“How could this be true and no one is talking about this?”

This was the question that haunted me when I first learned of the civil war in Sudan in 2001. The atrocities, starvation and disease described by news reports left me horrified. I searched for information and although it was scarce, it was all true.

This 40-year war, waged between the south and north parts of Sudan had claimed more than two million lives and destroyed almost every building, church and road in the south.

The split between the predominantly Arabic and Islamic northerners and the black African animist or Christian southerners instigated this devastating conflict. With the burden for South Sudan growing in my heart, I fasted and prayed offering everything to God. I told him if there was something I could do to help, I was all in. No matter how ridiculous I felt trying to make a difference in a remote, long-standing conflict as a grandmother living in Tampa, Florida- I was moved to do something.

Within a few weeks God answered my prayer. I got the call back from a recently assigned missionary to South sudan saying: “there is a war going on, but if you can get here, I can use you.” A year later in 20o3, my husband and I landed in Akot, South Sudan with our first medical team. Through out this year two medical teams visited Akot, one sponsored by Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa and the other from Dawson Memorial Baptist Church in Alabama. From these trips emerged bush clinics conducted annually by teams sent from both churches.

Meanwhile, the country initiated a peace agreement and cease-fire in 2006.

Our ministry sprung up when two men on these early trips raised funds and built a hospital in Akot, opened by Mustard Seed International in 2006. When asked to serve as the Medical Advisor and spend more time in Akot, I accepted without trepidation. During this period of time I became keenly aware that the people of Akot whom I loved desperately needed more than just medical attention. They needed preventative education against diseases. This provided the inspiration to begin a community transformation project educating women in preventative care and Bible stories.

Of course the most logical group to reach was the women of the village, but this proved to be difficult. The women had never had a meeting of any kind. Our first core group began with 25 women in 2007. Today we have 6 groups with 370 ladies well trained in health and Bible stories. These ladies participate in a sewing school, water pump repair training, goat farming and vegetable gardening as vocational skills.

2006 also marked the year that a primary school was started with 25 children and a teacher with merely a 7^th grade education. This school was conducted under a tree and dirt and a stick served as the blackboard. Today, with the help of Dawson Memorial and generous backers in Tampa, we have added a grade level each year and a secondary school in a nearby community. Living Water Primary, Abundant Life Primary and Paloc Learning Center provide primary education from levels one through eight to 926 children. On top of these endeavors, the ministry in Akot grew to include pastor training and church development. Currently, we are expanding to include agriculture and commerce in an effort to move the community towards self-sufficiency.

In 2011, we were proud to celebrate with South Sudan as they received their independence. As this historical moment happened, Living Water Community Transformation became an official tax-exempt corporation in the US; and Akot Christian Ministries became an official Non-Government tax exempt organization in the new South Sudan.

-Written by Ann Rao, Founder and President of Living Water CT