Once again, I take the road to Lolelia, a place where a group of people in conflict have decided to stay together. Lolelia means “the place of peace and happiness” and is located at the geographical border of two Karimojong clusters, the Dodoth and the Jie. The people who decided to share this experience are now busy cultivating the fields to get the necessary food and to be able to build their huts, in order to make their staying together possible and sustainable.
On the way there, a lot of events and questions come to my mind. I’m not able to coordinate them or find immediate answers to them. But, I’m sure, that the direction I took is the right one.
Still, the main question remains unanswered: “When will the conflict between the Jie and the Dodoth be totally resolved?” My only certitudes spring from the experience of the power of God.
How many times, in my work as a missionary here in Karamoja, have I reflected on the beatitude of Matthew: “Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called sons of God.”
What I truly believe is that all those who are sincerely committed to solve this conflict are, in a way, “baptized people,” even though they have never been really baptized and most likely will never be. I like to call this gift “the baptism of peace!”
PREPARED TO DIE FOR HIS ENEMIES
Once, I was driving some leaders of the two parties in conflict for a peace negotiation in Lolelia, when, suddenly, a group of warriors started running to us, trying to surround the car and pointing their guns at us. It was then that the lotingorok (the diviner from the same faction of those warriors who was with us) asked me to stop and went to ask them what was their intention.
“We want to kill those enemies,” they answered. The lotingorok was so brave that he blurted out: “Well then, if you are determined to kill them, you must kill me first.” Hearing that, they didn’t do him any harm and just went away. This event made me recall the words of Christ: “There is no greater love than giving your life for your friends.”
In my opinion, the lotingorok went even further, because he put his life at stake for the ones who were seen as enemies. It is this kind of action that I consider is God’s work, because it leads people beyond expectation. And it is almost miraculous, because it changes the hearts of those who are not even Christians and probably will never be, at least in a formal sense of the word.
From my experience, I learned that peace and resolution of conflicts are indeed God’s work. Because He is the One who takes the initiative, inspires the right people and protects them from harm. He is at work in those who are Christians and in all those who are ready to join hands, as in Lolelia, and to work for peace.
LIVING AS JUST ONE PEOPLE
Dodoi Marcello took the task of leading the pioneers of the peaceful co-existence in Lolelia. According to Marcello – who is also the chairperson of our Christian community in the area – the dream of this mixed community is to resolve the conflict between the Jie and Dodoth through a development program that aims to use the land, that lies between both communities, to feed the people. He has been trying, in different ways, to mobilize and convince them to join the settlement, in spite of the fact that the government does not show any interest in it. He says: “I have been thinking about this project day and night. Many times, I cannot even sleep thinking about the best way to solve this conflict. But I’m firmly convinced that God Himself is giving me the inspiration.”
I ask Marcello if he can detect any sign showing that Lolelia is on the right track. He answers: “The members of these two communities are also freely moving together in the whole of the territory of the two conflicting clusters. As they go together to the market or share other activities, people even forget the distinction between the members of the two groups. They never mention anymore which group they belong to but simply refer to themselves as the people of Lolelia.” These pioneers of a conflict resolution are really faced with a challenge: to open a new ‘road’ to sustainable peace. While they plough the fields in Lolelia valley, they are sustained by the seeds and greens from the forest. For them, their common effort makes the difference.
We may say that God has called these humble and simple people and entrusted to them the mission of resolving a conflict. This mission may be compared to the one given to Moses when he was asked to lead God’s people to the Promised Land, passing through a desert. Our journey has just begun. To keep on going, we shall need the prayers and support of all.
