The Story of Esther

Two days ago Marc and I had the opportunity to sit down with this amazing young lady and listen as she shared her story.  A story that testifies to the goodness of God.

Meet Esther. This is her story.

Esther is the youngest of 7.  Shortly after she was born her father abandoned her family.  Her and her siblings were raised by their mother.  A woman of faith, who Esther often overheard praying to the God of the Universe.  She cried out that God would protect her children and be a father to the fatherless.  Esther didn’t yet know or understand this God, but she knew her mother had a deep faith in Him.

When Esther was 7 she was abducted by the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army).  She and 3 of her sisters were hiding in a tree, but she was caught.  Caught because she was a curious 7 year old who was peeking from the branches to get a better view of the men in uniform.  When they found her, she did not reveal the hiding places of her sisters.  Can you imagine?  7 years old.

As I write this I find myself staring at my son.  He is 5 and will turn 6 this year.  I can’t imagine.  I can’t.  I can’t fathom the depth of pain a mother would feel when she discovers that the baby of her family has been kidnapped by the atrocious LRA.  The fate of these children was certain death. 

The first day Esther travelled.  Far.  On the second day, she hid in the bushes and managed to escape.  Again, 7 years old. Imagine the fear of being found again.  The fear of trying to return home.  But return home she did.  The fear of the LRA was a constant companion to those living in her small rural village.  To the point that Esther completed her final year of primary school as a boarding student in Soroti (the town we currently live in).

She worked hard that year because she had the HOPE of going to secondary school.  You see in Uganda, primary school is publically funded.  Secondary school is not.  The options were simple.  Earn high enough grades to qualify for a scholarship and attend a secondary school.  OR return home to the village and be married off.  Esther explained that although it is technically illegal to marry so young, it is common practice in the village.  Many brides are 13 and 14 year old girls.  The sadder reality is that some girls, feeling no hope of a future (because they did not earn high enough grades to get into secondary school) commit suicide. 

Esther’s story continues.  She was chosen as a scholarship student for Beacon Secondary School, run by Pilgrim Africa, here in Soroti.  In 2007 Esther started her first year of Secondary School.  Through her time at Beacon, she discovered there were others students who had suffered the trauma of the LRA and abduction.  She quickly found comfort that she was not alone.  During her 6 years at Beacon, Esther also found HOPE.  Hope that isn’t based on circumstance.  Hope that isn’t based on feeling.  Hope that is firmly planted in the person of Jesus Christ.  In a faith that offers second (and third and fourth) chances.  She found HOPE in the God of the universe.  The God that her mother constantly prayed to.

Esther is filled with joy and thankfulness.  Beacon provided her a quality education and allowed her the opportunity to discover her personal talents.  Based on the gleam of happiness in Esther’s eyes, one would never know she faced such trauma at a young age.  She is the living testimony of someone who didn’t allow her past, to dictate her future.

Esther is currently entering her second semester at Uganda College of Commerce, here in Soroti.  She hopes to be an accountant.

THIS. IS. WHY. WE. ARE. HERE.

“To restore the hope and dignity found in Christ to those who have been devastated by war, poverty or disease.”   This is the VISION of Pilgrim Africa.  This is a vision that we support.  This is why we moved our family half way around the world.  This is why we live in a rural village in Uganda.  “Our work doesn’t bring HOPE.  HOPE is the work!”