Yes.
It was that dramatic.
I was at church on Saturday August 1st. The CMMB truck pulls up at the church. Thank God I had finished my talk on of all topics, "Peace and Reconciliation".
The driver tells me that I need to come with him right now because there is an emergency. I thought he meant at the hospital so I jumped in the truck and off we went.
When we passed the Hospital, I asked why did he not stop. He told me that the CMMB Program manager came to Ezo and told him to come and get me.
Now I knew there was fighting between 2 tribes in Yambio which is a 5-6 hour car drive from where we are. Because Friday night when I slept at the church because we had an all night prayer vigil a friend who was in Yambio texted me to pray for him because there was "War in Yambio".
But this happens all the time here in South Sudan.
Ezo is always peaceful thank God.
The Program Manager told me to pack my bags because he was evacuating me to Nzara which is the closest town with an Air Strip. But it is a 4-5 hour car drive in the direction towards Yambio. But they felt it was safer to have me near an airplane that could take me to safety..
Now Ezo is quiet. There is NO trouble in Ezo. In fact it is known for being peaceful.
So I said NO. I would not be evacuated. There is not trouble here.
But he said that the 2 tribes that are fighting in Yambio are the 2 tribes here and the insecurity is so great and so many shootings in Yambio between the tribes that trouble could erupt at any time.
So 3 people asked me to please go without a fight or discussion. So not to make a huge production and also remembering the words of my family members (do not try to be a hero, be safe) I left my beautiful Ezo to go to Nzara.
It was actually a great experience although I missed Ezo and felt badly to leave my 3 Hysterectomies waiting for me on Monday.
The Comboni Missionary Nuns are in Nzara. They run the hospital and the school. They are a group of Missionaries from Verona Italy and work all over the world but were founded for and work specifically in Sudan.
They were very welcoming to me. I stayed in their guest house for Volunteer Doctors. Which has indoor showers with HOT WATER!!!!!. And indoor toilets.
They have a very organized hospital compared to any other one here in this area. Unfortunately they do not have a Operating Theater (Operating Room)
I worked every day from Monday to Saturday all day long as the Nun Dr Sister Sara does.
It was fun and the people there were most kind. One of the CMMB midwives made lunch and supper for us every day.
Then after 10 days of being an IDP (Internally Displaced Person) I was driven back to Ezo. I am just kidding because I lived a "high life" compared to the real IDPs.
The welcome that I received back in Ezo was humbling. People were running to see me, to hug me and kiss me and were crying telling me how they missed me.
At church I was told to stand up and every one clapped to 5 minutes straight which is actually a long time to stand in front of 900 people clapping for you.
Sorry I did not send this sooner. But actually our INTERNET was NOT working since the day I was evacuated. It was just fixed today or paid for today. I am not sure.
Funny ending to this story. CMMB in New York was not aware that I was evacuated and when my family called to find out they were not able to give information. But my Mother who is like an undercover CIA agent remembered that I had said as I was being evacuated that I was going to the Comboni Nuns in Nzara. She contacted the Headquaters or Motherhouse as Catholics call it in Verona Italy and my little Mother was put immediately in contact with the Nuns in South Sudan!!! They sent here an email stating "We have your daughter here. She is joyful." So my Mom said she then knew that they must know me. They also said "She is sleeping here for some time" Meaning that I was there for 10 days. But of course my brother Edward said he knew they were talking about me because I love to sleep. Hahahahaha!!!!!!!
1 Thessalonians 5:18." Give thanks to God in All things for this is HIS will for you"
