In December of 2008, while visiting our Companion Diocese of Ezo in the South Sudan on the Ugandan border, Bishop Wolf and Tom narrowly missed a masscre by Joseph Kony's army of abducted child soldiers, known as the Lord's Resistance Army(LRA). Such attacks have been a regular part of life for Ezo for decades, and many villagers have fled their homes in fear of the LRA,to live like refugees in the cities where numbers can provide some protection. When Bishop John Zawo visited us in 2010 he showed us shocking pictures of the 20-30,000 refugees that have been living for years in cardboard and tarp tents outside the grass hut "city" of Ezo Town.
Now, an organization called Invisible Children is using social media to raise awareness of Joseph Kony's LRA, and have released a video to introduce the world to the man. Their focus is on the plight of the 30,000 plus children who have been abducted into Joseph Kony's army and raised on a brutal diet of murder, mutilation, and bloodshed. The number of people displaced and lives lost are hard to count, but much higher.
In the last 4 days a shocking 35 million people have watched this 30 minute video. If you haven't seen this important video yet, watch all 30 minutes. It may change the way policy decisions are made in this country, and could mean a world of difference in the lives of our friends in Ezo.
In May of 2011 Bishop Wolf herself met with policy makers in D.C. to campaign for aid to Ezo and the S. Sudan. As their 20 year civil war with the North Sudan came to a close,LRA's sieges have continued. Bishop John Zawo and others even believe that the North Sudan is helping arm and fund the LRA's attacks, even today.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in Ezo, many of whom have lost loved ones, homes, herds and crops to the LRA. Pray as well for the generation Joseph Kony has kidnapped for his army. Watch the video below.
For More info on the LRA and Invisible Children check out these articles:
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