A few days into our trip a small group of doctors from England came to stay in Bishop's compound. They were traveling by car through South Sudan and stopping to see the churches/clinics which their charity gives to. Their charity provides most of the drugs in the clinic's pharmacy so they had stopped in Nzara to see the clinic before the next shipment of drugs arrives.
The day after they arrived, they were scheduled to go visit with a Bishop in Ezo which is about 50 miles from where we were in Nzara. On their first night we were all eating together at Bishop Samuel's house when one of them got a phone call from her daughter. I heard her acknowledging her daughter on the other end "one dead... 3 seriously wounded and in hospital... a few kidnapped... several tortured..." We found out that the LRA (lords resistance army/Kony 2012) had attacked Ezo, exactly where they were supposed to be going in the morning.
Two years ago no one (myself included) had any idea what the LRA was, but in early 2012 within a period of a few weeks, it seemed like the whole world suddenly knew about the LRA and Joseph Kony from the “Kony 2012” campaign created and sponsored by the non-profit Invisible Children. While this campaign brought great awareness, most people soon forgot about it as quickly as they cared, as is typical with many Americans when it comes to anything important or devastating happening in Africa.
Although I was very aware of the past atrocities committed by Kony and his LRA before going to Africa, actually hearing what they had just done only a few hours from where I was staying was a feeling I cannot find the words to fully describe. Inisde, emotions transitioned in an oddly calm manner which was such a contrast to the adrenaline pumping thoughts that were going through my mind while I listened and processes the things I had just heard. I felt shock and fear as my thoughts raced... What if they came here next? What if they see Courtney and I, would they leave us unharmed because we are American? Probably not. Ok so what would they do to us then... kill us? kidnap us? rape? torture? horrible things I can't think of?
Then I stopped myself and took a breath because I remembered we are in one of the safest places, if not the safest, in all of South Sudan.
Nzara is home to military bases for the South Sudanese army (SPLA) and the Ugandan army (UPDF). About 5 minutes drive from where we were staying, the United States Army has a base with special forces troops stationed there who are working with the local militaries. I met several of the guys during my trip and they were incredibly kind and helpful. The first time we met, some of them they gave me their phone numbers and said "If you or any other americans run into trouble, just give us a call". I felt very safe and protected in knowing they had my back for whatever the reason. I know the Bishop would never have us come to visit if it was unsafe, nor would I be inviting friends & family to go there, but its comforting knowing if something unexpected happens our very own military is right there to help us.
Later on I went back to my hut to go to sleep. Nighttime in Africa is a good time for thinking. Its an active quiet as the night air is filled with sounds of crickets and light bugs glow flickering on and off. I lay in my bed under the net wondering how so many other families are laying in their beds right now under their nets. They probably all get in and fall asleep, but what is it like for them when they are woken up to the sound of screaming, people being killed, women/girls being raped, children being kidnapped and then turned into child soldiers? What would a parent do if they see the LRA storm into their hut and take one of their children? How on earth do they ever go to sleep and live day to day without this a constant worry? I felt a raw sickening in my gut when I thought about the kids we had fallen in love with where we were and how beautiful perfect children just like these ones were probably among the three people who had just been kidnapped in Ezo. I'll never know exactly what or how they feel, but you can’t help but trying to imagine it when you are in the same place as them. I am amazed at their strength and don’t know how any of the people in the area can walk around, living life without constantly worrying, but they do. They have to.
Apart from that one night, I never felt scared, threatened, or worried about any security situations during our time in Africa. I'm not sharing this post to scare people because Nzara truly is a safe place, but I want to try and explain how real the LRA and war conflicts still are for people. Some of the greatest weapons in a war are not a guns or tanks, it is information, knowledge, and awareness. Invisible Children did a great job making people aware that the LRA existed and what they were doing, but as I mentioned before people quickly forget or stop caring. People may watch the news and see starving emaciated children from famine in Somalia; Some think about it for 30 seconds, some might even go online and donate money, but the next day they are complaining about having the last generation iPhone instead of the new one or going into the kitchen and saying “I’m starving and there’s nothing to eat". I admit I have done this myself, but when you start opening your eyes to the issues of the world it changes your perspective. The biggest thing I learned in Nzara was things only matter if they actually matter and you don’t need to go to Africa in order to help yourself learn this. Nothing irritates me more than people who say “I don’t like watching the news because its too sad”. So I guess its better to ignore it and not pay attention to these things happening because it might make you sad for ten seconds? No! Keep that news on even though its unpleasant because you need to know whats going on and you will survive whatever uncomfortable feeling you have during the three minute news clip. The things those people are feeling every minute of every day is more than just uncomfortable, its unimaginable. Im not saying we should make ourselves feel bad just because someone else does, but we need to watch these news stories and read the articles so the issues can be talked about more. None of us can take away the trauma people have already experienced and we personally cannot go out and capture Joseph Kony or end a famine, but it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are because ALL of us can help in some way. You have to choose to contribute and not ignore whats going on because we are all God’s children and have a responsibility to help one another. Being able to help others is a blessing!
These kinds of atrocities are happening every week, sometimes every day throughout Africa and thats not acceptable. People in the developed world have no idea its even happening, they choose not to know and those who do know choose not to talk about it. Ignoring it is almost as bad as the actual atrocity itself.
To learn more:
www.invisiblechildren.com
www.warchild.org.uk/issues/the-lords-resistance-army
