After the shooting incident, we found out that it was actually three men who died that day. The gunmen got away with their cash; the three victims were left for dead just outside the fence of our MAF compound.
After the shooting, I find it hard to walk past the spot where I know three people died. It is just so cruel. Also so brazen, to shoot people in broad daylight in the street for their money. But violent crime is one of the hazards in a city with such a checkered history of civil war and fighting.
After the shooting, I find I am more sensitive to the sound of guns and stories of gun-crime. I found myself feeling outraged yesterday when Grace arrived for work at our home and told us that a member of her family had been shot dead in a Juba street on Thursday afternoon. He was 18 years old. An unknown gunman suddenly let loose with his gun. Four people were left dead, others injured.
The motive was unclear: but what is
not unclear is that the repercussions are huge for many innocent people. Grace told us that her relative was drinking tea with his friend when he was caught in the line of fire. His friend, aged 22, died alongside him. A young lady from Uganda was another of the victims, busy doing her washing when she was hit, along with a school child walking home from school.
Grace related to us that she is so afraid when she goes to her home at night. She lies down and hears the gun-shots and fears for her 2 young children. Not surprisingly, when her 18 year old relative has just died. She left work early yesterday to go and meet her family for funeral preparations.
Last night, I woke at 2:30am and heard the sound of guns firing. Although we are fortunate to feel secure on the guarded MAF compound, I thought of Grace and how afraid she must feel. I also wondered who else had died last night. I feel like the shooting incident on our doorstep has made me more aware of the danger posed by the sound of gun-shots.
It is a sad fact that crime is escalating in this city where guns are plentiful.
Despite this reality, daily life carries on...
Andrew continues to be busy and enjoys his flying. He has just started up a daily work blog to give a better picture of his flying: http://andrew-liz-parker.blogspot.com
Joel tells us that his Kindergarten school is "lovely" and comes home with a huge smile every day, which is wonderful to see :-)
For Esther, Ben and I, home-schooling is getting easier. With a year's experience behind us, I can honestly say that we enjoy it (mostly!! when there are not too many maths problems and tests!!):
We enjoy the growing community of friends as we get to know more people in Juba. It is good to be part of an expanding MAF team, as well as meeting more people from outside of MAF.
Each Tuesday, I take the children swimming at a local hotel with a family from France/South Sudan who also home-school. (They are here in Juba to work with YWAM). Their 3 children match our children in age, so it is great to get together weekly for a swim!
This week, we went with our friend Sue and travelled to the hotel by rick-shaw. The walk is not far, but the sun is HOT, so it was nice to sit in a rick-shaw and saunter along with a through-breeze to cool us down!
