At the age of 18, Richard was abducted by the LRA to be a child soldier. After 3 years of having to fight alongside his enemy, Richard escaped in 1999. He went back to his home village only to be rejected and told that they could never forgive him for his involvement with the Rebel army. It did not matter to them that he was forced to fight and kill or he would have been killed. “Did that surprise you that your own village would not forgive you?” I ask Richard as he stared emotionless into the camera.

“No. What I did was very bad, but I was hurt that my own village would not allow me to return. “

“So what did you do?”

“I went to a nearby village and started life over there. I have not told my new village that I am a former child soldier. I am afraid that they would also not accept me. “

“Has anyone forgiven you?” I ask him hoping to be introduced to someone who can give this young man a second chance.

“Yes, God has forgiven me. And because of that, I now take the love and grace of the Gospel of Jesus to all of the villages around me, so they can also know of God’s grace.”

“Even to the villages that have not forgiven you and will not allow you to return? I ask.

“Yes. That is what Jesus did. He was persecuted and went to the bring the good news to the people he knew had rejected him and hated him.”

“You are a modern day Paul, Richad,” I say as my eyes begin to water from hearing of his boldness and faith…and embarrassed as I think of how often I cower in fear when faced with people who might reject me.

His eyes catch mine and for the first time in the interview…he smiles.

There is another person who has forgiven, Richard…his wife, Ajok. Even though she was beaten on her back by the Rebel group, she has forgiven the Rebels and has forgiven Richard.

“Her forgiveness, has reconciled our family and given me hope,” says Richard as he sneaks a glance at Ajok, smiles, and pulls her hand close to his.

Today, the two have started their lives over and live peacefully in the village with their two children.