LRA–The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is a militant group/cult operating in northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. It has been accused of widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, child-sex slavery and forcing children to participate in hostilities.
I’m mostly venting here, but I promise you it’s a really powerful redemption story. Warning, it’s ugly…but it’s been made into something totally beautiful.
One of our favorite ministries here in Lira is “Atin Afrika.” They bring street children into a home, and love on them and prepare them to be able to go back to a life away from the street. The “house dad” there is named Dennis. He’s a big strong guy, and looks kind of scary. But he’s so genuine and sensitive. And loves people so well. Dennis sat me down yesterday and told me that he wanted to share the story of how he grew to be the man he is today.
In 2000 Dennis was 12 years old. He lived with his uncle, and his older brother and sister. He was in secondary school one day when he heard his village, Barlonyo, was being attacked by the LRA. He then ran home to make sure his family was okay, and then became abducted. During the attack, Dennis’s brother was killed instantly, but his uncle was abducted as well. A few days later the LRA commander was sick of Dennis’s uncle. The commander told Dennis that if he didn’t kill his uncle, then they both would be killed. So, as a scared 12 year old, he obviously complied with the orders, and was forced to kill his uncle. Dennis was in the LRA for 2 years, forced to hurt and kill many innocent people around him. One night Dennis pretended that he got shot in the leg, limped into the grass, and laid there for 3 days. After that he ran from South Sudan, all the way back to Barlonyo, Uganda. He ran for 3 weeks. He came home to his mother, and wept for weeks. He received counseling, and is has now stepped into the role of being the primary care taker for his mother and sister.
I asked his permission to post this blog about him, and his response, “Yes. America needs to know what really happens.”
I love Dennis. He’s such a redeemed man. He adores everyone, especially the street boys that he takes care of. He denies himself every single day so that the boys can feel loved. He makes sure that the boys grow up well, and get to live a life that he never got the chance to live.
Dennis told me that every morning the first thing he does is get on his knees, and ask God for forgiveness. He doesn’t believe that he can be forgiven for what he has done. Dennis is not a “born again” so he doesn’t understand that NO SIN was EVER too much for Jesus to die for. Ever. Please join me in prayer for Dennis, that he would feel the freedom found in Christ and that he would not be haunted by his past every.single.day. Join me in prayer that the LRA would be stopped and that it would come to an end. According to Dennis, Joseph Kony(If you don’t know who that is, look it up. That would fire me up even more talking about him.) has a coffin and makes his rebels bury him for weeks at a time. So Dennis does not think that he will ever be found, and he believes that the LRA will be back in Lira, Uganda at some point. Prayer is powerful, and I’m asking you to join me in praying for these specific things.
