Family will help rebuild South Sudan

TROY — Four years ago, the Rev. Shawn Wallace and his family were missionaries in Malawi, one of the world's poorest nations. Today, the pastor of Green Hills Alliance Church hopes to return to Africa and help rebuild another African nation.

Despite oil reserves, the newly independent Republic of South Sudan is among the most impoverished in the world.

"We will go give our lives to give them everything, physically, educationally and spiritually," Wallace said.

The 38-year-old minister, his wife, Heather, and their four children will be part of a World Harvest Mission team. The Christian agency has 1,250 missionaries in 14 countries. Its objectives for South Sudan are stated on its website: to increase "access to education, clean water, and theological training as well as evangelism, youth ministry and discipleship."

The Wallaces will live in Munderi, in the interior region of landlocked South Sudan, far from the country's border with the nation of Sudan where armed conflict continues. In the wake of civil war and six months after a referendum on independence in Jan. 2011, South Sudan seceded from Sudan on July 9, 2011.

Given the region's political, social and economic instability, "Some guards will be where we are," the pastor said, "but the village is very small and we will not need to carry guns or anything."

Wallace said one of his main goals in South Sudan will be finding ways to meaningfully connect with the Munderi community. The family's first year will be focused on learning the language — Moru — and the culture of the region. Learning Arabic to broaden communication possibilities will be a long-term goal.

"Where we will be living is isolated," Wallace said, noting that his children, ranging in age from 6 to 16, are looking forward to the experience.

"They enjoy adventure," he said. "Their mother will be home schooling them in South Sudan as she has for years here in the U.S., but there will also be a mission staff teacher on hand for further help in the children's education."

Wallace will work with engineers to improve the community's water supply and delivery systems. They will rebuild structures destroyed by the civil war, including a seminary where Wallace will set up his office.

"A whole generation was not educated," said Wallace, describing the region's ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The team will have a computer room with donated computers to teach computer skills to young people.

Growing up in the church, Wallace said he found his passion for missionary work after struggling with his faith in college.

"I had a lot of crisis moments," he recalled. He met people whose Christian faith "was real and alive," and who inspired him to study, contemplate and renew his faith.

"I discovered what it is," Wallace said. "It became obvious to me. I couldn't imagine myself in an office job. I wanted to work with people. And I wanted to help them understand God."

Wallace and his wife had been considering a return to Africa when they received a call from World Harvest Mission.

"My wife had filled out a general interest form online," he said. "WHM gave us a call. Their headquarters are in Philadelphia, so we had a meeting and a sitdown dinner."

When the agency said it needed people in South Sudan, Shawn and Heather Wallace accepted the offer to go there with a five-year commitment and are tentatively scheduled to depart next January.

Wallace said the children will adjust to changes in culture and lifestyle because of their previous experience in Africa.

"They did it before, so they already went through it and adjusted the first time," the father said. "Also, there are other kids their age on the team."

The biggest change for the family will be getting used to the experience of being a minority and "being gawked at" for being different, Wallace said.

"I want to try to be a good learner," he said. "People who do the most good internationally are both learners and teachers. I have a lot to offer but also a lot to learn."

Skye Cardona is a Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School senior and member of the New Visions: Journalism and Media Studies program.