(Note-- this post does not suffice as a proper news source. These are my comments and interpretations of articles I've been reading. I suggest checking out bbc.co.uk or cnn.com for more information)
Just one week ago yesterday, we were walking those very streets in Kampala and today bodies are being identified in an attack on Ugandan football fans watching the World Cup final. To date, the death count is at 74, according to the BBC. The fanatical Islamist group, Al-Shabaab, is currently taking responsibility. They are mainly stationed in Somalia, a threat to the transitional government there and brand their enemies as anyone involved in trying to bring peace to the area. According to the National Counterterrorism Center, "Al-Shabaab is responsible for the assassination of Somali peace activists, international aid workers, numerous civil society figures, and journalists." Yesterday's attacks make very little sense in terms of a political agenda, but were clearly an attempt to strike fear into the hearts of Ugandans and the international community, reminding us of their presence.
Among the dead is an American man, Nate Henn, who works for Invisible Children. While I was in Gulu (northern Uganda) I met some of the boys featured in the documentary Invisible Children, that shines light on the horrors of child-soldierhood. This organization partners with Child Voice International (in mission), who we worked intimately with while in the North. Some sources are saying that these attacks were aimed at ex-patriats on the ground, members of the international community.
Whatever the case, this very well could have been a member of our team just one week ago and that is a sobering fact. While frightening for us in America, even more frustrating is the fear that this might create in Kampala. Uganda is a nation slowly building back trust after the betrayal of war. This is the last thing they need. But there is hope. This claims no victory over the work of healing that God has been doing and will continue to do in Uganda. Please join me in prayer.
- Pray for the families of the victims of these attacks, our Ugandan brothers and sisters and Nate's family too.
- Pray for safety over potential targets in the international community abroad.
- Please pray for God's comfort, peace and healing to overshadow the pain and confusion.
- Lastly, as we are taught, please be praying for the hearts of those terrorists responsible, that their hearts might break over what has been done. That they might actually turn from this lifestyle of terror and destruction.
God responds to prayer. That was a huge lesson for me in Uganda. It wasn't until the Ugandan church fully mobilized to fast and pray that there was any tangible weakening of Joseph Kony and his LRA forces in Uganda. That is HUGE. (More on that story later). But be encouraged, God responds to our faith that he is more caring, more powerful and the victor in this broken world. Will you join me in prayer?
