Read the story of Rose Aber
Read the story of Norbert Ocen
Watch the video An Abduction Story
Read the stories of Children Abducted by the LRA
Watch the video Children in Uganda See Parents Killed by Rebels
 

The Story of Norbert Ocen

Norbert Ocen is an 11 year old orphan boy who comes from a child-headed family, and though he was previously abducted, God has safely guided him home. His eyes well with tears as he begins to narrate his story. He tells that it was just a few years ago when they were abducted by the rebels while trying to sneak back into their former home. Quite some distance away from the camp where they were living, it was an area out of bounds due to the rebel attacks.

His parents were always willing to face risks for their family. They went to cultivate some food from their land since the shortage of food was so great at the IDP camp where they were confined. At this time Norbert was only 8 years old. The rebels abducted him, his mother and father, and two of his sisters. They moved very long distances deep into the bush, spent days without food, and were forced to carry very heavy loads. All this took a toll on his health, leaving him weak and sick.

His father was much weaker than he, unable to walk and at the point of death, so the rebels ordered Norbert to kill his own father. He said he tried to resist but the rebels tortured him so severely that he lost consciousness. When he came to, he was given a machete to cut his father to death, and he had no choice but to cut down both his parents. As if that was not enough, they then ordered him to cut up his parents’ bodies and cook the remains for their meal. Though beyond our ability to grasp, he continues to say that this also came to pass.

Early one morning they were ambushed, and Norbert was seriously injured with a deep bullet wound to the head. After collapsing unconscious, he was rescued by the government soldiers at the site of the battle. Unfortunately his two sisters were not to survive the battle. After he alone was brought back home, his brothers and sister who had remained home welcomed him with heavy tears, he says, because he was in a such bad shape.

As his eyes refuse to dry, Norbert begins to relate the extreme problems they have had to face since they lost their parents in such a tragic way. Obviously, life could never be the same. He adds that they lack all the basics, from food to medical care to school fees and other basic needs. His remaining sister Florence was only 13 years old when she was forced to take on the responsibility of the care of all her other siblings, including a one year old baby whom their mother left at the time of her death. The baby is now four years old, though sickly. Florence has managed to take very good care of her despite the lack of basic needs in their house. She has sacrificed everything to make sure her siblings are ok, Norbert tells.

He goes on to explain about the extreme risks Florence takes just to make sure that they have some food in the house. He tells how most of the time they go to peoples’ gardens to dig in exchange for food, but such contracts are few, so they only get to do this once in a while. They also go and fetch water in exchange for food, but these opportunities are rare. For all of them, their school attendance is irregular due to lack of school dues, and they also have to take some days away from school searching for food. Regardless, life has to go on. Having seen the situation at hand, ruthless men started taking advantage of them.

Some nights this household goes without food, he relates, and seeing the young one go hungry hurts Florence so bad that she offers her entire life to make sure that the siblings have something to eat. The men started forcing her to exchange sex for food, and indeed seeing her sibling go hungry, she sacrificed this much, he continues amidst tears. As we speak she is pregnant with the child of a man she doesn’t even know. His heart is crushed under the weight of her burdens.

Norbert says he respects this sister, his very great hero, for the love, sacrifice and care she is giving them. He says that he is crying out to anybody, to any heart who will have compassion for his sister the way he does, to come to their rescue.

Update since this story published

In February of 2008, I went back to see Norbert. He ran to greet me, throwing his arms around me and had the biggest smile on his face. He led me into the hut where he and his siblings lived. It was dark, with no electricity, but he was eager to have me sit in the only chair in the hut. (Probably borrowed from a neighbor).

Norbert beamed!

He was a completely different boy. His twin brother Norman has AIDS and 2 years ago was almost dead until Rose took him to the hospital for treatment. Norman is smaller than Norbert, but the two boys are happy.

Barbara is their 6-year-old sister who is an absolute angel! She sat on my lap and wrapped my arm around her as we talked.

What changed? This family of orphans has been sponsored by friends of VOH in the US. The children get food each month. They have received clothes, mattresses, and blankets, and all attend school. These gifts have done so much more than providing the essentials of life; these gifts have given them HOPE! One day soon they know they will be moved into the Safe House, and Rose will become their mother. I can only imagine what a difference this move will make in their lives.

If you ever wonder if the gifts you give to VOH are making a difference, just look at the face of Norbert! We CAN make a difference in the lives of children who have been through the worst horrors. God is changing lives! God is bringing HOPE where there was none!