Memorable healing in the camp

Today has been the most special day so far.
We returned to the church camp with the hope of meeting some women who are willing to meet with us. To begin with, Kristen presented the camp director (who has a beautiful name) Innocence, with the funds raised to pay for the repairs to the water generator. This was warmly received and we were taken to visit the generator site. The surroundings are stunning there on the side of Lake Kivu.
We ventured into the camp where we were told a woman is in much physical and emotional pain since being raped 2 months ago. Mushumo (48 years old) invited us into her small tent she has for a home and told us her story. She had undergone a very difficult hysterectomy operation a few years prior due to a previous rape and she was afraid to seek medical help for a current infection. Kristen and I facilitated a healing for her with the help of our interpreter, Haitian. This was the first healing we had the opportunity to be part of and afterwards we said we would return in 3 days to see how she is doing. We headed back to the camp office where we met with a group of 13 women (including Mushumo who had brought another woman with her) all of whom had been raped. Kristen and I facilitated a group healing with everyone's permission which involved releasing grief, trauma, shame and feelings of abandonment, healing the broken soul and heart, sending healing through the genetic line and receiving beliefs and feelings which included being respected and honoured as women. This was a beautifully powerful healing experience which we felt was a true privilege and honour for us to be part of. We asked the women afterwards how they felt and several said they felt 'a freedom' or 'liberation' in their heart. Innocence said some heartfelt words after which included gratitude for us being available for these women who have not actually disclosed their rape traumas before. But because we 'work for God' and are not from within their own communities, they felt safe to do so and to receive this healing. We will connect with these women again in a few days time to hear from them how they have been.
Earlier in the morning we went to a market to buy a small gift of some footballs for the children on the various camps. The children we met are amazing and display a strength of spirit which is precious to witness.
We have been made so very welcome by everybody and we will treasure the events of today for many years to come.

Until my next post....

Mungu awa bariki
(God bless you)