Repentance and Restoration in Homes

“If you abuse me again, I will report you to Hope Alive!” 

Imagine having to sleep outside at night due to the violence inside of your home. This is not an unfamiliar situation for some of our students. Domestic violence and child abuse are common in Uganda, including the Kyabakuza area. Contributing factors include illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, young parents, use of drugs and other cultural factors. During our regular home visitations, many parents and children were reporting violence in their homes; something needed to be done. 

Despite an overwhelming culture of silence regarding abuse, we are grateful our families chose to trust us with that information. In turn, we hosted a training to address the challenges our students and parents were facing. The social worker we invited to speak defined domestic violence – a pattern of abusive behavior that is used to gain or maintain power – and described the type of homes that are more likely to experience it. She spoke of the causes, effects, indicators (intimidation, manipulation, humiliation, isolation, terrorizing, coercing, threatening, blaming, hurting, injuring, and/or wounding), hindrances to reporting the violence, and where one can report it and receive help. 

Throughout scripture, God is on the side of the oppressed (meaning those crushed/harmed by the misuse of power). He calls for correction and righteousness, for gentleness in relationships. God’s desire is for transformation in all areas of our flesh. Instead, we are to live by the Spirit, resulting in peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Due to a variety of cultural issues, it is complicated and challenging to protect victims of domestic violence. However, after the training we heard reports of its practical fruit in the lives of our families; one woman boldly proclaimed to her husband, “If you abuse me again, I will report you to Hope Alive!” This was significant enough for him to see his fault and examine his actions. In another family, the father immediately repented after being convicted by the teaching. His child, who used to sleep outside almost every night, was able to feel safe inside his home. Incidents of child abuse and domestic violence have reduced in Kyabakuza but many families still face fear, violence and neglect in their homes. We trust that God will continue to use His healing word, faithful Spirit and the wise interventions of the Hope Alive! staff and mentors to bring hope to the families of Kyabakuza.