The scars of civil war

Unfortunate news

In May 2004, my brother called me while I was on a business trip.
"Brother, please listen calmly. The day before yesterday, the rebels came to town... Grandma and the uncles were all killed!"
In Uganda, since the 1980s, battles between government forces and rebels had been repeated, and many civilians had fallen victim. For over 20 years of war, death had become commonplace, but I never imagined that misfortune would strike my own family. With trembling hands, I hung up the phone, praying in my heart (Please let it be a lie, let it be a mistake), and drove into the chaotic town.

The changed town

What spread out in the town I arrived at was a changed town. Blood splattered on the walls of houses, the smell of death lingered, and the sounds of people crying and screaming were incessantly heard. (Enough already, stop it!) I thought, but reality relentlessly surged in. Summarizing the stories from those who escaped, the rebels had suddenly entered the town three days ago, barging into each house and firing guns, killing residents. My relatives were locked in their homes at gunpoint by the rebels and then set on fire. That day, 56 residents were killed in the town, 15 of whom were my family. I was shocked to hear the reason the rebels committed the massacre. It was merely for show. Anger, hatred, and an overwhelming sadness surged in my heart.

Prayer in the church

Since that day, offering prayers that resembled pleas became my daily routine in the church. "Souls of those killed by fellow countrymen, please live happily in the Kingdom of Heaven. Heavenly Father, please guide those who suffered on earth to find happiness at least in your presence." However, as time passed, the vivid memories of the town would flash back and tighten my chest. Even though I prayed at the church, I received no answers, and I could only cling to God. Six years passed, and my surroundings seemed to have regained tranquility, but the cracks etched in my heart only deepened day by day.

Encountering the 'answer from God'

The opportunity to rebuild my life came when a seminar was held in the hall of the hotel I managed. It was my first encounter with Happy Science. (I wonder what kind of teachings they preach?) Out of light curiosity, I decided to listen to the talk. The seminar's speaker was Japanese. He was the branch manager of Happy Science and spoke while considering that many people here had deep emotional scars from the civil war. His message was as follows:
"Humans are beings that travel between this world and the next, repeating the cycle of reincarnation, and the purpose is to become angels who can give love in any environment. The more love you give, the more happiness it brings to the giver. 'Giving love' will quench the thirsty hearts and heal the wounded hearts, and grant forgiveness to sinful people. There are various sufferings in this world, such as conflict, poverty, and illness, but please release the feelings of hatred, sadness, and resentment from your palms. Please start by giving love in any environment. Lord El Cantare commands us to love, sustain, and forgive others."

Love and forgiveness

Those words powerfully knocked on the door of my heart, which had been bound and closed by the past. The answer from God, which had been silent until now, was taught to me by an unknown Japanese person.
(The answer to my prayers that I had never received is here. This is the answer from God!)
I felt invigorated. For me, 'the past' and 'the enemy' no longer held any meaning. All I wanted was for 'myself and others to be happy together.' And the path to happiness was right in front of me. After the one-hour seminar, I became a member of Happy Science without hesitation. This happened exactly six years after I lost my family.

Healing the scars of civil war through faith

From the day after the seminar, I began to convey the existence of El Cantare to the local people alongside my work. In northern Uganda, there is no one who has not been a victim of the civil war. Everyone suffers from invisible wounds, and their pain felt like my own. I couldn't sit still, wanting them to know the feeling of liberation as soon as possible.
"Now, God who is trying to realize peace and love and unite this land once again is alive in Japan. His name is El Cantare, whom Jesus called 'Heavenly Father' and Muhammad called 'Allah.' If you are in suffering, please pray to El Cantare. Please believe in El Cantare."
And every Saturday, I held Saturday Service and called on attendees to pray to El Cantare.

The moment the thorn in my heart is removed

Three months after joining, I provided a room in the hotel I managed as a preaching place for Happy Science and held an opening ceremony. Through missionary work, the circle of people believing in El Cantare spread in northern Uganda. Then, a year later, in August 2011, the first Happy Science branch temple in Africa was established in the capital, Kampala. Friends from all over Africa gathered to celebrate the consecration ceremony. While praying together with the gathered friends, feelings of gratitude surged up, and we embraced each other in joy. I want to fill this Africa with the faith in El Cantare. God of love and forgiveness, El Cantare, conveying your teachings has now become my greatest happiness.