This baobab tree is just a stone's throw away from the old SIM Hospital in Doro, which is being restored and opened as Memorial Health Care Center.

Tens of thousands of Mabaan people returning to the Doro region of Southern Sudan are living out the parable proclaimed by the baobab tree: Out of death, life. Out of destruction, new growth.

Part of the Rebuilding Southern Sudan: Church and Nation program, the SIM Health team is working to meet the urgent need for compassionate Christ-centered health care among the Mabaan—a people who have lived a lifetime without help or hope.

Death on the Doorstep

An emaciated child arrived at Doro in a young mother’s arms this week. The frail little body was arched stiffly back, seizures continuous, lungs rattling with pneumonia, heart beating faintly. The father and grandmother accompanied little “Nanche” from far-away Shetta. For three weeks, malaria had ravaged unchecked. Not trusting the arabic-speaking medic near the market, they opted for local witchdoctor’s herbs, cuts, and incantations.

Now it was far too late. We hoped and prayed, starting IV fluids and medication. We hoped against hope. We watched in vain for miraculous intervention. Within hours, the baby died. Our friend Nehemiah prayed for them; Grandmother gently wrapped the tiny lifeless body and away she went, family trailing sadly behind.

	Missionary nurse Grace Womack gives medicine to a sick child.

Broken Families

When Stephen, a student at our Accelerated Learning Program school, helped me dig a pit at Doro, he told me his story. Born into a family of ten children more than 20 years ago, the war changed everything for him.

When the soldiers and guns appeared, they ran for their lives. Now he and his sister are the only remaining children. Death took the others. His parents are aging, the village destroyed; friends, heritage, security, gone. James, the other young man helping us, was one of 12 siblings. He lost 10 brothers and sisters.

Offering Hope

There’s a worship song we sing, perhaps too glibly: “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the Name of the Lord!” It may not be possible to empathize with the suffering of Stephen and James, or the family of Nanche; to really understand their pain. We must bring these who hurt into the Presence of the Suffering Savior.

This is the SIM Health strategy in Upper Nile, South Sudan. Our commitment and our calling is

• compassionate Christ-centered medical care;
• training for community health workers;
• village health care and community development;
• treatment for malnutrition, tuberculosis and leprosy; and
• evangelism and discipleship to strengthen the Church.

Pray

• for the six students who are being trained at the Community Health Worker Training School to understand all that they learn so they will be well-equipped to serve their people.
• thanking God that the SPLA soldiers have vacated the old hospital building so the renovations can begin.
• for the builders who are working to rebuild the ruins of the old SIM Hospital at Doro.
• for the growing team at Doro to work together well to meet the needs of the Mabaan people.