Border Closing Causes Price Increases

Dear Friends,
From China to Khartoum to Malakal I have found that the best way to get around is with my students.

I thank God for giving me students in all of my places of oversea services who are generous with their time. It is also a good way to fellowship and talk in a more relaxed manner.

Today Buay and I ventured by the local taxi into downtown Malakal. The price had gone up from 2 pounds to 3 pounds. That was just the first shock!

My first stop was the bank where we spent an hour. Again I thank God, this time it is for air conditioning. I am also very grateful that my money wires seem to coming through from the United States without a hitch now. In the beginning, it was very, very difficult to get money out of the states by wire through my bank account there. The US government held the first wire my daughter sent me. For some reason the banking system thinks that South Sudan is still a part of Sudan. Even though my bank is the Kenya Commercial Bank and the money goes to Kenya and then is dispersed from there, the destination codes apparently show Sudan. Sudan is under sanctions from the US government and having money wired from a bank is not possible. I can’t remember for sure at this point but I must have been using Western Union exclusively when I lived in Khartoum.

I was doubly grateful for the money wire when I found out today that Western Union in Malakal has not been working for about two months because of equipment compatibility issues. Western Union was my back up plan.

The market was a lesson in economics today. I bought a half a kilo, just over one pound, of potatoes for 10 South Sudanese Pounds. At a 1 to 3 exchange rate that is about $3.30. And we had to hunt for those potatoes too.

I am assuming that it has to do with Sudan, aka the Khartoum government, closing the border with South Sudan again to goods coming south. Prices go up when that happens. One roll of toilet paper was ten pounds today, again about $3.30. Four little tomatoes the same thing, over $1.00 per LITTLE tomato. These were not beefsteak, they were LITTLE. I did not buy any of them.

We had power last night and I was able to things like my cell phone charged. I also ate a pasta dish that i got made quickly in case the electricity got cut. I am hoping we will have power again tonight and then I will quickly fry up the potatoes.

Power is tight here because fuel comes from Khartoum, and the borders are closed. Again I marvel that it took living here in Malakal for me to think about -- where does electricity come from? I believe that this is at least in part because in my hometown area of Seattle we have hydropower, that is, dams. Water supplies our electricity and for many, many years it was very cheap. I have never heard of a an entire town being powered solely by generators. Those were the things that the people who could afford them had for the power outages during our rare Seattle snowstorms. They weren’t for daily use.

Buay and I also went to the tailor to pick up my latest pieces of clothing. I have been hauling fabric from the Philippines that was made in Indonesia all around the world now for about four years! While in China I had one piece designed as a pretty two piece top and skirt that really looks quite African, so that I could come to Africa with at least something that looked local. That outfit was green. Last week I took in the red and purple pieces and today we picked the tops up -- the tailor forgot to put the pockets in the new skirts so I have to wait for a day or two to get them. I cannot figure out why, when everything else in Malakal is so darn expensive, the tailor charges very reasonable prices. Granted at some point I had to buy the cloth, but $10 (30 South Sudanese Pounds) for a top and skirt is a downright bargain in my eyes. I don’t even try to negotiate because I’d feel guilty if he did the work for less.

Well, on to dealing with some other things now, it’s been great sharing with you!
Blessings,
Debbie