and dusty. Thank you God for the gift of water.

We said out goodbyes and went back toward the town of Tonj. On our return about 2 kms away we stopped at the hand dug well where the people used to go to get their water. These teenage girls were getting water for their families. The girl in blue has a tin can on the end of the rope. She lowers it into the well and then pulls up the rope and dumps it into the purple bucket. She has to do this many times to fill the bucket and then she also had another container to fill and carry back to her family. She told me she does this three times a day. The other girls sitting nearby are waiting their turn. There is no going to the mall, shopping, movies or just hanging out and having fun on a Saturday afternoon for these young women. Life is hard in South Sudan.

Dust and more dust

I am sending this blog out with some difficulty. The amount of dust in the air is unbelievable. I think it began building last evening as that's when the internet connection was somewhat slow. Now during the day we have a very cloudy sky but visibility is extremely low.

There is dust everywhere. Everything I touch is covered with a thin layer and I do mean everything. Most window openings have screens but no actual windows since the weather is always so warm. I feel like I am eating dust. I can't imagine my poor nose, throat and lungs.

Yes, the sky really is this color.  This is just out the back of the compound. Normally I can see way out here, but this is the limit today. Incredible. Hope it clears out tomorrow.

Out and about in Tonj

Well after being in Tonj for 10 days I finally escaped the compound. Just kidding. It's strange the days just roll by with the busyness of the clinic, writing blogs, researching and gathering information for radio programs and of course daily life like eating etc.

Midwife Stephanie asked me to join her for some tea in the town center. We took a leisurely stroll down the main drag so to speak and then onto the road behind. We passed several tea/coffee shops but many already had lots of customers. A young man named Mario who sometimes helps at the clinic showed up and steered us to his friend, Christine. We were the only ones there and Christine was delightful. Before you start imagining some quaint little tea shop let me explain what it was like.

There is water boiling over hot coals on what would be the sidewalk, if there was one. There were 3 plastic chairs inside and one small table. Mario joined us and we ordered 1 coffee, 1 regular tea and a hibiscus tea. I have to say it took me while to be able to pick up the hot glass it was served in.

After walking through the market for a little bit, (sorry no photos there as the people don't like it and many men have semi automatic rifles slung over their shoulders, I decided my camera would keep a low profile) we went down the tree lined street back toward the compound.

Coach Mario in the white shirt

On the way back 16 year old Mario, wanted us to stop by the soccer field and take photos of the team he coaches.

Some new little friends along the way 

Back to In Deed and Truth compound

Faces and places

Remember a while back I said I would try and introduce you to some of the people here on the compound. Today I would like you to meet Esther. She came here year ago from her home in Kenya. She is currently helping IDAT with administrative duties. Esther is soft spoken and exudes kindness and compassion. As I said she doesn't say that much so I was very shocked on Wednesday evening when we all gathered for the weekly prayer time and she prayed. She really knows how to talk to God.

I would also like you to meet a sweet little girl that has been coming to the clinic for an infected finger. She does not have any adult with her and she apparently comes from far away.

Here you can see she's all dressed up in her best dress. Since we don't do dressing changes over the weekend we give patients materials for doing the dressings at home. We gave her the gauze, disinfectant and tape and explained what we wanted her to do. She seems to understand well and went on her way. Such a  brave little girl. There are many like her here. I have never seen such courage and strength.



Yesterday there was a girl I would guess was around 3 years old. Her left thigh had been burned with hot soup. It was a second degree burn. I had to change her dressing. I was extremely gentle. She never once flinched or made the slightest cry as I took off the old dressing, cleaned her leg and put new dressing on.



Well, as the title of today's blog said People and Places
I will now tell you about one of the exciting places on

compound. Right behind the room where I am staying the new radio tower is being built.

Yesterday and today local men have been building rooms to house the generator and transmitter. The bricks have been made here on the compound as well. It's hot , laborious work. The have to load the wheel barrow with heavy bricks and then bring it over to the building site.

This photo was taken yesterday so the walls are about finished today. It will be given time to settle over the weekend and then hopefully the roof will go on next week.

The greatest story

Today was much like any other. I was changing dressings and getting near the end of the line for those who had been waiting. Stephanie, the midwife asked me to come to the room next to where I was working so I could meet her patient.
 I was introduced to Yar. She is in her mid 30s. Today was her first visit to the midwife. She is pregnant for the 8th time.

Yar wanted a photo of the baby in her belly

After hearing a little of her history I was curious to know more. You may remember that I am here to learn more about the physical problems and diseases that people suffer with so that I can write lessons that will be broadcast on the radio to address the needs and hopefully prevent some things ever taking place.

