It has been 2 days since I wrote an update, I write this update from Juba, I want to thank God for allowing me to arrive here to the capital, my first time since the celebration and declaration of independence.

So far the trip has been going very well, Praise be to God.

 The last time I wrote I was in Gulu, I wake up the following day, Saturday morning and drove towards the Sudan Uganda Road, as I started I was thinking to myself now my trip got slowed down from 120 Km to 60 km an hour, that’s because of the road, it was rougher than the tarmac road from Kampala because it’s dirt  road and full of pot hole I manage to make it to the border in 1 hour and 30 minutes, now I thought to myself I wish if I drove the whole way the pervious night but I was warned it’s rough road and it’s almost dark, that’s why I have stayed the night in Gulu.

There were many trucks waiting to be cleared at the border, the line was long of heavy trucks and fuel tankers, now because I was small car I managed to get to the front of the line, again it’s because I was an ambulance!!  The Uganda Authority personnel wasn’t happy with that but he was satisfied when I agreed to park the car on the side of the road and wait for my turn to be cleared to cross the border.

I thought it was slow but later when I cross to Sudan side I had to sleep the night, that how slower the guys in my home country, I only missed one signature by 3 minutes, that I have to spent the night, my clearance agent was at the door when the Sudan Revenue border director needed to sign my clearance papers for the car to be released, this was due to Saturday was a half day.  The ambulance was under restriction till it cleared, so I couldn’t drive it in Nimule border town.

 I am so glad I waited for the exemption from the ministry of finance otherwise I would have paid at least 37% of the value of the ambulance. The process at Nyimule needs clearing agent, there are about more than 8 offices need papers works, tax and process fees to be paid, forms, stamps and signatures to be collected. I was glad they have clearance agents.

A custom officer inspected the ambulance, then the papers were sent for verification and then to calculations office to work out the taxes, then they showed me the figure that it was going to be more than 16000 USD.  I was gladly happy to show my exemption letter from the ministry of finance, with a huge sigh of relief. Praise God for the exemption!!

That night I spent in Nimule I was able to watch soccer, Chelsea played Norwich City and I enjoyed the match. The place was packed with men old and young, for sure it was a lively crowd, they ere in there part of the stadium, screaming, yelling and arguing among themselves. Africa has a love thing towards the English premiership league. It finished 3:1 to Chelsea

It was raining the following morning, I woke up excited and very rested, ready to finish the simple procedures and start my journey to Juba.  When it rains means simply no work, when the rain stop then people get out of their homes and come to their offices. So I was delayed by a half day, before I started my journey. 

Immediately leaving out the town you climb a hill, to my surprise I didn’t expect a tarmac road until I hit Juba town, but I was on a tarmac road.  I was glad and also a bit sad,  my most fun trips in Sudan was on rough roads. I was looking forward to the challenge now instead  it’s easy boring drive, well I think I spoke too soon because after one hour on the road the road really started to get muddy but not as rough as I expected.  For my disappointment it wasn’t for long either, I ran into another tarmac road, and so on tarmac  run to tarmac to tarmac……. until I got to Juba .  It good road in general, so my journey from Nimule to Juba lasted 2 1/2 hours only.

I’m staying in the Episcopal church of Sudan guest house in Juba town, and yesterday I worked on getting Agum’s adoption and some other business before getting to the last leg of my journey, which I leave today.

I thank God for sending Joseph, one of our staff from Tonj, to Juba by bus so we would drive together back to Tonj.  He arrived after spending one night in the bush after the bus he was using got stuck in the mud. I told him that what I was looking for, I am now excited, that’s the Sudan I know!!

Tonight we hope to make it to Yirol, and tomorrow we should be in Tonj.

Thanks for praying.

Sabet