Zion Project - Meet the Girls

In October 2008, Zion Project Welcomed 10 girls and their 12 children
into the Zion Project House in Gulu, Uganda.

In Feburary 2009, we were faced with the task of opening up a SECOND HOME in Gulu when 40 Congolese refugee women with children who were trafficked across the border and later landed into prostitution, were evicted from their homes by the government. We were able to take in 10 women and babies into safety and offer them the same programs our first group of girls receive. But we need your help!

SPONSOR A GIRL for $35 a MONTH and CHANGE A LIFE!

Zion Project House
Gulu, Uganda

Sarita and the Girls
in the ZP House

These Are Their Stories

Florence (17) with daughter Oliver (1 year old)

"I was only 13 when they came while I was asleep and said I must go with them if I didn't want to die."
Florence spent the next 12 years in captivity with LRA rebels. Even though she was only 13, she was given to a man who was 60 years old. "When I refused, they beat me. They wouldn't feed us; we had to eat weeds to survive."
Florence finally escaped only to find out she is HIV positive. She wanted to kill herself, but somehow she found the strength to go on. She is a hard worker and has managed to sell produce to put her children in school, but it is a continual struggle. Just last year, neighbors burned her house down because she is viewed as a soldier after spending so much time with the rebels. But Florence is a survivor and loves to now go preach God's message of hope.

We are blessed to have Florence and Oliver in the Zion Project House! She is currently in the top of her class in sewing!

Florence (20), mother of two, Omara (born 11/29/08) & Julius (age 3)

“No one supports me,” Florence says as she begins to cry.

She started living with a man when she was young out of desperation, but he raped another girl and ended up in jail.

Stranded and alone Florence turned to another man thinking he would take care of her, only to be impregnated and left. Now she has been chased away from her home by the first man’s family and her own family does not want her. They call her a prostitute. She has nowhere to go.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to kill myself,” says Florence, “It pains me that I am always being left.”
Using traditional medicines she even tried to abort the baby on three separate occasions.
PRAISE GOD, Florence, has found hope in entering the Zion House and joining other mothers who have faced the same things she has. On, November 29, almost two months after coming to Zion Project Florence with Zion Project Director, Sarita, welcomed into this world a healthy baby boy, whom she has named Omara, meaning "one who is loved."

With a new found hope and the confidence that God will never leave her nor forsake her, we are excited to watch Florence flourish and to see the strong young men her sons grow to be!

Irene (16), son Opio Jeffery (2 yrs old)

“Life is hard up to now,” Irene says softly. “Terrible things happened in my camp in 2005. Many, many people died.”

Her mother and father were killed in that LRA attack while her and her younger siblings ran to a nearby camp to stay with their Aunt. Because this Aunt did not want them, the children began staying in a hut alone and Irene left school to become the sole caretaker for her younger siblings at the age of 13.

A young boy came along and convinced her he would take care of her and her family, but once she was pregnant, he left. Her son is now 2 years old, he was a twin, but his brother died at birth. Irene dreams of being able to provide for herself and her family.

“Even if I had some small training, like catering, I would be happy.”

Zion Project rejoices with Irene for God's provision! Since joining the Zion Project House Irene has begun catering training as she once only dreamed of!

Janet (17), son Steven Orach (1 1/2 years old)

Abducted when she was only 11 years old, she spent a year in captivity where she was forced to carry heavy luggage to the point that her leg grew infected.

“Because I was considered ‘useless’ I was ordered to be killed. Four soldiers took me next to a big tree and began kicking me and beating me with a big stick.”

Miraculously, at that moment UPDF soldiers began firing and Janet was able to escape, although she was almost at the point of death. By the grace of God, Janet survived and returned to an IDP camp where she struggled to care for her mother, who had become disabled from complication with HIV.

Eventually a young man said he would take care of her, but his mother hated her and would always leave her to care for 5 young children. After getting pregnant, life became too hard so she left to live on her own. She longs to go back to school for skills training.

Her son’s name “Orach” means “not wanted or not fit” because that is how Janet felt.

God saved her once and continues to provide for dear Janet! During her first week in the Zion Project House Janet gave her heart to Christ during one of them morning devotionals! She began vocational training in January 2009, just as she had hoped! God is so good!

Josephine (18) with daughter Sandra (1 1/2 years old)

A life of horrific rejection is what Josephine has lived. Her mother never wanted her. She would often leave Josephine as a baby near the roadside waiting for her to get hit by a car. One day her mother was going to throw her into a latrine to kill her when a man came and picked her. After that her grandmother took care of her, but the wound of rejection was already there.

When she was 11 she was told to go take care of her mother because she was sick and it was then that the rebels came and her mother told them "Just take her, I am tired of her." So at the young age of 11, Josephine was abducted into the bush where she carried heavy loads and walked for days without rest or food. Her legs got so swollen a man was told to carry her but he would be beaten if he walked too slow. When the man left her to die on the road, the UPDF came and took her back home.

When she was 15, Josephine was almost sold into sex slavery by a neighbor but managed to escape. When a man came who promised her he would pay her school fees, she accepted, only to fall pregnant and be abandoned once again.

