A personal report from South Sudan, received by en in late 2014.
On December 15 a fight that erupted between the President Salva Kirr and his former Deputy Riek Machar resulted in the loss of many innocent lives.
The scene is difficult to vanquish from our minds, as for over a week we slept under the bed because of flying bullets. There is still little peace. The two warring parties talking in Addis Ababa for one year have not reached any conclusion. Many people believe they are preparing for war. January is the beginning of the dry season in South Sudan and was often the period in which war intensified when Sudan was at civil war.
The churches have been a source of life to the suffering people, especially the displaced in and around Juba. Bible Society managed to help the displaced with the little resources it has and with the help of its partners. Many people are traumatised and Bible Society took upon itself the task of conducting trauma healing workshops where many confessed to being healed both in mind and spirit.
Although the rain is a blessing, this year it caused a lot of damage in the country. Many houses collapsed; even people were washed away by running water and many deaths were counted. Some people tend to think that we have sinned against the Lord and we are enduring the punishment of God.
We pray that the New Year will be a change for peace for all of us here in South Sudan.
