Faith J. H. McDonnell - Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Ugandas Children

For most of us, the enormous monolith of the suffering of Africa is impossible to imagine, much less enter into. This book represents a significant door. It is a precious gift from two women, both uniquely qualified to speak for the suffering children of Uganda, one an eloquent survivor and the other a fearless advocate. It is no coincidence that their names are Grace and Faith.

Michael Card, Bible teacher and musician

Girl Soldier is not fiction, yet that fact becomes harder to believe with every page we turn. How did we not know about this sooner? Why are we not doing more? This book is more than just a call to action. It is a challenge to our moral compass. Grace and Faith have made it very clear that for more than twenty years we have turned our backs on an entire generation of children. What is equally clear is that all hope is not lost. Graces story of resiliency and peace is the light that can guide us all.

Adrian Bradbury, founder and director, GuluWalk

A much-needed reminder of the suffering and faith of the people of northern Uganda. Both have gone largely unnoticed for too long.

The Rt. Rev. Robert W. Duncan, bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh; moderator, Anglican Communion Network

After reading this book, I will never be the same. The story of Grace Akallo and the brutality against children in Uganda is hard for me as an American, living comfortably, to imaginebut it is real and continuing. The world has ignored these innocent children for decades, as the turmoil in Uganda has escalated into one of the worlds biggest humanitarian crises. Yet this is a story of hope and a simple challenge to us all: Help! Our prayers and our finances can be life-changing for thousands in Uganda, and pressure on our government to intervene can alter the course of that nation forever. Thank you, Grace and Faith, for sharing your stories and for calling us to love and to act on behalf of those who cannot help themselves.

Robbie Seay, Sparrow Records recording artist and songwriter

Faith McDonnell has given a precious gift in the story of Grace Akallo. Their book serves as a poignant reminder that the darkness of the soul and the cruel behaviors it leads to are more devastating than we could imagine. Apart from the ignorance and indifference of the world to the plight of children caught in violence, there is still One who understands and redeems. Hope can grow and flourish from even the most broken of seeds. This is an incredible account that demands a hearing and invites a response.

Steven W. Haas, vice president, World Vision International

Girl Soldier is a moving account of a peoples suffering and a girls extraordinary faith. In a unique format, the book moves back and forth between the narrative arc of Grace Akallos life and the historical roots of the northern Uganda tragedy. But this is not just a story of victimization; rather, it illuminates the resiliency of the human spirit. Providentially, the namesakes of the two authors, Faith McDonnell and Grace Akallo, underscore the theme of this bookthat in spite of unimaginable terror, faith and grace abound.

Allen Hertzke, professor of political science and director of religious studies, University of Oklahoma; author, Freeing Gods Children: The Unlikely Alliance for Global Human Rights

girl soldier

A Story of Hope for Northern Ugandas Children

FAITH J. H. MCDONNELL
AND GRACE AKALLO

2007 by Faith J. H. McDonnell and Grace Akallo

Published by Chosen Books

A division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.chosenbooks.com

Second printing, April 2008

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

McDonnell, Faith J. H.

Girl soldier : a story of hope for northern Ugandas children / Faith J. H. McDonnell and Grace Akallo.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 10: 0-8007-9421-4 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-8007-9421-7 (pbk.)

1. UgandaChurch history. 2. GirlsCrimes againstUganda. 3. AbductionUganda. 4. UgandaPolitics and government. 5. Akallo, Grace.

I. Akallo, Grace. II. Title.

BR1443.U33M33 2007

276.7610829dc22 2007000168

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture marked nkjv is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photos on by Sarita Hartz. Hartz, of Arlington, Virginia, has begun a new initiative for the victims of northern Ugandas war and displacement called Zion Project. Zion Project is a grassroots, faith-based project with a mission of grace: To revolutionize war-affected communities whose needs are unmet by humanitarian aid through intimate healing, creative empowerment, and holistic transformation in the lives of the most vulnerablegirl child soldiers, child mothers, and refugees in Africa. The mission hopes to provide an after-care shelter for child mothers (a trauma center that will provide deep heart transformation through counseling) and agricultural development within a resettled IDP [internally displaced persons] camp.

I dedicate this book to my wonderful husband, Francis, and my precious daughter, Fiona, who put up with many months of my being even busier than usual. They make my world more beautiful and joyful than I could ever imagine. I realize every day how grateful I am to God for them.

Faith

First I dedicate this book to God, who gave me the gift of life, protected me and gave me His love.

I dedicate this book to the Aboke girls who were abducted from St. Marys College. All these innocent children suffered under the brutality of Kony and his LRA, yet with faith they believe in Gods love and care. I pray that those whose lives were cut short will find peace in the hands of God.

I dedicate this book to Sister Rachele, who with great love risked her own life to rescue the Aboke girls. She managed to rescue 109 out of 139, and she continued to ask for help for the remaining 30 girls.

I also dedicate this book to Sister Alba, who was the headmistress at the time I was abducted. She never stopped praying for the Aboke girls and all the children abducted by the rebels. When she went to Italy, she said, Children, I am going to the mountain to pray for you and the children still in captivity. She died in April 2006, but she must have died with the Aboke girls names in her prayers.

Grace

Contents

I n the following pages you will be confronted with a number of military and paramilitary forces and movements. These usually are referred to by acronym rather than name. Use this reference to avoid confusion.