From Brett's pret-trip in May to Gulu
Today Brett and Steve visited a refugee camp in Gulu. There are 44,000 people living in the camp in mud huts as far as the eye can see. The majority of them have been taken hostage by the rebels at one point or another. The rebels did unspeakable things to these men and women. The refugees in the camp had escaped or were rescued. Many of the children there had been rescued from the rebels.
As the pastors were telling Brett stories of the refugees, all of a sudden it occurred to him that they probably were not exempt from the terrors the refugees had experienced. Brett asked one pastor if he was ever taken captive; he said yes, for 2 years. Every pastor there helping the refugees had been taken captive at one time or another. Some were forced to kill people, including their own family members.
When Brett asked them about previous evangelistic work, the pastors told him that last year, they showed the Jesus film and 30 people accepted Christ. They said that was very successful. Yet, this is a camp where there are less than 2,000 Christians among 44,000 people. Some are Muslim, but most do not seem to have any faith that they follow. Some of them sell their daughters or give them in marriage younger than 10 years old. Brett saw girls as young as 12 that had children of their own.
A few days later, they went to 2 more refugee camps and met with pastors there. Half of the pastors there had been abducted by the rebels and escaped. One camp had 3% Christians, the other less than 1%. They’ve never had a major outreach in either one. The camps have had some students come by and do some evangelism, but never a major outreach. The UN gives them food once every 2-3 months (rice and beans), but sometimes that food runs out in 2-3 weeks! Approximately 7% of people in that area starve to death every year. The land is very fertile, but the people have not gone out to farm the land for fear of being abducted by rebels.
Both Brett and Steve have been struck by how un-reached the area is in Gulu. Please continue to pray that the Lord directs Brett as he decides where the team will minister in November. Brett said, “You can’t really walk away from this place when you have the power to change it.” Steve and Brett have been convicted by the Lord – there are obvious needs there that must be met.
As the pastors were telling Brett stories of the refugees, all of a sudden it occurred to him that they probably were not exempt from the terrors the refugees had experienced. Brett asked one pastor if he was ever taken captive; he said yes, for 2 years. Every pastor there helping the refugees had been taken captive at one time or another. Some were forced to kill people, including their own family members.
When Brett asked them about previous evangelistic work, the pastors told him that last year, they showed the Jesus film and 30 people accepted Christ. They said that was very successful. Yet, this is a camp where there are less than 2,000 Christians among 44,000 people. Some are Muslim, but most do not seem to have any faith that they follow. Some of them sell their daughters or give them in marriage younger than 10 years old. Brett saw girls as young as 12 that had children of their own.
A few days later, they went to 2 more refugee camps and met with pastors there. Half of the pastors there had been abducted by the rebels and escaped. One camp had 3% Christians, the other less than 1%. They’ve never had a major outreach in either one. The camps have had some students come by and do some evangelism, but never a major outreach. The UN gives them food once every 2-3 months (rice and beans), but sometimes that food runs out in 2-3 weeks! Approximately 7% of people in that area starve to death every year. The land is very fertile, but the people have not gone out to farm the land for fear of being abducted by rebels.
Both Brett and Steve have been struck by how un-reached the area is in Gulu. Please continue to pray that the Lord directs Brett as he decides where the team will minister in November. Brett said, “You can’t really walk away from this place when you have the power to change it.” Steve and Brett have been convicted by the Lord – there are obvious needs there that must be met.
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