Life And Death

As I sit on a friend's spare bed, having spent the day exploring with another, I am reminded again of the richness of having gracious and patient friends that God has been kind enough to give me back here in England. The last weeks have been steeped in trying to settle back in to this homeland, and God has reminded me of the blessings of friends. I am grateful and, slowly, starting to feel rested.

Life
Thank God for Ayak. Beneath their thatched roof, a few hundred metres into the forest, this little girl was born on Saturday. Her safe arrival seemed a little miracle as her mum (Regina) had fallen seriously ill with malaria prior to her birth. Her mum and dad (Dut) are the couple that could finally marry, and escape the clashes in Abyei, after the gift of cows by an Englishman. Ayak literally means drought. Yet, now, she brings much happiness to this little family.

Another of Bol's daughters

And Death
If you turned through the towering crops towards Bol's circle of mud huts, the children would spot you and run to greet you. Madut's little legs carried him the fastest and the girls would run closely behind. Nyanut's silent presence would always watch from a distance, too shy for the bold greeting of the younger children. Nyanut was about ten year's old and lived with her uncle (Bol) for much of last year. Her mother lived about three hours walk away. She had been lent to Bol to care for his youngest daughter. This week she died of malaria. No one could afford to take her to Wau to seek treatment.

Other Things to Pray For:
1) Teachers at Marol
They are in good health but the road from the market to the school remains as nearly five miles of swamp.

2) Talks in the UK
Pray that I have the right words to say as I speak to people in the UK about South Sudan.

3) Abyei Floods
Having had their homes bombed to pieces in May, the people of Abyei are now facing some of the worst flooding in memory. Crops and people have been washed away. Fifteen have been killed and ten thousand displaced.

Thank you!