The LeMarquands report:
..On Jan. 30th, the Gambella Centre, received an unexpected influx of local \u201d\u02dcrefugees.\u2019 About 70 women and children from the small community nearby our compound suddenly walked through the gate. I\u2019ll let Wendy describe their visit.<\/p>\n
As they entered our compound, they reminded me of of the lines of refugees we saw heading into Akule refugee camp two years ago: women with their meager belongings on the heads, little babies in their arms, and children, silent, stoney faced, walking alongside. One difference \u201d\u201c razor sharp spears and deadly pangas (machetes) were carried by a few of them, mostly boys, 8 or 9 years old. They had heard that \u201d\u02dcpeople were coming to kill them\u2019, and they fled to us for refuge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat can we do?\u201d\u009d, I wondered. \u201cWe have no stores of food and no means of defending them.\u201d\u009d Inwardly I stepped back into Peace, and greeted each with a smile. I looked into the dull eyes and hardened faces. The sun beat down. \u201cWater,\u201d\u009d I thought. \u201cGive each a cup of water.\u201d\u009d As I gave each a cup of water, I looked into their eyes. It was the children who softened first. Slowly, shy smiles answered mine. Eyes began to brighten. It was lunch time. \u201cThey must be hungry,\u201d\u009d I thought. I remembered yesterday, when the lunch prepared for 10 people stretched to amply feed almost 30. I had bread and \u201d\u02dcInjera\u2019 enough for ten. But what was that with such a crowd? \u201cTest Me in this,\u201d\u009d the thought seemed to come. Grant went to get some peanut butter crackers left by our visiting team from South Carolina. Everyone had at least 4 or 5 pieces of the bread, injera and crackers (\u201cbiscotti\u201d\u009d). Some of our Anuak students were with us. They and Grant led us in prayer…<\/p>\n