Church Mission Society
Northern Uganda subsite
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Church Mission Society |
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Kitgum Cross project gives hope to mother who killed
Eight years after being abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army, a 21-year old former child soldier who gave birth in the bush has found Christ through the Kitgum cross. Acayo – or Agnes - Kony, 21, was taken from Primary School in Kitgum aged 13 and given as a ’wife’ to one of the commanders. Raped frequently, she was forced to kill and loot by the rebel army. She had three children in the bush – and was renamed Acan [pronounced Achan] meaning ‘problem’ in Acholi, the local language. Eight years later, she was rescued during a government army offensive, and taken to a rehabilitation centre in Kitgum, where she was counselled by a priest on a routine visit. The priest was struck by her sense of hopelessness and referred her to the CMS-backed cross project in the grounds of the Kitgum Diocesan Headquarters. Here young returnees make small crosses out of cwa wood for sale in Britain. The wood is used by LRA commanders to torture children in the bush. Its suppleness means it does not break when flexed. Now it is used for prayer or worn by churchgoers all over Britain – including the Archbishop of Canterbury at Greenbelt this summer - as a sign of solidarity and hope. Said Acan: ‘I have seen such amazing love of Christ in the life of people working on the cross. When I was in the bush I was harshed [sic] saying that people from home will not receive me because I’m a killer and robber. Our commanders used to tell us that we would be killed by the government if we report back. ‘I knew nobody would be close and friendly to me except my parents. But on the contrary you Christians are so lovely and kind to people of all sorts, even sinners. ‘Above all, it is very interesting to hear that even Christians from abroad are standing by our side in our suffering. I learn that the love of Christ has no boundary.’ The moving testimony has emerged through Christians counselling Acan in Kitgum. They tell of the reasons she has given her life to Christ. ‘God kept us safe in the bush for eight years even amidst bullets, hardship and diseases. ‘God has changed the hearts of people to love us whom we mistreated, killing their relatives, robbing their property, forcing them to leave their homes ‘Christians have shown good examples of receiving us warmly as brothers and sisters.’ Acan’s name was given her in the bush. It is symbolic of the hardship she experienced, for it means ‘problem’ in Acholi. Says Joel Awio, a student at Mukono University, who is in close contact with the cross-making project: ‘She is no longer aggressive and wild. She can associate with people freely, unlike in the bush where she used to be alert to any footsteps, sounds or signs, and she can forgive others. ‘Her family members were praying for her to come back. They associate with her peacefully, and encourage her to go to church and fellowship.’ |
Further Stories A Cross maker's story Story of
the Kitgum cross Northern Uganda attracting glimmer of
political attention
Updated information pack [August 2004] Write to your MP |
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Church Mission Society, Partnership House, 157 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UU UK Tel. (+44) 20 7928 8681. Fax: (+44) 20 7401 3215. Registered Charity Number 220297 ©CMS 2003 |
