We are back!!

Today makes one week that we have been back in Juba. So, where to begin with what has happened the last few weeks?

Our Regional Liaison came to Juba in September to talk to the local church about many things including when we could return.  We were given the go ahead to return about the middle of September, so, along with packing we began to say good-bye.

Our flight connections were going to be really good except in Ethiopia where we only had a 45 minute layover but we were assured it was plenty of time. Our flight actually got in about 30 minutes early so we were feeling good about things. We got our flight and went on to Nairobi Kenya but our luggage did not! We were assured it would come on the next flight – nope!  We actually ended up being at the Nairobi airport for 3 ½ hours after our flight arrived because our taxi driver who normally is dependable was having a problem with a policeman who wanted a bribe. It took about an hour after we had first seen our taxi driver until he came back with his car and told us what was going on. He then left to continue his bargaining efforts with the policeman. We thought maybe this poor taxi driver was being delayed by God so we could get our luggage which we thought might be on the next plane from Ethiopia. The 2^nd plane did arrive from Ethiopia before we left the airport but still no luggage !  We finally had to give up and go to our guesthouse in Nairobi which is something like 20 miles from the airport. The following day and 3 flights later  still  no luggage. We were flying out Friday for Juba and wondering if we were going to have our clothes etc. . Friday morning we called the airport and they had at least located our luggage at the Addis Ababa airport. They didn’t know if it would arrive that morning before our departure for Juba, but possibly. I (Lynn) told Sharon that maybe God simply didn’t want us to needlessly take our luggage to the guesthouse and we could take it from the arrivals gate directly over to our departure check-in. I (Lynn) was dropped off at the arrival gate and Sharon with our carry-ons was dropped off at the departure area. After getting the proper clearance documents I  went to the arrivals gate and sure enough our luggage was there. I put the 3 bags on a cart and proceeded to make my way back to the office where I had gotten the clearance permit to go into the arrivals area. I then made my way the ¼ mile or so to the departure gate pushing our luggage on the cart. It makes me tired just typing about it !  We were so relieved to see our luggage that it made up for Sharon having to buy a skirt to wear and washing clothes out by hand for a day!! J

We had a good flight to Juba and noticed that one of our church leaders from Juba was on the same plane! He offered us a ride to our apartment, which was really nice. A good welcome back.  We can’t say our return trip was uneventful. We did feel God’s hand guiding us with our lost luggage and then someone being on the plane to provide us a ride to our apartment. It also made us realize how unimportant our “things” are that we travel with, and that we certainly could survive without them.

So, how are things in Juba? Well, in some ways it feels just as we left it 5 months ago and in other ways you can feel the change.  Food is expensive and I really do not know how people afford to buy basics. Because we are paid in dollars it does not affect us as much, but still, when butter is $5.50 for a half pound you can believe we think twice about buying it. We feel safe enough walking around some during the day but I don’t think we will be walking around as freely as we used to. Also, anytime near dark we take a taxi and the taxi’s don’t like to be out after 9pm so we are pretty much home by 7 or 8 with a taxi.  We know you all are worried about us but, we are where we are supposed to be and for now things are ok here.

Many of our church people are out of the country right now for meetings but we expect to see some of them next week. Many people have left the country so it does make doing anything a little hard but we will do what we can.

People are just so very tired of the fighting and uncertainty! Please pray the leaders will put the well being of the people first before their own needs.