Fear to Peace: Jane’s Story

Jane got married at the age of 15! “I thought my life was going to became better since I came from a humble home, and that’s one of the reasons I was given in marriage at such a young age. Little did I know that life had more harsh times coming my way,” Jane continued. 

From her perspective, a few years after I had settled with my husband, rebels attacked our region and robed us of all our happiness. We lost people who were very close to us. It was hard to find a family not affected. We lost children, sisters, brothers, parents, uncle etc.

I remember one day, I left home to rush one of my children to the nearby clinic to receive treatment. While I was on my way back home, I was told not to return as the rebels had attacked our home and killed my brother and my sister-in-law. Holding my child to my chest, I broke down in tears. Unfortunately I could not return home; not even to bury my own. I trembled in fear and wondered what was going to happen next. I sought refuge in a nearby home, and later went back to pick up my children and our belongings.

My husband hid behind an ant hill

When the rebels attacked our home, my husband had gone to the garden with our children. On hearing the gun shots from a far, he decided to stay in the garden and not return home. While in the garden, the sound of footsteps became louder and nearer. He decided to get the children together and they hid behind an ant hill, with little hope they would survive. As the harsh men came closer, they couldn’t find anyone, so they decided to return and take another route. My husband took a deep breath and thanked God because they had survived death.

Lost my Bible

During the unsettled movements, as we hurriedly wrapped up our bags to move from place to place, my Bible that I had treasured so much, got lost along the way. We fled from place to place. You always had to be on guard because any thing could happen any time.

“The anticipated joy of a family and enjoying the presence of a loving husband was no more and all was forgotten,” narrated Jane with her eyes filled with tears. “Life made no meaning to me anymore.”

Returning home after the insurgence

After the intervention of the government, the rebels were successfully chased out of our country, so we decided to return to our home. We had no place to lay our heads after the attacks, but that was home for us. 

Tortured by the death of my loved ones and the memory of gun shots, I kept on getting nightmares and many times I was attacked by evil spirits.

“I talked to my neighbour who informed me that if I had a Bible, I would be able to chase away these evil Spirits through prayer. I did not have a Bible, and neither did I know where to find one. My faith, had grown faint. I was not sure whether her advice would help me. I spent sleepless nights in this state and I even hated myself. I wished I could die, but my husband kept on encouraging me. He said, ‘I don’t know how, but I believe all this will come to an end, please don’t despair, hold on a little longer’.” 

Spiritual Attacks disappear

Last year I was invited by a friend to attend Church. I had not attended church in a long time. Desperate to get better, I decided to go with them. Every Sunday, sermons cited God’s promises in the Bible. One day, the lay-leader preached about how Jesus had set free the boy who had been attacked by evil Spirits. For a moment, my hope was restored but I did not have a Bible to refer to. I talked to my friend, who approached the lay-leader on my behalf.

He promised to talk to the Bible Society [of Uganda] so that they can find a Bible for me. 

Finally, last year in November, I received a Bible of my own, and I use it daily to pray and read it as well. Since I started praying using my Bible, the evil attacks are no more. I have been able to have peaceful nights and I am grateful to God for this transformation and change. Thank you Bible Society [of Uganda] for my gift of a Bible.

If you would like to support giving Bibles to people in need, like Jane, find out more at the link below.