Miriam’s faith rewarded

During this past week at Acholi Quarters, the team has had the joy of having three wonderful local young women working with us as translators. Deborah, Jackie and Miriam are exceptional – in their English-speaking ability, their academic ability, their patience and tolerance and compassion for the children, and their love of life, and of living out their Christian faith

Deborah and Jackie are from the pastor’s family, and so have a fairly secure family set up, still living at home with mum and dad, and as part of a family respected by the community. Not that life is easy or materially rich for them, and they also as a family will have their own set of stories about life during the Lords Resistance Army times.

But for this blog I’d like to focus on Miriam, who I got to know much better this past week and yesterday in particular, and for whom yesterday was a beautiful example of God’s provision being perfect in its timing.

Miriam is 21 years old, and is attending university in Kampala in the evenings, to train to be a primary teacher. Watching her with the children during the day, as she translates the activities and numeracy / literacy / science concepts to the children, with lots of extra explanations along the way is confirmation that she will be a very special teacher. Whether it is helping one of the quicker children to go further and be challenged, or sitting patiently going over the same thing time and again in different ways to a child that just doesn’t get the concept when presented in a certain way – she naturally exemplifies all the best bits of teachers!

In the afternoons, at least twice a week, Miriam runs the adult literacy classes that I have mentioned. There are ten ladies on the books, speaking 2 or 3 different languages between them, and some who have never been to school before whilst others managed to achieve bits of education before the LRA war put paid to any further schooling. Again her devotion to these ladies, and her patient, gentle, non-patronising and respectful style of imparting knowledge to the ladies is helping instill a confidence and self-belief in them that has been so lost through years of living in poverty and illiteracy.

The rest of the time, Miriam makes beads to sell, amidst all the usual daily chores that come to those living in Acholi where there is no running water, no power, no sanitation, and none of the appliances that make our lives so easy and in many ways wasteful.

A remarkable young lady, with a passion to make a difference to the local community and bring good to those around her, living out her life against a background of memories of trauma from the LRA - escaping from a burning house, living the life of a night commuter as she sought safety in the town each night whilst living in the village during the day, running from soldiers and trekking many miles to safety. Stories that to us like a horror movie, but are the reality to so many others in this community, and in living such positive lives bow against those backdrops are demonstrating in an inspiring way the power of forgiveness.

But the extra bit of Miriam’s story, in my mind, happened yesterday evening, and is a lovely example of a) how God has so many more plans for these trips than we can ever imagine, and b) how His timing is always perfect.

As I said, Miriam is attending university and is the second semester of her first year. Yesterday we learnt, through a passing comment, that she didn’t know if she would be able to finish the semester as she hadn’t been able to raise the required tuition fees (£300).  There was no request for money or anything like that, it was just a comment as part of a bigger conversation, along with the assurance that God would provide in the right time, and He had everything in control.

When I probed a bit deeper, it turns out there is a 6 week grace period at the start of each semester for students to get their fees in, and during this time they are able to attend lectures. However if the fees aren’t in by the end of those 6 weeks, then they have to stop attending, and would have to restart the whole year if and when they do raise the required fees. The 6-week grace period ends next Friday (27^th Feb)!

You’ll have guessed where this is going – some of the team have clubbed together and pledged to cover her fees for this semester, and for the next two years to allow her to graduate, with the peace of mind that she doesn’t have to struggle for fees, but can focus on her studies and in her spare time do the adult literacy classes for the ladies.

When Miriam heard of this last night she was overwhelmed – it was such a beautiful moment. It wasn’t a loud moment or lots of fussing, as those who made the commitment wanted it kept quiet, but all the same there was a definite sense of God’s presence in it all.

If the team had come a week later it would have been too late; if we had come earlier it might not have come up in conversation, as the deadline wouldn’t have been looming. It was perfect timing – as it always is with God.

And it came as a culmination of a lot of faith exploration, and heart softening that has been going on this week – through time at church, time with the Acholi, learning about their lives, their history, their forgiving nature, and seeing their unshakeable faith in action.

For Miriam it was a prayer answered in an unexpected way; a ‘well done good and faithful servant’ for someone who has walked faithfully and selflessly for many years, and who speaks and lives great trust in God at all times.

For those on the team concerned it was confirmation that they were in the right place for God to work out that little piece of life, that He has unique tasks for each of us if we just stay open to His bidding, and that He can use each of us, wherever we are at, for the good of others – and that in itself is a great testimony to go home with.

The team goes home tonight and I go on to Malawi. Not sure what the internet is like down there, so I might go somewhat silent, but thank you for your prayers, and may we all be open to whatever little treats God has in store.

Love and prayers

The highs and lows of the past 2 days

Well, what a two days it’s been – some amazingly exciting evidence of God touching the hearts of many on the trip!

Yesterday I had all three of the staff who are non-believers chatting with me at various times about Christianity, my faith and how it impacts my life, faith and poverty etc – fabulous conversations, and such wonderful opportunities to go deeper on a one-to-one basis.

