17/10/2024
I am intrigued to share a beautiful experience I had with a kind Dinka man today in Juba! One of a kind…!
By Poni Abraham
So, I arrived Juba today after being away for a while, and Juba being Juba, the first thing one needs is money to make anything work!
So, as soon as I arrived home from the airport, I grabbed my handbag and rushed off to Ecobank ATM at Geshen House. When I got there, I realized that I had brought my prepaid card instead of my debit card and home is very far! Most of you using Ecobank mobile app will realize that ExpressCash service has been off for weeks, so I couldn’t generate an E-token! I decided to transfer money to my prepaid card; but again, I realized that I don’t know the pin for my prepaid card, because I have only used it for online purchases and the web pin is different from ATM pin! It was past 4pm and am sure the bank had closed! So I was really stranded..!
I came out of the ATM room and sat on the veranda hoping to get someone to help me! A gentleman walked in to withdraw money, (he was on phone speaking in my dialect) I approached him and asked if I could send money to his account so that he can withdraw for me, he simply told me he didn’t know his account number(Am sure he was lying)
A few minutes, I lady walked in, (we know each other on facebook and have interacted online) we greeted and I asked if she could help me…!(she said she didn’t trust these online things and created unnecessary stories) I just told her it’s okay! The third guy walked in, I asked him to help and he told me, he didn’t carry his smart phone, so he wouldn’t prove if I transferred the money or not! I told him, he would see it from my phone and even ecobank would notify me on app and email, I would show him, he simply said he didn’t trust the process…! So he went in and came out pressing his smart phone (he had said he didn’t carry it)
I gave up, was about to go back home, but I decided to try the prepaid card one more time, putting in my random common passwords…! In the process, a slim tall guy walked in… I later learned his name is Peter Garang” Peter asked if everything was Okay because I had been in for long and he waited out for a while! I explained to him the situation, and asked if he could help me…!
He asked what kind of help I wanted, then I told him that I would send him money, then he withdraws for me, he was very happy to help, and said, let’s go do the sending processes outside to allow others come in! We came out and he counted for me his account number, when I entered the number, the name popped up “Peter Garang Ngor Ayok” he confirmed it and I sent the money! We completed the transfer process in about 5-8 minutes! When we went back in, the ATM was reading “Out of service, please try your nearest Ecobank ATM” I was worried because he seemed to have been in hurry!
He asked me how urgent I needed the money, I told him very urgent! The he said, he didn’t have sufficient cash with him, but he could go with me to the main bank to withdraw, he asked if I came with a car, I told him I left it at a washing bay! So he offered me a lift to the bank, when we got to his car, that’s when I noticed he was not the regular guy! I was labor scared but also curious! On our way, I asked him, what do you do? He simply smiled and never responded, but everything on him screamed “NS”
We got to the bank, he went and withdrew the money, offered me another lift back to my destination and left after bidding me farewell…!
No bragging, no big talks, no attitude, not even asking for my number, no any uncomfortable behavior!
Just simple genuine kindness from someone I have never known or met. A Dinka for that matter…!
Peter you saved my day today, but you also touched my soul…!” It’s one thing to withdraw my money, but to drive me up to my final destination without any strings attached, that was angelic❤️❤️
Today, you taught me that Character is NOT tribal, it is INDIVIDUAL”
Because of some negative personal experiences with my brothers from the other side, I had some biases about them, but Peter, you were one of a kind!
You have corrected my misguided generalization and I have learned a lot from your personality within a short moment!
It’s not everyday, that someone would just trust a random stranger with money and account issues, in this error of scammers and fraud…!
Thank you so much and may God bless you🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
