Investigating the Impact of the LRA
DTJ‘s Lindsay Branham and Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s Jocelyn Kelly have returned from their research assessment in NE DRC investigating the effects of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) on communities in the Haut Uele region of DRC. The LRA continues to wreak havoc on communities in northern DRC, South Sudan and eastern CAR, abducting children for [...]
[ENTRY ONE] “Blinded”
This will be my seventh journey to Africa, having been to eleven of the 53 countries associated with the continent. And though the idea may be hackneyed, what I know now is this: If one has tasted the waters of Africa once, you will thirst until you taste them again. Step foot there once, and [...]
Mine
We gathered in an oversized room to discuss an under prioritized crisis. Crisis because the abduction of children into armed groups and if they escape the life of destitution awaiting them, is a crisis nearly unparalleled anywhere in the world. Under prioritized because, frankly, no one cares and very little is being done about it. [...]
Sought After
Instead of shame and disgrace, “Your moon will wane no more. Your days of sorrow will end. They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called Sought After” (Isaiah 60:20, 62:12). In Isaiah God grieves Israel’s sin and disobedience. He mourns their wayward hearts and illustrates what [...]
A kind of peace on earth
I stood in the military head quarters for North Kivu, DRC today watching the army-green clad, beret wearing, AK-47 carrying, aviator sunglasses bearing soldiers look incredibly en forme. A Belgian built building, reminiscent more of a ski chalet than a military brigade headquarters, houses the most important and influential FARDC soldiers (Forcees Armees de la [...]
We live in the flicker
Bright proud mountains sank into cobalt waters. Jagged volcanic rock was scattered like confetti across soot-colored streets. An aching beauty stood still. Goma. In the heart of Africa lies the Democratic Republic of Congo; an enormous cavity spreading its landscape across the center of Africa. Saturated with opportunity, most of it exploited, repeatedly by foreigners, [...]