"The truth is - Sudan is rich." Ruth Radley(Photo: © Ruth Radley / CMS)I am held up in Nairobi, Kenya, after my first term of service in Southern Sudan, wondering in vain, “will I ever catch a flight to Europe?”
I should have left four days ago, but there is a volcano erupting in Iceland, spewing enough ashes to ground all flights to Europe.
However, this gives me a perfect opportunity to reflect what I learnt in Sudan in the last two years and what the LORD has shown me and impressed upon my heart.
To give some background, I was a volunteer with CMS on the “Make a Difference (MAD) Programme” in Musoma Diocese, Tanzania, back in 2001. This was an amazing experience albeit hard at times; the people I met left a lasting impression on me. I left not knowing I would be back, but saying, “LORD, I am open to discussion if you ever have such plans.”
In 2003, when CMS launched its ‘Break the Silence’ Campaign about the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) situation in Northern Uganda, I was touched by the plight of these precious children, I knew I was headed back to Africa, though I had no clue where it would be or when; I thought it would be Northern Uganda.
During my eight-year stay in the UK after being in Tanzania, God spectacularly consolidated in me the love for children, giving me deep compassion and a sense of justice needed for them. After numerous meetings with CMS, I was headed back to Africa, to Southern Sudan.
Sudan is still recovering from over 20 years of war. The country grapples with many difficult issues, and has just held its first multi-party elections in over 20 years.
Not surprisingly, in my opinion, Southern Sudan suffers from a ‘dependency’ syndrome that is the strongest I have ever seen. People believe they have to wait for handouts, not believing they are able to provide for themselves.
After so many years of fighting and no farming, families ran into the bush to evade war, and often ended up in refugee camps in neighbouring countries. They have always depended on aid, no wonder this ‘dependency’ lives on.
Sadly, many NGOs with good intentions subtly enforce this feeling even more by how they work - with Western timetables and eyes seeing things differently.
The truth is - Sudan is rich.
"Partnership is the key": bridge-building in Southern Sudan(Photo: © CMS)
Some communities, after mobilisation, are starting to build schools and churches.
One community realised they needed a bridge to get their produce to the local market. A church in the UK partnered with them - and the bridge was constructed. The bridge was built by the locals themselves who had a vision. Their own contribution was $12,000 towards labour and raw materials.
After being in Africa, I now dislike the term 'missionary'. I love the term ‘mission partner’ used by CMS. The traditional term ‘missionary’ conjures up an image of someone who ‘takes’ Jesus around the world and ‘shows’ people what to do.
‘Mission partner,’ on the contrary, captures who we are and our relevance in the global mission field today, where we work in partnership with the church all over the world.
Relationship is the key thing. We understand that culture makes us see things differently; things are not always what they seem to be.
When I get to the UK, I will spend my leave with my church links, formally and informally, and with family and friends.
I hope to gently challenge what is often a very traditional view of mission in the UK, help people see the riches in Africa, and how western world churches can partner in this work, whilst themselves learning more.
See when Ruth is visiting near youThanks to Ruth and CMS Africa, who first ran this article.