How you are helping to restore a victim of rape and war trauma

The Lord’s Restoration Army

How your generosity has been transforming the lives of women around the world

Dear Family,

I never imagined this day would come. Oh, I remembered hearing about the heinous Joseph Kony and his blasphemously-named Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) many years ago, and of the countless atrocities that were being committed by him during Northern Uganda’s civil war. But now I was actually meeting a victim of this brutal warlord.

For 20 years this rogue militia terrorized its own people in Northern Uganda, capturing young women, school children, and any they came across, forcefully recruiting them into their army. Young girls were abducted and forced to become sex slaves shared by the commanders. Many perished in captivity, while others survived only to be captured by government soldiers and returned home with unwanted babies at the end of the war. Some of the girls never even knew the names of their forced “husbands.”

This meant that these young women ended up with fatherless kids, and other children born in captivity became orphans when their mothers were killed or died of sickness.

Lanyero is one of these women. Abducted while young, she returned home with 7 children she could not care for because she was destitute. To make matters worse, Lanyero and other war widows are usually ostracized by their families and communities who want nothing to do with children of LRA soldiers. Many live with injuries and trauma and haven’t received any compensation for their losses, and lack the skills and education necessary to start new lives.

But God has heard Lanyero’s pleas, and “put her tears in a bottle.” And He’s using you to help Lanyero and her children. This month we’ll begin construction of a simple home that will provide adequate room and shelter for her family of 8. She will also be able to grow her own food. Heaven’s Family’s Microloan Ministry will also be stepping in to help Lanyero start a self-sustaining small business, and our partner will help provide her older children with vocational training.

Thanks to you who are faithful monthly donors, we were able to fulfill this $3,800 desperate need immediately. I look forward to reporting to you next year about Lanyero’s progress. Please keep her in your prayers for God’s healing for herself and her family, and thanks for being part of the “Lord’s Restoration Army,” helping to restore what the enemy has stolen.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away (Revelation 21:4).

Blessings,

Dossie Briggs

Director, Widows & Abandoned Women Ministry