Images of Hope

We arrived in Gulu on Monday evening after a relatively short, but breathtaking drive from Lira. Tuesday we headed along a heavily guarded road to an IDP camp called Lalogi to work with a camp youth group. I was very excited about visiting this camp because we were planning on painting a mural. I had been thinking for a long time about what we should paint but it was hard for me to imagine what could be meaningful to people who have been through so much trauma. Before we went we were talking to Holly about what she thought might be most meaningful, I loved her idea. She shared about the youth group we were going to be seeing and suggested that we let them paint the mural. The mural’s title is “Hope for Lalogi/Gen Pa Lalogi”. The members of the youth group, all affected by the war in some way were asked to paint their interpretation of hope for their camp. I can’t express in words what each member painted but I would like to share a few that impacted me. One that was very moving read “Only God Knows My Problems”. Even though this was not an expression of hope I was so glad that this person used art to express herself. It was somehow so important to have the struggle juxtaposed next to the hope because that is how it is there. So many times you will sit and hear how much pain and suffering someone is going through one moment and then be laughing and dreaming with them the next.

Other paintings included images of schools, and teachers, more agriculture or livestock. We even had someone draw our vehicle coming to the camp; I’m not sure about that one. In the end there were two that I really loved. The first was written in the Acholi language. It read “Peace and Reconciliation/Timo Kica Ki Mato Oput”. In a country so filled with turmoil and genuine reasons to hate and kill there must be a voice that speaks for true healing. I am so glad that there are voices among the most effected youth that are crying out for this kind of end to the violence. The second image was portraying the village elders and all of the young children sitting around the fire late at night. This tradition has been lost in so many places because there is a curfew in the camps. Traditionally, this act is important because it is how morals and important tribal histories are passed on. This person was saying that hope for the camp would be to allow the traditional rituals to be carried out, bringing some sense of normalcy to their lives.

After all of the youth members finished painting we had a crazy patchwork of “hope”. It was so fun, and much more meaningful to me and to them I believe.

Our last few days have been amazing. We are going to be doing a solidarity day tomorrow and then wrapping up the trip. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers over these last few weeks.

[Kimbal]