GET UNDER YOUR BED!! GUNSHOTS!!!

Last night around 11:30 PM. gun shots started very close to my house. For about 2 full minutes there was shooting continuously.
Then after that a few more.
I was still awake as I had been speaking on the phone until 11:00 PM and was reading my book.
I slowly got up and went to the window.
The owner of the compound where I live was quietly but quickly collecting all his belongings from outside and he and his 3 wives were still chatting but working to "close" the compound.
The midwife from Uganda happened to be sleeping at my house instead of her usual place at the CMMB compound because we had been told that there were insecurity issues this week. She did not feel safe at the CMMB compound so she came to my house.
We have been told that the local "Arrow Boys" who are the Zande rebels against the soldiers, are in the bush and are looting and stealing from people to survive in the "bush".
She came to my bedroom door and informed me that I should get under my bed and close all the windows.
Also I had just dialed a friend to inquire if that friend had also heard the gunshots. My friend had not. But also told me to close all my windows and get under the bed.
Annet the midwife called the CMMB administration in Yambio and they told her to not go outside the house. (Thanks for stating the obvious)
A few more gunshots were heard.
That was it.
This morning as usual I got up at 6:00 AM and went walking to Mass. Everyone greeted me as if nothing happened but I knew they were all talking about the gunshots.
I found out when I went to work that the "Arrow Boys" had been in the "bush" and had demanded supplies from the local Commissioner and he did not comply.
So they went to the solar panels of our ENTIRE WATER SUPPLY in Ezo and stole them. Now we will soon have absolutely no water.
They do not realize that they are hurting the people. Their people, whom they claim to be protecting. Not the Commissioner, what does he care. He has people to bring him water.
I am so saddened that we will have no water because of this reason.
Because of this "insecurity" the hospital is so different today and the past 2 weeks.
We did have office patients today in our Obstetrics and Gynecology Surgery department. But very few.
Of course still NO Gynecology Surgery patients at the hospital. They ran to the "bush" to wait for the insecurity to finish.
The entire week only 2 women delivered at the hospital, the rest are delivering at home or worse in the "bush" then come after delivery for complications only.
This makes me sad because my favorite patients are all the pregnant ones. I love these wonderful, funny, joyful loving mothers and mothers to be.
How conflict is so cruel to women and children. More so than to the men who start it.
By the way one complication was a 16 year old who delivered her first baby in the "bush" and came to our facility because of bleeding. Well the little patient had a fourth (4th) degree tear. Which in non-medical language is she tore herself all the way to her rectum.
Thank God in my residency, one of my senior residents, Dr. Creighton Likes III who is now a Fertility specialist in South Carolina taught me how to repair a 4th degree, it is not common. Since residency I have only had to repair about 25 and all have been during my Mission trips and volunteer experiences.
So since this girl was only 16, and this will affect her the rest of her life,  I was very glad that the CMMB midwife from Uganda had the prudence to call me.
Can you imagine if this girl had come to deliver in the hospital? She would have probably not had this complication.
No wonder why people speak of stress in war time. Even though I do not really fear and feel safe, still the constant rumors and talk have even taken their toll on me. I now understand in a very limited and small way the reason for Post traumatic stress syndrome.
Funny Story:
My friend that I told you about that I was speaking to on the phone, when I told that friend that Annet told me to close the windows and I feel that I will die of the heat.
My friend who I had woken up from sleep did not understand that I said from the heat and said to me, "You will not die!!" in a very serious manner.
At least that caused me to laugh the rest of the night.
Thank God for humor and laughter and great friends!!!!
Please keep me in your prayers.
But MORE importantly pray for the people of South Sudan and for the Arrow Boys.
That we will soon have true and lasting PEACE!!!
God bless beautiful South Sudan. This is a beautiful country and the people are even more beautiful!!!
I want to live here forever..........