Monday, December 1, 2008

Thoughts on the War in Eastern Congo

The pictures and recent reports of fighting, rape, killing and displaced people are so hard for me to read, me, one who has given her heart to Africa's children, one who lived for nine years in Congo, one who considers the Congolese like brothers and sisters. I ask myself what I should be doing. Surely I should be doing something. I find no answer but to pray. I don't even speak the Swahili language or the other village dialects of the area. If the war were in Bandundu Province where I could communicate fluently...but it isn't. Not yet. So I pray, holding up to the Prince of Peace the war-weary Congolese. Please, Lord, protect them tonight. I know You are a Great Healer, Lord. Bring healing to the little three -year old girl who was raped. Bring healing to her torn body and to her wounded soul. I pray for the women and young girls who have been raped repeatedly. Lord, bring them peace. Lord, put a wall of protection about them. I pray for the soldiers on both sides, crazed with power and orders and witchcraft and drugs. Break through the walls they have built around themselves and let them see and feel and know what they are doing. Bring healing to them, too. Lord, You cried at the death of Your friend Lazarus. I know you cry at the suffering of the Congolese. Lord, bind up their wounds. May their sufferings drive them into Your loving arms, for there they will find peace for this life and for eternity. May the courage and peace of those who know You break through to the soldiers who were do them harm and cause them to also come to You. Lord, why are You allowing this? I cannot see any good in it, but I know Your Word says that all things work together for good to those who love You (Romans 8:28). I trust You, Lord. I believe You in the night, and I ask that You may turn this evil around for good for the Congolese people. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen!
PS: Lord, please show me what else I can do for this part of my big African family.