Dear Friends,
Just a brief note to inform you about some refugee camps that we have just returned from ministering at. These camps in northern Uganda are home to thousands of internally displaced people or as we know them here, IDP's. These wonderful people have had incredible hardships placed upon them because of the murderous and demonic activities of Joseph Kony and his rebel group known as the Lord's Resistance Army or LRA. These men have invaded villages and towns for some 18 years now. They have killed many thousands, severely wounded thousands others and in just one district alone, left more than 110,000 people displaced and living in refugee camps.

The trauma inflicted upon the peoples of the north cannot begin to be told. We spoke with one young girl just ten years old. She was taken captive when she was seven years old. She was forced to walk to Sudan where she was kept captive until just some days ago. There she did heavy work for the man she was "given to." She was kept on the verge of starvation and repeatedly assaulted.

Another young boy who is now eleven years old was forced to do heavy manual labor. When he did not fold the bed sheet properly for the "big man" he slaved for, he was beaten and cut severely on the head by a machete, known here as a panga.

One 46 year old woman was taken captive and forced to carry three large cases on her head, each weighing more than 15 kilos. Totaling more than 90 pounds, these cases had to be carried without the use of her hands. In one hand she had to carry the officer's ducks and in her other she had to carry his large radio that he "acquired" in her village. When she could continue no longer she collapsed from the strain. She was then beaten on the back of her head by the guns of the rebels. They kicked her as well and when she passed out they left her dead in the swampy water. She came to the next morning and eventually was able to crawl and get help by a passerby. She is doing better now but is in severe pain and still has swelling on her face and head.

One of the camps we visited has more than 18,000 people living in mud and grass huts. There is little food, few blankets and fewer cooking supplies such as pots and pans. Medical supplies are almost non existent. When we asked how Crusades International could be of help, they told us, please bring us sauce pans (cooking pots), jerry cans for water, blankets - "please bring us blankets" and medical-surgical care.
One baby just born some days ago was not doing well. The mother is not able to provide enough milk because of lack of food for herself. In addition the umbilical cord has become infected and without proper medicines, the baby is in trouble.

We were also told of the need of a plastic tarp to be used to cover the little school they have set us. This will help keep the sun off the children and also provide cover when it rains. The rainy season is now upon them and this cover is very much needed.

Another camp we visited had been attacked the night before. Nobody was hurt or taken away, but food and cows were stolen. One lady recently rescued had given birth days before her abduction. As she was having trouble caring for her baby, the rebels took the baby, threw him to the ground and said "now you no longer have a problem." They forced her to go on leaving the baby behind.

We hope to go back next week with a truck load of supplies and begin to do something to help. One small camp set up to provide counseling and care for children recently freed from LRA captivity was out of food. We were able to provide them with 200 pounds of ground meal. This will help them for some days but is far from what they have need of. Please pray with us about this matter. The need is most urgent. God bless you dear friends. Please keep us in your prayers as we do you.

Yours for Africa,

Murray & Kay
Christine
Bryan, Mindy and Ezekiel Paul
Crusades International - Africa Outreach Ministries

 

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