We call her “JA JA”, that’s what they call elderly women in Uganda. My first Sunday she grabbed me to dance with her, didn’t know what she was saying, but you could see the joy she had from miles away. As she danced I just followed her as I connected eyes with her, with the biggest grin on our faces. Never looking at her would you been able to tell she has been through more pain and sorrow then many people even close to her age, did a I mention she is 103 years old?
We sat in her home one evening as she told us her story, a mother of three, with even more grandkids. And a life that was very simple, but she was happy. This was all taken away from her during the wars in Rwanda. Her husband was killed by some army men in Uganda, one son was killed in the army in Uganda, second son killed before the war in Rwanda, and the third son killed after the war in Rwanda.
She spoke of the time when her third son was sent from Uganda to fight in the Rwandan war , and how she heard he was dead. In disbelief she went to look for him, just in case he may have been alive. She said she had no address so she went from village to village looking for him dead or alive. The first time she didn’t find him, and went back to Uganda. The second time she came to look she found him, and he was alive. On one of trips to visit her son, she found out she had a two-year-old grandson, and she got to meet her.
She gazes off from looking at us and mentions a point in her life that changed everything for her. She and many of her relatives were at the army barracks, when her son received a call that all the men had to leave because a big fight had broken out. When all the army left, the enemy ambushed the barracks, killing every one in their path, no matter how old or how young. 13 of her relatives were killed, but she was spared. She said she remembers hearing people screaming as houses were ambushed; people were killed cold-blooded, stabbed, hit in the heads, or shot. She recalls smoke being everywhere as she stood silently in a corner. She could hear army men outside arguing about the “old woman” they had seen but had still not killed. So they came in to look a second time but still could not find her. She said she has no idea why they didn’t see her, but it was like God literally placed a shield over her.
How could anyone possibly go on with life after going through something so horrific. “Ja Ja” had no one in her life, but found hope in Jesus. She always speaks that she never gets lonely because God always sends people in her life to bless her. She said “God is my best friend; he said don’t cry for your dead children, I will bring children to you.” She said coming to know Jesus after her husband’s death was the best decision she ever made, and there was no turning back. “When I pray I cry, not because I’m sad, but because I’m happy.” She said God answered her prayer because she was sent 7 children from America, so even though she lost her kids, God brought some to her.
She said she feels God is touching her heart to one day go back to Rwanda and tell her testimony. She said even though I have many bad memories of that place I want to share with them my life, and what God has done for me. She said she hates the war and the fighting, and seeing what she saw makes it very hard to forgive, especially those who killed her family. But she said the love of God makes us love and forgive everybody. You think of people that may have done you wrong in your life, and it may be hard to forgive them in your heart and love them no matter the hurt. Imagine forgiving and loving someone that has taken the lives of many of your loved ones for no reason at all, talk about the grace of God.
“Ja Ja” is an amazing woman and every time I see her she shares the love and joy of the Lord. When you know 100% who you are in the Lord and what love and joy from the Father looks like, whatever struggle, pain, and trial comes in your life you can get through it. The scripture “the joy of the lord is my strength” is definitely evident in “Ja Ja”’s life!
PLEASE, PLEASE…. I Still need your Support! DONATE to your Left!! Every little bit helps!!!
