This is a drawing of an old lady I met in South Sudan 10 years ago. I was fascinated by how happy she was all the time. She came from the a village where the railway was used as a way of attack. The train would come into the area and then men on horseback will go out from the train to capture women. These women was then smuggled, by using the train, to other countries where they were used as sex slaves.

She lived through those attacks. She probably has many questions, probably lost friends or family in these attacks. And still, the joy that I noticed in her life was radiant and beyond what you would expect from someone who lived through attacks like that. What was her secret? What was the key?

I know; The joy of the LORD is our strength. She was holding on to Jesus...., He was worth holding on to. He IS the Pearl of great price.