Since coming to Zion Project House Josephine has started laughing again. With the grace of God she is beginning to heal from years of rejection and she is one of the most loving people in our home. She has also begun vocational school and is now dreaming of having her own tailoring store.
We are blessed to have Josephine and Sandra in the Zion Project House!

Pamela (16) with daughter Sandra (1 1/2 years old)

“Last year I was walking home from a program with my two friends when three boys followed us and raped us.” Pamela was only 15.

A few months after being raped she found out she was pregnant. She identified the boys who raped her and police were going to press charges but because her mother could not pay for a lawyer, the charges were dropped.

Pamela, once a good student, then had to stay at her hut and care for her daughter as well as her younger siblings for her mother can not care for them as she suffers from HIV. Pamela remains hopeful that one day she might be able to return to school.

Now that she is with Zion Project, Pamela is back in secondary school!

[PICTURE TO COME]

Pauline (20), son Eric (1 1/2 years old)

Zion, Zion, Zion
by Alobo Pauline

What a wonderful project you are
You love,
You care and heal the broken hearted.
You have given me a smile
on my face.
You have changed my life
and ways of living.
Oh Zion Project
I really don’t know what I
should say exactly.
But only God knows where your
heart lies.
May he bless, expand and multiply you
to all other parts
of the world.
So that many souls are
brought to Him and
wounded hearts are healed.
Amen.

We are blessed to have Pauline and Eric in the Zion Project House!

Stella (23) with son Giovanna (10 months old), son Jordan (2 1/2 years old)

"I had a terrible life from the beginning," is how Stella begins her story, eyes downcast. "My father was not taking care of us." He abandoned her at a young age. Due to desperate circumstances, she had her first baby at 14 by a man who promised to help her. She gave birth to four children with him, but then he took another wife and Stella was left destitute. The man refused to give her two of the children and Stella was not allowed to see them. This is what pains her most of all. Her sister was killed by the rebels and left Stella with her 3 children to care for. Her only way of managing to pay the school fees for her sister's children was by brewing alcohol in the IDP camp. She longs for skills training so that she can make a small income to put her children through school. Her dream is to someday have her own land and maybe open a restaurant. Stella is a hard worker and a natural leader in our home. Out of all our girls, she has grown the most in God’s love and in loving the other girls. She is always counseling them to make good choices. Stella has an amazing testimony of how God gave her back 2 of her children who her ex-husband refused to let her see. Read more at: www.saritahartz.com.

CONGOLESE STORIES TO COME....

501c(3) faith-based organization
P.O. Box 321
Quinque, VA 22965
info@zionproject.org

"Bringing Heaven to Earth"



