Invisible Children

Many of you may have heard the name or term “Invisible Children” but most don’t know who they are or what they do. The Invisible Children group is a community of people looking to bring a stop to the trafficking of children soldiers in Africa. Every day in Uganda, children are ripped from their home lives and their families and forced to become soldiers that are trained to kill. They are put into the LRA which is led by Joseph Kony. The LRA is the Lord’s Resistance Army and has been around since 1987. This group terrorizes and kills millions of people for the purpose of going against the government and attempting to take control. This group takes young boys from their families and takes them into the jungle where most will never be seen again. There, they are trained to kill and fight exactly who their leader tells them to. Although Joseph Kony leads this army, he has never been seen and still cannot be found. The Invisible Children group is coming together to try to bring an end to it. The name “invisible children” was created for these poor, hopeless individuals whose lives are ruined the second they are taken from their homes. Survival is the main goal of these boys but many have lost all hope of seeing their friends and families again. These children are invisible because they don’t have names. Invisible because they don’t know their birthdays. Invisible because they vanish and most are never seen again. Invisible because they no longer are seen as a meaningful addition to life. 

A lot of times we hear about groups around the world that are trying to make a difference. Everyone has a belief system and many of them try to help others and stop the bad in the world. But sometimes you have to ask, what are they really doing to help? The Invisible Children campaigns is taking all the money and support that comes their way and are putting it directly into helping the children and families affected by Joseph Kony’s LRA. This money goes to legitimate answers to this problem that is affecting so many people. These children deserve to live a full life full of their own choices and decisions. The Invisible Children organization takes the donations and puts it towards sending African boys to school, creating an LRA crisis tracking tower, films, raising awareness, FM radios and even rehab centers for those affected by tragedy. All of these things can help to put a stop to what is happening right before so many people’s eyes. While one may say that this is America and Africa is not a concern of ours, put yourself into this scenario. Imagine being taken from your home and forced into complete and total warfare. You will never see your family or friends again; you will only be controlled by leaders and rulers who don’t have an ounce of care for you. You will be told to kill and you must do it exactly as they say. You don’t want to do it? Well your life will be taken right then and there before you could even think twice. Putting that into perspective, one should want to donate! Even a small amount of money could save someone’s life. The money is going to good causes and everyone should want to make a change. The Invisible Children are an organization true to their word and they are people who are truly trying to make a difference. 

The next question one might have is where is this group and where are they trying to help? Well, these children soldiers are being taken from Uganda, Africa and are being forced into a jungle that is guarded and secured by the LRA. The Invisible Children group has tried many times to get inside the site and find Kony, but it is nearly impossible. So, they have traveled all over Africa to interview friends and families of people who have lost someone to the LRA. Some boys were shot and killed for refusal, others disappeared years ago and the family is still hopeful that they will return someday. But most of the time, the boys are never seen again. The Invisible Children organization is traveling all around America to try and make a change. They are in schools, towns, where ever they can get a word out. They have contacted the government and tried everything they could to get their name out and their mission. The Invisible Children organization travels everywhere and will continue to travel until they have put a stop to these horrific events. This wonderful group of people continues to travel to Africa to travel around, not for fun, but to make a difference. They will go to no end to communicate with boys and families who have information. These people have a purpose and that is putting an end to this tragedy before it’s too late. 

This group of people who have become the voice of these children have been around since 2004. Since then, they have traveled to and from Africa and all around America to make a difference. They have one purpose and one purpose only: put a stop to the LRA and Kony. It seems like a fairly large task, but they will not stop until it gets done. Throughout these past 9 years, the organization has created films and documentaries to inform everyone about what is going on. These videos truly appeal to your emotions and make you want to help. The videos show the starving young people, the testimonials of families who have lost children to the LRA and even some footage of the young child soldiers. Also in the past 9 years, the Invisible Children have created FM radios and a radio tower so that whenever the LRA is coming, everyone is alert and warned. The Invisible Children have done so much in the past 9 years and will continue to reach out and make a difference. It is sad and sickening to see people being ripped from their families and forced into murder. The Invisible Children create a glimmer of hope that someone will put a stop to such a horrible thing that is going on each and every day. 

After being informed and filled with so much information on one topic, one may still be skeptical. Some people may still ask why are the Invisible Children so concerned with helping these young people? Well, I truly believe that if you have a heart, you will be touched and affected by the story. These boys who are taken from their homes no longer have a life. Hearing of boys escaping is rare and it’s sad to think that those who try are often killed. This group of people wants to reach out and make a difference. No one should have to face what these young boys face. Boys who are fourteen years old, fifteen, sometimes as young as six are taken and trained to kill. These boys will do anything to survive with the hope of someday seeing their families again. Many will not, many will be killed much too soon. However, the Invisible Children hope to reunite every last boy with their family and to put an end to the abduction of these boys. 

Losing Sight of God...

“You shall have no other gods before Me.”

               

In today’s day and age, it seems so easy for teenagers to lose sight of God. So many temptations and choices surround us youth and it seems that it may sometimes be easier to turn to them rather than God. Sometimes, teenagers allow superstitious beliefs or magic to give God-like powers to objects, people or places. This can truly affect our relationship with God. We must always keep the first commandment in our hearts. The first commandment states as above meaning that we should only worship God and no one and nothing else. It is important to remember that God is our one and only and we should not lose sight of his love for us. 

Each and every one of us have theological virtues that have been instilled in us which are faith, hope and love. We must each remember that we have these and not forget to have faith in God, have hope in our faith and constantly love God. Being a teenager, things often go wrong. Sometimes things get tough and as a teenager, we aren't always sure where to turn. This is where we must remember our theological values and express them. We need to have faith in God and turn to him. We must ask for guidance and hope that things will get better. Sometimes, we have to remember that God wouldn't give us anything we couldn't handle. And yes, sometimes it seems like God trusts us a little too much. But God is always there and he will help us through everything. We cannot turn to other things for guidance and comfort. Turning to anything other than God is the same as having another God before him. We only have one God who we should trust, love and worship. God is always there and always will be, we just have to always be there for him as well. 

In high schools today, there is so much pressure to be perfect or like everyone around you. This could lead to drinking, sex and drugs. Sometimes, teenagers may even turn to drugs and alcohol in times of sadness and despair. This could be an example of idolatry. Turning to another object for guidance or as a solution is going against God and seeing another object as an object of worship. We must not worship anyone other than our God. He is the great and faithful God that has been there since the beginning. We must not turn away from him and we must rely on him in times of trouble. Alcohol, drugs and sex are not going to solve your problems or make you feel any better. Maybe for a second, but a little while after, you will feel just as bad as you did before. Teenagers today must remember God is the only answer and we must always turn to him. He is our only God and we cannot lose sight of him.  

All around us, we encounter different belief systems other than ours. Even in a catholic school like mine, I encounter people that are not Catholic. Sometimes it may seem tempting to explore these other religions. We may even encounter atheists, people who believe in no God and no religion. But we must remember to stay faithful to God and that he is our one and only God. He will never abandon us so we shall never abandon him. Catholics practice monotheism meaning that we only have one God. This practice should always hold sacred and never be abandon. We have only one God and will only have him for the rest of our lives. We must remain faithful to him and always remind him we are thankful for everything he does for us. 

It is growing increasingly easy for people to forget why we are here and who we have to thank for that. God is our reason for everything. God loves us and we should love him forever. We should never turn away from him, question his doing or deny his existence. God is everywhere and He will always have faith in us. When we lose faith in him, that is the worst thing we could do as Christians. We need to continue to remain faithful to God. We must have no God other than him and worship no one but him.