The Privilege of Ministering WITH.

 Last month, one of our female students stopped attending English and sewing classes. Whenever this occurs, staff and volunteers within our community follow up just to ensure that the student is OK and to let them know that we care. I became particularly concerned about this student because of previous reports of domestic violence within her home. When I approached our sewing teacher, Gloria, a refugee who also speaks her language, about the situation, she mentioned that she was also concerned because of what this student shared with her in her home. 

Together, we called this student and asked to visit. Due to the trust that had been built in her home, she welcomed and invited us to come and visit. So one Friday afternoon I traveled with Gloria to her home. There sat this student and two other co-wives in the home. Though I had previously visited and connected with these women, Gloria was able to connect and minister on a completely different level because of speaking their language and being from a similar culture. 

As I sat next to Gloria and saw these women connecting and talking, I sat in awe of the profound ways in which God has transformed Gloria and empowered her to share the message of hope, love and grace to other refugee women. Gloria arrived just 8 years ago as a refugee from South Sudan. She has experienced war and discrimination and came to Uganda with the hope and dream of a better life. These experience left her broken and without hope and angry with God. Gloria shared that it was through attending our refugee community center that her relationship with God was renewed and transformed. Through the center, she tangibly experienced God's love and hope. Through these experiences, God healed and transformed Gloria, empowering her with God's hope, love, grace and the tangible skills to be able to make a difference in our community to help others. 

Three years later, Gloria teaches sewing at our community center. She encourages other women to hope in God, love others and work towards their dreams. She is an example of an empowered woman who is empowered to minister with and among other women.

I am privileged to serve with and alongside of Gloria every day at our community center in Uganda. She is a blessing and asset to our ministry here and I believe that God will continue to work in and through her to continue serving and ministering with and among refugee women and girls within our community. 

This post was written by Missy Ward, the Refugee Women's Advocacy Coordinator at Refuge and Hope. Missy is developing a new women's ministry program that will focus on ministering among refugee women within our community who are experiencing violence or exploitation. To receive more information or receive Refuge and Hope's women's ministry updates through a monthly newsletter- please e-mail missyinuganda@gmail.com or visit www.missyinuganda.com for more information.