|
Join our e-mail list! |
|
Just type your e-mail address below and
press submit.
|
|
|
| |
 |
| |
Making Invisible Children
Visible
By Suzanne Yatim
Some nights I walk into my room, shut the door, turn off the
light and crawl into my full size bed. I lay there underneath a huge comforter,
my hair still wet from a warm shower. I stay warm with the giant sweatshirt I’m
wearing and the heat blasting as high as I want it; a feeling of guilt piles
over me as I think of how much I have and how little the children of
underdeveloped countries have. I feel that I don’t deserve what I have been
blessed with and, what’s more, I feel that those kids don’t deserve what is
being done to them. So what should I do—sell my things and sleep on the floor so
that I am equal to them? Will my conscience feel better then? The answer is most
likely no. But then, I found my answer.
For as long as I can remember I have had compassion for children. I, like most
people, hate to see a child suffer. I also have this desire to play Superman and
try to save the world from the immense suffering that is inflicted upon them day
after day. I wanted to do something, but my hands were tied. Then I found
Invisible Children.
The Tragedy You’re Unaware Of
Invisible Children is an organization that started with just three guys out of
California who wanted to go to Africa to find a story with a camera they got
from eBay. What they found was the immense tragedy of northern Uganda,
struggling under a 17 year-old civil war. A tragedy since Uganda is considered
almost completely Christian. Children from small villages were fleeing to the
cities to sleep for fear of being kidnapped at night by the rebel army. These
children sleep in bus parks, under verandas, in hallways of hospitals, basically
anywhere they can to escape being kidnapped by the rebels.
If they are kidnapped they are forced to become a soldier, as well. They are
trained to fight, to kill, and to thirst for blood. They are required to kill 20
or 30 or 40 people or else they will be killed.
These three Christians were disgusted and horrified at what was happening. Upon
their return to the states, they decided to do something about it. A nationwide
campaign was started to raise awareness for the children of northern Uganda. (At
least in part to their efforts, peace talks have begun.) Invisible Children now
tours the country showing what these three young men documented. This is where I
come in.
How I Help
I invited them to Webster University in St. Louis where I study. After many days
of passing out flyers and talking to everyone I knew about it, around 30 people
came to the screening. To be honest, I wish more would have come, but the
reaction of the people that did come was astonishing. Everyone that saw it
wanted to spread awareness and be a part of this campaign to save these
beautiful African children who the world has forgotten.
I was so happy to see such a response. Most of the students that attended will
also be attending the “Displace Me” Day that is being sponsored. On April 28,
2007, ten cities across the nation will be opening their parks for one night and
Invisible Children is asking that people come and sleep outside for one night to
show Americans and others around the world what its like to be displaced, just
like the children of Uganda. My family and I were planning on going, but after
the screening, all the students wanted to go too! So my brother and I are
coordinating to bring as many St. Louisans as we can to “Displace Me” in Kansas
City, KS.
That’s Nice. So?
I am a Christian. Nothing more should be said. It is my duty as a Christian to
help a person in need. Of course, an individual’s eternal soul is what matters
most, but how can I deny the needs of people that cannot help themselves? The
Old Testament speaks strongly about this, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is
good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).
Justice needs to be served to these children. But not just the children of
northern Uganda, but the refugees in India, the trafficked women and children of
Afghanistan, the children mine workers in Bolivia, the list goes on. We, as
Christians, should be on the front lines fighting the battle to save these
people who are not in a position to save themselves. What better way to let our
lights shine to a cynical world?
So on April 28, I am going to sleep outside. I know it doesn’t sound like I’m
doing a lot for humanity. But on that day I will be standing with tens of
thousands of people who have the same drive for human rights. Besides, they’ve
been successful in getting the world to focus on this issue, and my small
sacrifice just might contribute to the peace process.
How wonderful would it be if Christians all over decided to be a part of a
campaign like this and let their light shine, showing the world that while we do
care about people’s souls, until their souls can be reached we also care about
their peace and safety.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2007, Suzanne Yatim
-------
Suzanne Yatim has spent time on the mission field in the Middle East, helped
begin a thriving bus ministry in the MidWest, and attends college the rest of
the time.
|
