The Grass That Suffers — Book Synopsis:
Stella was kidnapped at age fifteen in a raid on her village in Uganda by the LRA, Lord’s Resistance Army. Joseph Kony’s rag-tag militia of rebels oppressing children had reeked havoc on Africa for decades. An African proverb was often quoted by Ugandans, “When the elephants fight, only the grass is stomped.”
According to Trush.org “Northern Uganda was the center of a brutal, two-decade insurgency by a cult-like rebel group that saw 2 million people uprooted from their homes and tens of thousands kidnapped, mutilated or killed.
- More than 20,000 children abducted
- Over 70,000 people still in camps
- Violence and disease killed 1,000 a week at height of conflict
Led by self-proclaimed mystic Joseph Kony, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) is notorious for massacring civilians, slicing off the lips of survivors and kidnapping children for use as soldiers, porters and sex slaves.”
The people’s frustration was grave as they watched their own children suffer under this madman’s unfettered rule.
And so it happened to Stella, that in her capture she suffered torture, unimaginable hardships, and was in constant fear for her life for six months. Then, miraculously, she and a group of children are inexplicably released.
Seven years later, in March of 2014, Stella told her story for the first time to a visitor, Janet Storton, who came to Stella’s village to initiate an entrepreneurship program for women. Janet’s heart was deeply touched. She took notes furiously and promised Stella that her story would be heard. And here it is, The Grass That Suffers.
Janet left for Uganda for the first time in 2007 with a medical mission team. There, in the village of Kapchorwa, Janet gifted a child a quilt she made. (This story can be found in Janet’s book, Mercy’s Quilt). She now sees how God prepared her for Africa—in His own time—by creating within her a passion for writing, sewing, and quilting.
Janet’s organization, The Sisters of the Heart Foundation (http://sistersoftheheartfoundation.org) provides micro loans and gifts to women in crises. Money is raised through the sale of products made by the women, donations, and grants.
In her new book, The Grass That Suffers, she shares her love of the African people and the story of one girl’s trials as a captive in a rebel camp.
The Grass That Suffers is published by Just Dust Publishers. Shelley L. Houston, the owner said “Janet’s devotion to the people of Uganda astonishes me. It is a great honor to be a small part of bringing the oppression of children by the LR into better focus. No one wants this kind of atrocity to exist. Perhaps this book will give inspiration to those with the power to improve the plight Ugandan children. That is my hope and prayer.” (http://www.justdustpublishers.com/).
The official publication date of her book is still to be determined. However, it is likely to be in late July or early August. You can reach Janet for interviews and for more information:
or write
Janet Storton
PO Box 1743
Sisters, Oregon 97759
Janet’s book is available for a donation. You will receive a tax deductible receipt from Sisters Community Church, a 501C3 non-profit, which handles moneys donated to Sisters of the Heart Foundation.
Donations are tax deductible. However, we cannot provide a tax deductible receipt for book purchases.