About Us



In October 2008, Zion Project Welcomed 10 girls and their 12 children into the Zion Project House in Gulu, Uganda. In Feburary 2009, we were faced with the task of opening up a SECOND HOME in Gulu when 40 Congolese refugee women with children who were trafficked across the border and later landed into prostitution, were evicted from their homes by the government. We were able to take in 10 women and babies into safety and offer them the same programs our first group of girls receive. But we need your help! SPONSOR A GIRL for $35 a MONTH and CHANGE A LIFE!
Zion Project House Gulu, Uganda		Sarita and the Girls in the ZP House
These Are Their Stories Florence (17) with daughter Oliver (1 year old) "I was only 13 when they came while I was asleep and said I must go with them if I didn't want to die." Florence spent the next 12 years in captivity with LRA rebels. Even though she was only 13, she was given to a man who was 60 years old. "When I refused, they beat me. They wouldn't feed us; we had to eat weeds to survive." Florence finally escaped only to find out she is HIV positive. She wanted to kill herself, but somehow she found the strength to go on. She is a hard worker and has managed to sell produce to put her children in school, but it is a continual struggle. Just last year, neighbors burned her house down because she is viewed as a soldier after spending so much time with the rebels. But Florence is a survivor and loves to now go preach God's message of hope. We are blessed to have Florence and Oliver in the Zion Project House! She is currently in the top of her class in sewing! Florence (20), mother of two, Omara (born 11/29/08) & Julius (age 3) “No one supports me,” Florence says as she begins to cry. She started living with a man when she was young out of desperation, but he raped another girl and ended up in jail. Stranded and alone Florence turned to another man thinking he would take care of her, only to be impregnated and left. Now she has been chased away from her home by the first man’s family and her own family does not want her. They call her a prostitute. She has nowhere to go. “When I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to kill myself,” says Florence, “It pains me that I am always being left.” Using traditional medicines she even tried to abort the baby on three separate occasions. PRAISE GOD, Florence, has found hope in entering the Zion House and joining other mothers who have faced the same things she has. On, November 29, almost two months after coming to Zion Project Florence with Zion Project Director, Sarita, welcomed into this world a healthy baby boy, whom she has named Omara, meaning "one who is loved." With a new found hope and the confidence that God will never leave her nor forsake her, we are excited to watch Florence flourish and to see the strong young men her sons grow to be! Irene (16), son Opio Jeffery (2 yrs old) “Life is hard up to now,” Irene says softly. “Terrible things happened in my camp in 2005. Many, many people died.” Her mother and father were killed in that LRA attack while her and her younger siblings ran to a nearby camp to stay with their Aunt. Because this Aunt did not want them, the children began staying in a hut alone and Irene left school to become the sole caretaker for her younger siblings at the age of 13. A young boy came along and convinced her he would take care of her and her family, but once she was pregnant, he left. Her son is now 2 years old, he was a twin, but his brother died at birth. Irene dreams of being able to provide for herself and her family. “Even if I had some small training, like catering, I would be happy.” Zion Project rejoices with Irene for God's provision! Since joining the Zion Project House Irene has begun catering training as she once only dreamed of! Janet (17), son Steven Orach (1 1/2 years old) Abducted when she was only 11 years old, she spent a year in captivity where she was forced to carry heavy luggage to the point that her leg grew infected. “Because I was considered ‘useless’ I was ordered to be killed. Four soldiers took me next to a big tree and began kicking me and beating me with a big stick.” Miraculously, at that moment UPDF soldiers began firing and Janet was able to escape, although she was almost at the point of death. By the grace of God, Janet survived and returned to an IDP camp where she struggled to care for her mother, who had become disabled from complication with HIV. Eventually a young man said he would take care of her, but his mother hated her and would always leave her to care for 5 young children. After getting pregnant, life became too hard so she left to live on her own. She longs to go back to school for skills training. Her son’s name “Orach” means “not wanted or not fit” because that is how Janet felt. God saved her once and continues to provide for dear Janet! During her first week in the Zion Project House Janet gave her heart to Christ during one of them morning devotionals! She began vocational training in January 2009, just as she had hoped! God is so good! Josephine (18) with daughter Sandra (1 1/2 years old) A life of horrific rejection is what Josephine has lived. Her mother never wanted her. She would often leave Josephine as a baby near the roadside waiting for her to get hit by a car. One day her mother was going to throw her into a latrine to kill her when a man came and picked her. After that her grandmother took care of her, but the wound of rejection was already there. When she was 11 she was told to go take care of her mother because she was sick and it was then that the rebels came and her mother told them "Just take her, I am tired of her." So at the young age of 11, Josephine was abducted into the bush where she carried heavy loads and walked for days without rest or food. Her legs got so swollen a man was told to carry her but he would be beaten if he walked too slow. When the man left her to die on the road, the UPDF came and took her back home. When she was 15, Josephine was almost sold into sex slavery by a neighbor but managed to escape. When a man came who promised her he would pay her school fees, she accepted, only to fall pregnant and be abandoned once again. Since coming to Zion Project House Josephine has started laughing again. With the grace of God she is beginning to heal from years of rejection and she is one of the most loving people in our home. She has also begun vocational school and is now dreaming of having her own tailoring store. We are blessed to have Josephine and Sandra in the Zion Project House! Pamela (16) with daughter Sandra (1 1/2 years old) “Last year I was walking home from a program with my two friends when three boys followed us and raped us.” Pamela was only 15. A few months after being raped she found out she was pregnant. She identified the boys who raped her and police were going to press charges but because her mother could not pay for a lawyer, the charges were dropped. Pamela, once a good student, then had to stay at her hut and care for her daughter as well as her younger siblings for her mother can not care for them as she suffers from HIV. Pamela remains hopeful that one day she might be able to return to school. Now that she is with Zion Project, Pamela is back in secondary school! [PICTURE TO COME] Pauline (20), son Eric (1 1/2 years old) Zion, Zion, Zion by Alobo Pauline What a wonderful project you are You love, You care and heal the broken hearted. You have given me a smile on my face. You have changed my life and ways of living. Oh Zion Project I really don’t know what I should say exactly. But only God knows where your heart lies. May he bless, expand and multiply you to all other parts of the world. So that many souls are brought to Him and wounded hearts are healed. Amen. We are blessed to have Pauline and Eric in the Zion Project House! Stella (23) with son Giovanna (10 months old), son Jordan (2 1/2 years old) "I had a terrible life from the beginning," is how Stella begins her story, eyes downcast. "My father was not taking care of us." He abandoned her at a young age. Due to desperate circumstances, she had her first baby at 14 by a man who promised to help her. She gave birth to four children with him, but then he took another wife and Stella was left destitute. The man refused to give her two of the children and Stella was not allowed to see them. This is what pains her most of all. Her sister was killed by the rebels and left Stella with her 3 children to care for. Her only way of managing to pay the school fees for her sister's children was by brewing alcohol in the IDP camp. She longs for skills training so that she can make a small income to put her children through school. Her dream is to someday have her own land and maybe open a restaurant. Stella is a hard worker and a natural leader in our home. Out of all our girls, she has grown the most in God’s love and in loving the other girls. She is always counseling them to make good choices. Stella has an amazing testimony of how God gave her back 2 of her children who her ex-husband refused to let her see. Read more at: www.saritahartz.com. CONGOLESE STORIES TO COME....

501c(3) faith-based organization P.O. Box 321 Quinque, VA 22965 info@zionproject.org "Bringing Heaven to Earth"