Pray for Northern Uganda
I went to the Global Night Commute last night and it was amazing. I have not been so moved by events outside of America in a loooong time. I was really nervous about going at first because we were suppose to meet at 7:00pm and I was running late and was afraid the walk would start without me; well, that and it was threatening rain and I was praying so much for a good turnout because I knew if it rained, people wouldn't come. Thankfully, I got there on time and by 8:00pm, at least 200 people came to protest the American government's lack of action in Northern Uganda. We walked for about 3.5 miles carrying the Ugandan flag and protest signs in a part of Fort Wayne that was, shall we say, less than pleasant. But as we marched, people would walk out of their houses, out of the bars, and stop their cars to ask what we were doing and we were able to share! It was awesome!
Once we ended the walk, we took a group picture to send into Invisible Children and then we were able to participate in several activities. I chose to watch a screening of the movie "Invisible Children" but there was also a prayer room, a praise and worship area, as well as letter writing and petition stations. I was so moved by the movie that I broke down. Seriously, EVERYONE needs to see this movie. It tore me up to see that for 17 years, the world has ignored the fact that the LRA of Northern Uganda has terrorized children like this.
The movie showed children as young as 5 years old carrying AK47's! These "Night Commuters" travel from their villages to sleep in dirty corridors of hospitals out of fear of being abducted from their homes. Most of these children had no food, no clothes except what was on their backs, and could not even go to school because Rebels would come and kidnap from the schools! It killed me to see that! No child should have to deal with that EVER!
After the movie, I wrote President Bush demanding that he press our government to stop ignoring the problem, signed a petition, and created some artwork of what the night meant to me. I then grabbed my sleeping bag, pillow, and extra blanket and slept outside for the night. Well, I should say I tried to sleep because I really didn't at all. The ground was definitely a lot harder than my pillow-top mattress (can we say princess?) and I had to pee really bad. Then, around 3:45ish, it began to sprinkle. My group and I toughed it out until about 4:30am when it began to rain harder so we left. I got home around 5:00am, took a shower and slept through Sunday morning service. I woke up sore and with a headache, but very willing to do it again!
Once we ended the walk, we took a group picture to send into Invisible Children and then we were able to participate in several activities. I chose to watch a screening of the movie "Invisible Children" but there was also a prayer room, a praise and worship area, as well as letter writing and petition stations. I was so moved by the movie that I broke down. Seriously, EVERYONE needs to see this movie. It tore me up to see that for 17 years, the world has ignored the fact that the LRA of Northern Uganda has terrorized children like this.
The movie showed children as young as 5 years old carrying AK47's! These "Night Commuters" travel from their villages to sleep in dirty corridors of hospitals out of fear of being abducted from their homes. Most of these children had no food, no clothes except what was on their backs, and could not even go to school because Rebels would come and kidnap from the schools! It killed me to see that! No child should have to deal with that EVER!
After the movie, I wrote President Bush demanding that he press our government to stop ignoring the problem, signed a petition, and created some artwork of what the night meant to me. I then grabbed my sleeping bag, pillow, and extra blanket and slept outside for the night. Well, I should say I tried to sleep because I really didn't at all. The ground was definitely a lot harder than my pillow-top mattress (can we say princess?) and I had to pee really bad. Then, around 3:45ish, it began to sprinkle. My group and I toughed it out until about 4:30am when it began to rain harder so we left. I got home around 5:00am, took a shower and slept through Sunday morning service. I woke up sore and with a headache, but very willing to do it again!