I arrived in Juba two days ago. The town has developed dramatically since I was last here. I get the impression that change and development within Juba is progressing at a phenomenal pace.
Having deposited baggage at the small MAF compound, where staff and the two international families live and work in prefab buildings, I headed off for an afternoon of interviews with some of the partner organisations we fly: Samaritan's Purse, World Vision and Tearfund.
Samaritan's Purse in Bor, Sudan
Yesterday I flew to Bor to visit the work of CMA. At Bor's big red dirt airstrip the UN's presence is clearly visible, with the blue helmets of the soldiers dotted through the high vegetation, and two large UN helicopters landing while we were there. On board the MAF flight was Bishop Anthony, of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, with a group of about 7 other clergy and staff. They were heading up to Malakal and Rumbek for meetings to discuss plans for the future. I was seated next to Denis, who works in IT and has been assisting in an ECS project to improve communication capabilities of the ECS staff throughout south Sudan. ECS staff will not be the only ones to benefit from access to the internet, but the communities where they are based will also benefit too. Sorting out communications is essential in progressing development.
Collaboration between partners is essential here. With the MAF plane departed, my two colleagues and I have had to depend on support from Samaritan's Purse to drive us around and sort out accommodation for us. It wouldn't be possible to do what we are doing without them.
At the hospital I saw the work of CMA. They are here for just over a week doing a mobile eye clinic. They flew in with MAF on Monday, and will fly on to another location next Monday, again with MAF. I spoke with their medical team and a number of the patients awaiting cataract surgery. I love this kind of work (though admittedly did start to feel queezy when inspecting the opaque cataract that had just been removed from one eye - but the heat, combined with wearing a surgical mask, head covering and headphones for the recording equipment didn't help!).
Eye surgery by CMA in Bor, Sudan
Why do I love the eye work? Because in a very short operation - around 10-15 minutes - a person's life is completely transformed; they can see again, and therefore can operate independently once more in what is a tough environment.
Christian Mission Aid in Bor, Sudan
The CMA mobile eye team spend 9 weeks in the field, moving from one location to another, then have 10 days leave back home before heading out for another 9 weeks in the field. The team is entirely Sudanese. Speaking later with two doctors linked with Samaritan's Purse, also Sudanese, and then representatives of ECS, I can't help but think about the suffering and hardship these people have been through over the past decades, and the hope they represent for future of south Sudan. It touches my heart and raises my hopes for this soon to be new nation.
