Uganda casework featured on IJM website

Dear blogosphere,

I wanted to let you know that a piece I wrote concerning V, one of IJM Uganda’s clients, and some pictures I took of her and her adopted children have been placed front and center on the IJM website!  I am over the moon that this courageous woman’s story is being shared with the world.  In a society where land-grabbing perpetrated against women and children is common practice, V stood up to the bullies who threatened her.  She risked her life to protect her niece and nephew’s livelihood.  She refused to be cowed.

My friend Ray and I filmed a video interview with V a few weeks ago in her tiny home in a rural village.  Before the interview, I got pretty nervous.  I so desperately wanted the film we were shooting to be ‘good’ — I knew the film would be shown to thousands of people in Washington, DC, at a conference.  Trying to be ‘good’ is a deadly and stultifying motivation in artistic endeavors, and anyway, I needn’t have worried.

While we interviewed V, she laughed and raised her hands to the sky with joy.  V was animated.  She spoke about despair.  She spoke about being ‘tossed by worry.’  She spoke about her incredulity when she gained free legal assistance through IJM.  She gestured.  She grew serious.  She smiled.  She rocked back and forth in her chair.  She was herself, her wonderful, expressive self.  And her joy at having a home again was palpable.

As I watched her be herself and tell the truth, I heard a voice say, kindly, but firmly, “Get out of the way.”  And I did, I hope.   At least I tried to.  I want to step aside and let V share about how God showed himself strong for her.  Please do read her story: www.ijm.org.

-L

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