Lying awake in the small hours in the Jaja Inn I reflected on how it seems inevitable that development brings with it those who are interested in getting rich quickly, and profiting from the influx of the aid community, who don’t intrinsically care about the country. Even the aid community has mixed motives and presents a very confused message to the host community with its social interactions, alcohol consumption and stewardship of resources.
Later reports of daily violence and theft in Juba re-awakened the need to pray earnestly for this new nation. I had taken Slvvia Gunter’s prayers for nations with me and began to pray with new understanding, “Pray for political leaders and decision makers in all areas of influence (media, business, medicine, education, etc.) to repent, receive salvation, and govern righteously. Pray for the “most unlikely” unrighteous persons to be converted. Pray for Christian decision makers in all areas to have God’s wisdom and courage.” Prayer Portions, p. 304.
The AFRECS report in my email inbox when I returned included this report:
Murder of AMREF Head
Monday the South Sudan country director for the African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF), an NGO active in providing medical relief and development in the country, was killed by gunmen in a town just outside Juba. They took his car and personal possessions. AMREF says that the vehicle was found one the Yambio-Juba road occupied by one person, who has been arrested.
Although we did 'lose' two boxes of medications up in Northern Bahr el Gazar such an act of violence and theft seems unimaginable in the rural and remote areas we visited. May it stay that way.
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