I finished my workshop today in Congo and was able to work with over 1,100 children. I will send pictures of the workshop later. In the meantime, here are some children I met today:

The first girl in this picture is called Chantal. She was taken by rebels when she was six years old and held in the forest where she was raped every day for nine years by seven different men. She tried to escape three times but was captured, brought back and tortured. She was finally able to escape when she found out she was pregnant by one of the rebels, she does not know which one. When her baby was born she could not bond with the baby, because of her trauma. Her baby is now 2, and she is beginning to be able to care for her child.

The picture of the boy in the picture was six years old when rebels came into his village. He watched as his parents were slaughtered. Then they proceeded to cut him over his entire little body, then cut his hand off. He was six.

The next picture is of a seven year old girl who witnessed her parents murder a few months ago. She was able to run into the forest with her seventh month old sister who weighs under 9 lbs.

My heart is full and broken. Occasionally, when I try to cry, I can’t because I’m so numb. I am saying very little these days, because I simply have no words for what I am witnessing. Talking about it seems to somehow lessen the horror!

Peace,
Lysa Heslov

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