Watoto
I heard a speaker recently say that in
the Bible it is said 48 or more times that we need to care for the
widow and the orphan. The speaker went on to say that it made him
think of a father telling his children “Now, kids, I'm telling you
again...make sure you take care of the orphan and the widow!” God
repeats things when he wants our attention. Well, sir, you have
mine!
Psalm 68:5 A father to the
fatherless, a defender of widows
Did
you know
that nearly 11
million children die
each
year before their fifth birthday? (World
Hunger Facts)
Did
you know
in sub-Saharan Africa the HIV/AIDS epidemic has orphaned more then 14
million
children?
(UNAIDS
Global Facts & Figures 2009)
Did
you know
that more than 66,000
children
have been abducted – forced to serve as child soldiers in Uganda?
(UNICEF,
2008)
Did
you know
at the end of 2008 it was estimated that out of the 31.3
million adults
worldwide living with HIV/AIDS, around half
are women?
(UNAIDS,
2009)
Some more statistics....
79% in rural areas use kerosene
lanterns (tadooba) for lighting
41% in urban areas use electricity
10% of households use the bush as their
toilet
86% use pit latrines and only 1% use
flushing toilets
Deuteronomy 10:18 He defends
the cause of the fatherless and the widow, He loves the alien, giving
him food and clothing.
So the question is why do I want to go
to Uganda? Why do I feel compelled to help? Why do I love Watoto?
Watch the video below...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiKvGf604pI&noredirect=1 if that doesn't work just go to youtube and type in Watoto. You can also see the children's choir there too!
I first heard about Watoto about a year
and a half ago. Hope Community Church had partnered up with them
about a year before that and raised enough money to build a church
for a new village (there are currently three!) and there was a
presentation about the organization....I fell in love! I sponsored a
little boy that day – Anslem Wasswa Ssamanya, he was 5 years old at
the time. The same age as my niece Juliana is today. Anslem was
neglected as a baby and was brought to Watoto by concerned
authorities. By the time Anslem got to Baby Watoto he was weak and
malnourished and suffering from tuberculosis. After months of loving
attention from his nannies, he became a healthy child. Today he is
living with his housemother and his Watoto brothers and sisters. I'm
told he is loved and comfortable in his home. Now at 7 he goes to
school where can receive a quality education and he will continue on
until he graduates from high school. And either learn a trade or go
to college.
I think the thing that got me is that
this couple, Garry and Marilyn Skinner, saw a need and didn't just
want to build an orphanage (not knocking orphanages!) but wanted to
give these children a real home. A home where they can grow up loved
and cared for, but more than that – have a family! A family that
will always be theirs. I love that they give these women a purpose!
They get to have a home, they get to raise their own children and be
blessed with more children to care for. These women would also be
living on the streets and have no way to care for their children.
:-(
When Watoto came around about a year
later, I decided I needed to sponsor a Mom too. Her name is Ajok
Betty. I like to call her Betty for short. She is 46 years old.
She lovingly guides her kids and nurtures them spiritually and
physically. She provides them with healthy meals and sends them off
to school everyday with a prayer. I'm told she loves to teach her
children good manners and social skills. Good job, Betty! We should
get her over here! Lol
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right!
Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the
fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
So when the opportunity arose for me to go to Uganda (maybe even meet
Betty and Anslem!!!!) I just knew it was something the Lord wanted me
to do. I will admit I wanted to do it too, so it didn't take much
convincing on His part! The idea that I get to help build a house
that a family will live in, a house where there will be love and
God's word....I am honored and in awe that I get to be a part of
that.
Please
be a part of this with me. Share my experience and help me get
there!!!! The cost is $3000 and it all has to be paid for my May
1st.
When I first heard this and found out that any of the balanced will
be paid by ME, I said, OK...I can do that...until I found out I can't
put any of it on a credit card. I can not do this alone...I need
your help! Please consider giving me some of your money. ;0)
Here's how....
http://www.gethope.net/global-hope/give
and make sure to put my info in the in memory of/in honor of Maureen
Wight (July, Uganda trip). Please call me or email me if you have
any issues using the site! You can also donate by check as well.
You can make it out to me or Hope Community Church with my info in
the memo line. Thank you all for your prayers and donations!
James
1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is
this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ans to keep
oneself from being polluted by the world.
When we live in a community of love, we
can solve any of our problems. - Gary Skinner, founder of Watoto
