“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome aboard our flight…….” that was the welcome we got when we boarded ALS flight from Nairobi to Rumbek via Lokichogio. Two weeks before this, Sr. Liz Fletcher, our Provincial Leader had called me to ask if I could go on a short mission to South Sudan. I was excited, I said my ‘yes’ very quickly. Within 72 hours I was in Nairobi renewing my passport and in a week it was in my hands. Off I went to Diocese of Rumbek [DOR] Office in Nairobi to get my visa. In between, my sister was solemnizing her wedding and there was a lot of excitement in the family. On 14th December, 2011, I was at Wilson Airport, boarding a plane to Rumbek. My Mission…. to help Sr. Maureen Limer rsm (Sunderland ) set up a residential house in an anticipated Teachers Training College.
Srs. Felistas Kingori and Maureen Limer
Once on board, we took off from Wilson Airport and ten minutes later, there was a crackle from the cockpit. The Pilot mumbled some message which at first I thought was not clear….. “ladies and gentlemen, we are experiencing a technical problem and shall have to return to Wilson Airport. It’s nothing serious so you need not panic, we shall be landing back shortly.” That is when you try to keep a sober mind and remember all the good the Lord has done for you and you begin to request for even MORE favours. Minutes later we safely landed back but it was not without panic in the eyes of the passengers. We disembarked and were taken to the waiting lounge and served breakfast. Minutes turned into hours and we got lunch (I skipped all these as I was feeling sick…) At 2.00 p.m. we finally took off, knowing that we were not going to stop over in Lokichogio but would go straight to Rumbek. At 5.00 p.m. we finally touched down in Rumbek and I thanked God for that.
I had pictured Rumbek Airport being like Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – Nairobi. Before we landed, I could see a number of grass thatched houses but thought this was a small village before the Airport. Lo and behold, it was a village near the airport. A murram runway came to sight and true, this was the airport. No conveyor belt to move the luggage, instead, two pick-up trucks drove to the plane and our luggage was put in, we walked into the heat and treked the five hundred meters to the immigration office.
Wow, instant shock, the immigration office was a small building, Sr. Maureen had been waiting more than 5 hours for my arrival so it was a very warm embrace that greeted me. Once cleared, we drove off, with a treat of some sightseeing before we got to Pandoor (House of Peace) which was to be my base during my month’s stay in Rumbek. I got a hearty welcome from the staff at Pandoor and the staff from DOR Education office.
New Building
After a few days, we went to Cuiebet, where the Teachers Training College will be set up. Wow, what a sight. The grounds have graceful palm trees and the environment is so serene, you would not believe it was the hot, dusty South Sudan. The residential house is so beautiful, with a hardy bamboo fence around it to give some privacy. The house has an open quad with beautiful flowers already in early bloom. Whatever community goes there, they have a little heaven on earth and the prayer room is set with a beautiful view overlooking the graceful palm trees. The house was not set up without challenges – the materials are all imported including expertise. That is how far the baby nation of South Sudan has yet to go. However, some of the local people have contributed so much in setting up the residence – provision of the land and labour. May God bless them, Yenakan. Some of the house materials and equipment were in Juba when I got there and were awaiting arrival in Cuiebet. My initial mission then did not take place but slowly, slowly, the household goods will get there and my intended mission will be completed by others. After this in-complete mission, you might be wondering what I did then.
A teacher’s course, organized by the Solidarity Fund, was to have taken place in Cuibet, and was moved to Rumbek. Seemingly, this is where my mission was destined to be. I helped the DOR Education office to make arrangements for the course. Forty participants were expected for the two months course. I helped to get the venue for the course in order. We used the facilities of the “Healing the Healers” group. It is another beautiful site used for counseling courses. It has a hall which acted as a dining room during meals and a classroom during training sessions. Some of the Facilitators for the course were also accommodated there. It is served with power 24 hours as it has a solar system and this was very handy as latest technological equipment, like projectors and computers including e-mail (when it works) could be used for the sessions. I also helped in organising the provision of food supplies.
