A day at Child Voice can include
a multitude of things. In fact things
never stop. The girls have chapel in the
morning which we lead and then go to various vocational classes. We have had time to learn how to make beads
out of paper and there is always an opportunity to hold some little children . We can learn how to braid hair which I haven’t
actually had a lesson in yet but I did my very first corn row. We can fetch water(which I try to avoid cause
I can barely lift the jug).
We have gone to the CVI farm where
we cooked in the sun trying to rake weeds into piles using flimsy sticks. Some of us also went to the clinic where I
offered my services as a nurse but as I looked around I realized I am out of my
element when all they have is a few supplies and few drugs. Not to mention trying to communicate proves
to be a challenge. So we helped fold
some med cups out of paper and then excused ourselves. Overall our job is to
try our best to build relationship with the girls and give the kidos all the
loving we can.
We have heard that some of the
mothers are resentful of their children and need a lot of encouragement when
parenting their children. Some of the
children come from forced marriages or rape. All of the kids are desperate for some
attention as their mothers are busy with chores and classes all day
We had a chance to hear one of the girl’s experience in the bush. My heart was broken for an 13 year old being
abducted as the rebels destroyed her village.
She was forced to walk over 20 miles then raped and forced into marriage
with a 57 year old man. She remained in
the bush for two years and had two children one of which died. When she escaped she ran towards the Ugandan
military(carrying a baby on her back) and as they shot at her she thought it
would be better to die today than to stay in the bush. She survived and is now living, working and
is remarried. Despite the atrocities
these girls have seen they are able to live productive and healthy lives. I am
amazed at them and the redemption they experience in God.
