“Let no one come to you without leaving better and happier.
Be the living expression of God’s kindness. Kindness in your eyes and kindness
in your smile.” This is the quote that I have been living by this week. I have
been completely humbled by this trip. God has brought so many hurting people
into my life this week. All you have to do is look into the eyes of these
precious people to see that they have stories to tell. I want to share with you
the story of Franka. I was blessed to meet her when I came to Gulu in November
to relocate children who were displaced by the war. We had a dinner with some
of the children who received beds in November and asked them to share their
stories and update us on how they were doing. Franka is about 15 years and her
story broke me down. She began by telling us that the bed, the bible and the
mosquito net that she was given changed her life. She told us that before she
had a mosquito net she was constantly bitten by mosquitoes. She constantly had
malaria and was often very sick. She often had no money to go to the hospital.
She said that since she got her net she no longer gets bitten at night and she
doesn’t suffer from malaria. She said her Bible gives her direction and hope. As
she continued she began to cry. She told us when she was on the way to see us
she found out that her mother had died. Franka at the age of 15 would now have
to take on the role as mother of her three siblings. She told me that the only
thing she has to go home to is her mother’s body. Franka was in tears and the
last thing she said before she couldn’t say another word was “I know God will
never leave me.” She then wrapped her beautiful little arms around me and cried
as I prayed over her. I am still
processing all of my emotions but my heart broke for this sweet child of God.
In her deepest moment of sadness and despair she was able to find hope in God. God
is the only person that she has to turn to now. After we prayed and she was leaving
I could not help but break down and get on my knees and pray for her Will you
to pray for this sweet girl? Pray that she is comforted in her time of grief
and that God will be near to her. Sweet Sleep is making a difference here. The work must continue so that we can
continue to serve the children like Franka.