Dear prayer partner,
My name is Carol, a photojournalist from Uganda. My country is known as the “Pearl of Africa” — rich in natural beauty, with diverse landscapes ranging from lush savannas to stunning lakes and mountains. Our people are known for their warmth, resilience and deep-rooted sense of community.
One thing that moves me as a photojournalist is witnessing the pain that children must bear. I’m often amazed at their strength, even as my heart is broken by the weight of what they must endure.
I’ll never forget meeting 12-year-old Rita* five years ago. When her mother, Margaret*, learned her youngest daughter also had AIDS, she was devastated. But Rita did not turn away from God like her mother. She had learned about Jesus at the Compassion center, and her love for God and her strong faith — even in the middle of suffering — led her mother to him.
“I wanted to have the kind of peace she had,” says Margaret. “Therefore, in June 2019, I publicly confessed that Jesus Christ is my Lord.”
In my country, the church is a place of hope, standing between children and the pain that tries to press them down. Through partnership with Compassion, churches can offer practical help and spiritual support — and it’s here that children begin to smile and find joy.
This month, please take a moment to thank God for the ways he is changing children’s lives and pray for those still facing difficult situations. May God change their stories too!
With gratitude,
Caroline Mwinemwesigwa
Compassion Uganda Photojournalist
*Names changed for privacy