8 February 2011
It was a warm morning that gradually turned into a thorough downpour as Watoto's Restore Tour: Child Soldier No More team pulled into the parking lot at Hope Church, Kawana Waters, Queensland on Sunday 6 February 2011. And as they prepared their gear for the morning service, team member Joanna Muwonge shares her experience of the tour so far..jpg)
"Unlike my team leaders (Jackie and Joe Ogwal), I'm not from northern Uganda and did not directly experience the senseless war. I am Ugandan, however and have been affected in many ways. I am grateful that being a part of Restore Tour has given me a deeper understanding of the unimaginable atrocities inflicted on my fellow Ugandans and just how amazing the story of transformation really is," she says.
“With each passing day, every presentation is a mixture of shock and awe for me. What bravery, what resilience and what resolve these little lives must have had to survive the tough, gruesome circumstances they endured while in captivity. I can't imagine the hundreds of miles they had to travel on foot through the bush; the horrific acts they were forced to inflict on others; and the unbearably hostile conditions in the rebel camps,” she ponders.
Night after night, Joanna listens to their stories and comes to a deeper understanding of the extent of the damage done; the incredible courage of these precious children and the unmistakable power of forgiveness.
It is only the grace of God that can transform a life from utter despair to that of a hope and a future. And now, these children are ambassadors of the message of forgiveness, hope and restoration for many.
Invite a friend and come along to Watoto's Restore Tour: Child Soldier No More. For tour schedule, click here.
