Kuoth Ja Thin

Since meeting Nyabuol over a year ago, I have always known her to be “ciek mi buom buom”, or a strong woman, full of life as she is hilarious and very joyful. After being reunited with Nyabuol at the refugee camp, she shared with us all that had occurred since we had seen her in December.

There was a dispute with her son-in-law regarding the dowry paid for her daughter. As a result, her-son-in law shot her. When she was shot, she passed out and was taken to the MSF (doctors without borders) compound in town. The bullet entered through stomach and exited through her back. Her wounds were so bad that she was flown to another MSF location in South Sudan for better care.

Nyabuol remained there for a few months, having many surgeries to repair her mangled organs. When finally released from the hospital, she walked for 10 long days back to Nasir, with little to no food. Shortly after reaching Nasir, she was relocated to the refugee camp where we were reunited with her.

As Nyibol shared her story, she paused periodically to look up, point to the sky and say “Kuoth ja thin” which means “God is there”.

Nyabuol now walks with a limp and battles infection from the bullet wound. Nyabuol was a very thin woman to begin with, but after all this she is even smaller. However, she is still incredibly strong, and she hasn’t lost her humor or her joy.

Nyabuol regularly talks about the time that she “died” and how God saved her life. When I see the scar that covers the entire length of her stomach and the hole in her back from the bullet exit, I can’t help but think that she really shouldn’t be here with us today. She is a constant reminder that “Kuoth ja thin”.

Pumpkin cooking (Nyibuol on right in green jacket)

Nyabuol (green dress) teaching me Nuer tribal dances

Finding Nyabuol

On our return to Gambella in July, our desire was to find all of our Nasir employees. We had been praying earnestly that God would work to bring the others to us, much like he had with our guard and compound manager.

Soon after our return, we receive word that one of the ladies who carried water for us, Nyabuol, was in a refugee camp nearby. We knew that she had been shot by her son-in-law in March, but until now we had no idea where she was.

Early one Saturday morning, Laura, Keisha and I made the 4 hour bumpy ride to Matar, a border town with South Sudan situated very near to a refugee camp, in hopes of finding Nyabuol. We knew that finding Nyabuol in the midst of thousands of displaced people would be difficult, if not impossible. If we were to in fact find her, it would be miracle.

Car ride to Matar

As we made our way along the bumpy, muddy road in the land cruiser, we received an exciting text from Jared who had remained back in Gambella with the kids. His text said that Nyaret, the other lady who carried our water in Nasir, had randomly shown up on the compound! This was an answer to prayer. We had tried to find out information regarding her whereabouts, but had come up with nothing. To have her just walk onto the compound the same day that we went to find Nyabuol wasn’t just a coincidence.

Full of anticipation, we made it to the receiving grounds of the first refugee camp. People immediately began to recognize us from Nasir, making it easy to ask about Nyabuol. Many had seen her there recently but no one knew her exact location.

We continued on to Matar to see if we could find anything more. Reaching the main part of town, we decided to split up into two groups to cover more ground. After just 10 minutes of searching, Keisha and Laura walked up with a tall thin boy. They introduced him as Nyabuol’s son. He remembered us from Nasir and said that Nyabuol was in a different camp and that he could take us to her.

We found Nyabuol's son, Guan Neer! (tall boy next to Keisha)

We all piled into the landcruiser and headed to the camp. However, it was decided that it was best for us khawajas (white people) to wait outside the camp, as it is very difficult to be admitted to the camp if you’re not a registered aid worker or a displaced person. So Laura, Keisha and I sat under a tree with some donkeys, anxiously waiting.

On our way with Nyabuol's son

Finally, after what seemed like ages, the land cruiser pulled up, the door opened, and out came Nyabuol! The reunion was surreal. She came back to Gambella with us that day, and we were reunited with Nyaret soon after. Nyabuol and Nyaret are currently working for us here in Gambella.

Keisha teaching Nyaret and Nyebuol about frogs