South Sudan Mission: A Journey of Compassion, Connection, and Hope.

South Sudan is a nation of extraordinary resilience. Yet, behind this strength lies a reality shaped by years of conflict, displacement, and widespread hunger. According to recent food security assessments, millions of people continue to face crisis levels of food scarcity, with families struggling daily to secure a meal. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report highlights that 7.1 million people are facing crisis or worse levels of food insecurity, many surviving without a guaranteed meal.

In November 2024, Spread Truth Africa, with immense support from Midwest Food Bank, and in partnership with the Office of the Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs in South Sudan, the Adut Salva Kiir (ASK) Foundation, and the Holistic Wellness Initiative South Sudan (HWISS), embarked on a mission to support communities most affected by this crisis. Over several days, our team reached settlement camps, hospitals, prisons, and orphanages, offering both physical and spiritual nourishment.

This is a reflection of what we witnessed and the lives that touched ours:

A Mission That Began Before the Journey Itself

Our work started long before we crossed the border. In Kenya, nutritious food was carefully gathered, packed, and prepared for transport. Each bag represented care, dignity, and a heartfelt commitment to stand with communities in South Sudan during one of the most challenging times in their history.

As the trucks made their way north, they carried not only 112 Tons of food but also prayer, compassion, and the collective intention to serve; a mission that would reach over 15,000 beneficiaries.

Nyinanyar Settlement Camp: Stories of Survival and Strength

Our first destination was Nyinanyar Settlement Camp, home to over 9,000 refugees, returnees, and internally displaced people escaping conflict in the north. The camp revealed the harshness of life in displacement; fragile shelters, long days without food, and parents doing all they could to protect their children.

Yet, within this hardship, we encountered remarkable strength. Families welcomed us with openness, sharing their journeys of displacement and their daily battles against hunger. Although the needs were overwhelming, the distribution of food brought visible relief. Smiles returned to faces that had been weighed down by uncertainty, and children eagerly embraced the promise of a meal. For many, the support offered was more than sustenance; it was a reminder that they were not alone.

Hospitals: Where Hunger Deepens Vulnerability

In Juba’s hospitals, including the military hospital, Alsaba Children’s Hospital, and the Juba Teaching Hospital, the impact of hunger was especially heartbreaking.

Doctors at Alsaba Children’s hospital told us that 20% of the children admitted do not survive because hunger has already weakened their bodies beyond help. At the military hospital we met wounded soldiers and TB, HIV and cancer patients; here, 8 lives are lost every two weeks, many to conditions worsened by lack of food. Here, food becomes medicine. Nutrition becomes a chance at survival. And this support offered that chance.

Prisons: Light in Unexpected Places

Our mission also took us behind the walls of the Juba Central Prison, which includes men’s, women’s, and juvenile sections. Despite being heavily overcrowded (built for 500 but has over 2,700 inmates), the atmosphere was unexpectedly warm. Inmates listened attentively as we shared encouragement, Scripture, and companionship.

The time spent here was a powerful reminder that dignity and hope belong to everyone; regardless of their circumstance. 74 gave their lives to Christ!

Stone Orphanage: Protecting the Youngest Lives

At Stone Orphanage, where over 2,600 children depend on donated food, we met infants as young as two months. Many children here are orphaned by conflict and displacement; others were abandoned out of poverty. For them, food is not a supplement; it is survival. This food support provided nourishment that will sustain them through the coming weeks, protecting their young lives in a nation where childhood is often fragile.

More Than a Mission: A Shared Experience of Faith and Humanity

Throughout the journey, one theme stood out: human connection. Whether in the form of shared prayers, warm conversations, or simple moments of encouragement, the mission became a reminder that compassion transcends borders.

We did not only distribute food.

We listened.

We learned.

We prayed.

We encouraged.

We connected.

And in the process, we saw hope flicker; even in places marked by hardship.

Looking Ahead

Our South Sudan mission reaffirmed the heart of our calling as Spread Truth Africa: to serve, to love, and to bring hope wherever it is needed. The journey left us humbled, inspired, and reminded of the unbreakable spirit within the people of South Sudan.

As we reflect on our time in South Sudan, we hold her people close in prayer; trusting that peace, healing, and stability will take root across the nation. May every act of compassion plant a seed of hope, and may South Sudan rise into the fullness of the future she deserves. We remain committed to walking alongside her people, believing that brighter days are ahead.

South Sudan, you remain in our hearts.