Choir children dream of happy futures

Sawiya Lakareber and Pamela Atim dance during a visit with their families at the Opit Internally Displaced Persons' Camp in northern Uganda. UMNS photos by Kathy L. Gilbert

By Kathy L. Gilbert*

GULU, Uganda (UMNS)-Pamela Atim and Swiya Lakareber are a blur as they whirl in an energetic West African dance. Gladys Akwerd and Moses Lubangakene sing and clap while a crowd of admirers surrounds the children.

The happy performance is a temporary reprieve from the oppressive dullness and suffering of daily life in the Opit Internally Displaced Persons' Camp in rural northern Uganda.

The four children have been away from home for four months. Now they show family and friends what they have learned at the United Methodist Hope for Africa Children's Choir and Academy in Nasuti, Uganda.

"Music is food for the soul. Most of the people console themselves with songs," says Tonny Mbowa, music and choir director for the academy. "Kids use the same technique. The only way we can help our friends is to put smiles on their faces."

Watching the impromptu performance, Mbowa is pleasantly surprised to see his students performing so well.

The children are hugged and welcomed back home even though their families know the visit will be short.

Lucy Ajok, Pamela's mother, is happy her child was chosen to be part of the United Methodist choir founded by the East Africa Annual Conference. But she is sad that so many other children in the camp are suffering.

"We Christians in the church will continue praying for the children who are now with you," Ajok said. "We pray for the teachers that you will all be committed to feeding our children with knowledge."

Dreams for the future
Pamela knows it is important to study. She has big plans for her future. She wants to be a pastor and a farmer.

When asked why both occupations, she replies, "When you are a pastor, you are not going to allow Satan to come and destroy you. That is why I want to be a pastor. I don't want to be lazy, I want to be strong because if you are a farmer you will dig and you are going to be strong."

Gladys is happy to see her grandmother, Joesphine Lamwaka. Both her parents are dead.

"The academy is better; there is school," she says, smiling. At the camp, she was chased away from school because she had no money.

Gladys wants to be an astronaut.

Walking in God's ways
Mbowa says the children have come a long way in a few short months at the academy.

The 11 adults who work with the children every day are teaching them to pray and reading Bible stories to them.

"They have gained a desire to do what is right and pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ," Mbowa says. "They have been so good in picking up values of Christianity, and they all want to walk in the perfect ways of God.

"We have seen the Lord working in their lives. That is why you see them shining."

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.