Post 3: Nama

The incredible story of Nama (Post 2) has just been expanded. Yesterday the village chief’s older brother passed away so our conference for abuse survivors was cancelled and we attended the funeral. It was a surreal experience that I hope to write about at a later time. I want to tell you about Nama….
As soon as we left from the funeral we walked towards our cars to head back to Dr. Kisali’s house where we are living. And there Abia, the lady that runs the clinic aforementioned that Nama used to be hospitalized at, walked up and greeted us with her massive smile. She, in broken English, told Celestia “I have brought Nama, she is here” and then Nama appeared. We all were taken aback by the transformation. Where once had been a hollow shell of a human, looking in her mid-40’s, and bound so she wouldn’t kill herself, was a young 22-yr old woman full of life! Celestia, Christine, and Steve were dumbfounded. Abia went on to tell us that she had driven some 75 miles past Butembo and 5 km into the bush to find Nama and bring her. As we sat down with these ladies and a lady named Francine and a “psychologist”, the real story unfolded.
Nama goes on to explain, slowly and through a translator, that she is doing well living in her village. She has decided not to marry the man who raped her, even though she has completely forgiven him, and he has become a man of God. She says she is waiting for a man who is worthy of her. It was incredible! She also speaks to the other rape victims in her village and beseeches them to keep their children from rape. She tells them they are created in the image of God… Then Celestia and Steve recounted their experience with her at the clinic last year in which she was catatonic and had complex PTSD and was actively trying to commit suicide. When Celestia had prayed for her at the clinic Nama held onto this cross that was around Celestia’s neck… Celestia, in her joy, reached from Nama’s hand and said “we’ve been praying for you every day since last year, and now you’re a woman who has experienced Christ’s redeeming power, and I want you to have this cross (she was wearing it still) that you were holding on to last year when we prayed for you.” And with that, Celestia put the cross on Nama, and she cried…. I can’t really give and eloquent explanation of what went on, and there is so much to say…. But, It was just amazing. This broken woman, with so little to have hope for, finding complete healing in Christ… It is a miracle story. “in Christ we are a new creation….”

Thanks for listening! More on the way…. Dan