I returned from home leave a little over a month ago and have just completed trips within South Sudan from Juba to Rumbek, Wau, Yambio and Riimenze, for various meetings. This country is truly in a horrible mess and many people are suffering. As I ponder the situation, however, words from Bishop Kenneth Untener attributed to Blessed Oscar Romero come to mind: It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision. It is indeed hard to see the solutions to the many immediate problems facing the people of South Sudan, but some great things are happening that have the potential long term to create a better South Sudan. More