patrick

i felt a deep sorrow today...




the acholi people in northern uganda have experienced over 20 years of war - due to the conflict between the ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army. and the people have lived in fear. fear that the LRA was near, fear of what might be done to them, fear for themselves, and fear for their children - as countless have been abducted in the area.  often the parents were killed or brutally beaten and many children were forced to join the LRA and perform horrible acts of violence - a "child army". many acholi people have fled from their villages and homes to live in the internally displaced person (IDP) camps, and the mortality rates are extremely high - due to malaria, AIDS, and continued violence.  
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patrick

typically...
a face adorned with a smile - became solemn
eyes full of joy - became eyes with deep pain
a vibrant person - became timid and meek

war... that's what it will do to you

we walked over to a cluster of trees away from the crowd- the three of us sat down in the shade. not quite sure how to begin - he thought for a moment and simply started reliving the most painful day of his life through simple words - yet extreme detail.  

pain so real - so personal - so common... too common actually- for these people that have now become my friends.  i can't begin to grasp the shock and sorrow patrick felt as he watched his parents beaten to death or the physical pain that he endured as the rebels then turned on him. the sadness is beyond me, yet we shared the experience with one thing... our tears.  we sat there silent, hearts heavy - tears filling our eyes... streams... filling again.

a moment i won't forget.

the acholi people have started to heal...

and patrick has forgiven the rebels...

why?

because of Jesus.

a Jesus that was beaten... and with unconditional love forgives us.

there is no other reason, but-

JESUS.

beauty

87 years old...

beautifully worn face

eyes of deep wisdom

laughter of a child

hard working hands

feet unable

generous heart

joy in her smile

sitting regally

asking questions

telling stories

pigeons cooing

sunlight streaming

shadows forming

quietly praying

tear in our eyes

87 years old

... today a believer!

uganda

ANDA...

AFRICA
June 9- 25 2008

*17 days

*20+ people

*7500 miles away from MI

*34 hours in flight

*7 hours time difference

*2 stuffed bags

*8 hour bus ride to Gulu

*23 acholi words/ phrases

*4 words actually remembered

*20 mangos in a bag

*2 churches

*1 orphanage

*500 salvation story bracelets

*1 rat "friend" named Nigel

*90 lbs. of snack food

*1 monkey in a hotel room

*4 Samuels as translators

*1000+ laughs

*1 bright green chameleon in the road

*1 older woman that stole my heart

*8 baboons by the Nile

*50 ants on my legs

*1 letter a day from the "post office"

*countless: children- smiles- dances- songs- stars in the sky- flies- drier sheets- bottles of pineapple mirinda- huts- mosquito nets- dirt paths- plates of rice & beans- dollars exchanged to shillings- water bottles used as toys- conversations with people- tears- words translated- wounds tended- chairs for welcoming- new brothers & sisters in Christ...

*1 wonderful trip

*1 amazing GOD