Pain

Not sure if many of you follow the news in Africa but one issue that comes up a lot around my work is the LRA rebels. They have been causing a lot of pain as of late and been attacking areas near where our teams work.

Please remember our teams and for the Christians in this area as they face many hardships.


Here is one story from the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7837526.stm


And here is a story from one of the pastors we have worked closely with.


1. From Bishop Bismark Avokaya, ECS Diocese of Mundri, sent to church partners January 15.

Subject: Urgent Prayers Needed for Mundri!!

There is insecurity problem caused by the so called Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) of Uganda in two of our Archdeaconries which has affected seven Parishes. It has displaced all the villages in those Parishes and we are yet to get the exact number of the people. However, we are aware that people from Tore Wandi (about 85 miles south of Mundri town), Moba (about 70 miles), Bangolo 50 miles, Ledinwa about 38 miles up to Garia (about 30 miles). These distances are measured from Mundri to locations mentioned.

At least about four people were confirmed dead. One of those killed was Rina's uncle called Wilson who is our Lay Reader at Moba Parish.
What happened was that his last son was abducted together with one of his grandsons. Both were about ten years of age. So Wilson decided to follow the LRA with another young in the hope of securing the release of these boys. But later after walking with the LRA over 20 miles under arrest, Wilson and the young man were both tied. Their hands and legs were chopped off while still alive, and were thoroughly beaten on the neck to death in front of the boys and some other new people they abducted. But the LRA decided to leave these boys to go their way, though they could not know where to go.

However as people were running towards Mundri, a Good Samaritan (who was riding on a motorbike) found the boys on the road and decided to carry them to Mundri. They had arrived Mundri only two days and are now with their cousin sister (who already had other displaced people).
We had the boys in our house yesterday for consolation etc. Both are traumatised like many others and we could not believe our ears as they shared the stories with us.

Also we learnt that Rina's other uncle, Rev Sylvester Yona, who is one of our Pastors, had one of his daughters abducted as well. Rev Yona himself had gone to Juba for medical treatment last November and he is still in Juba. And one of the homes that was looted and burnt at Tore Wandi was said to be his home. As these events took place in his absence, we were told he now so much devastated in Juba. So pray for him too.

Some of the injured are now admitted at Mundri health Centre and the rest in Lui Hospital especially those with gun shots. And about eleven people were reported to have been abducted from Tore Wandi and their fate is not known to date.

Because of the shooting in those areas resulting in a lot of fear, desperation and displacement many people are still trekking towards Mundri from Friday to date. When we saw those who arrived and learnt that many were on the way trekking to Mundri, last Sunday the Diocese decided to arrange, sent a truck to Ledingwa (about 37 miles) to carry some of the women, children and the elderly people who were struggling to reach Mundri.

However, when the driver reached Garia (about 30 miles) before the expected destination, they found the attack had reached Garia and was still going on! Two tractors (which were carrying some of the people to Mundri) were attacked; one man was shot dead, a baby was shot dead from the back of the mother, another man was injured, and so was Wilson's wife injured. Remember Wilson is Rina's uncle (who was killed previously and the tractors were set on fire. This made the driver of the truck we sent to return, but was able to carry some of the women and the children he found on the way.

As I write this message there is a massive displacement of our people into Mundri from these affected areas. Some of the displaced people have been identified by their relatives and are now living with relatives. For instance, at the home of the former Bishop of Mundri are 29 people not to mention the people who reside in his family. In another family, there are 16 people just to mention but a few.

But we are not able to identify all the relatives of these people and some said they don't have extended family members in Mundri. Hence they are now living in the Church (Cathedral) Compound. We did arrange to collect sum cash from Christians in Mundri for emergency to cater for those in the Cathedral Compound and some of those with families around. And we raised few Sudanese Pounds for porridge or fast food as they had spent over three days or so without food on the way. Also we (both Church and local authorities) had informed our Community members in other towns (like Juba, Khartoum, Nairobi etc) to collect whatever they are able to get and sendto Mundri for the same ASAP. For instance, yesterday we got SDG 4,000 (or $2,000) from Khartoum for this. However, because of the intensity and the number of the people, these are not enough.

Unfortunately it is now time for harvest in Mundri areas. The people had left their crops/ grain in the fields. The LRA had burnt most of the homes in those places including the bush/grass around. Moreover whatever basic utensils people had were taken and should peace return in nearest future and they return to their home places, they had nothing to return as far as I am aware of the situation.

Nevertheless, we are hereby praying and asking you to prayers with us as those of us who are in Mundri are even generally in fear, though we are still trusting God to rescue the situation.

The Government had sent some soldiers to Mundri and on to the affected places to contain the situation. But we are counting on your prayers for God Alone has the last word not the gun.

Yours truly, in the fellowship of the Gospel.