Kodok at Last (Part 5 of 8)

Kodok at Last

By: John Jefferson

Kodok at Last, Kodok at Last, Thank God Almighty, Kodok at Last!

The UN Mission in South Sudan compound in Kodok is not set up for visitors per say.  It does have a generator that provides one of the few lights in the city after dark, but it is very small and stark compared to many UN facilities.  Kodok is really a small port village along the Nile, which more than doubled in size as a result of people fleeing from Malakal and other places closer to the fighting.  Our arrival late at night caused the local army officials to be concerns about my safety and thus, the request for the UN to take us in.  There were a few nervous moments as we waited outside the very secure compound gate to see if we would be allowed to bed there for the night.  By the grace of God we were, and even had the chance to take a bucket shower before hitting the rack.

After a comfortable stay at the very basic and suitable UNMISS accommodations, we embarked upon what became a bit of a frustrating chapter in the story.  Though only 4 KM from Kodok , it took all day to reach the refugee camp and complete the last phase of the mission before starting the return journey to Melut. (We didn’t arrive at the refugee camp until after 2:30PM on Friday to distribute the food and other supplies) The logistics involved in finalizing the food delivery took precious time from the efforts to record the events, document the condition of the people, share the reason and purpose of ENG with the population, and articulate the spiritual element driving these efforts.  In other words, if it were just about dropping off food, then the phase from Kodok to the camp would have been a bit simpler, but all those other elements had to be crammed into the remainder of the time. (By God’s grace all was accomplished, but next time allowances should be made to maximize time in the camp vs. in the city)

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.  

Mobilization & Arrival (Part 3 of 8)

Mobilization & Arrival:

By: John Jefferson

After a Few Small Miracles - Mobilization and Arrival in Melut

First the Miracles…Having made many inquiries to people involved in South Sudan relief and missions, in the last week of February I decided I was eventually going to find a way in, and needed to get a visa.  I sent my passport to D.C. via Fedex Monday A.M. just so I’d have in and avoid panic during the minimum 4 or 5 day waiting time to get it processed and sent back in case something happened sooner than expected.  Well, sooner was Tuesday when Alan Kelley of MedteamsWorldWide contacted me about the possibility of being able to fly in with his team as opposed to using the March 9^th flight just to get to Melut.  This mean leaving that Saturday or Sunday at the latest.  He asked if I had my passport.  I told him I sent it in Monday, but had a contact in the embassy that was trying to help me expedite things.  As it turned out, while I was talking to Dr. Kelley the next morning, my wife texted me and told me my passport had arrived! (36 hours after sending it in, a new record!)  I was now on a charter flight in and out of Melut, and just had to trust God that the rest…all the rest of the plan would fall into place.

Once in Melut, the team met with several of the local contacts arranged by MTWW, which benefitted both missions. (Medical and food distribution)  Working from Juba, the capitol city, Pastor John Monychol also provided references to  two men of God, Pastor Daniel and Reverend Ayat Deng, who provided me with indispensable help in arranging for permissions, transport logistics, and foodstuffs.  Pastor John made tireless efforts to communicate with key contacts in Kodok to ensure that commissioners, officials, pastors, and even the King of the Kao-Nyaro people of Nuba Mts knew of our plan.  From the onset, the mission’s goal to purchase as much sorghum as possible and accompany it by land or river toward the zone of conflict with a three-day turnaround time was met with a bit of speculation.  Working primarily with pastors from Melut, Baliet, and Malakal (the latter two cities having been destroyed by the recent conflict), it was easier to insist that this was God’s plan rather than try to use any kind of logic or reason to justify such an impractical time line. Primarily because there really was no logical or reasonable explanation for why it would succeed given the known obstacles and many unknowns!

We began by getting permission to undertake the task and as well as an agreement from the rest of the team (MTWW) that it could be supported as an integral part of the overall mission.  This integration of missions beyond just allowing me to get a place on the plane turned out to be a critical success factor as already pointed out.  Dr. Alan Kelley and Tim Dillard were indispensable assets, along with the local NGO/church partners.

