For those of the Christian faith, baptism represents new life. As one goes down into the water, it represents a death to that old life, the one that was a slave to sin and fear, made possible by the death of Christ on the cross, and a resurrection to a new life in Him. It is a declaration of faith to family, friends and onlookers. It says, “I belong to Christ.” This is a very special day in the life of a believer, and two young people from the Street Kids Rescue project in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently took this step of faith for themselves. Both of them, despite the incredible difficult circumstances of their past lives, are starting out on a new path, and the joy is clear to see. One of these young people is Amelie*.
Amelie was born in 2010, and lived with her mother, four brothers and two sisters after her father abandoned them. She doesn’t remember where they lived, but remembers that life was very hard. However, her oldest brother worked hard and managed to pay for Amelie to go to school, and at 13 years old, she was in Primary 5. One fateful day at school though, conflict between the government and the M23 army erupted and the building was attacked. In the gunfire and chaos, Amelie fled but it wasn’t long before she was captured by rebel army troops. Six in her group were shot down instantly for trying to flee. Amelie herself was molested, and silently suffered in fear of being killed. She managed to flee in the night, and made her way to one of the displaced people camps.
Amelie, barely a teenager, was found drowning her fear and sorrow in the camps by the Comfort Congo staff, who welcomed Amelie onto the Street Kids Rescue project, where she could find financial, emotional and practical support, and meet other children who’d been through similar situations. However, the trauma ran deep, and many nights she sobbed herself to sleep, in anguish over her own story and in fear and sadness over the sudden loss of her family, who she hasn’t seen since. She grew up in church, but grew cold to God, having suffered such hardship at such a young age. However, her heart still prays that one day she will find her family again. She started to meet other children at school and at the project and make friends.
A year after coming onto the Street Kids Rescue project, Amelie is unrecognisable. She is back at school, and while she continues to pray to be reunited with her family one day, she has found love and comfort in the Comfort Congo team at the Village of Hope. Along with her SKR colleague, Élie*, she took the decision to be baptised, a sign of renewed commitment to God and a turning point in her life. We are so delighted for Amelie, and continue to work with our partners to support more young people like her. We pray that her family can be found and reunited, and that Amelie can continue to grow into the precious, brave, loving person that God made her to be.
*names changed to protect identity