Begging Permission (Part 4 of 8)

Begging Permission

By: John Jefferson

Much of what happens in South Sudan occurs through consensus and cooperation.  The human element is essential and without the right contacts and connections the gears grind to a halt quickly.  As mentioned, Pastor John provided two persons of peace in the form of Pastors Ayat and Daniel, from Melut and Baliet, respectively.  After taking advantage of a key meeting with the Commissioner of Melut (arranged by the MTWW team), we secured permission to attempt the trip to Kodok.  We had previously heard that it may be too dangerous and our efforts should focus on the local population of IDPs and residents of Melut.  Though unacceptable for this mission, the fact we were asked to stay in Melut and help their people was completely understandable and reasonable under the circumstances.  The whole conversation shifted when, after the formal meeting, Pastor Ayat and I approached the commissioner to explain the mission’s purpose and the plight of the Nuba refugees and asked for permission to go.  Inexplicably, permission was granted on the spot! 

Onward and Up[stream]ward

The security situation was very precarious. Thousands of people were flooding into Melut, there were rumors of impending military action, and there were virtually no non-Sudanese left in town. Therefore, acting alone to move south with 16 tons of sorghum was a tough ask, which might have been impossible were it not for the South Sudanese partners and grace beyond measure.

We ultimately purchased 16.2 tons of Sorghum (150 100KG sacks) and loaded them onto a large barge chartered to go to Kodok 4-5 hours south by river.  After having arrived in Melut on Tuesday, holding meetings, nailing down agreements, and closing contracts on Wednesday, we were poised to leave within a little over 24 hours, thanks mainly to Pastor Ayat who is well connected to God and men in a way that makes the improbable possible. We changed money, coordinated phone communications, expedited numerous processes outside of cultural norms, and renegotiated ever-changing, previously-agreed-upon prices, until just minutes before our Thursday departure.  

We departed around 2PM after much travail with government officials, numerous negotiations, and other obstacles, landing in Kodok that night around 9PM. (a long 6.5 hrs. after departure) We had no place to stay, as our contacts expected us hours earlier. In the end, we found ourselves at a compound (UNMISS) with an initially reluctant, but gracious, host.