Yar said that four of her babies had died. That got my immediate attention. With the help of Gabriel, my translator, ( I love that his name was Gabriel) I found out that all the babies that died were about 3 years old. She weaned them at age two and then for a year their only diet was cows milk. No solid food. They lived in a cattle camp.

 Apparently none of them were ever sick. About three days before each died they had trouble breathing and she took them to the witch doctor. Suddenly I understood. She in fact went to two witch doctors. She had to pay each one. They didn't do anything but speak at the children. I believe they cursed the children.

We then began an amazing conversation. I asked her if she knew who God was. She said no. I know there are many who don't believe in God but fewer who have never heard of him. How do you tell someone about God who can't read or write, has no concept of a big world beyond a cattle camp with mud huts and no basic serves such as clean water?

I started with some questions such as how did the sun, moon and stars get into the sky? She didn't know but she had seen them.  By the way, stars are brilliant here at night. I went on to tell her the story of creation. We talked about Adam and Eve and how they disobeyed God and He had to send them out of His garden. God still loved all the people He created and He wanted to have a relationship with them so He sent  His son, Jesus,  who died on a cross for the bad things she had done. ( She said she fights with her husband) This is the abridged version I am sharing with you. At the end of the story she wanted to be friends with Jesus so we prayed a prayer together.  She will never go back to the witch doctor. Her life is forever changed.

Pray for Yar. She has a long way to go as she begins her journey with God. Pray also for her family as she shares all that happened with her today in the clinic with the white lady also known as "kawaja".

Wish she had been smiling here, but I think I had enough joy for both us.

A birth, Dinka style

Yesterday I was pleased to attend a birth that had a happy ending. It however had some unusual aspects for this non Sudanese lady who spent a year and a half working with mothers and newborn babies in a sterile hospital setting.
 It all started for me at about 2 pm. I went over to see where we were in the process and found the woman in labor walking around outside. Walking around is not unusual, it just seemed to me that 100 degree weather is not ideal for that. Oh well, what do I know?
 Over the next few hours there was much walking and then the pregnant woman decided she was hot and took off her shirt. She also decided she would walk more outside! I was aghast. She had only a black half slip on. At times when she had a contraction she dropped to her knees.

As I talked with Stephanie, the midwife she told me that birth here is a social event and even strangers are welcome to be part of it. Our laboring mother had an audience outside as she knelt, some were close by and others watched from the fence outside the compound.

When the baby wasn't coming down into position for birth as we needed it to, we resorted to threats of a C-section. The laboring woman's mother who was about 4' 11" and the mother's sister-in law came on the scene. She looked at her and read her the riot act I think. I couldn't understand a word but if finger pointing and facial expressions can be relied upon then I got the picture. Apparently so did the daughter. Thanks, mom!










There was another woman on the scene earlier who I thought was the grandmother to be but she wasn't there at the end. Anyway she was delightful with her big smile. I asked her if she knew God and she said "yes" I asked her to pray for the mom and baby to have a good delivery. I watched with joy as she prayed and raised her hands as is there custom. We were grandmothers together.

A healthy baby girl. Thank you God.

The Dinka people

Today I thought I could tell you a little about the people I am surrounded by. In this part of the country I am among the Dinka tribe. They are one of the largest tribes in Southern Sudan. Some studies say there are over 1,000,000 people.

As I minister here every day I kind of have a front row seat to the local Dinka population. I am captivated by their tall stature, smooth dark, actually black skin and their overall beauty.

I like watching the mothers with their children, especially those who carry their babies in cow hide slings. Sometimes they have them in baskets with lids on them. It was a surprise the first time I saw a woman carrying a basket that I assumed had food or assorted things in it and then low and behold out came a baby.

All the photos you see were taken at the clinic as people waited their turn, except one woman and her child. The child is receiving treatment and they typically lay on a mattress out the back of the clinic getting IV's or cool sponges to decrease temperature.

Most of the younger women like me taking their photos, they especially like it when I show it to them . They giggle and nod to me in thanks. They look so serious here but when its over you should see the smiles :-)

Sunday Rest

Today I woke up to a loud rooster right outside my window. He is going to have to go! Yesterday was a very emotionally draining day so I decided to drink my morning coffee outside the house and just watch the tiny birds that come into the yard. My camera leaves a lot to be desired but I hope you will enjoy seeing God's beautiful creation.                                                                                  

This little guy on the right has 3 shades of blue.












Church on the compound starts at 10:30. I stayed through the singing which was in Arabic and then joined one of the compound staff, Esther, to help with the children's Sunday School class. There were about 60 children ranging in age from 2 years to about 12-14 years. It was challenging. Next week it's my turn to teach the lesson. I came prepared to do it but may have to tweak it a bit to fit in all the ages and stages.