Enslaved

"The problem is that they build the island houses too small," explained Pastor Samson one recent evening.

He went on to expound. Most island homes have one, maybe two rooms at the maximum. As more children are born, the oldest find themselves having no place to sleep at night, simply for lack of room and privacy. They are forced out of the home to find shelter elsewhere.

His explanation made sense as to why this may be a contributing factor to the teen pregnancies that are all too common on the islands.

Amidst exciting testimonies of answered prayers, recent salvations, and a flood of new students descending on the island, we learned this week, through routine testing, that three of our girl students had started the school year (that began in early February) pregnant.

All three were in the top class. Two were in the group I had taken to a Bible camp in December. One had professed Christ last year, was in regular discipleship and was serving as the head girl student of the school. One was the niece of a good friend and an area pastor.

Those of at Shepherd's Heart and at the school shook our heads in disbelief and disappointment, and asked ourselves why.

Counseling was done before the expulsion took place and the girls were sent home. One was doggedly determined to abort the baby so she could return to school and resume her studies, saying her mom had already threatened her if she became pregnant "again." This was obviously not her first pregnancy, not would it be her first abortion.

It seems she suspected the pregnancy even before the testing was done, and bought the abortive medicine beforehand. "It is too late," she told concerned counselors Friday morning, as they tried to dissuade her away from killing her own baby.

"I didn't plan to get pregnant," said one as I sat next to her Friday morning on the boat, her packed belongings nearby. Her time at the island school had been very brief - lasting only about two weeks. Now she was returning to the mainland with a heavy burden and many questions.

When I asked about her plans, she responded fearfully, "I am going to run away." Run away from her family, her neighbors, anyone who might know her. After encouraging her not to make any decisions in haste or out of fear, I asked if she would keep the baby. "No," she said, she planned to abort. She said she was too young to be a mother and wanted to finish school.

Again, I encouraged her to turn to God to seek forgiveness, guidance and help in this hard time. "Entrust your life and the life of the baby into God's hands." I spoke of God being the giver and taker of life, and to take a life would be violating His law.

I am not sure it had occurred to her that she was carrying a precious life, a baby.

Such cases and stories are all too common here. Sexual immorality is like a plague, especially on the islands.

While some girls find themselves forced out of their family's home and compelled to sleep elsewhere, like in Pastor Samson's explanation, others turn to prostitution to earn extra money - perhaps money to buy food (that may not be provided at home) or take care of basic needs. The economic opportunities for island women and girls are very limited.

Others are forced into such a lifestyle by their own fathers or other family members. In this culture, a woman's value is found in not who she is, but in what she provides. For others, such choices are consensual and a decision they make on their own.

I am being blunt and not mincing words, because this is reality. Until fathers and families reclaim the great and God-given responsibility toward their duties, this will continue. Until the culture cries out and says this is wrong, nothing will change. Until the girls and women see their value and worth in the eyes of their Creator, they and others will continue to view them as "objects" to be used.

Until Christ captures, saves and radically transforms the hearts and minds of girls, women, families, communities and islands, they will remain in this deep and deceptive pit of sexual sin.

Satan has set many traps and many have been ensnared. Yet Christ is the True Redeemer - to redeem from sin and bondage.

Many need to be set free.

Image Source: Microsoft Office Clip Art

Bugs!!

 An entomologist would have a ball in Uganda.

 Their favorite subjects of study are everywhere - in the air, the dirt, the water, your food, your bed, your sheets, your drinking water. You cannot escape from these...little critters. If you don't like bugs, don't come to Uganda. By the way, an entomologist is someone who studies insects.

  Of course, there are the mosquitos, infamous for being the carriers of malaria. Malaria, according to dictionary.com, is "An infectious disease characterized by cycles of chills, fever, and sweating, caused by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium in red blood cells, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito." Sounds fun, huh?

  Unfortunately, malaria is a major killer here in Uganda and many other African countries. According to some information I found on the Internet, malaria kills an estimated 320 people every day in Uganda. The sad thing is that this disease can be easily prevented, but such prevention is not common or widespread.

 Then there are the roaches, probably my least favorite of the bugs. I was introduced to them as an infant when we lived in the inner city of Houston, Texas and I think they left a bad impression on me then. I am getting braver, though, and can actually kill them myself, rather than calling for backup help. : )

  The lake flies are like big gnats and are harmless, but are still pests. We have them on the island. They come out in droves at night and are attracted to light. This becomes a major irritation if you are wearing a headlamp and they find your eyes, nose and ears. Their numbers ebb and flow according to how much moonlight there is. I don't entirely understand this concept, but it makes me thankful for when we see more of the moon. I have books at home which have pressed lake flies on some of the pages, "collected" during my first trip. : )

 If you leave any food out - uncovered, these little bitty sugar ants will find them. These tiny harmless creatures are really amazing - how quickly they find food, how they enlist others to help them, how they work together, and then how they transport their finds. Follow a trail of ants and you will find the piece of popcorn that fell on the floor last night or the grains of sugar that were accidentally left behind.

 There are other creepy crawly creatures, here too, but I am writing a blog post and not a book. : )

  I have never been much of a fan of bugs, but am learning to live with them. I was thinking about a spiritual application for this multi-legged subject and was reminded of sin. Sin can creep in and show up in the most unsuspecting places. It can sniff out where we might have left a crumb of temptation and can create a trail that will lead to no good. If you leave an opening, it will likely push its way in. But, prevention is definitely possible!

 Maintaining a close and consistent relationship with Jesus can help eradicate sin in our lives. As we allow the light of God's Word and His Spirit to flood our lives, it pushes out the darkness. Oops, changing analogies, but I think it goes along well. : ) 

  God says if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. (I John 1:9.) Also being open with others about our struggles and temptations, can help stomp out sin in our lives. Sin, like malaria, left untreated, can be deadly. But, eradication is definitely accessible and best of all, it's free of charge. Because Jesus already paid the painful and costly price on the cross, we can know freedom from sin. With His power, sin can be stomped out and eliminated. Praise the Lord for that!

 So, the next time you see a little critter, be reminded that we can indeed have victory over sin!