The Beginnings of a Plan (Part 2 of 8)

The Beginnings of a Plan  

By: John Jefferson

The Beginnings of a Plan Start to Form in January

As we all watched with a combination of horror, disbelief, and dismay at the situation transpiring before our eyes concerning our brothers and sisters in South Sudan, three tense weeks passed before local contacts could safely communicate and help devise plans to begin the long path to some level of normalcy.  This led to colleagues and partners of ENG - such as David Hicks of e3 and Mike Congrove of Empower Sudan, along with their Sudanese counterparts - to devise plans and itineraries to assess the conditions on the ground and initiate biblically-based trainings to support outreach to IDPs (Internally Displaced People) and refugees in both South Sudan and Uganda.  The efforts of both gentlemen to get to South Sudan within weeks of the conflict created a vital link to local knowledge of the situation, and the beginnings of a plan to bring aid to the northern part of the country where the violence was intensifying and the needs were even greater.

The Two Options

Based on initial intelligence from numerous sources, accessing any location north of Juba, which itself was at first very unstable, did not look good. As January turned into February, two options to access the Nuba Mountains refugees concentrated in Kodok emerged.  The two options involved reaching the town of Melut, where it was believed sorghum could be purchased and transported to Kodok (refugee camp location.  Option 1:  Flying in on a charter from Nairobi that was picking up a team from MedicalTeamsWorldWide (MTWW) on the 9th of March.  Option 2: Meeting Pastor Monychol of Empower Sudan in Juba and flying up on an oil company transport plane.  Neither option offered a guaranteed exit.  The goal of delivering urgently needed aid to refugees could at least be achieved, however, devising an exit plan then became a focus.  Ultimately, flying in via the charter MTWW (Med Teams) was both the optimal and only real choice.   

How it all Started (Part 1 of 8)

How it all Started

By John Jefferson:

Mission to Kao-Nyaro Refugees – How it all started

Within a matter of days, a small window of opportunity opened to bring desperately needed relief to the refugees of Kao-Nyaro a population of more than 3,000 Sudanese trapped between two opposing sides in the nascent stages of civil violence in South Sudan, and already suffering through ongoing conflict in their home region in South Kordofan, Sudan.  The End Nuba Genocide coalition decided to bring food and supplies to these people despite the risks involved.  Located in Kodok, South Sudan, the refugee camp is situated along the Nile River and contains no permanent structures, sanitation, running water, or medical facilities.  It is the barest existence imaginable, and a reminder that these policies of eradication even pursue their victims across borders.  The objective of delivering food, some limited medical aid, and clothing was achieved with less than three weeks of planning, proving that with Faith and a bit of effort, all things are possible.

Background    

                   

Prior to the conflict that erupted in South Sudan in mid-December 2013, various plans to follow up on the previous Nuba-focused work of ENG members and affiliated organizations were in motion.  Coalition participants have seen success with humanitarian relief operations in the region, but when what appeared to be either an attempted coup or dictatorial seizure of power led to ethnic violence and all appearances of a civil war broke out in South Sudan the stakes were raised.  Suddenly, the already isolated and vulnerable Nuba (especially Kao-Nyaro) population in both Sudan and South Sudan became virtually beyond hope and reach.  Anyone with even a scant understanding of the historical and present condition of the Nuba would understand how grave their situation had become.  Within this context, ENG team members doggedly pursued intelligence on the situation on the ground and possible ways to bring aid and comfort to populations already living on the edge of existence.

Hope for Sudan: Phase 4

Things have been quiet over here for a while, as the story has been developing.

The Lord graciously allowed people from the Hope for Sudan team several opportunities to access this war-torn country. He has allowed our people here in the states to pray, and give, and tell about Sudan.

The last few years have been short window of peace, and we give all the glory to God for spurring us onward into it.  We saw His hands on everything. Orchestrating the first trip, the second, the third, and especially the 4th.

As news of more bombings and turmoil in Sudan have come out, our team began to see that window as closing.  We praised the Almighty God for His provision and guidance. We thanked Him for allowing men from our group to GO, to LOVE, and to SERVE the Sudanese while there was peace and access to the region.

However, the story did not end there. We were naive to think it would. God was not finished with us and he is most definitely not finished with the Sudanese people just yet.

The Lord did something beautiful, beginning with the stirring of John Jefferson's heart all the way through miraculous visa approvals and travel arrangements. In a matter of weeks, John was en route to what we had believed was a closed door, which was actually swung wide open. God mightily and sovereignly fed, clothed, and healed some of the Sudanese people on this last minute trip.

John will be telling the story of this 4th Phase of the project in 8 parts. We urge you to follow along with the beautiful telling of God's story in Sudan as we post here daily.