On Christmas Eve, tensions were high between the 40,000
refugees and their host community in Doro, South Sudan. We had seen this before as small issues
between individuals were suddenly blown up into large conflicts between entire
communities and tribes. When we woke up
on Christmas morning, we had to decide whether to allow the 25 missionaries who
served with SIM in Doro to spread out and celebrate the birth of our Savior in the
various churches that dotted the communities around us. I went to the police station with our
director and while we were there, we heard sustained gunfire coming from the
corner of the refugee camp. “It is just
a disagreement between the refugees” we were told. We were not so sure. We came back to our homes and spread the word
that we needed to stay close to our homes but we could celebrate Christmas with
the local church in Doro.
We had a wonderful service full of singing. Oh My!, how the believers love to sing. It was fun to hear Christmas songs in Arabic
because there were many I had not heard before. Like our Christmas hymns, you don’t usually
sing them unless it is the Christmas season.
Our director gave the message honoring the love of Christ who humbled
himself, emptied himself and came to live among us and ultimately sacrifice himself
for us. We rejoiced as about 20 people
were baptized after the service.
Those seated are about to be baptized |
The boys were having some stomach issues so Bethany stayed home with them. Instead of hanging around after the service, I went home at about 2 pm. Bethany and I were taking a nap when suddenly Isaac came into our room at 5 pm to say that he could hear shooting. This was unlike anything I had heard before. There were so many shots and they were getting closer to our homes. I quickly called our director and he ordered everyone to lie on the floor in their homes and then to gather together when the fighting was over. We live in three separate compounds surrounded by chain-link fence. The compounds are close to each other but separated by about 100 meters between them. We would end up spending the next 2 and a half days separated into three groups, laying on the floor, wondering when the next round of fighting would come and when we would be able to get safely to the UN compound and be evacuated out.
Working on security while behind the walls and having lunch |
The boys hanging out at the UN waiting for the planes |
On December 27, we were able to make it over to the UN
compound and be evacuated out by some incredibly brave and able AIM AIR
pilots. As we lifted off the ground, we
were able to see for the first time the incredible destruction and eerie
emptiness of the village where we have been living for the past year and a
half.
It took two airplanes to bring out all the SIM missionaries. Here we are flying together. |
My teammate, Christiane Fox, posted these lines from I Heard
the Bells on Christmas Day, “And in despair I bowed by head, There is no
peace on Earth I said. For hate is
strong and mocks the song, of Peace on Earth, good will to men.” My mind has been playing these words over and
over as we process what has happened in Doro.
How could this happen? Aren’t the refugees from Sudan suffering enough? Isn’t the host community suffering
enough? And on Christmas day! Somehow I felt like hate won. Evil was dancing .
Henry Longfellow |
But this story isn’t new.
Henry Longfellow wrote I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day as he
struggled with the pain of evil and suffering in his own life. His wife had burned to death after an
accident, he was badly burned trying to save her, and his son was injured in
the American Civil War. The United
States was ripped in two and hundreds of thousands had died and were continuing
to die in the war.
Hate is strong and is a mocker. This is just as true today as it was for
Henry Longfellow. In fact, going back
3,000 years, we hear the same voice echoed.
“Help, Lord, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from
among men.” (Psalm 12) David certainly
felt like evil was winning the day.
Habakkuk lamented several hundred years later, “How long, O Lord, must I
call for help, but you do not listen? Or
cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there
is strife and conflict abounds.” (Habakkuk 1:2-3)
U2 cries out in their song Sunday Bloody Sunday, “How
long must we sing this song?” decrying the violence in Ireland and throughout
the world.
U2 singer Bono |
Our hope. Your hope
and mine. David’s and Habakkuk’s. Henry Longfellow’s, Bono’s, and the believers’
in Doro. Our hope is the same. We declare it in faith. We shout it in hope. We live it out despite the pressure to give
in to despair. Listen to these refrains
as each of these writers speaks truth to themselves:
David: “But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart
rejoices in your salvation. I will sing
to the Lord for he has been good to me.” (Psalm 13)
Habakkuk: “…though the olive crop fails and the fields produce
no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The sovereign Lord is my strength…(Habakkuk
3)
Henry Longfellow: “Then
pealed the bells more loud and deep: ‘God is not dead; nor doth he sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with
peace on earth, good will to men’”.
Bono: “The real battle yet begun, to claim the victory that
Jesus won”.
David and Habakkuk trusted in what the Savior promised, while we
rejoice in the Savior given on Christmas day so long ago. Our hope lies in Him. Our Christmas was spent remembering that Savior born to us who would defeat our enemy.
He is the one, and the only one, that has promised to confront, battle,
defeat, and destroy the evil that exists.
He alone can deliver on the promise to ‘wipe away every tear from our
eye’.
So our Christmases weren’t that
different. Whether in safety or in
danger, we remembered the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether in comfort or in pain, we hope in
that child born so humbly. Whether in joy
or in sorrow, we look to him who is our Prince of Peace.
Worshiping the Light of the World as a team Christmas Eve |
-Eli for the Fader Family
Here are some links to read the full lyrics of the songs:
I heard the Bells: http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Fellowship/Edit_I.Heard.the.Bells.html
7 comments:
Amaaaaaaazing!!!!!
Thanks for the update, Eli!
Thank you for sharing. Your words are powerful. Praying for you and all those affected by this.
Keeping you and your family in prayer while grieving that you had to go through this. Grieving even more that people from the communities you served in the name of Jesus have been harmed by this fighting. Thanking God that you are physically unharmed. Gut wrenched that South Sudan continues on this path.
I've just been working my way through Revelation and there is a continual theme of how evil will prevail for a time but we can take heart that Jesus will prevail in the end. It seems like we all have to keep reminding ourselves of this Truth in the midst of the dark times.
God has given you incredible insight, Eli. I will be marinating in your profound telling of this experience for a long while. Praying for our beloved Fader family tonight and every night.
Dear Eli, I read your post through tears. Tears of sorrow for the loss of yet another home for your family. Tears of grief for lives lost and refugees scattered and frightened. Yes, I cry with you, haven't they suffered enough? I also feel the same hope that you hold to, the hope of our Savior who will make all things right. We wait for Him and we trust Him in the dark knowing the Light will come. We love you so dearly, Fader Family!
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