As I continue to reflect on my journey to South Sudan in January, I am amazed at the strong effect it has had on my life. The timing was so right. I had just finished a commitment at our main residence, and the path ahead in ministry was not clear. I jumped at this chance, knowing little of what it entailed, yet convinced that I was somehow called to be part of the group that set out on such a challenging undertaking. I had little fear of the danger of entering a country threatened by war, or of the distance we would be from the amenities of life we take for granted. I trusted the experience and careful planning of those responsible for the trip, and their care and concern far exceeded my expectations.
What I met there in that very remote area were a people who had almost nothing to live on, but a people who struggled together to make a better life. Their spirit of hospitality and gratitude was based on a strong communal bond through which they found hope in circumstances that were quickly deteriorating. They welcomed us and acknowledged our presence among them with joy and celebration. The atmosphere here in this isolated area within the state of Aweil was very safe and secure for us, in contrast to the general upheaval in the country.
The people we encountered had responded to the choice between our coming to them or sending the cost of the trip which they could use to meet their needs after a year of famine. They chose our presence as a greater support. From them I learned the power of presence as a catalyst in the support of the poor. I had had no history of involvement with CASS, had done nothing for these people, and yet I was thanked profusely for my presence among them. Because I was there, they said they would not be forgotten. Such an experience has given me a path to walk as I grow older and less active in my ministry. The power of presence, which gives opportunities for listening, encouraging and affirming the poor and suffering, offers the gift of hope. I am not sure what I was seeking when I prayed for guidance in making a new commitment, taking on a new responsibility, but my experience in South Sudan has somehow changed that request. Presently I feel challenged to a greater awareness of those around me, a greater openness to their needs, and a new way of life that gives me time to listen deeply and respond.
Joan Driscoll, CSJ