In the time we are here in Otacpab, we have help with washing. This is usually a young girl who is very happy to earn something.
This time it’s Phiona, a cheerful 17-year-old girl. We are very happy, because we rarely had such a positive human child. You would have to experience her in worship when she leads worship. What a voice. She would certainly be a very good jazz singer, with a fascinating vocal range. Or to experience how lovingly she takes care of children…
The other day we asked David in our conversations if Phiona had gone to school. He told us that she had stopped with P6. Her father, a soldier, took her to Gulu, where she trained as a seamstress for a year. Now she is back in Otacpab.
Completely calm, but still touched, our friend continues.
The mother is an alcoholic and has left the family. Therefore, Phiona had to return to care for her four younger siblings. But that’s not all, dear ones, her father gets into an argument and shoots a man. Now he is in military prison and Phiona has no benefits.
Of course, the four siblings can no longer go to school.
Phiona washes with us, works in the fields and sews a little to help herself and her siblings get by.
With the special individual events certainly an isolated case. But a girl of that age who has to take care of her siblings alone is certainly not an isolated case here.
What does this do to us?
It makes us deeply sad and almost tears our hearts. Always new when we learn about such living conditions. Again and again there is the spontaneous impulse to be guided by necessity. At the same time there is the knowledge that this would really tear us apart. “Helping and at the same time living with the fact that I can’t save anyone” is not an easy task.
It succeeds if we do not look at ourselves and our possibilities and let God guide us in our actions. Helping where he shows ways. Trusting that He has a good plan.
In terms of Phiona, besides the sadness, there is a piece of joy, because Phiona is part of Ot Pa Wora and the community tries to stand by her. This looks different from what we Germans imagine, because many of them are in a similar predicament. Nevertheless, Phiona is doing better than others in a comparable situation.
How wonderful that God continues to work with David and the others on this oasis of Ot Pa Wora.
