Christmas  is  coming  and  we  all  have  various  expectations  for  a  'happy  time'.  The  world  over,  including  in South  Sudan,  atheists,  agnostics  and  many  adherents  to  other  non-­-Christian  faiths,  as  well  as  Christians,   celebrate  Christmas  holidays,  just  as  here  we  also  celebrate  all  the  Muslim  feasts.     Christmas  in  South  Sudan, nonetheless,  is   still  one  of  the  most  special  times  but  many  will  celebrate  with  very  little  this  year.     Too  many  people  here  look  very  hungry  and  are  very  hungry.  They  are  lucky  if  they  enjoy  one  meal  a day. They  are  living  a  year  of  fasting,  not  just  a  month  as  in  Ramadan.

  I  have  learned  a  new  cross-­-language   gesture:  putting  fingers  together  and  raising  them  to  one's  mouth  indicates  hunger,  'Please  help  me  to  get some  food'.  It  is  bad  enough  in  the  capital,  Juba,  but  in  country  areas  it  is  worse.  One  of  the  things that happen  when  lawlessness  increases  is  that  road  travel  becomes  unsafe.  Vehicles  are  stopped  and  all  goods of  value,  including  food,  are  stolen.  The  lucky  ones  are  those  who  escape  physical  harm.  So  it  is  hard  for traders  to  bring  food  in,  markets  and  shops  have  little  to  sell,  and  the  prices  are  inflated  of  what  little there   is  for  sale.            

 

The  salaries  of  most  teachers  are  less than  1,000  SSP  (about  $12)  per  month.  

Salaries  for  most  health  workers  have  not been  paid  for  three  months.....         

The  unlucky  have  no  work;  the  lucky  ones  have  jobs.  The  luckier  ones  get  paid  for  their  work;  the  very lucky   ones  receive  pay  increases  to  compensate  for  the  devaluation  of  the  local  currency.        

The  Christmas liturgies  will  be  over-­-crowded  and  celebrations  will  be  buoyant.  The  people   have  learned  to  be  grateful for  what  little  they  have,  including  the  gift  of  life  itself.  South  Sudanese  know   what  it  is  like  to  be  born in  a  stable,  to  endure  suffering  but  to  enjoy  celebrating  together.  

Br Bill

1. Nurse and midwifery tutors, or Clinical supervisors, to live and work in CHTI in Wau.

2. A trained nurse to assist in clinic in rural, Riimenze community, preferably one who can drive.

3. Tutors for primary teacher training in any areas of the curriculum, but especially for Science,     Professional Studies, or Early Childhood development in Yambio

4. A religious committed to pastoral ministry in the area of Justice and peace

5. Semi-retired religious happy to be support persons in community, overseeing hospitality in Juba or Riimenze communities.

6. A teacher of philosophy in the major seminary in Juba.

We thank you for considering your participation in the projects in this time of big needs in South Sudan.

For these candidacies please contact our office in Rome.