Update on Congolese Girl

I copied this from the ATC website:

JULIE'S STORY

In August 2005 a team from Answering the Call traveled to East Congo to hold a seminar and a time of ministry for rape victims. Expecting around 60 women for the seminar the team was surprised to find some 200 women awaiting them. In addition to this time of ministry, the team visited a hospital where many of these women had been through surgery due to the damage caused by the brutal assaults they endured. Behind the hospital was a warehouse-type building housing around 250 women of all ages awaiting surgery. The hospital simply could not keep up with the number of women needing treatment and surgeries due to this horrific problem occurring in East Congo. This is where our team met Julie.

Julie is 5 years old and a victim of violent rape. She had been living in the warehouse behind the hospital for several months waiting for her turn at surgery. The team was immediately drawn to her. Through translators they discovered she had been brutally attacked, raped and shot. The doctor in Congo reported the damage was severe enough that secondary infections could set in and become a life-threatening situation if she did not receive the care she needed. After hearing her story God put it on the hearts of several team members to try and arrange for her to come to the United States for medical care.

Upon the teams arrival back into the States efforts were made to arrange for Julie to receive the care she needed. A local hospital and an area gynecological surgeon agreed to donate their services, including hospital rooms and necessary staff, to accomplish this goal. Julie has now arrived in the United States and many have been involved to insure her safe arrival. Julie represents one of thousands who are victimized each year suffering these types of conditions. Answering the Call considers it a privilege and blessing to be a part of her recovery to wholeness.

In East Congo after a women is raped, she is seen as a disgrace to her family and therefore cast out of her home. These women are left wandering the streets with no place to live and usually no skill to provide for themselves. Answering the Call is making plans to build a women's shelter where these women can live and receive some type of vocational training enabling them to make a living. The land has been given to build such a structure and Answering the Call is ready to move forward. Donations are now being received towards this effort. If you feel led to give to The Julie Project please click here to designate your tax-deductible gift, or call our offices at 540-345-5188. For more information you may email Answering the Call at atcinfo@answeringthecall.org

Copyright ©2006 Answering The Call