Mission Moroto Stories: Israel’s Mom
About three years ago, two very hungry and sick little sweeties came to Mission Moroto. The little boy was named Israel. His little sister’s name in Karamojong meant “time of trouble.”
Rebekah said, “We aren’t going to call her that. She is a blessing, not a time of trouble.”
Papa Matthew said, “Then that is her name—Erereng, which means ‘Blessing.’ Blessing. In Karamojong and in English, she is a blessing.”
Shortly afterward, Rebekah and Papa Matthew went to minister in South Sudan, leaving Mamma Lisa to run the mission.
One day, Lisa had to take Israel to the clinic in town. He was terrified of the vehicle, so Mamma Lisa had to hold him tightly while driving the Land Cruiser.
When they reached the clinic, the nurse asked Lisa, “Does he speak?”
Lisa replied, “Yes, but only in Karamojong, and I only speak English.”
So the nurse began speaking with Israel in Karamojong. Suddenly, Israel pointed to Lisa, and the nurse chuckled.
The nurse said, “I asked him his name, and he pointed to you.”
“Oh! His name is Israel,” Lisa replied.
The nurse chatted with Israel some more in Karamojong. Suddenly, Israel again pointed at Lisa, and the nurse chuckled.
The nurse said, “I asked him if he had a mother, and he pointed at you.”
Lisa’s eyes filled with tears, and she said, “Well, I guess that’s right. I’m Israel’s mom.”
Today, Israel and Blessing are thriving at Mission Moroto and doing well in school.
Mamma Lisa swears she loves all 350 kids equally and has no favorites—but we all know there’s something different in her voice when she says the name Israel.
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