Candle Lit Huts

The children filter into the courtyard starting at 3:00 in the afternoon. They greet each of us individually with a handshake and then wildly race over to begin kicking around a soccer ball or hitting a volleyball, laughing and playing together. This is their time to be kids. They are premature adults, with responsibilities they should not be required to bear; many are the head of their households, due to AIDS and violent rebel activity. At the age of 10, some have the responsibility to provide food for, cook for and clothe their younger siblings while also maintaining their own studies. At HEALS (Health, Education, Arts, Literacy, Sports) these child-adults are allowed to take a reprieve from adulthood and be kids for the afternoon. The motto of HEALS is; “as a child, it is my right to play.”

Many activities take place at HEALS and because we live within the facility, we find ourselves involved in everything. We learn traditional Acholi (the local tribe) dance with the children, sing with them in music class, provide medical care and trauma counseling and offer tutoring in the education program. In addition, we have been working with our Acholi co-volunteers in reorganizing HEALS into a more sustainable program. For example we have been converting the children’s files from paper to computer format, re-working the schedule to provide additional classes, and working to create more child sponsorships for school fees. Several of the new sponsorships have been provided by donations received from members of Columbia Heights.

HEALS is located in the town of Gulu–the epicenter of the suffering in northern Uganda–where many have fled for refuge. Therefore, everyone we encounter has been violently touched by this rebel war. It is in this place of intense sorrow and suffering that we attempt to have the courage and strength to extend the love of Jesus.

As a nurse, Autumn offers the sole medical care at HEALS. This means that she acts as house nurse to all of the children of HEALS. This entails lines of children with problems ranging from minor cuts and scrapes to cases of malaria and typhoid. Some of the children come with questions about disease and medication. These questions many times stem from the children’s fears concerning family members suffering from AIDS and other common diseases.

Life is difficult for the people of Gulu and the children are very physically hard on their bodies. When work is finished children come to HEALS and play so hard that their injuries are large gouges rather than the minor scrapes and cuts that American children exhibit. Legs are covered in long angry scars from wounds that are ignored by parents and left dirty and without the stitches they require. The children are amazed when Autumn takes notice of their wounds. The simple act of cleaning and dressing their physical wounds seems to bring their emotional and spiritual wounds to the surface. Being shown physical care seems to open their hearts to share stories of the trauma they have experienced.

Recently a child named Omara came to Autumn with a deep wound in her leg. As Autumn began to treat the wound Omara began to cry and share how her mother and father had been killed by the LRA while she was forced to watch. Her eyes were heavy and sorrow-filled as she shared the story, but as Autumn listened and finished bandaging her leg they were able to pray together. She later told Autumn that she had never shared her story before. Being available to care for the children’s wounds has allowed Autumn to be available to support the children through prayer and be an outlet for their emotional sorrows. The children’s physical wounds now serve as reminders to Autumn of the emotional and spiritual scars that are just below the surface and also in need of healing.

Haley is creating a therapy program at HEALS. She counsels 10 children every week and, in addition, she leads a therapy group for girls and for boys. Haley is amazed at how attentive the kids are becoming to one another’s emotions in group therapy. Her one-on-one therapy times have also been going well, though they are very emotionally stretching.
One child, Okello, is a 15-year-old former child soldier who was in LRA captivity for three years. When he escaped, he returned to his village to find that his parents had been murdered by the LRA. He tells Haley that he would have rather died in the bush, had he known he would be orphaned when he was free. He says that now that he is an orphan he has no one to defend him. He tells horrific stories of things his extended family currently does to him, merely because he is an orphan and they can get away with it.

Haley has already seen much emotional healing in Okello through counseling. He is so tender and strong in his grief for his parents and the loss of his innocence. Haley is amazed at how courageously he lives. When she first began working with Okello he told her that it was the first time he had told his story in a long time. When he had told of his abduction before, children teased him and taunted him about being a child soldier. Okello now states that it is the support he receives in counseling and boys’ group that gives him strength to keep fighting for new life. Okello recently told Haley, “When I am at home at night sometimes I cry and I’m awake for two hours. Now, when that happens I remember the faces from group and I know that others have problems too.” Okello says that even while he was in captivity in the bush, he remembers feeling God’s presence with him. It is indeed incredible that God is so big and so infinite that love and hope stretches even into the darkness and brutality of the bush.

We both feel grateful to be here together. In addition to being an emotional and spiritual support to each other, we are also able to provide holistic care for the children at HEALS by providing nursing and counseling. As we work with children and hear of their suffering at the hands of the LRA our hearts are often outraged towards those who oppress and are the tools of evil. A verse that often has relevance here is Psalm 10:17-18, “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”

We now feel we have a better understanding of why God’s heart is especially tender towards orphans. We are reminded of the need for an almighty Savior who will right the wrongs of those who cause suffering. We live with the hope that when alone and overwhelmed God also hears the cry of the oppressed–of Omara and Okello. Almighty God is tender and gentle and draws near to the suffering. We have hope for the day when all suffering will be ended and God ‘s heel will smash the head of evil and all will once again be set right. We long for God to also permeate the darkness of our current realities and give us hope to continue in our work and give us strength to offer hope to others.

Thank you for your prayers and support! Haley and Autumn