With a heavy heart, and tears in my eyes my team and I have finished our first month on the World Race. I am able to look back and see how blessed we were to be at Child Voice International.
Child Voice International is a non profit organization located in Lukodi, Uganda. Child Voice that strives to restore the voices who were silenced by the war. The women and their children come to the Lukodi center for an 18 month program there they receive group and individual counseling, learn to live in community, learn to cook, garden, receive education, and vocational training. Every day there is worship and chapel in the morning and evening.
Some of these women were captured by the LRA as children, grew up being married and having three kids as young as 13/14 years old. Other women were living in the bush throughout the war, going to the city for refuge to sleep for a few hours safely. All women have been traumatised by the war, or by being displaced and having to live in IDP camps.
To be able to be surrounded by these women, the children, the staff, and the God sent interns (Megan and Petek), has show me how much God has been at work in Northern Uganda. The Acholi people have withstood the unconventional war for twenty years which has wiped out a generation. CVI has brought that community and culture back to these girls.
We built relationships, went to classes, taught a few classes, helped the staff, played with the children, sang, danced, learned to plant a garden with just your own strength and a ho, how to carry water on your head (or attempt to), laughed, was laughed at, cried, and was in amazement for how amazing God is. I could go on and on for all that we did and accomplished at CVI…but CVI has changed all of us. I learned how to let go, how to be bolder, how to take time to rest in Him, to trust God's plan and his will — even when I think I have the better plan.
God blessed us with an amazing staff and interns that filled us with so much knowledge of the culture, so much joy & laughter, pushed us to grow, allowed us to use the gifts and knowledge to help them, and most important — to forgive.
I have learned so much this last month, I am so thankful that God has led me here.
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters. Wherever you would call me.”
P.S. Posting pictures is not so easy on here, I definitely will add more next week in RWANDA! (:
