The Children of Humble School, Uganda

In the news recently there have been stories about the trial of an alleged rebel in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) by the International Crimes Division of the High Court of Gulu, Uganda.  Although I certainly believe that there should be justice for the victims of the atrocities commited by the LRA, I am much more interested in sharing some of the stories of the wonderful children I met in Uganda while there on a mission trip over the last two weeks.

This was my second trip to Humble School in the town of Mukono, Uganda.   You can read more about the trip by visiting our trip blog.   My family has gotten connected to this mission through our church, Crossroads UMC in Ashburn, VA.  Last year, Dan and I went over and this year I took our son Cody.

Many of the children at the school, which is a primary school ranging from pre-school (baby class) through P-7 (roughly 6th grade) are from the northern parts of the country where the LRA was most active.  Some of the children lost parents and other family members to the war.  Other children have lost parents and family members to illness - HIV, malaria, etc.

Still, the thing that struck me the most last year and again this year is that even after enduring things that I can't even imagine, these children are still happy kids who just want to be kids.  They will tell their stories when asked, but they really want to play football or frisbee, or sing, or learn to sew, or ride bikes, or read and learn.  Their faith and willingness to display their spiritual side without the hesitation so often seen here in the US is humbling and inspiring at the same time.

Rhoda, who is probably about 12 or 13, lost both parents to illness and lives with her grandmother during school breaks.  She is a very caring girl and really helps a lot with the younger children.  During our visit, she painted my fingernails sparkly green - which I think was also the color of her toes!

Brian Daniel is a quiet boy, probably closer to 14.  He was captured by the LRA when very young, but was not kept for long.  He lost most of his family, but goes back to the family village during holidays to stay with surviving relatives.  He loves to tell stories that he has heard from the elders in his village - similar stories that we tell our children about the rabbit and the turtle.

Philemon's family lives near the school.  He has both parents and many siblings.  His parents are farmers, and they have the most generous spirit I have ever seen.  Philemon makes the most amazing paper flowers and bright colored chains from palm fronds.  He and Cody really bonded this year - I think it was mostly over card games!

Sharifa is 11 and from the town of Mukono.  I don't know her story, but she is the most beautiful girl with dreams of being a musician.  She sings in the latest Hope for Africa Childrens Choir and every time I see her sing and dance I am filled with awe.

I could go on and on about these children - and the wonderful staff and faculty of the school.  The point I really want to make is that by making the decision several years ago to get out of my comfort zone and meet people who maybe seemed different, I have gotten to know some amazing people.  While I am now committed to the children at Humble, it is important to remember that the same concept applies right here in my own neighborhood.  We so often cheat ourselves out of meaningful relationships in our lives by refusing to see people who are not just like us.  For myself and my family, this is no longer acceptable.  I challenge all of you to begin seeing people who have been "invisible" in the past.

Can we make a change?

In his speech the night of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination, Senator Robert Kennedy said, “We can make an effort, as Martin Luther King did, to understand and to comprehend, and to replace that violence, that stain of bloodshed that has spread across our land, with an effort to understand with compassion and love.”   He went on to say “What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.”

Reading those words, understanding that they related to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s here in the United States, I couldn’t help but think how much they still hold true today. What we need in the WORLD is not division.  What we need in the WORLD is not hatred.  We need love and wisdom, and compassion towards one another, and a feeling of justice towards all people, regardless of race, nationality, religious belief, gender.  You get the picture. 
As we look around the world today there is so much turmoil, so much unrest.  Hunger, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, illness are all at levels that should simply not exist in 2011.  Neighbors, family members, friends are at each other’s throats out of desperation.  
I am not naïve enough to believe that a few good deeds will bring about lasting world peace.  If that were the case, all of these problems would have been solved centuries ago.  However, I do believe that by seeking to understand one another and to love one another through serving one another, we can bring change for the better.   As Christ-followers, we are called to do this.  When asked by the Pharisees about the greatest commandment, Jesus replied: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.   A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-38). 
To love our neighbor as ourselves can mean many different things.  You may volunteer your time locally to tutor children in the public schools.  You may take food to your local food bank every month.  Perhaps you work through organizations to help build affordable housing.  Perhaps you have traveled to areas devastated by earthquakes or floods.  Hopefully if you have done any of these things, you have developed relationships with people who maybe are not just like you.  Maybe you have discovered that in putting some differences aside, you have been able to find some things in common and gain greater understanding of others. 
PeaceThruLove is all about finding those things in common and building relationships that span socioeconomic, racial, religious, gender-based differences.  I invite you to check out 13 Acts (www.13Acts.org) to submit your ideas for how we can change the world.