This photo shows the changes I had before and today. This photo gives me hope because life changes. Before I was in Africa, and now I am here today.

I used to live in a one-room house in Africa and shared the room with my four children and their children and my husband. Now, as long as I can pay rent, I have enough room for my kids and their husbands in a house with many rooms.

My life in Africa was discouraging. There was no peace. Here, I am doing well because I can work and there is peace.

I am wearing a dress that represents African culture—a wife can't wear something that shows her legs. This black dress represents that there is still war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This dress reminds me that people are still fighting. I can wear this dress; I want God to remember those people, and I can plead for them to have peace in their lives. As long as I'm dressing like this, I want people to remember and pray for peace.

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Picha hii inaonyesha mabadiliko niliyokuwa nayo hapo awali na leo. Picha hii inanipa matumaini kwa sababu maisha yanabadilika. Kabla ya kuwa Afrika, na sasa niko hapa leo.

Nilikuwa nikiishi katika nyumba ya chumba kimoja barani Afrika na nilishiriki chumba hicho na watoto wangu wanne na watoto wao na mume wangu. Sasa, mradi ninaweza kulipa kodi ya nyumba, nina nafasi ya kutosha kwa ajili ya watoto wangu na waume zao katika nyumba yenye vyumba vingi.

Maisha yangu barani Afrika yalikuwa ya kukatisha tamaa. Hakukuwa na amani. Hapa, naendelea vizuri kwa sababu naweza kufanya kazi na kuna amani.

Nimevaa mavazi yanayoonyesha utamaduni wa Kiafrika. Mke hawezi kuvaa kitu kinachoonyesha miguu yake. Nguo hii inawakilisha kwamba bado kuna vita katika Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo. Nguo hii inanikumbusha kwamba watu bado wanapigana. Ninaweza kuvaa vazi hili; Nataka Mungu awakumbuke watu hao, na ninaweza kuwasihi wawe na amani maishani mwao. Maadamu ninavaa hivi, nataka watu wakumbuke na kuombea amani.