The Lovely Lira

Easter, Annet (two of the Youth Corps girls) and I left this morning at 5:45AM for school. I was not thrilled to be up so early, but as the day pronounced its coming with the sky brightening in warm shades of pink and yellow, the chipatti stoves warming, boda boda drivers biking to their stations, and children washing their feet and faces, I was reminded of the natural beauty and serenity of life here in Lira, which seems like a oxymoron since the past 21 years have been marked by fear and turmoil from the war between the LRA and UPDF. However it is not the Lira I know.

The girls of Lira Youth Corps home possess such a brilliant resilience and hope for the future. All sixteen girls, between the ages of 8 and 15, have experienced tremendous heartache, whether from the loss of a parent or both parents or the trapped, monotonous life in an IDP camp. They come with empty hands but with hearts of gold and radiant smiles ready to learn and serve.

Living in the home with them has been a delight because of their contagious enthusiasm for life and heart-felt gratitude for each new day, the clothes on their back, their warm meal at night, the opportunity to go to school, a mattress to sleep on, two strong and loving mentors, and the family of 16 sisters.

The exchange we've had with the girls over the past few weeks has been enlightening, encouraging, and full of belly wrenching laughter. We have tried to learn their culture, such as -- the task of balancing a jerry can full of water on our heads, how to kill, cook, and eat a chicken, dancing the traditional Acholi dance, singing Hallelujah praise music at the local church, riding side saddle on a bicycle boda boda, entertaining ourselves for hours with a few rock games, hoeing up cassava roots, and each night all 18 of us running through the village singing at the top of our lungs.

We've also had a chance to share some American "traditions"-- Easter egg dying and and Easter egg hunt, a campfire with doughboys, the process of washing hair, our many silly songs, field day games of three-legged race, wheelbarrow, and egg and spoon, as well as the lack of our ability to dance, always a sure way to get the girls giggling.

This house can't help but infect us with joy because I believe it is a taste of God's house. Few material objects make the house cozy, but the open doors and welcoming arms of the 16 young girls make it the most comfortable house of all. The walls aren't elaborately decorated, but full of their girls own colorful artwork. These girls aren't sisters by blood, but are tied together by even stronger bonds as sisters in Christ. They've missed the love of a mother or father, which allows them to cling even deeper to the Father's love for them. Each night they dedicate all their energy into shouting His praises which ring throughout the house. They haven't experienced the care of an older sibling, but they are in the care of two strong and loving mentors, whom they call "Aunties." These women invest their lives in these girls to care for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, by not only teaching the precepts of Jesus, but also by living them out each day. It's a family to the fullest extent where each girl cares for the next, as they eagerly serve and love deeply with the love of Christ.

--
Ashley S. Zeiger