A delicacy I got to taste was kudra – a vegetable served with maize meal. It takes a special art to prepare it. The vegetables, ones plucked from their stems, are slightly boiled and then whisked. Yes, whisked until they make a soup sauce which is then mixed with meat or fish. A special skill is needed to scoop it from the plate without letting it drip! It tastes yummy. I also helped to arrange budgets for the distribution and accountability of funds for the course. I offered other secretarial services.
The experience was great as I learnt from the teachers how they are coping with teaching young people. Because of the war, many of the teachers have limited training themselves having only gone as far as class three or seven. It is a low grade for them and so they are really eager to learn. When I left, the teachers were already into their second week of the course and were looking forward to a Computer class at the Jesuit Ecological centre in Rumbek. Education in South Sudan is still in the very early stages. Many young people prefer to look after their herds of cattle than to go to school. One of the teachers attending the course had a three month old baby and because she was eager to learn, she brought her child and baby sitter along so that when in class, she could concentrate knowing her baby was safe. She had travelled over 40 km to come to the course.
South Sudan got its independence in July 2011 and so December 2011 was its FIRST Christmas after Independence. What was it like? I think for them truly Christ had been born as this was a wonderful time. Ululation (cheers) and processions marked the Eve of Christmas and Christmas day was observed with prayer, singing and dancing. They have massive drums and one ‘gong’ is enough to vibrate the whole church!! Sr. Maureen and I did not join in the processions on the Christmas Eve. Instead, we travelled from Bargel, about 50km away, to Rumbek to help offload trucks that had arrived from Kenya with materials for schools and the course. We left Bargel at sunrise. The beautiful sunrise gave us the energy to drive happily on the Murram road. On arrival in Rumbek after an hour, we spotted one of the trucks ready for off loading at the Loreto Sisters Convent but alas Sr. Orla, IBVM informed us that the driver was “missing” and so they could not open the containers. We decided to go to the DOR offices and see what was happening.
Midway in our trip, we met the ‘lost’ driver heading to Loreto and another truck parked, awaiting our arrival. We then organized some young men to offload the cartons of books, chalks and uniforms which were later stored in a container and each marked for a particular school. All these schools are under the DOR. Tea time came and went, lunch came and went and it was not until after 4 pm when we sat to have a drink of water. It was a long, hot tedious day. We felt happy after all the containers were locked up and drivers dispatched to the various schools in Mapourdit. As we left Rumbek for Bargel for the Chistmas Vigil Mass, a beautiful sunset escorted us. Our weary bones moved on with the joy of the expected celebration. We had a lovely Mass – a bit noisy from the children, not being used to the night experience! You know the famous Christmas Carol “On the 1st day of Christmas my true love sent to me……” We sang that in a Dinka version. Sr. Maureen has the hymn at hand. Get in touch!
New Year was equally welcomed with much jig and dance. Processions were all round the town by the different religious sects. They ushered in the New Year with renewed hope for further growth for their New Nation.
Sr. Maureen Limer has been in Sudan for many years and so the seed of Mercy has long been planted there. The challenge is to the rest of us, Sisters of Mercy, where else do we wish to plant the seed of Mercy. The God who invited us to our different missions will continue to direct us where He wishes us to serve. Let us pray for the Religious congregations that have gone on mission to South Sudan – the Missionaries of Charity, Loreto Sisters, Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, Sisters of Mary of Kakamega, Kenya, Comboni Sisters and others whom I did not get to meet during my visit. We can support their missions through prayer and we will have helped in the growth of bringing the compassionate face of God (mercy) to the nation of South Sudan.
With the beautiful scene of cows, with their large curved horns and small bodies, trotting back home, I invite you to keep the people of South Sudan in your prayers.
PS My flight back was on Friday 13th (the myth about it being a day of bad omen!) We took off smoothly, stopped in Lokichogio for refuelling and safely landed in Nairobi. Long live the baby Nation of Africa, God bless South Sudan.
Felista Kingori rsm
Kenyan Province
