Lira is in northern Uganda and is the area terrorized for years by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army. Empower is honored to have the chance to serve people who have suffered much devastation and trauma.
We traveled to Lira on 19th May 2014, and were accommodated in Gracious Place Hotel, which Pastor Obonyo booked for us. Pastor Frank, Canon Grace and myself were the team. We arrived at 6pm and found it was a six hour drive from Kampala.
Canon Grace is an Anglican priest who with other women clergy had done both New Man, New Woman, and the Master Class, and is a very well informed lady. We were lucky to have her.
For three days we would set off from the hotel and be driven to Christian Mission Hall where we conducted all the teachings.
We found 30 people who had come for the Master Class of NMNW. In the long run, we found that 7 of the participants had not taken the first seminar, so we had to separate them and teach them NMNW. Luckily we had carried few of the first books and Pastor Obonyo also had some with him.
The pastor received the contribution from Empower with thanks.
TEACHINGS
The Master Class went well except for some old men who still read the Bible with their culture lenses [as Frank put it]. This made our explanations a little hard. Luckily these were onlyt two out of 23, the number for master class
TESTIMONIES
A lady had shared NMNW, with groups of women in her village. Their lives changed so she came with one in hope of being taught more, which we did.
A man, R.K, gave us a lot of hope when he said he had shared the book with people, in his village, and in other towns, like Dokolo, and Kumi. He shared to them about forgiveness, and being secretive in homes. He promised us he will be going to Malaba. In number he had shared with 70 people. In fact, he is the one who taught the people in his village to greet their wives every morning. He said men of his tribe never greet or tell their wives where they are going or what they are going to do that day.
Mr. Alex Obonyo shared with the youth the purpose of creation. He had always thought Adam was the only important person in creation. After his teachings, young girls could stand and share in fellowships without shame, and young people are working out about which food is for man or women (that is, allowing women to eat food which was formerly forbidden them).
Patrick shared with his wife that his life had changed after the NMNW seminar. His wife worked hand in hand with him to change their church members.
Another member set the villagers to discussing whether dowry (paying brideprice) was right. Another taught women they were the most important in creation and have the same equality as men.
The testimonies were so many, I can’t write them all down. We were encouraged.
Pastor Richard is planning New Man, New Woman, New Life in November. They are planning it in three different places at the same time. So many churches are interested, we asked pastor Richard to start recruiting young people who will work well with us.