My friends, Malesh and Rezig, often attend the local English service with me on Sundays at the main Episcopal Church Cathedral. I've started inviting some young guys to my nearby home after the service for informal fellowship and discussion. Some weeks there will be five or six people, some weeks two or three, but Malesh and Rezig come almost every Sunday. They are a joy and delight to be around as they ponder life's issues, including the future of Sudan, health care or lack there of, and the current state of youth in Mundri and why the youth do or do not come to church. I've learned many things from these young men.
Today I asked them to teach me the new South Sudan national anthem. Independence day for the Republic of South Sudan is on 9th July, 2011. All the local schools have been teaching the students the anthem, and Rezig is in a local secondary school (high school) so he knows the anthem well. With his help, Malesh and I sang loudly and proudly, though with many mistakes in pitch and pauses.
It was a great day, full of laughter and excitement as they, and I, think about the possibilities for this new county, South Sudan. I admit that I am often cynical about the future outcome, as Sudan is riddled with a history of war, poverty, and staggeringly dismal health statistics, but someday things will change. God has promised that. The change may not be according to my timeline, and it may not occur during my life time, but someday there will be no more war, or disease, or death and despair. Hopefully we all see glimpses of that in our everyday lives, and one day, all things will be made new.
I've tried unsuccessfully multiple times, and spent multiple hours trying to get the video uploaded, but have had no success...I'll keep trying...
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