Last night we went to watch Kony2012 at a place in Lira called the Mayor’s Garden. It is a large park in Lira and they were projecting the film onto the side of a building so everyone in the city would be able to watch it. There were over 2,000 Ugandans gathered there to watch the film. It is truly one of those experiences that I cannot describe in words. I have watched all the Invisible Children videos and have always been moved by the stories the films tell. However, watching an Invisible Children film, while surrounded by people who were once those Invisible Children, is amazing. I looked around at all the Ugandans surrounding me as I watched the film and realized to them, it was not a movie, it was their life.
This was no longer just a story I was hearing in America, but it was now people I have met. It was a man named Nelson who we met and spoke with when we first arrived here in Africa. He had been abducted by the LRA at a very young age. Nelson was forced to watch as they killed his best friend right in front of him to set an example of what would happen to those who tried to escape. It was another man named Jeffrey who was also abducted as a child. He was a Christian and was forced to stand by as other soldiers raped women in the towns they would attack as part of the LRA. Both of these men escaped, but they are still very obviously scarred from their experiences. The film was now the women we speak with every week at the church who were abducted from their homes and schools and forced to be wives to LRA soldiers. The film is now countless people I have met who had to hide in the bush every night for years out of fear that they too would be abducted by the LRA. And while these stories are horrific, the people tell them with such resilience and hope. They have such a strong faith in the Lord because of the evil and the trials that the Lord has brought them through.
On a lighter note, I have gotten to use my non-existent math teaching skills this week. We work with the Compassion children each Saturday and this week, my team split into groups of 4 to teach the children. My group was in charge of teaching the 12-14 year olds. I don’t know how it happened, but somehow I got roped into teaching the math portion of the day. I taught the children about the order of operations and exponents. I have not taken a math class in four years, so needless to say I was a bit rusty. However, the Lord got me through it, and the children seemed to learn something, so hooray! We also taught them one of the most important things they will ever learn…the Cupid Shuffle!! I cannot explain to you how much fun it is dancing the Cupid Shuffle with a huge group of joyful African children. I recommend that everyone try it at some point in their life : )
That tis’ all for now! Thank you for reading and for all the prayers! I love and miss you all!
Peace and Blessins!
Sarah : )
