Gulu, The Land God Remembered

 Nearly 100 years ago, Winston Churchill christened Uganda as "The Pearl of Africa." The English statesman was fond of exotic wildlife, the lush countryside, the temperate weather, and the colonial possibilities. "The scenery is different, the vegetation is different, the climate is different, and most of all the people are different from anything elsewhere in the whole range of Africa," he wrote in "My African Journey."
A pearl is the product of flinching pain and years of patience. A beautiful jewel is formed as a tender oyster secretes mother-of-pearl to protect itself from an irritant inside its shell.

Now the story becomes daunting when You listen to so many disturbing war stories and witness some heart bleeding sufferings of children, women and men affected by the 19-year-old conflict in northern Uganda. In April ‘05 Operation Suzannah under the Rescue316Ministries got the chance once again to launch out to Gulu like abridge over the trouble waters.

The Journey to Gulu was a bumpy one. The land looked like a vast desert of landscape with no sign of any human being. The greyish remains of the wall of the burnt huts is all one could clearly see. Feelings of fear, excitement and anxiety were triggered inside me, narrates one of the missioners.

Later that evening when we had finished the spiritual mapping of the city, I couldn’t compare the conditions in the makeshift camps to any. The huts are too close to each other and children often fall in fire. Diseases like syphilis, chronic coughs, and diarrhoea are hardening the lives of the people. These quiet traumatised people seem barely real, their circumstances too complicated to grasp, and their plight too overwhelming to address.

Although the inhabitants were in dirty rags, they still welcomed us with warm smiles.
 These camp are divided into wards with names such as ‘Labongo Yamo’ (without air), ‘Lacan ma Twal’ (poor forever), ‘Dii Cwinyi’ (be patient) , ‘Wi lobo Olanya’ (the world has mistreated me).

 Amidst all this Haunting scenarios, we were able to hold gospel evangelistic crusades declaring that Jesus is the same yesterday, Today and forever.

There was a dramatic response to the good news with over 800 souls converting to Jesus Christ as lord and saviour. New Testament Miracles were also demonstrated by the power of the holy spirit.

 Revival hit the land like never before despite the history that has included war, persecution of Christians and the AIDS epidemic, Gulu is emerging as a shining star:

 By the time we left the mission ground, we challenged Christians to take the forefront of AIDS ministry, and churches ignited on fire for Christ to the Glory of the lord of the Harvest.

We have renewed our commitment not only to address the plight of the saints in Gulu but also to dress them with clothes and raise the standard of living in the camps.

A  Praise report by Operation Suzannah, A front-Line Ministry with RESCUE316INTERNATIONAL.