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Photo of the author, Jon Waterhouse, courtesy Mary Marshall.
I consider myself very fortunate to be involved with the Alaska Sudan Medical Project. Working with this amazing group of volunteers for the past few years has been an eye-opening and challenging experience.
This group was formed in 2007 when Dr. Jack Hickel from Anchorage saw for himself the extent of the medical need in Old Fangak in what would become South Sudan, and decided that Alaskans could help the people in this community a world away through aid in the construction of a health center, wells, and a latrine.
Throughout the new year, I’m looking forward to rejoining the crew and the villagers in Old Fangak, which I’ve written about in earlier Healing Journey posts.
The Work Is Just Beginning
South Sudan, the world’s newest country, is also a country with the greatest of needs. Now that independence has been achieved, the real work begins. As a quick review of history shows, building a country is a long process and the hurdles can be staggering. Fortunately, through the kindness of several determined Alaskans, the work is being helped along, slowly but steadily.
The video above will introduce you to a portion of this group of volunteers who have crossed the globe to join people and cultures, working side by side as they build a better future for the people of the new South Sudan. As the filmmaker Todd Hardesty put it, “By joining with their community, they know that the people of Alaska care.”
It seems to me that this is a good time of year to reflect on what we have, and on what we can achieve.
