“ ” These women were no longer a statistic, article or news story...They, like everyone else in our world, deserve to be treated with equal dignity, respect and love.
to me and translated into English. The letter explained that her parents abandoned Claire at the age of three as the war started in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Claire grew up as an orphan and was subjected to physical and sexual violence. She managed to come to Uganda and find a family to stay with, but they could no longer take care of her, and she was afraid. She asked me in the letter, “Teacher, help me. I want a better education and better life. I want to be productive in the society where I live. Help me.” My heart absolutely broke. We sat together in silence, my hand in hers, and cried. As her teacher, I wanted to do something to help ensure that she found safety and the resources she needed. My search for these resources came up empty although there were organizations that did advocacy within refugee communities, there were none that assisted in aftercare or provided shelter. I quickly learned that Claire was not alone as there were other students who were being abused, neglected or were orphaned without a place to go. This abuse and oppression compounded an already grave injustice that they faced due to war, violence and various oppressions within their countries. What an unimaginable tragedy that these women continue to experience violence and oppression in the place where they are seeking peace! I am dedicating the rest of my life to ministering with and among refugee women and girls in East Africa. I am
Missy Ward recently finished McAfee with her Master of Divinity in Christian Social Ethics. Over the last four years, she has served with ministries serving refugees in California and Uganda through Student.Go. In June, Missy was appointed as CBF field personnel to serve in Uganda. In February 2013 Missy will move to Uganda to serve as the Refugee Women’s Advocacy Coordinator with Refuge and Hope International (www.refugeandhope.org). She will work to develop a ministry project that holistically empowers and ministers to refugee women and girls in violent or vulnerable situations in Kampala, Uganda.
To find out more about this ministry project, please visit: www.missyinuganda.com
moving to Uganda in less than two months to serve as CBF field personnel. I will serve on staff as the Refugee Women’s Advocacy Coordinator with Refuge and Hope International, a ministry dedicated to ministering with and among people affected by war and conflict in East Africa. I will develop a new ministry program focused on assisting refugee women and girls who are in violent or vulnerable situations. This new ministry project will involve opening the first shelter for refugee women and girls in Kampala; strengthening the education and vocational training initiatives for women at the community center; and counseling, discipleship and self-help saving groups for women. This project seeks to holistically minister to female refugees in violent or vulnerable situations through empowering them with shelter, life skills and community. Injustice, suffering and oppression can at times seem overwhelming and all-consuming. Still, in the midst of this sea of suffering, as Christians we are called to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. The opportunity to develop this ministry project is a privilege and dream come true for me. I cannot imagine doing anything else. I am grateful for my communities at McAfee, CBF and elsewhere that have encouraged and supported me over the last five years as I have developed as a minister of the gospel. _Missy Ward (‘13)