Obalanga- Mass Graves- May 16, 2010

After we left the IDP camp we were on our way to Obalanga where Team Beyond has brought some healing to the people who were affected by the Lord's Resistance Army. The people would try to leave the IDP camps and go back out into their villages, but as they would start to plant their gardens they would find bodies of family members and others. There were masses of people killed for years. It is so sad to think all this was going on. They LRA was finally forced out in 2007. Team Beyond has made this place for mass graves. Some have been identified and they are named, but most have around 15 to 20 bodies in them. This has helped them people to have a place to come and mourn and also it has cleaned up the area so they can go back to their villages and start rebuilding their lives. It was a very moving place to be. To know how many people were killed in this spot! So sad, why do these sufferings have to happen?
We then moved on to home. On the way we picked up a mom and her child in a small town. Steve didn't realize that she had asked if she could have a ride to Soroti, and he said yes with his eyes. He thought she had asked if we were going to Soroti. She wanted to take her little boy to the hospital. It was a lesson in being careful what you say or the expressions that you make. But it was great to be able to help this woman who would have had to walk until someone picked her up or carry her son in a large vehicle with many people to get him to Soroti. With us she had a ride, but she was crammed in the back of our already full van. We had two flat tires and it was late when we arrived at the hospital. She never complained once. These people endure soo much and they never complain! I feel so guilty that I complain so much about small irritations. I pray the Lord will give me more patience and endurance.
This day was a very long day, but so amazing! We were exhausted, but God speaks even when we are exhausted.