Research Trip

While we have spent time in Rumbek reestablishing, to some extent, the Baptist Mission presence; our main reason for being in South Sudan is to do research.  The goal of this research is to evaluate the extent of the spread of the gospel message among the people of South Sudan – if you will – to see how many waffle holes have no syrup – and how we can fill those holes with syrup!  In order to do this, we have to move around to different areas of South Sudan. 
One recent trip we made ended up being somewhat of a false start.



We planned a two-three day trip south and west.  Our first day out saw us travelling down a wonderful road – if only every road in S. Sudan could be as good as this one! With the landscape green and lush and the road smooth, we were anticipating a wonderful trip.  We broke up our journey often stopping at villages along the way to ask questions about languages spoken and church availability, progressing straight south; there were no intersecting roads.  After driving some three hours south we were nearing our first trading center type town; here we would turn west and continue on to larger towns, but first we would have to cross a bridge.

Well, imagine our surprise when 500 ft. before the bridge we come upon a sign which says “Road Closed”.  We pull over to the side and walk up the road to the bridge where a man is hammering away at some old cement with a sledge hammer and another is replacing rebar.  We look at each other and sigh, both thinking the same thought, why didn’t they put a sign three hours back up the road to let people know. As this is the main bridge on this road and there are no intersecting roads to detour our western minds said – tell us earlier!!

We asked about going around, an alternate route, but there was no other way – unless of course we adopt the man’s plan in the picture to the right.  He slung his bicycle over his shoulder and forded the river – we weren’t willing to try it!

As we got back into the car the sky opened up to a deluge of rain – oh boy!  I have neglected to mention that during the last hour’s journey the road had deteriorated drastically with large potholes a foot or more deep spanning almost the entire width of the road. We looked at each other with a grimace – a few years ago we might have seen this as a fabulous 4-wheeling opportunity – ah well – there was nothing for it, we had to start back, if we stayed where we were we would be stuck there overnight, if not literally STUCK there!

What a wonderful way to spend our 30th anniversary – I truly mean it – in God’s will, doing His work.