Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley says that the girl, named “Divine Grace” by her rescuers, cannot remember many details of her life before the fire, even her given name. But the local believers who have adopted her told Voice of the Martyrs that Divine’s positive attitude, along with the discipleship she received from her parents before their death, gives her a favorable long-term prognosis. 

“On the evening the rebels attacked Divine’s village, she and her parents were attending a prayer meeting at their village church on the shore of Lake Albert where the DRC borders Uganda,” says Representative Foley. She says that even though the area is home to more than 100 rebel groups who are hostile to Christians, Divine’s father, a fisherman, had moved the family there a year earlier. “They were strong believers who became active in a local church there, and they were present at the prayer meeting that June evening when rebels entered the village, fired guns, and set fire to buildings throughout the village—including the church.” 

Representative Foley says that Divine later told doctors that she remembers fuel being poured on the church building and the flames coming closer to her. 

“The morning after the attack, a woman searching through the ashes of the church discovered the bodies of Divine’s parents, along with Divine, who was badly burned and unconscious but still breathing,” says Representative Foley. “The woman rushed the child to the nearest medical care. She didn’t know the girl’s name so she called her ‘Divine Grace’ because she considered it a miracle that she was alive.” None of the other survivors knew how to contact Divine’s extended family, and no one came to claim her. 

Divine’s burns extended from her chin to below her waist, covering 48% of her body and requiring specialized medical care. A Christian pediatric surgeon, Dr. Justin Mandaboy, volunteered his services at the request of local church leaders who had stepped in to care for the girl in the absence of family members.  

“When I saw her, I don’t know [how she would do], but God gave me faith to trust,” Dr. Mandaboy told Voice of the Martyrs. “I knew there wasn’t any other place where she would be able to be helped.” 

Having interned with a burn unit in Canada, he said children with burns to 50% of their body usually don’t survive. He told church leaders that Divine would require multiple surgeries and that the healing process would take years. 

But according to Representative Foley, Divine’s new spiritual family did not abandon her. “Area church leaders asked for volunteers to help care for Divine,” says Representative Foley. “A mother of two named Lina stepped forward to help.” 

“I was just feeling like that is a child of mine and I would have mercy on her,” Lina told Voice of the Martyrs. “I would want someone to take care of my children the same way.” 

Lina says despite Divine losing her parents and having to endure six surgeries and countless hours of painful wound care and physical therapy, the young girl is strong in the Lord. 

“From the time I met Divine, she had joy and peace,” said Lina, who stayed with Divine throughout her hospitalization and has cared for her since. “That hasn’t changed. Throughout the whole process, that same spirit of joy and peace has remained.” 

Lina told Voice of the Martyrs that when Divine was hospitalized, she joined the hospital’s chapel services each morning to pray and sing worship songs. 

Dr. Mandaboy told Voice of the Martyrs that Divine will continue to require procedures to loosen her scar tissue as she grows. But he said the foundation in Christ she received from her parents has carried her through everything she has faced so far. 

“The family was in Jesus,” he said. “Because of her age, what she was saying from the Bible and going in the morning to pray, that is someone who had [discipleship] when she was at home.”  

Representative Foley says that Voice of the Martyrs provides assistance to family members of martyrs and families of Christians imprisoned because of their faith. Individuals interested in contributing to Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s Families of Martyrs/Families of Prisoners (FOM/FOP) fund can do so at www.vomkorea.com/en/donate or via electronic transfer to: 

국민은행 463501-01-243303 

예금주: (사)순교자의소리 

Please include the name “FOM/FOP” on the donation.