High in the mountains of southern Sudan, among lush forests and fertile soil, live a group of people who are descended from the Acholi tribe. They are known as the Lugot...the people of the Mountain. At the end of February, a team from the YWAM Arua, Uganda and Yei, Southern Sudan ministry centers journeyed to Lugot villages, having regularly prayed on their behalf. What they saw broke their hearts.

In the foothills of Upper Talanga, there are seven villages that make up Isore Pyam. The total population is approximately 4,700 people, but not even one pit latrine can be found there. Nor are there any shops, clinics, or hospitals. The nearest place to buy salt is a 12-hour mountainous walk away.

"This is a people group on the verge of extinction," team member Bosco reports. "They are merely survivors. There are no pit latrines, and the place is hilly, so all the feces gets washed down into the rivers...the same water that they cook with, drink, and occasionally bathe in."

The team drove as far as they could to a place called Lobone, and then shouldered their bags for the five-hour hike to Isore Pyam. There are no roads to the villages, no international organizations at work there, and no development of any kind taking place-- not even a church presence. In Lobone, a couple of pastors joined the team for the trip to Isore...it was their first time to ever reach the place. Most people just don't bother...it's too far and too isolated.

Historically, the Lugot have been victims of circumstance. Some years back, the notorious Ugandan rebel group, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), hid in the hills of Upper Talanga and terrorized the Lugot people. The Ugandan army and the southern Sudan army teamed up to flush out the LRA from that area, and the Lugot were caught in the crossfire. They were blamed for aiding and supporting the LRA, even though the LRA were in fact killing the Lugot. When the LRA attacked the Langi tribe in southern Sudan, the Langis retaliated against the Lugot. The Lugot people had nowhere to turn, with enemies on every side. It wasn’t surprising to discover that they turned to drugs and alcohol as a means of escape.

"One of the big problems… is that everyone drinks the local beer and smokes marijuana,” Bosco explains. “In the evenings we heard some co-wives fighting and screaming, but nobody comes to help them. No one cares...it's just normal."

Hopelessness pervades the area-- it's as if the Lugot people have resigned themselves to their fate. Team members found a little boy sitting off by himself looking miserable (see picture), and they asked him what was wrong. He just pointed to his belly with a haunted look in his eyes, and YWAM team members couldn't stop their tears.

"He looked so sick, without any hope in his eyes," said Paul. "Even his parents seemed to have no hope of seeing life in him. He had isolated himself away from the other kids, like he was just waiting to die. It was horrible."

In spite of all the hardships and challenges, the Lugot people were very welcoming and hospitable. Team members sensed openness and a renewed desire for change. They held several meetings and explained to villagers that they had been aware of the plight of the Lugot for some time, had been praying for them, and wanted to visit them to learn first-hand about their situation and pray with greater understanding.

Team members didn't promise roads or schools or clinics, but instead wanted to make the initial contact with the Lugot to simply let them know that they are not forgotten. One Lugot man said, "If you come to help us build a road, we are ready to join hands with you. Even if it means cutting the stones or the logs, we are ready for it."

The YWAM team is praying about what they should do next on behalf of the Lugot. Please join them in prayer.

For updates about YWAM’s future work among the Lugot, please visit the following website for regular updates: ywamarua.blogspot.com.