She has paid a tremendous price for her father's fidelity:
Five Muslims in eastern Uganda gang-raped the 17-year-old daughter of a pastor because the church leader ignored their warnings that he stop worship services, she said.
The daughter (name withheld) of the pastor of New Hope Church was approaching the church building at Kiryolo, Kaderuna Sub-County, Budaka District, at about 7:30 p.m. on March 28 when the men took her into bushes and assaulted her, an area church leader told Morning Star News. The site is about 300 yards from her home.
“The five Muslims took hold of me, and they raped me there,” she told the Morning Star News source. “I tried to scream, but they threatened to kill me. One of them said, ‘Your father should stop this prayer meeting of trying to change Muslims to become Christians and close the church building – we have warned him several times.’”
We pray that she gets the help she needs to deal with this traumatic attack, and that the community stays firm in their faith. It's one thing to pay a price for the faith, but to have a child punished in this vile way would test any parent's forbearance. The Lord hears the cry of the poor, but at times it's difficult to see his protective hand.
Her father (name withheld) said her injuries are so serious that he would like to send her for specialized treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala. He said she continues to be traumatized. “The girl still has problems communicating,” he said. “She just says a few words and then keeps quiet. She needs trauma counseling.”
If this happens when the Muslim population is so small, what happens when the Christians are even more marginalised. Mary, lay your mantle on her and heal her quickly. Such trials!