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Mat Wur,
I was born in a small town in Southern Sudan named Malual, in the Province of Malakal. My hometown was attacked by the Shariah, (the Sudanese Muslim Militia) in 1983, because it offered assistance to the Southern Sudanese Liberation Army. My father was killed in this attack and I was 14 years old at that time. I was separated from my family during this attack, and I fled to Itang Refugee Camp, in Ethiopia, and lived there for three years. In 1986, I was granted a educational scholarship by the United Nations, to attend school in the city of Nekamte, Ethiopia. I studied there for four years. During the summertime of 1988 I returned to Itang, and married my wife Rebecca. Civil War broke out in Ethiopia in 1991 and the camp was attacked separating me from my wife, while she was pregnant. I escaped to Kenya, to the Thika Refugee Center. My wife was able to survive and escape back to Southern Sudan. When we found that we had both survived, she struggled to join me at Thika. I had already been processed for resettlement in the United States, after we were reunited, so we were unable to be resettled at the same time. After being resettled in Des Moines, I found that my brothers, and sister, were alive and living in Dimma Refugee Camp, in Ethiopia. I was able to give financial assistance to my wife, and family. My wife, and son, joined me after nine months, and my family was able to be resettled here after about a year. The Refugee Committee of Trinity Lutheran Church has sponsored not only my family, but also my friends, and relatives. I was the first Nuer Refugee resettled in Des Moines. |
Simon Yiech
I was installed as the Sudanese Lay Worker for Trinity on February 9, 1997. I am a member of the Nuer tribe, the fifth child in my family, born June 25, 1968 in South Sudan. My family fled to Ethiopia in 1983 because of the Civil War in Sudan and I was fortunate to graduate from Gambela High School. I was married in 1989 to Rebecca Nya Lam Lam, and God gave us two daughters while still in Ethiopia. My family left Ethiopia in 1992, and transferred to a refugee camp in Kenya. I was able to find work in the camp as a janitor. We were later accepted for United States resettlement program. My family arrived in Des Moines on November 29, 1993. We were met at the airport by members of Trinity Lutheran Church. Later I took adult confirmation classes at Trinity, and studied the Old Testament. I learned what it means to be a Lutheran and it was very refreshing and comforting for me. My family later became members. My third daughter was born a US citizen in 1995. Between 1993 and 1994 almost 400 Nuer refugees arrived in Des Moines and were attending services at Trinity. In 1994 our members began having Worship Services in the Nuer language. Trinity congregation has also helped establish a Sudanese Lutheran Community in Perry, Iowa, and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Our Savior Lutheran Church in Des Moines has recently began work with the Sudanese and now has a substantial number of members. Over eighteen LCMS ministries have now been established in the United States ministering to the Nuer people. |
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