
Greetings from Gulu!
My name is Jenna and I have been volunteering with Dream Center since the 3rd of July. I heard about the plight facing the people of Northern Uganda and knew God was calling me to come and serve the Acholi people. That was a year and a half ago and since then I have anticipated my arrival in Gulu. Only God could have prepared me for what I saw upon arrival at Unyama IDP camp. The conditions in which the people live are unbelievable. What shocked me the most was the amount of children living in the camps. After
PICTURED RIGHT: Fiona and Jenna in Unyama surrounded by the many children in the camp.
Judith showed me around the camp I decided to strictly work with the children. When you see a child severely malnourished wearing a face that has lost all hope it changes your life. My goal is to bring hope back into these children’s lives by sharing the word of God with them, singing songs, and just loving them. This past week a group from the US came to work with us in the camps. When we were working in the camp, I observed God’s love shining through them. I witnessed how God gives us different gifts, but used in the same spirit to glorify God. Singing, dancing, rapping, preaching, and even painting was used to share the gospel. During the program a little girl named Patricia about the age of two approached me weary and quite skeptical of my skin color. As she poked and rubbed my skin I could not help but hug her. After that she followed me around the entire night, holding my hand at every chance. As I walked I began collecting other young girls all wanting to hold my hand. At one point I had three children per hand. Even though they held just one pinky they were content to just be touched by me. As I looked around I saw more children that desired to hold my hand, but I knew I could not hold them all. It pained me as I picked up Patricia and continued walking. I thought no matter how many children I sing, love, or sing with there will still be more that need love and attention. I wondered if children did the same to Jesus when He invited them to come to Him. Just to hold a finger would be fine for them. Is that not what we all want? To be touched just by the finger of God? However, God never runs out of fingers. No matter what, He will always have room for more and has an abundance of love. I originally was to leave Gulu a week ago, but I feel God has not finished His work through me. I could not imagine leaving with so much work left unfinished. Although I have been in Gulu for a little over two weeks God has moved in my life. I truly feel blessed to have been given this opportunity to come to Uganda and volunteer at Dream Center. It has been an experience of a lifetime and I pray God continues to work through Robert and Judith in the camps and the Lord blesses them.
Peace and Sunshine,
“If you want happiness for a life time, help somebody”
Jenna
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