Uganda: No Turning Back
Esta in the village"Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom." - Isaiah 59:9
Sometimes when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we find ourselves asking God, "Where are You?" We wonder if God hears our cries for mercy, justice, and redemption. Often the stillness is mistaken for God's absence and we come to the painful misunderstanding that He has forgotten us and cares nothing for our mortal souls. But I want to point out the exact opposite, because the Creator of this universe does, in fact, care very much for our souls; it is an intense and constant compassion that is far beyond what our finite minds can comprehend. I know in times of great sorrow, despair, grief, depression, or stress we find ourselves lost in our trouble asking ourselves if the Lord we pray to even exists, let alone hears a single cry uttered from our hearts. In the midst of our brokenness, the Lord is on the other side of it, binding up and bending low to meet our needs.
This world is in some very troubled times and what seems like, times without hope. Every day we are bombarded with the news by a series of terrorist attacks, slavery, all sorts of injustice, human trafficking, shootings, child abuse, abortion, and evil acts towards the innocent. This weary, troubled world is shaken on its hinges over and again and somehow in all these waves of heartbreak and injustice, God's glory and recompense rises above. The work of God is justice for the helpless.
I wonder how many people in this society are aware of the increasing rate of slavery that is choking the lives of millions across the globe? When the concept of modern-day slavery was brought to my attention less than 10 years ago, I will admit that I didn't fully understand what it meant or what was really happening to these victims. I was also not aware of how many victims it was affecting. When I first heard that there are more slaves today than any other time in the history of slavery, I was floored. Most of modern-day slavery goes unseen or unknown without the persistence and help of an outside source breaking in to rescue the helpless and bind up the perpetrator. Through the Christian organization International Justice Mission and singer-song writer Sara Groves, my eyes were awakened by what modern-day slavery looks like, who it is affecting, and what injustice is being done to these victims. Even today, I am still trying to wrap my head around it and how such evil acts could exist in a modern-day world.
On June 23, 2016 three Kenyan men were abducted as they were traveling back from a court hearing. The worst news came on July 1, as the world learned that the bodies of the three men were found in a river in Nairobi. These men were IJM staff attorney, Willie Kimani; IJM client, Josephat Mwenda; and taxi driver, Joseph Muiruri. When tragedy strikes, sometimes it strikes in threefold. What insurmountable heartache these families have known.
"Sozo" in Greek means to save or to rescue and for the past 6 years Sozo has been rescuing and enriching the lives of hundreds of orphaned children. Sozo Children was born on May 13, 2010 in Kampala, Uganda by rescuing the lives of 17 children. Sozo is there to serve, equip, nurture, lead, discipline children in Uganda, Haiti, and Costa Rica. They support children with their spiritual, educational, medical, and financial needs, as well as in other areas. For more information, please take a moment to watch these videos to see further what Sozo Children is doing:
https://vimeo.com/105381173
https://vimeo.com/162550196
I was introduced to Sozo Children in the summer 2015 through a friend. Upon telling me about it, I immediately looked it up quite interested as to what this organization was all about. My first moment with Sozo was at their store a few days later. Sozo Children runs a thrift store in Avondale called Sozo Trading Co. In the middle of the store, you will find an area comprised of items handmade for sale by Africans, Haitians, and Costa Ricans. In April at Sozo's annual Run for a Reason 5K, I finally understood what my interest with Sozo meant. The Ugandan children have a choir and this year they toured several cities in the United States, performing at various churches and events. The Sozo Choir was a major focal point at the race. It was during one of their songs that I knew right that moment that I wanted to serve in Uganda and be a part of the organization. So at the end of April, I began sponsoring a 17-year old girl named Gertrude and registered for the trip.
Earlier this year, before registering for my trip to Uganda, the Lord started working in my heart to do the work of God--bringing justice to the helpless. The month of April was a full month for me. I attended a concert for the Art Music Justice Tour featuring Sara Groves, Jenny & Tyler, and Brandon Heath that benefited International Justice Mission. This concert was more than a music concert for me--it was night of understanding further of the injustice and suffering that plagues millions around the world. That night I become a partner of IJM. A few weeks later was the Sozo 5K which followed with my child sponsorship and trip registration.
I am excited about this opportunity to serve the Lord in Uganda and be His hands and feet in places my heart has only dimly imagined. My response to Him is "I am here, Lord. Use me." It will be a joy and honor to serve Him there and also meet my sponsor child. This passage has been on my heart for very long time this year and I think it sums up exactly where I am with this upcoming trip:
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to the bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound...to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified...For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them." - Isaiah 61
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