Contemplating Customs

Tightly curled on a metal hospital bed with her back to the world, Elizabeth wrestled and wriggled in pain on the dusty sheets of the village health clinic.  Her mum was perched at the foot of the bed, cradling Elizabeth's new born baby.  This small, young creature was still pale from the birth.  Elizabeth could barely spare the energy to greet me.  Having given birth three days before, by this morning the pains had become too much and her family had carried her to the small clinic.  Pains had immersed her legs until she could no longer walk and now the pains were seeping up her spine.  A complicated labour and birth is now threatening to leave Elizabeth paralysed.  Although the village health clinic could have helped with the birth, the family had refused to bring her to seek medical attention.  Local custom claims the pain of birth as the best time to hear truth from a woman.  Accusations of adultery are often discussed in these painful moments and these testimonies carry weight in the customary courts.  Members of the husband's family threaten to the woman in labour that the baby will not be born if the struggling woman does not tell the truth.  The birth acts as a natural form of torture to entice the woman to truth telling.  So, despite the labour being long and unusual, Elizabeth's husband's family had refused to take her for medical help wanting to question her until the baby came.

While local chiefs and customary judges are the main justice providers in the local community, some painful, harmful customs remain deeply rooted.  These last weeks have been spent speaking with many chiefs about how they protect their women and children through the law.  Many try.  Yet, so much wisdom is needed by them as these leaders negotiate the delicate balance between tradition and the opportunities emerging (such as health care) in the new South Sudan.

Please pray

1) Marol Academy Primary School

Unusually early in the year, the government has decided that the primary schools should be reopened.  Marol's primary school has now opened for registration with lessons starting next week.  Pray for a God given academic year ahead.

2) Elizabeth

Pray for her healing and strength of spirit.  Pray for her family as they decide whether to seek medical assistance.  Pray for wisdom for elders and customary law judges as they negotiate the old and the new.

3) Travel Safety and Ease

Over the weekend and until Tuesday, I will be moving around South Sudan a little.  Pray that it is all in God's hands.

Thank you.