{"id":52127,"date":"2024-12-10T14:00:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T05:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=52127"},"modified":"2024-12-10T15:05:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T06:05:28","slug":"vomk-report-328","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2024\/12\/10\/vomk-report-328\/","title":{"rendered":"CONGO: 8-Year-Old Girl, Orphaned and Burned in Islamist Attack, Rescued by Local Believers"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52134″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea is reporting that an 8-year-old girl in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), orphaned and with burns over half of her body as the result of an attack on a church prayer meeting by Islamist insurgents in June 2022, has been rescued and adopted by local believers who continue to aid her in her recovery. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left” google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Hyun Sook Foley says that the girl, named \u201cDivine Grace\u201d by <\/span>her <\/span>rescuers, cannot <\/span>remember <\/span>many <\/span>details of her life before the fire, even her given name. But <\/span>the local believers who have adopted her told Voice of the Martyrs that Divine\u2019s positive <\/span>attitude,<\/span> along with the discipleship she received from her parents before their death, <\/span>gives her a favorable long-term<\/span> prognosis.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>On the evening the rebels attacked Divine\u2019s village, she and her parents were attending a prayer<\/span> meeting at their village church <\/span>o<\/span>n the <\/span>shore of Lake Albert where the DRC borders Uganda,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. She says that even though the area is home to more than 100 rebel groups who are hostile to Christians, Divine<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s father, <\/span>a fisherman<\/span>, had moved the family there a year earlier. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>They<\/span> were strong believers who<\/span> became active in a local church there<\/span>,<\/span> and <\/span>they <\/span>were present at the prayer meeting that <\/span>June evening<\/span> when rebels entered the village, <\/span>fir<\/span>ed<\/span> guns<\/span>, and set fire to <\/span>buildings throughout the village<\/span>\u2014<\/span>including <\/span>the church.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52139″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Representative F<\/span>o<\/span>ley says that Divine later told doctors that she <\/span>remember<\/span>s<\/span> fuel being poured <\/span>on the church building <\/span>and the flames coming<\/span> closer<\/span> to her<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The morning after the attack, a woman searching through the ashes of the church discovered the<\/span> bodies of Divine\u2019s parents<\/span>, along with Divine, who was badly burned and unconscious but <\/span>still<\/span> breathing<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley<\/span>.<\/span> \u201c<\/span>The woman <\/span>rushed the child to the nearest medical care.<\/span> She <\/span>didn<\/span>\u2019<\/span>t<\/span> know the girl\u2019s <\/span>name<\/span> so <\/span>she called her <\/span>\u2018<\/span>Divine<\/span> Grace<\/span>\u2019<\/span> because she considered it a miracle that she was<\/span> alive.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> None of the other survivors knew how to contact<\/span> Divine\u2019s extended family, and no one came to claim her.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Divine\u2019s burns extended from her chin to below her<\/span> waist, covering 48% of her body<\/span> and requiring specialized medical care<\/span>. A Christian pediatric surgeon, Dr. Justin <\/span>Mandaboy<\/span>,<\/span> volunteered his services<\/span> at the request of local church leaders who had stepped in to care for the girl in the absence of family members<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw her, I don\u2019t know<\/span> [how she would do]<\/span>,<\/span> but God gave me faith to trust,\u201d <\/span>Dr<\/span>.<\/span> Mandaboy<\/span> told Voice of the Martyrs<\/span>. \u201cI knew there<\/span> wasn\u2019t any other place where she would be able to be<\/span> helped.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52133″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Divine endured six surgeries and remained bedridden for months after being severely burned in an attack on her church. But as soon as she was physically able, she started attending the hospital\u2019s daily chapel services.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Having interned with a burn unit in Canada, he<\/span> said children with burns to 50% of their body usually<\/span> don\u2019t<\/span> survive. He told church leaders that Divine would <\/span>require<\/span> multiple surgeries and that the healing process<\/span> would take years.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]But <\/span>according to Representative Foley, Divine<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s new <\/span>spiritual family <\/span>did<\/span> not abandon her. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>A<\/span>rea church leaders <\/span>asked for <\/span>volunteers to <\/span>help <\/span>care for<\/span> Divine,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative F<\/span>o<\/span>ley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>A<\/span> mother of two <\/span>named Lina <\/span>stepped forward to help.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cI was just feeling like that is a child of mine and<\/span> I would have mercy on her<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> Lina told Voice of the Martyrs<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>I would want someone to take<\/span> care of my children the same way.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Lina says despite Divine losing her <\/span>parents<\/span> and having to endure <\/span>six surgeries<\/span> and countless hours of painful wound care and physical<\/span> therapy, <\/span>the young girl is strong in the Lord.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the time I met Divine, she had joy and peace,\u201d said Lina, who stayed with Divine throughout her<\/span> hospitalization and has cared for her since. \u201cThat<\/span> hasn\u2019t<\/span> changed.<\/span> Throughout the <\/span>whole process<\/span>, that<\/span> same spirit of joy and peace has remained.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52130″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”The doctor said Divine will continue to require procedures to loosen her scar tissue. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Lina told Voice of the Martyrs that <\/span>when <\/span>Divine<\/span> was <\/span>hospitaliz<\/span>ed,<\/span> she <\/span>joined <\/span>the hospital<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s <\/span>chapel services <\/span>each morning <\/span>to pray <\/span>and sing worship songs<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]D<\/span>r.<\/span> Mandaboy<\/span> told V<\/span>o<\/span>ice of the Martyrs that <\/span>Divine will continue to require<\/span> procedures to loosen her scar tissue<\/span> as she grows<\/span>. But he said the foundation in Christ she received from her<\/span> parents ha<\/span>s<\/span> carried her through everything she has<\/span> faced so far.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>The family was in Jesus<\/span>,\u201d he said. \u201cBecause of her age, what she was saying from the Bible<\/span> and going in the morning to pray, that is someone who<\/span> had [discipleship] when she was at home.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]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\u2019s Families of Martyrs\/Families of Prisoners (FOM\/FOP) fund can do so at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donate<\/span><\/a> or via electronic transfer to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span>: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the name \u201cFOM\/FOP\u201d on the donation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52131″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center”][vc_custom_heading text=”Divine\u2019s doctors are giving her math and reading assignments to work on until she is well enough to return to school. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”52134″ img_size=”full”][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea is reporting that an 8-year-old girl in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), orphaned and with burns over half of her …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":52135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52127"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52144,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52127\/revisions\/52144"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}