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TechnoratiMeet Dennis. Abducted by rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, he was forced to kill someone in a village in a matter of days—or be killed himself. He was only nine years old.
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The Uganda OrphansKasozi village, Kamuli Uganda during fall 2008
Dennis and other abducted boys were then commanded to go on long marches carrying heavy items. If any boy stopped to rest, the rebels killed that boy immediately. His life became a crisis of absolute survival. Over the next two years, Dennis killed a total of 12 people.
The war ended in the north and UOF rescued Dennis who now lives in Kasozi Village, our main orphan center. During his first year in UOF’s care, he couldn’t talk about his past. Tears flowed, but no words. Caregivers understood and spent many months providing stability, love, food and safety to this traumatized boy.
More recently, Dennis has been able to share more of his story. His descriptions of horror equal stories about Nazi Germany.
A few weeks ago, Dennis was one of 100 orphans who were baptized by UOF founder, Duncan Hill. No longer withdrawn or under deep shame, he now understands God’s love and forgiveness.
One of the tragedies that children face when both parents die is the possibility of being separated from their siblings as well.
Several orphans at Kasozi Village tearfully approached Duncan about rescuing their brothers and sisters.
Two brothers, in particular, learned through relatives that their oldest brother had died. They asked Duncan to find their 11-year-old twin sisters, and two little brothers.
Duncan took a small team up north. They stopped at Pabo Camp, the most notorious IDP (internally displaced persons) camp, a hut city of thousands, rank with crime, disease and despair. They drove on through the bush in what was the stronghold of the LRA where vast atrocities were committed. The team arrived in Pader District and met with local leaders. The little brothers (4 & 5 years old) were found in one village under the care of their elderly grandmother. A praying, godly woman, she was ecstatic that her grandsons would be cared for. The boys were filthy dirty, wearing the only clothes they owned, but jumped into Duncan’s arms, trusting him immediately.
The team traveled 40 miles to another village to find the twin sisters, Margaret and Vicky. Upon arrival, they were surprised to find the girls bathed, packed and ready to go. Duncan quickly signed the papers as the girls headed toward the car. As soon as they left, the girls were talking very fast and with great emotion in their native language. Head mistress Christine interpreted for the team.
Apparently, the night before, a relative of these girls had slit the throat of his own wife. The murdered wife’s clan was on their way to the village seeking revenge. They planned to kill the girls. Margaret and Vicky were waiting for UOF—or certain death. Duncan remembered seeing a truck full of men pulled over on the side of the road, just outside the village as they drove in to pick up the girls. Who could have arranged such timing? Only a sovereign God.
Margaret’s smiling face tells it all!
Instead of Presents, Sponsor an orphanage this Christmas ...
“Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land.” Psalm 41:1-2.
Several years ago, the Bruckner family of Bozeman, Montana contacted all their extended family…aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews…and together they gave enough money to build an orphanage. This was their Christmas idea. A few other families followed suit.
The current needs in UOF are sponsorship. Would you consider sponsoring an orphanage? $600 a month provides food, school fees, medicine, scholastic material, and most importantly, stability and love for 50 orphans. You can cover these kids for just one month, two months, a year or on an ongoing basis.
Contact us: Uganda Orphans Fund, 101 East Oak, 2A, Bozeman, MT 59715. (406)-922-0333 or check out our website: www.ugandaorphans.com for more information.
Founded in 2002 by Duncan Hill, The Uganda Orphans Fund is dedicated to the care and shelter of Ugandan orphans, most of which find themselves in this state through AIDS having taken the lives of their parents.
www.ugandaorphans.com
