The eyes of Walter

I have never seen eyes that reflect such pain and horror.

ekisainternational.blogspot.com
Emily Worrall is the founder of Ekisa Ministries International in Uganda. She is only 21. She moved to Uganda to help special needs children.

She writes about Walter:
"The child in the photo needed a home. I glanced at the photo expecting to see a child who maybe was crippled, or had hydrocephaly. Instead a boy with desperate eyes stared back at me, completely covered in chemical burns. I actually had to look away because I was overcome by the pain this little one must be in, the scars were healed but the sadness in his eyes told me the pain was far from over. Then I asked Paul the question I already was dreading the answer to: what happened to him?

Several years ago Walter had acid thrown on him. Yes, these burns and scars were intentional.

"After Walter’s mother died his father remarried. The evil stepmom cliché is VERY real here. So Walter’s stepmother one day went out and bought acid, came home and threw it on him. This has left Walter with half of his foot missing, his hand webbed together, and most of his face completely deformed. After the woman did this, she and Walter’s father ran away. For the next two years he stayed with his Auntie. Although Walter has only shared a little, it seems this situation was also abusive.

I have so much I want to say to Walter, but going through a translator just isn’t the same. Words get twisted, tone of voice is changed, and so much more. I want to tell him I love him, and it will be alright. That he never has to worry about anyone in our family saying mean things about his appearance, that we have accepted him for who he is...scars and all. (The kids have been doing a wonderful job with Walter! It was a little hard at first for some, but after just one day I am pretty sure they didn’t even notice the scars anymore!)

I so wish I knew what to say to help heal the emotional wounds that run as deep as his physical ones. I hate how almost all of our kids’ stories are completely filled with tragedy, abuse, and just plain ugliness. My heart breaks for them multiple times each day. "

There must be a reason why so many children must suffer. But why?

"I am only one, but I am one. I can not do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I should do, and with the help of God I will do."