Well we are almost 3/8 of our way through our stay at the COTN house in Lira, Uganda. We were joined yesterday by Jamie, a friend of the host family, who puts the total number currently lodging in the house at 16 people.
Plans are changing daily for our various ministries, but throughout this whole week our intern team of 8 plus the 2 cousins Jon and Jerusha have been driving 84km every morning to Obile Primary School, in the northern part of Lira District. Our treks take about two and a half hours on rough roads one way, which amounts to about 4 to 5 hours of driving a day to spend a mere hour with groups of the 516 students that attend the school.
Our focus this week was to counsel specific children who had been abducted by the rebel army previously. Our objective is to allow these children pathways to overcome and overthrow the chains of torment of the atrocious things that these kids were forced to take part in and witness. The reason we drive out so far every day is that the rebel army had a semi-permanent base of operations within a few kilometers of the school, so there are many children who have been traumatized by the rebels in past years.
My group is with 23 boys from the school, ranging from the ages of 7 to 16, of all previously abducted kids. I will have to tell you firsthand what I heard them say about what the rebels made them do, because it won’t do anyone justice to try to type what is almost impossible to capture face to face. To get a sample, I was brought to the verge of tears by only ten words from a boy only 11 years old.
What is shocking most of all is the resolve of these boys to be faithful in God throughout any troubles they’ve had. They have an unconquerable faith and trust in God’s amazing love on their lives, which is something we can all learn to know in deeper ways. God is not something to be put in a box, nor is HE to be limited by our own abilities, or our narrow-mindedness.
Life lesson: sorrow births the greatest joy.
The times our team of interns has shared has developed a deeper bond than I could have predicted. We are becoming rapidly like real family for each other, and I am so thankful for each of them.
Our teams are about to have the honor of viewing a dowry price negotiation, which is essentially the African side of a wedding. The following day our own COTN staff Edward will be marrying Caitlin, and our entire team will be in the wedding party! Andrew, Jon and I will be groomsmen along with numerous Ugandans, and our six girls will be bridesmaids, which is something we are all looking forward eagerly for.
Well, once again thanks for checking in with the updates, and I pray that God blesses you in America and elsewhere in the world, wherever you are, and that you would know the depths of His love.
God bless you my friends and family!
Please continue to pray for our team as we have encountered some less than stellar health, but have yet to be incapacitated.
Love,
Scott
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