Hunger in South Sudan

This is Marg. Before I came to South Sudan I only knew the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan. Most of them are tall and all of them are very slender. I mistakenly thought it was their genetic makeup to be tall and thin. What we have discovered here is that height varies and tall is valued. Men still pay dowries for a bride. A tall woman gets more cows than a short woman. I figure at my height I might get a goat! But the weight is not as much genetic as it is related to hunger. Most South Sudanese are very slender, some emaciated. The ones who are not thin either work for the government in a high position or an NGO. The government appointees and NGO folks are the only ones who have enough money to eat well. Eating one meal a day is very typical, especially here in Rumbek. This means that 99% of the people are considered to be suffering from food insecurity. There is no complaining, just accepted as a way of life. Food is very expensive here so most people eat what is in season. Some have small gardens. However, most eat what they can afford at the market. The three "nice" restaurants (have food available without calling first to reserve food)are part of centers for NGOs and near the airport. Without electricity other restaurants cannot refrigerate anything so they only prepare what they know they can sell. The food at the "nice" restaurants (outdoor settings) is twice as expensive as the other restaurants. They are also the ones who serve more western food like pizza and apple pie. NGO are non-government organizations, non-profit groups. It gives the impression to the people living here that NGO's are wealthy. The folks traveling with us have had to explain to people that Bev and I are not like other NGO. We are paying our own way and do not have alot of money. That doesn't not seem to have made a lot of difference. Alas! Well, day three of school went a bit better than yesterday. Students and teachers continue to learn to work together. Some students who came yesterday did not come today. We had a couple of brand new students. Nailing jello to a wall:) But God is good and we just work with whoever sits before us - all precious souls!