Then one of the lads in the team decided that he wanted to teach the kids in his teaching group a song, and he chose ‘My God is so Big, so Strong and so Mighty’ – a song he’d never heard of before Sunday when I taught it to everyone at church, but loved so much that he has been humming it regularly since! More evidence of God moving in this team in special ways.

I also got to meet Smiler’s mum yesterday, whom I blogged about the other day. It was a lovely meeting between the two of us, plus John and Harriet (our Acholi wonderwoman!) and we chatted very openly about mum’s situation, her wish to get out of it, the realities of life re costs of living, dreams and hopes for herself and the children etc. At the end of it all, a possible option for a start up business had been hatched by her and talked through with John and Harriet, and an outline of the start up costs identified. I promised to go away and pray about it, and we parted with hugs and smiles.

Then I went in to meet the ladies who are part of the adult literacy group that has been started up very recently, and which I would like to find some funding for. The ladies shared with me their stories – fleeing from the rebels, escaping from the north, losing the chance for education, living in poverty now due to having no qualifications; and they shared with me their hopes of what it means to them to be able to read, and write, and do simple sums, and have the confidence to answer questions. Powerful testimonies, faith-filled testimonies; testimonies which I am praying I can honour through securing financial support to ensure that the classes can be maintained.

And then in the evening the team had a great debrief session – sharing their thoughts on the past few days, and what they’ve heard and experienced, and how they are feeling inspired and challenged, and how they are changing within themselves.

Yesterday later in the evening certainly had a bit of a downwards blip as well, which for me just underlined the spiritual warfare angle of this trip, and how the enemy isn’t happy with what we are doing, but even through this team grew stronger and more supportive of each other, and got perspectives even more positively aligned than before – the enemy isn’t having the last laugh here, that’s for sure!

Today was another great day at Acholi, but for me the highlight had to be the news that yesterday afternoon Smiler’s mum  got herself a job as a kitchen assistant at the local primary school! So after all the conversation about possibly starting her own little business, she fell into a paid job that she started today, and means that instantly she can step out of the prostitution that she had stooped to in absolute desperation.

It doesn’t mean all her problems are over by any means – she still can’t afford for the children to go to school, but what she can now do is pay the rent, feed the family, and hold her head high in her community – and that’s a good place to start. What an answer to prayer!

The team is here for 3 more days, and then they fly home and I go down to Malawi to visit a project there. Thank you for your prayers thus far, and thank you for all the prayers still to come – there is lots going on in their hearts and minds, and many lives are being impacted in many ways.

What does Justice look like?

The second-in-command for the Lords Resistance Army, when it was doing its worst in Uganda and beyond, is currently at the Hague facing war crime charges. He is a Ugandan and is charged with countless heinous crimes against humanity – not just the murderous acts that he carried out himself, but also the part he played in causing thousands of children to be abducted, forced to be child soldiers, and brain-washed into carrying out murderous acts themselves. Add to that the women he raped and the part he played in causing other to be raped by soldiers acting on orders from above, and he has a long charge sheet.

The quick response as to whether he is guilty or not has to be yes – certainly that would be my first response. But I’ve just been listening to a talk by a remarkable guy called Benson Ocen, founder and director of I Live Again Uganda, and something he said led me to think deeper and realise that a guilty charge just isn’t quite so straightforward.

Benson is from the Acholi tribe and grew up in northern Uganda, and has had more than his fair share of horrific experiences due to the Lords Resistance Army. His testimony of forgiveness and grace is very powerful, and the work that he is heading up through ILA Uganda, of trauma counseling, discipleship and resettlement is very inspiring to hear about.

When Benson mentioned about the guy at the Hague, it wasn’t with bitterness and resentment, despite all that the LRA had done to his family and those around him as he grew up. Instead Benson reflected on the fact that the guy was himself an ordinary child, who was cruelly abducted at a young age, and brainwashed time and again until he no longer was able to reason rationally, but instead became a killing machine.

When it was put like that, the guilty charge became less straightforward. Is it he who is guilty of the crimes, or the soldiers who abducted him and brainwashed him?

If he is charged, then what about all the other child soldiers, many of whom are trying to carve out a life post-war, and find some semblance of focus within a community that is often oblivious to their previous history?

But if he is not charged, due to his ‘state of mind’ then what does that mean for all those who suffered at his hands, and for whom closure to that part of their life can’t happen until they feel that justice is done?

I don’t know the answer, and I’m glad I’m not the one who has to try and work it out. But I do know that the most powerful part of Benson’s talk this evening was about how an increasing number of the Acholi are choosing to take the path of forgiveness and grace – of moving on, rather than looking always backwards.

 Oh how much that attitude is needed in this world; and oh what a privilege it is to be leading a team of young people as they get a first-hand experience of that attitude this week – may it pervade their spirit in a really impacting and life-transforming way.

All in a day's activities!

So, yesterday (Sunday) included visits to Green Pastures children church, the Maya dental clinic project and the Acholi community.

