Missionaries preparing for return trip to Africa

by Peter Jakey–

Managing Editor

The circumstances have changed, but the mission remains the same: help the people of the war-torn African country of South Sudan to a better way of life.

St. James Lutheran Church’s Rev. Denise Scheer and her husband John Musick are planning a return trip to the country in June. They will take items to its countrymen and women who have fled from their villages because a new civil war has started and they are now living in refugee camps.

The country, which is among the newest on the globe, has a fragile security situation.

Missionaries who had been allowed to assist the people in villages are now trying to re-establish in the United Nations camps. Food has been scarce and fighting has ensued, at times outside the camp fences.

“We have always been interested in global affairs, global concerns,” said Scheer, who has been the pastor of St. James and Trinity Lutheran Church in Ocqueoc Township for four years.

South Sudan was emerging from two decades of civil war that left over one million civilians dead and over four million displaced.

This humanitarian catastrophe resulted in one of the highest maternal and child death rates in the world.

Musick and Scheer were assisting with the building of a clinic for high-risk pregnancies and other basic medical care before the new crisis emerged in December.

“It’s an utter catastrophe,” said Musick. “The reverberations are going to keep rippling for years.”

“We had been working there for years, even before the country got its independence and voted,” said Scheer. “We knew it could very possibly lead to war again in that country. As devastating as it is, you still do what you can in a small corner and you make a difference.

“It’s seems somehow, when you talk about Africa, the needs are so overwhelming, why bother.”

She believes it is important to continue the work. “Because you begin to see progress. You keep making a difference where you can,” said Scheer. She said the needs are great.

Church members were encouraged to bring one item for the birth kit each week of Lent.

The kits include: a nail brush; small bottle of hand sanitizer, hand towel, one shoe lace, sterile gauze pads; single-edge razor blade; and a small flashlight.

Other Rogers City churches also have been getting involved and donating items and dresses.

There are 100 birth kits and 80 dresses ready to go; however, the cost of the extra baggage was still in question.

“We have got in touch with a group that does trauma healing and trains people to be trauma healers,” said Musick. “We are going to take that trauma course before we go and emphasize the work.” The camp is 85 percent women and children.

“That’s what we will be doing,” he added. “We will be working with the women and their trauma and try to get them to heal fro

m that.” They also will be involved in teaching basic education to children.

Musick was featured in an Advance article last year when he went to the country last March with nurse midwives to teach some of the village women birthing skills.

“It is interesting that one of the woman that was trained as a midwife in the village, is in this refugee camp,” said Scheer. “We are hoping to work with her to set up classes where she can begin training other women in the camp.”

The couple plans to return later this year with nurse midwives to continue the teaching process and make a difference.

The June trip will be for three weeks.