Extraordinary

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.”
-Henry Longfellow

It's all led to this.

5 and a half years of my life. Hundreds of phone calls and letters and explanations and prayers. Sleeping in churches and parking lots and outside the chase building. Countless tears and hugs and hellos and goodbyes. 

It's all led to this.

What is my heart feeling right now? I can't even explain a bit of it. (I mean, for one thing, I can have coffee again after tonight! And sleep in a bed for the first time since Feb 26!) It's so surreal- that this law that we have worked so hard for is finally about to be signed. In 15 minutes, efforts to put the LRA to an end will not just be a movement of young people, but a law signed by President Obama himself. Tears and smiles won't do today justice. Nor will the celebratory dinner and drink with Jessica and Liz. Today is monumental.

I am so honored to have been a part of this. To meet hundreds of others who have hearts like mine and who have sacrificed time, money, jobs, school for people they have never met, nor will most likely ever meet. Beautiful souls like Cacey Myrick- who watched the documentary on a Wednesday, came to the Rescue in OKC on Friday, rescue road with me to Wichita, and signed up for lobby days. Cacey continues to be a huge supporter of IC, promoting peace in Uganda whenever she can. We need people who see a problem and take action like her. Souls like my beloved Becky Dale and John Beaton, who have been fighting for this for what seems like forever. Who have logged numerous hours calling and writing and putting their lives on hold to see this war's end. Souls like every single person at the OKC hold out- giving up every bit of privacy and comfort to stand in solidarity with the children of Northern Uganda and to let Senator Coburn, and the rest of congress, know that we would not back down. And souls like Lisa Dougan, who inspires us all to fight with all our hearts against evil and to love without abandon.

But we must not forget why we have done this all, and who we are doing it for. As I've quoted Lisa before: 

"We are not heroes. We are just people doing what is expected of us and using our voices to help the voiceless. "

These children are the ones we are fighting for. For them and for the millions of others around the world held in bondage. Today is a huge victory. Finally these invisible children of central Africa are being seen and recognized by the United States government. I am an ordinary person. And most likely, you are an ordinary person. But we are ordinary people who have recognized that it takes people like us, working together, doing what we have been called to do to change the world. 

To do the extraordinary. 

This battle is won, and victory is ours. But the war rages on. Continue to pray and to seek justice for the children of Northern Uganda. Peace is within reach, it can be done. We've seen what a group of crazies can do. I pray that you don't stop now. That you never stop striving for peace.

Today, we stand, holding hands with one another and with the children of central Africa and issue a warning to Joseph Kony: "Your reign is almost over." Today, we lift high the families who have fled their towns and say to them: "We see you! Keep hope!" Today, we look down the track and can see a finish line together. 

Today is an extraordinary day. Congratulations.

Psalm 146:

 ¹ Praise the LORD.
       Praise the LORD, O my soul.

 ² I will praise the LORD all my life;
       I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

 ³ Do not put your trust in princes,
       in mortal men, who cannot save.

 ⁴ When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
       on that very day their plans come to nothing.

 ⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
       whose hope is in the LORD his God,

 ⁶ the Maker of heaven and earth,
       the sea, and everything in them—
       the LORD, who remains faithful forever.

 ⁷ He upholds the cause of the oppressed
       and gives food to the hungry.
       The LORD sets prisoners free,

 ⁸ the LORD gives sight to the blind,
       the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
       the LORD loves the righteous.

 ⁹ The LORD watches over the alien
       and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
       but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

 ¹⁰ The LORD reigns forever,
       your God, O Zion, for all generations.
       Praise the LORD.