A Letter from Debbie & Del Braaksma in Sudan
November 16, 2009
Dear Friends,
This time it was my turn to travel to the field to facilitate two workshops dealing with issues of trauma healing and conflict resolution and to distribute information about the election process to take place in April, 2010. I went to Pochalla, which is located right on the Sudan-Ethiopian border. It felt like I was on an island! Pochalla is virtually cut off from the rest of Sudan. There are no roads leading connecting it to other towns or cities in Sudan. All the goods in the market come from Ethiopia by bicycle, a six-hour trip to the nearest village where food items and clothing can be found! There is only one secondary school (high school) in the entire county, and it only has two grades. There is only one vehicle in the entire area but it hardly moves because getting fuel is a real challenge, as you can imagine.
Del Braaksma conducting a workshop on trauma healing and reconciliation in the isolated Pochalla region of southern Sudan.
Not only is Pochalla very isolated, but during the last year it has experienced considerable inter-ethnic violence with a neighboring group. There has been killing, cattle rustling, and abduction of children. The people who participated in the workshops—local church leaders, women’s groups, youth, and government workers—were eager not only to learn how to deal with trauma but also how to resolve conflict. People also wanted to know more about the election process. Of the 80 community leaders who attended the workshops, only about seven people had ever participated in an election. And these were people 40 or 50 years old! Understanding elections and accountable governance is important to the process of enabling communities to elect good leaders who can promote peace and development in their areas. It was so great to have Othow Okoti, a RECONCILE Peace Institute graduate, assisting me with the facilitation. It was wonderful to see his confidence as he shared his Sudanese perspective with the participants.
Workshop participants practicing for the upcoming elections by forming a line at a mock polling station. The April 2010 election will be he first voting experience for majority of participants.
RECONCILE includes biblical principles in all its teachings. The trauma healing included the use of “Healing the Wounds of Trauma: How the Church can Help,” a book focused on the African setting that emphasizes the need to look to God for strength and healing. It was amazing to hear the participants say that in many crises it was God who brought them through and that their continued reliance on God has brought healing. I helped them look at how they can be “wounded healers” and help those around them recover from trauma. The workshop closed with a special ceremony, which included traditional dancing. A highlight for me was receiving a “traditional blessing” from a local king (the Anywak people are one of the few people groups in Sudan who still have kings). Part of the blessing included the king spitting on top of my head, a new experience for me!
Del received a traditional blessing from the Anywak king.
On Sunday I worshiped at the local Presbyterian church. It was amazing to hear the beauty of the girls’ choir and the enthusiastic singing of the congregation. I was really touched by God’s presence as I felt His spirit during the worship. What was again made so clear to me is that the mystery of God and His love for us through Christ transcends all language and cultures, that no matter who we are or where God has placed us on this earth, God’s heart longs for His people to know and worship Him.
Debbie and I thank you for your prayers and support, which enable us to be a part of the work of RECONCILE as we seek to point people in Sudan to the reconciliation found in God alone and which enables His people to also be reconciled with those we live with.
May God bless you!
Del Braaksma
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 32
