Residents in Juba City counts obstacles to smooth celebrations but expressed optimism toward Easter Celebration despite economic situation piercing the citizens.
Easter is one of the central holidays, or Holy Days, of Christianity.
It Honors the Resurrection of Jesus three days after His death by crucifixion.
In Christianity, Easter is the joyful conclusion to the Lenten season of devoted prayer, fasting, and penitence.
As faithfuls celebrate Easter days in South Sudan, some counts on how prepared they are despites economic which they claimed to have impacted the celebration
Speaking to this outlet, Sarah Nyibol a committed member of Presbyterian Church in Jebel said that she is more than ready to celebrate the Easter adding that it give hope of overcoming challenges including the economic.
“My family is preparing for Easter as followers of Jesus Christ, our lord has overcome death and here in South Sudan we can over challenges like high prices in the market and poverty” Nyibol.
She added it is always hard to celebrate when the family house can not afford a meal to make them gather and love together
“Our children do not see us well in their eyes because when we ululate in joy, they will wonder since they are not seeing food while their mother is happy, we know it can also pain, we can not afford” she said
Nyibol reiterated her family has been engage in prayers as well as visiting neighbours to seek for forgiveness in order to open new Chapter.
“This I am visiting my neighbours those who have wronged me and those i have wronged so that we forgive one another and that is the meaning of Easter, we may not have food in our houses but when we show love and unity we can overcome” She added
On his part Moses Amule, a member of South Sudan People defense Forces urged the public to the economic crisis in their prayers.
“I am not celebrating i am just happy that my sin are washed away by blood of Jesus, but life has charge behind my back i think about my children who has no charcoal to have fire for food, no medicine, Junubin(South Sudanese) we need to place the worse economic situation in prayers, to change” Amule said.
He expressed that due to economic hardship his family can to afford to buy meat, fish to honour the day as it has been a practice by South Sudanese
“Prayers are there but may kids can not celebrate or play heavily in my compound, because their stomach is empty, my salary is low to afford this high price in the market” he said
He called on the South Sudan government to double efforts in solving economic crisis in order to ensure meaning celebrates of event in the country.
“My government can rescue work and solve the prices in the market so that we shall be able to afford and celebrate, now only few people that can afford and majority just pray and hope for better” he said
He applauded the believers for their turnup in preparing for the Easter despites Economic hardship facing the country.
Paulino Adup priest in St. John Church in Mouriayareiterated that Easter is a liberation day for believers were Jesus died for the people sins adding that despite economic hardship hearts are open to be in Joy.
“Our economic hardship can not stop us from Easter, our hearts are open, Jesus died for our sins” he said
He expressed that the economic situation continues to affect the Citizen hence there is need for believers to pray hard so that to overcome challenges such as economic crisis and the Rampant conflict.
Recently the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla called on Citizens to reconcile during Easter season.
In his Easter message to believers on Friday, Cardinal Ameyu urged South Sudanese to forgive one another and reconcile.
“The journey toward lasting peace requires us to lay down the burden of the past to heal the wounds of division, and to build bridges of trust and mutual respect,” Ameyu said.
He urged the citizens to dropped all forms of divisions that leads to hatred.
“As we celebrate his [Christ] victory over death, let us be inspired to actively work for peace that transcends political divides and ethnic differences,” Ameyu appealed.
