Trampled Grass Chapter 2 “When Two Elephants Fight . . . “
A word from Curt Journey. We spend about half of our time on The Journey. Our Journey takes us into northern Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya. We are currently on a trip with our home church (Dry Creek Baptist LA) to their people group, the Kakwa. We’re posting chapters from our new ebook, Trampled Grass. If you enjoy the stories, please pass them on. You can download the entire book at www.creekbank.net. We’ll be posting about this week’s journey on Facebook/Twitter at #goChadan/#UpCountry Blessings on your journey. Curt Iles Chapter 2 TRAMPLED GRASS “When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that gets trampled. -African Proverb This collection of stories is not about the two elephants that are destroying our adopted country of South Sudan. We’ll leave that to the political experts. As we say back home, “I don€t have a dog (or elephant) in that fight.” My concern, as well as stories, is about the trampled grass: the innocent everyday citizens of South Sudan. “This war took away something we must have: our opportunity at education.” Ulua Camp School Boys. They are personally paying the price for the civil war that has gripped South Sudan since mid-December 2013. We’ve met these brave people in the refugee camps and settlements along the border of South Sudan and its neighbor, Uganda. These are their stories. The history and background of the current situation is complex and long. Here€s how it€s playing out presently: A power struggle exists between the two strongest men in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. Their sharing of power broke in July 2013 when President Kiir fired his entire cabinet, including Machar. Kiir is from the Dinka tribe, South Sudan’s largest tribe. Machar is from its second largest, the Nuer. The cultural facial markings of the Dinka and Nuer distinguish the tribes Learn more (http://groundreport.com/south-sudan-our-cultural-marksare- killings-us) about the two tribes and how these facial markings have played a part in the violence. The fighting is not all about ethnic allegiance, but the people you’ll meet in the following stories‚Nuer, Dinka, Shilluk, or Zande‚ were trampled by soldiers, rebels, even neighbors who viewed them as the enemy. Many lost family members. Map of South Sudan and its neighbors. Many fled south to the Ugandan border. That€s where we met them in the refugee camps and villages. They are the trampled grass. These are their stories and of the heroes who’ve reached out to them. Heroes: Once refugees, Joseph and Jessica Anyovi, have used their past experiences to help others.
Underdogs and a New Slides
Underdogs I’ve not sure I’ve ever seen anything that looked more out of place. As my grandpa said, “It was like a saddle on a pig.” Brand new shiny playground equipment in the midst of a ragtag barren refugee camp. I walked over to a swing set and pushed on it. It was cemented in the ground. Just as I thought: They’re planning on these folks being around awhile. The chains on the swings were looped out of reach of any youngsters. These refugees weren’t from South Sudan. They were Kakwa people who’ve fled nearby Democratic Congo. Another alphabet soup named rebel group was stirring things up, forcing these people across the border. The playground equipment was donated by Save the Children. I have no fault with making the lives of these children easier and a good swing can be therapeutic. I spent a good afternoon swinging our boys. “Come on, Daddy, do an underdog.”* It just seemed so odd as the camp leaders spelled out a long list of needs: closer clean water, mats to sleep on, better nutrition for the children, Bibles. I glanced at the playground items and could only shake my head. They’re sick from sleeping on the ground but have a new merry go round. Go figure. T. I. A. This is Africa. I’ve put that northern Uganda refugee camp on both my GPS and bucket list. I’m going back this summer with my grandchildren. I’m going to introduce Noah, Jude, Luke, and Maggie to some beautiful African children. We’re going to swing all afternoon under the brilliant African sun. If I feel up to it, I might even try one more underdog. * An “Underdog” is when you swing someone high and run under/past before the swinger returns. Postscript: We were at the camp with five local African church leaders. Each one shared of his own experience as a refugee. Those men and their church plan on returning to help with needs as well as lead a Bible study. Teach and heal. Teach and heal. It’s what our leader Jesus did. He still does it and often allows us to reach our hands in and take part. There are some underdogs at a isolated Ugandan refugee camp. When you come see us, I’ll take you there. In the meantime, you might want to help the ministry our friends are starting there. I’ll take you there.
