Enduring Grace: The hope for a great future

The harvest season had just begun in Tanda town. The atmosphere speaks of Joy and appreciation to God for a bountiful harvest. Kyauta and her husband Usmi had just welcomed their first child, Dankyau, three months ago, and their maize farm had produced a great harvest. The joy of this family was evident through town. Usmi had boasted to his kinsmen that the proceeds from the harvest will be used to build a bigger house for his growing family and buy a milling machine for Kyauta, so that she can be empowered economically.

One month after the harvest season was over, Usmi and Kyauta went to the farm to clear the dried leaves as the new farming season is set to begin. Little Dank you, who was barely five months,ths was sleeping on his mother's back. The farmland and two-hours walk from their home. So most times, they go to the farm as a community leaving the older children and aged to care for the little children. So on this day, Usmi and Kyauta were at the farm with other people from their town. The men broke up the old farm ridges while the women gathered the dried leaves and set them on fire. As the team worked they recounted beautiful stories that had happened in their town. The marriages, child births, festivals and many more good things. They women began to sing some folktales songs. They were all oblivious of the siege by the notorious outlaw group called "Surrender". This group were known for invading towns and killing it's occupants and stealing their food. They also abduct the women and children and use the women and girls as sex slaves, the boys are trained to be outlaws.

Ku gudu, Ku gudu shouted one of the men. Usmi dropped his hoe, ran to Kyauta and grabbed her hands and they began to run. Dankyau startled by the shouting woke up and began to cry on his mother's back. His cry attracted some of the outlaws and they began to chase after Usmi and Kyauta. Usmi realising that the cry of the baby gave them away asked Kyauta to drop Dankyau. He said they could always have another baby. Kyauta was so angry by her husband's suggestion and ran the opposite direction. She said she would rather die with her child than abandon him. That was the last time Kyauta saw Usmi.

Kyauta and other women were apprehended and taken to the outlaws camp. They were subjected to all kinds of dilemma from starvation to sexual abuse. Kyauta resolved in her heart that no matter what she will one day leave this dungeon with her son Dankyau. For three years she kept hope alive by praying and planning her escape.

The outlaw camp has become so big that it was difficult to keep record of people in the camp. So on this fateful day, Kyauta packed some dirty clothes and asked her three years old son to accompany her to the stream to wash. Surprisingly the outlaw on guard did not reject her request. As they left the camp for the stream, Kyauta asked Dankyau to act along because this was there opportunity for escape. She wore her hijab and also wore one on Dankyau so that he looked like a girl child. She put him on her back and began to run. She walked for several hours, hiding behind trees when she had a footstep. After five hours of walking, she arrived at an IDP camp. She shared her story and was admitted into the camp for safety.

Kyauta and Dankyau spent one year in the IDP camp before a non governmental organisation came to their aid. She was moved to another city and given a new identity. It was in that new city that she was told that Usmi escaped the outlaws and had since married another woman. Kyauta felt betrayed and resented Usmi. She vowed to work hard and make something good out of her life.

She enrolled in a skill of making bags and night school so that she can learn to read and write. The organisation that took her enrolled her son in school and rented an apartment for them. Although Kyauta was happy at the phase of her life, she could not overcome the trauma she went through for three years in the hands of the outlaws. She had to undergo some psychiatric sessions because she was entering depression. She developed hepatitis because of the sexual exposure in the outlaw camp. She is undergoing treatment and seeing her doctor regularly. Dankyau also had to undergo trauma helping session for children because due to lack of proper home structure at the camp, he developed some negative values. He would express anger by hitting or throwing an object. He was defiant to authority and will always want to walk around without clothes. Through love and patience Dankyau is unlearning those bad habits and replacing them with proper etiquette.

It has been ten years since the abduction, Kyauta built a house and runs her business. Dankyau is in junior high school and desires to become a shoulder so that he can protect innocent citizens from outlaw groups like "surrender". Usmi has reunited with Dankyau and gradually building a father- son relationship. Kyauta tries to maintain a cordial relationship with Usmi because of their son. They agreed that Dankyau will spend long school vacation with Usmi so that he can build a relationship with his step siblings. Kyauta wants to focus on developing her business and raising her son with values that will make him a man of integrity. She also travel to their town once in year to see her family. Kyauta also volunteers as a trainer in a widows center where she teaches bag making and other crafts.

She encourages the women she teaches to never lose hope but trust God to help them overcome their challenges because she is a testimony of his enduring Grace!