Let me share with you some of the challenges faced by pastors in refugee camps in northern Uganda and South Sudan. Most South Sudanese are less educated and do not work in refugee camps. They were forced to leave their land where they grew their food. The civil war in the country made economic development impossible. Recently, the government of South Sudan declared complete bankruptcy, including the central bank. They lost the inability to control the pricing market in the country. Now the prices of the most essential foodstuffs rise daily.
Now, due to quarantine, many families cannot feed themselves. This week alone, I received over a hundred calls from refugee camps asking for help with food and other basic necessities. One pastor named Godfrey Lozo from Nimule in South Sudan said: “Listen, Pastor Dima, cornmeal is the only thing I have left is, my family is starving to death.”
I don’t know what to do in such a situation. Many times, I tried to hide, not to answer phone calls, so as not to hear stories about hunger and death. But as soon as I turn on the phone, thousands of people call me asking for help. As a pastor, I decided not to turn off the phone anymore, because these are my brothers and sisters. Pray with me for this daily struggle so that I can be steadfast. Pray that God will provide us during this difficult time. Pray for refugees from South Sudan and others who have the same need for their daily bread. Pray for peace for the people of South Sudan. We have suffered enough and are tired of wandering. Help us!
Ministry in Uganda – Edward Dima