In Mattar, a small place some three hours driving south of Gambella which you won’t find on google maps, SSGMA has many connections. The Ethiopian community there has been host to a Nuar influx of people for many years, how long is difficult to tell. Long enough that the part of the village we stayed in is well established with compounds of tribal dwellings, fences lining property borders, and a complex network of simple roads.
It is possible to tell which tribe a person’s house belongs to based on the kūm, or painted cap that sits on the crest of the roof like a Christmas tree star. The Nuar are like the Albanian people in that they don’t have much, but what they do have is yours.
I stayed in the mud-house of Jess, a person who’s significance to the SSGMA is slowly being realized. I was given royal treatment: a mattress pad on the floor of the house with a pillow for my head and a mosquito net for my skin.
Another man I met in Mattar, albeit briefly, was a man named Peter. Lacking the ability to see, he has nonetheless been given the ability to write worship songs for his church community. Peter was alone at the church we visited, having only his bent rebar cane to help guide him from place to place. Quite an amazing man.
Within the walls of Jess’s compound were a number of families who’s husbands/fathers were away either for the civil war in nearby South Sudan, or to work the current harvest of some crop or other. It is a Nuar male tradition to spend little time at home. These are the people we hope to help, the Nuar of South Sudan; a people who have known strife, war, abuse, racism, and want for generations.
albaniacalling 
Your last line…”we hope to half…” should be “help.” Now you know (1) I always read your great posts, and (2) I want to help (editing) in a very small way. But help nevertheless! Love you, son.
I see it is already corrected…great.
Thanks for caring about me, and my blog