Within all of that:

• ·      Some of them went to church for the first time ever
• ·       Those who have been to a UK church before all said how much better their Ugandan experience was than UK churches
• ·      They all heard a lively ‘preach’ of God’s love, through word, music and dancing
• ·      Many said that if church was that lively in the UK they’d be up for giving it a go – to which those of us who go to church did gently point out that there are some lively and happening churches in the UK!
• ·      They all had a practical, lived-out case study of sustainable living through the dental clinic that is solar powered, bio-gas for fuel, rainwater harvesting for water supply, and built out of eco-friendly bricks
• ·      They heard the story behind the dental clinic which all came from a 16-yr old UK girl who went to Uganda on a team, saw a need, responded by sharing her dream of making a difference, and didn’t give up – very powerful story to hear, and a lot of this team were very impacted by it
• ·      They were introduced to the concept of being good stewards of God’s earth, and sharing resources with others rather than just looking out for number one – a seemingly new thought process for some of them
• ·      They came face to face with abject poverty, held hands with children running around bare foot, or with broken sandals, wearing clothes that would have long ago go in the rag bag at home, and yet still smiling, laughing, and giving thanks for life – mind blowing for our young people for whom possessions are so often nine-tenths of the law (apologies to all young people who don’t live by that standard!)
• ·      They shared in bead-making with the Acholi ladies, learnt a new skill, and realised the impact that selling the beads has for the ladies, who now don’t have to work in the quarries.

The outcome – lots of thought-provoking experiences taking place, lots of processing going on, lots of spiritual, emotional and physical challenging for each of them, and a massive amount of enthusiasm for the week to come!

Will keep you posted on Smiler and his family, but for now the two-pronged mission trip continues!

Thank you for your prayers

Helen

Prayers for wisdom and sensitivity please

     

Some of you will have heard me tell of the encounter I had with one of the Acholi children when I was here in November, and how deep an impact that had on me.

I’m not going to name names, for obvious reasons, but this little lad, who has always had a winning smile, made a full-pelt bee-line for me on my final day at Acholi last visit, and threw himself into my arms with a massive grin – he absolutely broke my heart, and it just felt so much as though he was saying that he trusted me to help make his life better. A pivotal moment to say the least!

Having had many conversations with CRED and others over the years about the merits and problems of child sponsorship, and having considered that in the context of the Acholi community as follow up to various individual team members requests, the outcome at those times was that in general individual sponsorship isn’t the ideal, as it can easily lead to perceived preferential treatment, supporting some over others etc.

But then I find myself in the position of heart versus head, with my heart very much wanting to support this individual, whilst my head is saying ‘remember the discussions with John!’

So, having got home, and been woken night after night by the situation, I had an e-chat with John about it, and left him to do some investigating. Long and short of it is that we discovered that this little lad, who I will call Smiler, had some alleged (due to lack of money for proper assessment) significant medical needs that weren’t being treated, and this was seriously hampering his progress. You’d not have known from his outward attitude to life which always seemed to be one of smiles and bounce, but in fact in retrospect I can see that there were times when he didn’t bounce along, and when a smile seemed harder work.

Anyway, John and I, in conjunction with the head of the Acholi community, agreed that it was acceptable to provide some financial support to at least get Smiler properly diagnosed, and hopefully treated.

This was done, and the diagnoses of TB and pneumonia came up. Smiler is now being treated correctly for them, in a low-cost way at least, and John reported back yesterday that there has been a marked improvement in his health as a result – praise the Lord.

But I also learnt other things about the family background, and this is where I need prayers for wisdom and sensitivity. It turns that Smiler lives with mum and dad, which is good, as well as several siblings (not sure how many), but that dad is a chronic alcoholic and, as far as mum is concerned, no real use to the functioning of the family in any positive way. Mum, in her desperation to earn money to keep the family going, is out every night selling herself to whoever will have her – and the children look after themselves and manage on very little food.

Such a sad story, although unfortunately all too typical in poverty-stricken slum areas, and yet this time it isn’t just a story – I have a personal connection.

In some ways I’d like to meet mum, and give her a great big hug, and chat with her about options for ways forward. And yet at the same time, my pale skin means I stand out somewhat, and ‘smell of money’ to onlookers. Thus it could be that the best thing is to stay with the team, and leave the discussions and negotiations to John and Harriet. I’d so like to help the family more, and find ways for them to have some nutritious food, for mum to get out of prostitution, for the children to get to school, for dad to get help (if he would accept it)– and yet at the same time I don’t want to take away their dignity through misplaced charity.

This is why CRED has local partners, so that we can work through them, and not let our western ideals and potentially non-contextualised generosity get in the way. And I am so grateful to John and Harriet for helping me give Smiler the support so far.

Please pray for us all to have wisdom on the best way forward, and sensitivity on how to proceed, for the good of all the members of the family, within the context of the wider community. May I be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus, whatever that should look like in this particular situation.