Home Management Conference’s That Support: Stella’s Story

WNSP’s Home Management Conference focuses on supporting and inspiring attendees to have a hope in the future that empowers self-esteem and provides a spiritual nourishing. It also brings families together with a goal to reduce domestic violence, divorce and suicide.

Here is Stella’s Story:

Stella, is a member of Nen Anyim (which means look ahead toward the future) in Western ward Oyam town council.  She attended the Home Management Conference and on the second day she approached the staff of WNSP and shared some significant issues she was having.

Stella said “I am married with four children, through a government program together with my husband we got an ox for ploughing. My husband also encouraged me to borrow 300,000 lira from the Nen-anyim village savings and loan group where I am a member to purchase a second ox. We agreed that we would be getting enough money from ploughing to be able to pay back the loan. But when time came to start paying back the loan, my husband instead sold the ox that was received from the government project and then refused to repay the money for the village loan. When the group members began asking for payments on the loan, my husband told me it was my problem since he did not borrow any money from the group. This was a great embarrassment and problem for me and I decided that instead of being ashamed or getting arrested I would wait for when my husband was not around and get all four children and lock ourselves up in the house and set it ablaze so we can all die and leave the world and the shame to him. I felt like I had no other way out and was feeling completely desperate. 

Before I could carry out those plans, I heard that WNSP had invited women from Oyam to a Home Management Conference so I decided to first come to the conference before carrying out my plans. After hearing some teachings, I decided to change my plans and use a plan B which was to get the two children I came to the conference with and put them in the vehicle taking women back to Oyam and then I myself would disappear in Lira town never to be seen again. 

But as I continued to go to the powerful sessions, I decided to get counselling and guidance from WNSP staff.  After much counselling and many prayers, I knew things would somehow be different. I felt set free and happy in my heart and decided to change all my plans and go back home with my children. 

When I reached home my husband welcomed me and we sat down together and came up with a solution of selling the second bull so that we would pay back the loan money. To my surprise my husband who is normally very stubborn, was open and willing to listen to me. Together we sold the second oxen, paid the loan. So much has changed with him that he agreed to formally get married in the church.

Thanks for WNSP and all the teachers and counsellors of the home management conference.