Ugandan Woman Realizes the One Sacrifice that Counts
Release No: 09-51
By Noel Hwande
Nov. 5— KAMPALA, Uganda: Some people may find it hard to believe that in a predominantly Christian country like Uganda there are still people who have never heard of salvation through Christ. "Areny," at the age of 40, was one such person.
Areny grew up in a traditional family from the Teso region of Eastern Uganda, that did not believe in God. For them, ancestral spirits held power over life and death. Areny's mother died when she was 10 years-old, and so she and her five siblings were left in the care of their father who died soon after.
Having never received guidance or instruction on the Gospel, Areny lived ignorant of the Word of God.
"I did not believe in God at all," she said. "I had no use for Him since my hands could give me whatever I wanted. Whenever I became ill, I believed the traditional healers could help me."
Over the course of the many years to come, Areny endured many hardships. Her two children died young - a tragedy she thought was caused by angry ancestors punishing her for the mistakes of her late parents. So, she decided that she could move far away from her ancestral land to escape the misery inflicted upon her by the spirits of her ancestors.
"I visited traditional shrines countless times," she confessed, adding that she would go there and offer sacrifices to appease the spirits so that they could give her another child. The more she did this, she said, the harder it became for Areny to accept her life. Still, she continued until her age made it impossible for her to bear children. By November of 2008, Areny had lost all hope. Her hopelessness, however, would prove to be God's pathway to her heart.
One evening, a Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) team that conducts door-to-door visits and shares the Good News of Christ's salvation, visited Areny at her home. Areny listened as the volunteers shared the Word of God with her and introduced her to the gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. She prayed with the visitors who then referred her to Kateete Lutheran church for nurturing and fellowship.
Since then, Christ has been working in her and Areny is undergoing confirmation lessons and wants to be baptized and confirmed at the Lutheran church in Kateete. She has agreed to allow LHM—Uganda to share her testimony to encourage those who are lost and seeking Christ.
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