Reconnoitering Narus

Toposa people at food distribution

Camels along the roadside. No, this is not a cigarette ad.

Last weekend Dennis, Maynor and I made the approximately 5 hour trip eastward across the diocese to Narus. Travelling in Sudan is always an adventure, and this trip was no exception. Along the way we saw a large crowd of Toposa people gathered for a food distribution near Kapoeta, and a small herd of camels shaded under a tree nearby. Just as we were arriving in Narus we got a flat and had to replace and repair the tire. That process revealed a leak of differential fluid on the engine, which necessitated a trip across the border to Kenya to have two differential seals replaced. I’m grateful I paid attention to the little “nudge” I got from the Holy Spirit before we left to bring my passport along.

St. Bakhita Primary School

Maynor in a classroom.

Br. Augustine showing us one of the air raid bunkers at the school.

The purpose of our trip to Narus was to prepare for the visit of the mission team in May. We plan to lead a youth retreat for the older students in the cluster of four Catholic schools in the town: St. Bakhita Primary School for Girls, St. Daniel Comboni Primary School for Boys, St. Bakhita Mixed Secondary School and the St. Joseph Vocational Training Center. Br. Augustine of the Brothers of St. Martin De Porres is coordinating things on the ground there. We met with him, Sr. Edwine from the St. Bakhita schools and Fr. Iliardo, senior priest in the local St. Joseph’s Parish.

The steeple of St. Joseph Church, Narus.

Fr. Iliardo celebrating Sunday Mass.

Dennis teaching Bread of Life songs to the students.

On Suday morning after Mass we had a little introductory session with some of the students in which we explained the nature of the retreat and taught some songs. The youth were very receptive and responsive and seem very much motivated for the retreat. The schools are facing some challenges though. South Sudan is in the process of integrating its own calendar and curriculum in schools like these which had been following the norms of the countries on which they border (in this case, Kenya). They also experienced some recent cuts in food aid support, creating a bit of a crisis for them in terms of being able to feed their students. For that reason they decided to conclude the first trimester early. Classes will begin in late May, the Monday after Pentecost, right after we conclude the retreat.

Impromptu road crew - sounds like an alternative music band's name.

On the way back we passed through Kapoeta and spent the night with Fr. Arkangelo in Our Lady of Sorrows parish. We arrived just as a major political campaign rally was concluding. As we neared Torit we joined the impromptu road crew of passengers of stopped vehicles to position some pieces of heavy duty scrap sheet metal over gaps in a bridge created by wood that had rotted away.

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