I know I’ve been MIA, but rest assured I’m still kicking – although ‘the sick’ is really getting on my nerves! Hoping to be completely cured by the end of the week :-/ Fingers-crossed x(o.o)x
Now I understand what Dorothy meant…
I’m back home and absolutely loving my family and friends who’ve all been very supportive during this experience. And what an experience…
It was sad and difficult – every single day. Everything!!! is different there (Southern Sudan). And sadly everything! requires attention, work, help, you name it.
But for me, the children were a real highlight. Whenever I visited a school, my spirits were lifted. They loved my cameras, were always smiling, would sing me songs, wanted to shake my hand and meet me… it kept me going knowing that what we were doing will hopefully improve their lives in the future.
Here’s some photos from my last day in Juba. We visited a school and gave a class (100 children) bubble blowers to play with. They had fun! It was really nice to see them laughing and playing.
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A big thank-you to Bryan and Michelle for putting up with me for 3-weeks – I know it mustn’t have been easy :-/
Post production/editing begins this weekend – but first to capture the 5-hours of footage I filmed, oh yay 
Stay tuned for doco updates…
Peace xo
When all else fails, there is hope in the eyes of Southern Sudan’s children. This photo keeps me going…
They ran from their home to shake our hands as we were driving past in the car…
This is their home…
We visited Juba’s hospital today. I’ve been pretty strong to date and have managed to control my, normally out of control, emotions. But a sick baby girl touched my heart and control went out the window 
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We were taken to a ward occupied by babies with Malaria, chest infections and malnutrition. There was a lady in the corner with her daughter who was sleeping on the bed. The baby girl was gasping little breathes – she had a very bad chest infection. I went over to them and took a photo and some footage of her (below). The mother then tried to tell me something but she didn’t speak any English – I think she was talking about being a mother. I looked down and the baby girl was holding my finger so tight, staring at me with her brown eyes – reminded me of my son, Elijah, when he was a baby. I held the mother’s hand and thanked her, and then left because I didn’t want to get upset in front of her. Took me some time to compose myself. Bryan says I’m very soft and that’s a good thing :-/ but I wish I was stronger.
How to make an online donation to Door Of Hope Australia
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Yesterday we flew to Yambio – my favourite place to date – and interviewed the Governor, Jemma Nunu Kumba (the first and only female Governor in Southern Sudan, and the whole of Sudan). A marching band and 100 armed guards ‘received’ her on the tarmac. Jemma is a very intelligent, kind and passionate woman. I have a lot of respect for her and what she’s doing here. I hope her plea for international help doesn’t fall on deaf ears.
After the interview, we visited a school. Whenever I spend time with the children here, I’m more driven to help.
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We then flew to Rumbek… It didn’t start well. As we exited the plane, I started taking photos. All of a sudden a man was yelling at me angrily from the tower. Then a group of men came over and one man got in my face telling me not to take photos. Rumbek – not my favourite place to date! The Governor wasn’t there in the end and no one really wanted to have a bar of us. Plus the men just stared and stared and STARED – I’m getting used to this – apparently it’s the blonde hair which is a real novelty here. Whatever. Goal #1: NOT to get kidnapped and made a sex slave in Sudan – tick!
Today we plan to video/photograph Juba. Over the past 3 days we’ve been accompanied by an armed guard (feeling v.safe) and SPLM representative the entire time. And today won’t be any different. Guns, guns and more guns – something else I’m also getting used to unfortunately.
♥ Jen xo xo
