As you recently read, one of the projects which the engineers from P.U.M., that are collaborating with the Mission of Nyangatom, is a road that connects the Mission with Naita (border with South Sudan). A few days ago we decided to kill two birds with one stone: reopen an old road for the Nyangatom that inhabit Naita, as well as start taking measures for the engineering project.
We prepared an expedition to spend the night out, composed of 17 persons, members of the mission and, thanks to the advice of Lore (a local worker at the mission), some local people who knew how to use a machete, and he was more than right! Almost the whole journey consisted in breaking through forests of thorny bushes. After a day and a half of expedition and clearing 17 kms, we decided to end this first journey, when we arrived at the banks of a dry riverbed, at the foot of the Tepes mountains.
All this effort had its reward, and just before lunch we enjoyed a swim in the natural pools of Nachich, which was a real gift. After the swim some of the local inhabitants were waiting for us under the shade of some trees. They could not believe that two cars had made it there! After conversing for a while they challenged us saying that they would only contribute to continue opening the road with us if our cars crossed the dry stream. So we stood up and hands on and we built an “Irish bridge” and cleared the road to the other side of rocks and trees. The bridge was a success, the cars crossed and the Nyangatom of Tepes have committed to help us clear the way so that next week, we can continue with the second journey to Naita.
Carlos Rueda Bueno,
Civil Engineer
