Are you Madam Gena – he asked,
a thin young man with a kind face.
Yes I am, says I.
A priest told me to come talk with you – I lived in Godet, where the gangs are now.
Ok, please have a seat and I will come in a few minutes.
He went to get his little girl – she was with one of our therapists.
I noticed she has severe disabilities.
I also noticed the gentleness of his touch when she started crying.
I wondered was she hungry
So many people are hungry these days.
Madanm Gena, we ran from the gangs,
my wife and I,
and our two children.
They burned my house.
My mother could not run.
She died inside the burning house.
He wiped the tears from his eyes, and I dared not let my tears out.
I miss my mother a lot, she loved me,
She lived with us.
They burnt her along with the house.
We took refuge in the town.
We have lost everything.
We lost our crops, our animals.
We can’t go back – they are still in the area.
Can you please help?
The priest told me to come to you.
He too had to flee.

Years and years ago, I befriended an older lady
I met her on the road and she was selling eggs.
I called her “The Egg lady”.
She would come visit and bring some eggs and I would give her some money.
When she was dying, her adult daughter, said “Mam, you are dying, who will look out for me now?”
The Egg lady replied: I leave you in the arms of Jesus and Madam Gena!
And so it came to be that her daughter and I became friends.
She would visit and bring me lovely fresh vegetables and I would help her out by giving some money to buy food and seeds.
I met her at a mass on Friday,
the mass was for Emmanuel-the lovely security man who was tortured, killed and burned a few weeks ago.
I was so happy to see her as I knew she lived close to Emmanuel and I had been worried about her safety.
She came to visit on Sat and we sat and chatted.
They burned my house she said.
We escaped with our lives, but I lost several family in the attacks.
They killed people I loved.
Tears appeared and she paused for a moment.
I have lost everything.
I cannot go back for my crops- they are still there and they shoot at anyone that tries to go back.
My green peas are ready to be picked, also my cabbages, my green peppers.
I have lost them all Madam Gena.
I have nothing.
I will never see my garden again.
I loved working in my garden.

Madanm Christian has been coming to me for years.
We became friends when her young Down Syndrome son used to come for therapy.
He had a heart problem and died young.
She has 9 other children.
She herself is a small, humble, hard working older lady
My face and legs were all swollen she said.
I had noticed that her face was still puffy.
I did go to the doctor and I took the tablets but not much changed.
We were taking a little walk and she had to rest.
Tis the lack of food she said.
We are all scattered all over the place.
My husband is still unwell.
We tried to find places to take refuge.
They took everything.
I don’t know if my house is still there or if they burnt.
My crops were ready to be harvested.

I could keep going.
I could talk about the videos of the burnt houses,
I could talk about the displaced farmers with no homes and no means of making money.
I could talk about the four young people that were kidnapped and how they suffered before they were released after the ransom was paid.
I could talk about Samuel, and Ana’s daughter and countless others- all rural farmers living close to us.
All victims of the gangs.
I could take about Jose – murdered last night when he resisted being kidnapped.

So many stories of sadness – I can’t keep them all inside.
Each time I can help a little I see the impact.
I see a load lightened – for today.
Tough times call for great efforts of solidarity.
The world is in turmoil.
We have to pray for the world – for peace.
We have to work to lighten the load of those carrying burdens far too heavy.
We have to let the tears fall.
We have to pull ourselves up and keep fighting the good fight!
Keep making a difference.

I close my eyes and I feel their pain – all these humble people that represent so many more in the same situation.
Somehow they keep going.
Somehow they find strength.
They inspire me!

Isaiah 40:31:
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”. 

Gena Heraty
June 24th 2025