Charles is a passionate supporter of Exile International who had the opportunity to travel with the team to Uganda & Congo just a couple of months ago. He came back with a changed heart and a new perspective.
Charles got to visit various programs put on by Exile International including the school, church, medical care, counseling, and career development.
One of the first moments that caught him off guard was a church service in Congo. He walked in expecting something traditional—but what he experienced was anything but that.
“The room was alive,” he said. “People were singing, dancing, and celebrating God with a kind of joy that felt almost impossible to explain. Even with no screens, no production, none of the things we often experience in the states, it was one of the most powerful moments of the trip.”
“The service lasted nearly three hours and I still didn’t want to leave.”
But just days later, that joy was held in tension with a heavy reality.
Charles began to hear more of the stories behind the smiles—stories of children battling nightmares, anxiety, depression, and deep trauma from war. He saw the physical effects too: bloated stomachs from hunger, worn clothing, and visible signs of hardship.
One little girl, in particular, stayed with him.
“She had a green scarf,” he recalled. “Just the sweetest girl—skin and bones from hunger, but with the most beautiful face.”
She stood in worship with her community, fully present. Seen. Not forgotten.
Moments like that don’t leave you.
“I saw so much darkness,” Charles said. “But I also saw so much light shining through the children and the leaders.”
That light is what defines the work of Exile International.
Through the Peace and Healing Program, children are given a safe place to begin processing what they’ve been through—often for the very first time. Before seeing it in person, Charles didn’t fully understand how something like art therapy and music could be so impactful. Healing of spirit, healing of mind, healing of body. This is what makes such a lasting and deep impact. Healing from their wounds of trauma is just the beginning. Exile does not stop at rehabilitation — recognizing the lasting generational impact is holistic.
“They’re not alone with it anymore,” he said. “They’re not waking up at 2 a.m. with nowhere to take their racing thoughts. They now have a place to heal and someone to process it with.”
Charles got to spend time with some of Exile’s leaders. Joseph’s story is one he’ll never forget. He has endured profound personal loss, including being shot and losing a child, and yet continues to show up with unwavering faith and commitment to God and to the mission.
“How can he go through all of that and still remain faithful?” Charles remarked. “It’s amazing.”
Across both countries, local staff continue to pour into their communities, helping children not only heal, but rebuild their lives, even in the midst of their own struggles.
He witnessed stories of youth being taken in off the streets and given a second chance. At one point, a question settled in that Charles continues to think about, “Where would they be without Exile International?” It’s a question that changes everything. Because this work is not just about meeting immediate needs—it’s about changing the trajectory of a life.
“Trips like this change you. It sticks with you.” Charles said. “My problems at home don’t feel so big when I think back to the children and the work being done in Congo & Uganda.”
Charles has been a blessing to Exile International, but in return Exile International has been a blessing back to him. He found himself multiple times a day praying, “Thank you God for giving me this experience.”
Not everyone can travel to Congo & Uganda, but you don’t have to get on a place to be a part of this story. We pray Charles’ own experience stirs something in your heart to come alongside this mission. It is real people experiencing real life change.
God is at work, and you’re invited to be a part of it!
Exile International provides holistic, Christ-centered rehabilitation for child survivors of war and children orphaned by conflict in East Africa, focusing on healing their mind, body, and spirit. Through art-focused trauma care, education, and therapeutic care, the organization restores rescued children and empowers them to become leaders for peace.