Refugee women in Uganda
Had a couple great sessions with a group of refugee women living here in Kampala. The first day I asked them to share a bit of their personal stories with the group- how they ended up her in Uganda. It was very heavy. Every one of these women has experiences of death, separation, and violence. Most have been raped. Most have had children killed, or don’t know where their children are. What do you say to a group like this? Most of them are followers of Jesus so I was able to encourage them with stories of hope in Scripture. In particular they seemed to connect with the story of Hagar. Hagar, was a slave, a foreigner, a poor woman without status, who was abused and mistreated. When she finds herself alone and living in the desert she is desperate. It seems like she is going to die and that her child is going to die. But something fascinating happens. The Bible says God heard Hagar’s voice/cries/prayers and God speaks to her. God listens to a voice that no one else cared about. We encouraged one another with the idea that God hears us when we cry out to him. He hears the cries of our children. He is with us in our struggles. There is hope.
Hi Alison and Dave,
I just discovered your wonderful blog, and have started to read some of your experiences in Africa. What an amazing time you had! I also sense such a love for the women especially from the various countries in Africa. Just last week from Wivine from DRC, but living in Uganda for last 6 years with her 2 kids, sang a song for me that she composed about the Holy Spirit. I was crying as she sang, it was so beautiful. Jean Paul Samputu will sing and share at Little Bethel on Sunday November 30th at the 10:30 service. Perhaps you could come. I send my love to your wonderful family.
Sandy