We have just returned from a one week medical/dental outreach and I know it is one I will never forget! We traveled to a small village in Northern Uganda called Gulu. This small part of Africa was not long ago ravaged by the terrors of an internal war. Many small children were forced to become child soldiers and to do horrific things to those they loved most. Traveling to this area to hold a medical/dental outreach was an honor for us and an unheard of act of kindness to them.
Over 4,000 people were treated for all types of ailments including HIV, malaria, parasites, dehydration, skin infections, dental needs, and many, many more. One person we helped treat was 15 year old Jacqueline. When Jacqueline arrived by herself at our ministry tent on Wednesday morning, she cried out with a deep desperation and terror in her eyes, begging for help: "Please, nobody wants to help me, they say I am crazy, please, please help me!" We carried her to a separated room to talk privately and there learned she was forced to watch her parents die during the war, has been sexually abused and now has seizures several times a day causing her Aunt to believe she is sick and will bring curses to them. Her family has cast her out and does not take care of her, so she wanders the streets trying to survive. We prayed with Jacqueline and at our medical clinic she received Christ and healing from her seizures! She was dirty so we cleansed her, her clothes were tattered so we clothed her, she was hungry so we fed her, she needed a good home so we found one for her. Before we left Jacqueline said in her language and with a huge smile on her face, "A poio Mateck," Thank you very much, thank you very much!
None of this would be possible without Christ first compelling us to go, and that is why Hand of Hope travels the world searching for a need to meet and a stomach to fill. Getting to serve in the field is always a tremendous privilege. I cannot thank our wonderful friends and partners enough for participating in what God is doing and helping to enable us to go to the uttermost parts of the earth to find children like Jacqueline.
Hand of Hope is the missions arm of Joyce Meyer Ministries. Our goal is simply to help as many hurting people as we possibly can, to alleviate human suffering and to help Christians grow in their faith.
