WHAT LOVE MEANS.

Katie has a smile that could light up the darkest room. You would have never known this a year and a half ago. Last fall, I was walking through the local produce market in Kampala when I saw three Center of Hope English students from a distance. I happily walked over and gave them kisses on the cheeks and hugs ( the customary greeting in their country). During the course of these greetings, one of my students introduced me to Katie. Katie said a solemn hello and immediately diverted her eyes to the ground. For the one moment that she glanced up at me, I saw profound sadness. I did not know the details of her story, but I could sense her deep and profound pain. I learned later that Katie’s parents were killed in front of her. Katie and her brother were orphaned at the age of thirteen and fourteen. Their childhood was forever turned upside down because of the war in their country. Orphaned and alone, a neighboring family invited them to relocate to Uganda with them.

I first met Katie one month after she arrived in Uganda. Although Katie was clearly traumatized and experiencing pain, she decided to attend the Center of Hope, a community center for refugees near her home. During the first month that Katie attended classes, she would sit quietly, barely talking or looking up. During class breaks, while the others students were playing on the swings or with the Frisbee, Katie would sit alone, far away from the other students. She would sit on the swing, with her eyes to the ground. I, along with several of her classmates would invite her to join us in our game of Frisbee, but Katie adamantly refused. Katie had been so hurt and broken that these invitations fell on deaf ears.

Slowly, over time, Katie’s brokenness was transformed into hope. About six weeks after Katie first attended the center, She decided to join our game of Frisbee during class break. A few minutes into our game, I saw Katie smile for the first time. I will never forget that moment. Her smile filled my heart with joy. It reminded me of the transformative power of God’s love and hope. Katie, although still healing from trauma, began to see what love means. She began to understand that her community, our community, loved her as our family. This love and community allowed her to begin to understand the transformative power of God’s love.

Over the last year and a half, Katie’s life has been transformed. Katie still attends English classes at the Center of Hope. These classes have empowered her with an education, a precious opportunity that was not available to her in her country. Katie now smiles because she understands that she is deeply loved, supported and cared about by the Center of Hope’s community. Katie smiles with the assurance of knowing that God loves her as God’s daughter. Katie smiles because she has seen, heard and experienced the transformative and restorative impact of love. Katie smiles.

There are many more like Katie who are neglected, marginalized and without hope this Valentines Day. Please consider partnering with Refuge and Hope this Valentines Day by contributing $14 a month in honor of those who are alone, neglected, without hope and love today.

If you would like to make a monthly or one donation, please click here. ALL donations are tax-deductible.

Posted by: Missy