Freda* is a beautiful, soft-spoken ten-year-old who has been here at Restoration Gateway about a year and a half. Originally from Pida Village in a nearby district, she grew up in the Acholi tribe with 4 other brothers and sisters. When Freda goes home on holidays, she stays with her grandmother who likes to cook beans and chicken - Freda's favorite meal.

This kind-hearted young girl was brought here by her uncle after the death of both her parents. Freda's father died during the war in Uganda. Like many men during this time, he was captured and killed by the LRA rebel army in 2007 when Freda was only five years old. She can't remember much of him but struggles with bad dreams when thinking about him being killed. Like many Ugandan women, Freda's mother worked in the garden and did the fishing for the family until one day she fell sick with malaria. Freda was 7 when her mother passed away and she remembers her mother well. Malaria is something that can be treated, but without proper care, is a disease that can do significant harm.

Freda feels blessed to be living at Restoration Gateway. She did not know Jesus before coming here, but Reverend Joel, a pastor at RG, taught her about restoration that can happen through Jesus Christ. She proclaimed, "I believe in Him because I want to enter the kingdom of Heaven." This bright girl is in Primary 2, her favorite subject is math, and she would someday like to work in a bank. Her favorite things about living here at RG are school and playing with her friends. She likes to cook, play basketball, and listen to music. Though Freda has seen death and experienced hardships throughout the course of her young life, we see God's restorative hand on her.

*name changed for confidentiality*