Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller
Vulnerable
It’s a word I have trouble pronouncing. Vul-ner-able
But we understand what it means.
Being vulnerable means you have no one to protect you.
You’re on your own.
Not only that, but you have no advocate.
No one who is stronger, older, more powerful to defend you.
In fact, being vulnerable means you are at the mercy of all of the above.
No one is vulnerability more visible than in a refugee camp.
There are the most vulnerable and we’re including how you can pray for them.
You can also put feet to your prayers by donating to our partner, Baptist Global Response.
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“I’m an old man and I had never touched the soil of Uganda until now.”
I wonder if he’ll ever touch his home soil of South Sudan again.
War causes families to run for their lives with nothing of value. It takes away dignity and peace.
“You can live without love but you cannot live without water.”
I’m not sure I agree with that quote. It’s true that water is necessary for life.
However, I believe love is essential too.
Let me put it this way: We can live without love but you cannot thrive.
We are working with Baptist Global Response* to drill boreholes in selected camps. You and your church can sponsor a well. Supplying water opens the door for our Ugandan pastors and our team to share about Jesus, the Living Water.
You see, water and love do mix.
* You and your church may donate at www.gobgr and notate “South Sudan Refugees” in the comments section of your donation.
We were told this lady was over 100. Her great grandchild was scared of us. I wondered if she’d ever seen a white person.
- Children. All children face a difficult existence in a camp. None more so than “unaccompianed minors.”
It’s the term for children who arrived without a parent or even an adult.
They may truly be orphans.
Their parents may be dead.
Or they have been separated in the chaos and fighting surrounding their homes.
I think about the small Anuak boy at the Ugandan border camp.
He was the only one of his tribe present.
No one knew his story.
Simply that he was alone.
Happily, he was “adopted” by a Dinka family in the camp.
How to Pray: Pray for mercy, protection, and provision for all of the children without parents. Pray that famiies may be reunited. Pray that caring believers in the camps as well as local communities will take these children under their wings.
Pray for the child-headed households. These are usually siblings or cousins traveling together who are led by an older sibling.
“We were all in secondary school in South Sudan until the fighting broke out. There are no schools here and we are desperate to resume our education.”
Pray for the teen boys. There are hundreds of young men in the refugee camps. Most were in school, speak reasonably good English, and want to move ahead. Their dreams have been shattered by the war. There are no schools in the camp and they face a bleak future. Pray that Christian belivers will step forward to disciple and mentor them. Many of our best current South Sudanese pastors came to faith in Christ as teens
- Elderly. There are numerous older adults on whom the refugee journey has taken a horrible toll. Many do not have adequate shelter, bedding, and personal hygiene items. There are dozens of blind due to cataracts.
Because of the vast numbers in the camps, the elderly easily can slip through the safety net.
Pray for basic needs of the elderly to be met. Pray that many will see the love of Christ and receive the peace that passes all understanding.
- Pregnant and Nursing Women There are over 1000 pregnant women in the camps of northern Uganda. Many will give birth in the camps in less than ideal conditions. We watched a woman, surrounded by other women, giving birth under a mango tree.
Pray that “Momma Kits” for pregnant women will be available as provided through local churches and pastors.
Innocent children have seen and experienced things that rob innocence and hope.
The Traumatized So many people of all ages have been horror and tragedy in the previous months. Some have seen loved ones killed. Others have fled with only their lives. The camps are primarily comprised of women and children. The men have stayed behind or returned to salvage their homes or join the fighting. The famiies in camp live with daily uncertainty.
Many are carrying deep emotional scars.
A preteen boy approached us in a camp last week. He had a wall calendar with the photos of political and military leaders as well as scenes of war. Using his finger, he punched the faces and images, crying out in his heart language. I wondered what he’d seen. I wonder how he’ll recover.
Pray that the traumatized will find peace in the Jesus who said, “Come unto me all that labor and are heavy-laden.” Pray that caring professionals will offer counseling to the suffering.
Finally, pray for the Baptist churches near Adjumani, Rhino, and Koboko Camps. These believers are doing a great work among the refugees. Pray that resources and support will be supplied.
Africans are ready to help out at the camps. We can join hands, listen to them and supply the resources for them to help themselves.
How you can help:
Baptist Global Response is the humanitarian arm of our International Mission Board. Please notate your donation on the comment section as “South Sudan refugees.”
We are here to help refugees and their spiritual needs. But we clearly believe the greatest need of any person is the peace, hope, and love of Jesus. We will use our presence and ministries in the Camps to share this Good News.
