You hear gun shots in the distance.
You see the fire that rages up near the shack of houses that surround yours.
Do you run?
Do you risk the bullets ripping through your body so you can escape the torture and death that surely will happen if you stay put?
These aren't just a bunch of rebels who are taking over your city…these are people you know.
These are your family members. These are your neighbors. These are your children.
Each person under the influence of ruthless and treacherous men with no other agenda than to wipe the area clean of what they see unfitting.
It's a modern day holocaust.
As the fire encloses all around you, you make the choice to run.
It's better than waiting to be burned alive or raped and tortured as the rebels leave your body to be finished off by the wild dogs after they are through with you.
You pray to God to help keep you safe from the danger that is all around.
With one last “amen” you make the move.
As you dart out the door, it catches the men wielding machetes off guard and they scream at the firing line to take you out.
The bullets fly.
Each one humming past your head faster than you can comprehend.
Screams and cries from those left behind fade with each step towards the bush that you take.
You see your safe haven.
A bullet grazes your arm, but the adrenaline takes over your body and you feel nothing.
Nothing.
You keep running and make it to the bush. A small patrol is coming your way but you know they'll never find you.
At least not tonight.
Which is all you think about.
There her and now.
Tomorrow doesn't exist.
You try and catch your breath and watch in horror at the scene unfolding before your very eyes.
A city being torn to shreds.
Rape.
Murder.
Torture.
The stench of it all fills the air as the blood soaked sun goes down in the distance.
As you run deeper into the bush with tears streaming down your face and no idea of what's next, the harsh reality hits you…
This isn't the end of the struggle, it's just the beginning.
For countless people in the Northern Ugandan city of Barlonyo, the story from above does not even come remotely close to what it was like when Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacked on February 21st, 2004 taking the lives of 121 innocent victims (though if you ask locals they'll tell you the number is closer to 400).
As my team and I traveled throughout the Barlonyo area last week, you couldn't help but feel the effects of that day. The smiles that were erased were still not being shown and the joy that was stolen still hasn't been fully restored. How could it be? Mother's saw their babies beaten to death against the trees that still stand high. Children are roaming around as orphans because they were forced to take the life of a parent. The ground from the raging fires is still unable to produce crops.
I don't know how there could be, but there's still hope for Barlonyo.
It's in the laugh of every child running to the school that was built two years ago.
It's in the sweet embrace of a woman, who instead of running from her past, embraces it and shares her story with as many as possible. A reminder of what happened on that February day and how we can't be blind enough to let it happen again in the future.
And it is in us.
All of us.
As Christians we have the responsibility to fight the darkness in the world. You don't have to look far to find it. It's in Africa. It's in Asia. And yes, it's in America as well. Jesus already won the war for us. We just have to fight in the battles we see. We have to dive straight in and fight for those who can't. We fight today, tomorrow, and all the days that fall after.
We're the hope.
All of us.
“You’re the light of the world” – Matthew 5:14
Over the course of the first 8 months on the Race, I've had the opportunity to hear countless stories of heartache and pain, but also of redemption and joy. Each person has a story and hearing their stories have made mine that much better. When I signed up to go on the World Race, I wrote a blog saying I wanted to live a better story. Because of God's grace, and you – I'm doing that.
I can't thank you enough for the support and outpouring of love that has been given to me since I started this journey. Whether it's been by prayer or by a financial donation, each form of support has blessed me and the world immensely. In fact, I am only around $1000 from being completely funded to continue this incredible story I'm living this year.
If just ten people gave $100, I could keep going or if 20 people gave $50, I'd be able to do the same. Regardless of the amount, every donation goes 100% towards furthering His Kingdom. If you want to partner up with me and help me find more chapters to my story, you can do so by CLICKING HERE or by clicking the “Support Me!!” tab on the left!
Thank you for all you do and all you've done.
I love you all.
