WWW.WATOTO.COM | OCTOBER 2013 | ISSUE NO. 3
INTO THE
FUTURE
When Sunday Okello decided to volunteer at the Lubbe Sustainability project, he had no idea how much he would learn by just offering his time. The 23-year-old former child soldier declares that his sole motivation for volunteering is to give back to, and appreciate Watoto for choosing to invest in his life. “My experience at the Lubbe farm has been amazing. I have learned so much, including how to grow a variety of crops and drive a tractor. It’s also given me the opportunity to learn all the skills I need to manage a successful agricultural project.” continued on pg. 2
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
continued from pg. 1 Okello was 13-years-old when he first encountered the rebel soldiers in northern Uganda an incident that scattered his family. His younger brother was abducted and the rest of the family relocated to Onyama Internally Displaced Camp in Gulu town. The rebels often targeted this camp to abduct boys and girls that they used as soldiers and wives. The rampant attacks forced Okello and his family to commute every evening to Gulu town to seek shelter on verandas of buildings. One day, Okello’s father suggested that they spend the night at home since the rebels hadn’t raided the camp for a while. The rebels struck with full force that evening. Okello, his brother and about 70 children were abducted from the camp. They walked north for many hours and were eventually initiated into the rebel movement after experiencing 150 strikes from a wooden cane. Okello spent two months in
Fortunate
When I first met Fortunate and learned her story, my first thought was, oh how ironic that her name is Fortunate, when she is so unfortunate. Fortunate was abandoned as a baby and suffered from years
Uganda and was later forced to walk over 300 miles to Sudan where he came face to face with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel leader, Joseph Kony. Two months later, the rebel leader commanded the regiment to return to Uganda to stock up on ammunition, food and soldiers. Six miles from the Sudanese border, the rebels encountered a fire exchange with the Ugandan Government soldiers for over seven hours. Many lives were lost, but they escaped. Once in Uganda, their job was to abduct more children and loot food. It was during this mission that Okello escaped. He was rescued by Ugandan Government soldiers who enrolled him for trauma counseling at the Gulu Support the Children Organization (GUSCO), now Watoto’s Living Hope Center for trauma rehabilition of vulnerable women. After four months of intensive counseling, Okello decided to go to school, but didn’t have any money.
Just as he was about to give up, a team from Watoto led by co-founder Marilyn Skinner, visited the camp. Okello joined the Watoto family soon after. “I was amazed by the opportunities that opened up. I was enrolled into the best secondary school in Gulu because the Watoto School hadn’t opened up in northern Uganda at the time.” After finishing high school, he completed a certificate in Crop Production and Animal Management. Okello also participated in the Watoto3600 discipleship program and offered to volunteer with the Watoto Sustainability project. “I have learned so much by working at the Lubbe farm. It has literally opened the door to my dreams. I have already started a farmers’ association in partnership with some of my former college mates and I have dreams of running farming projects in northern Uganda and exporting product,” says Okello.
of abuse before she was rescued by Watoto. As a result of the abuse and neglect she experienced, she had struggled with bowel continence and suffered a lot of embarrassment as a result. Despite some successful surgeries over the years in Uganda,
she began experiencing problems shortly after she arrived in the States with the rest of the children and adults from the Watoto Children’s Choir. One Tuesday morning in March my story intersected hers. I walked into the clinic at Children’s of Alabama Hospital
Embarking Eight former Watoto children graduated from various universities around Uganda in July. Each of them excelled in their respective fields, including Business, Law, Finance, Fashion & Design, Development Studies, Science and Information Technology. The Education Department of Watoto organized a joyous event to celebrate the achievements of the graduates. Jane Nalwada, who graduated with a diploma in Fashion & Design wore a dress she personally designed. She was thankful to Watoto for the opportunity they had granted her. She was particularly grateful for her Watoto mother, sponsors and everyone
where I’ve worked as a nurse for 16 years. Fortunate was one of my patients that day. I was immediately drawn to her and wanted to help her. Dr. Kirk Thame, my colleague and I became her lead medical team. We quickly determined that she’d need to be seen every day for a week. She was staying over an hour away from the hospital so I volunteered for her to stay in my home. She came to stay along with her adult chaperone, Auntie Claire. My husband Eric and our 19-month-old old daughter Kate received them like family. We were nervous that they might not like staying with us but they fit right in. My picky cat even loved them. In between clinic visits we took some fun trips. We went to a neighborhood park, a movie, science museum and the zoo. All of them were first time experiences for Fortunate and she was content no matter what. She never asked for anything and instead would protest, “You’ve already done so much,” whenever I’d offer her the simplest of things, like a choice of a snack. I’d watch her and realize she feels so blessed already. She is happy with what she has, which compared to us in the States is very little. I could see she
g On A New Journey else who contributed to her achievements. Sarah Kigozi, Watoto’s Child Welfare team leader encouraged, urged and advised the graduates to exemplify the character of Christ in all they did. Education Team Leader Dorcas Kibirige encouraged the hopeful graduates to continue in their pursuit of excellence. Without the continuous support of sponsors and partners globally, none of these graduates would have had the opportunity to pursue an education. Join the journey and sponsor a life today. For more information visit www.watoto. com/sponsorship.
felt like the richest person on earth. When her week with me came to a close I cried and cried. She made such a big impact on me that I flew out to see her with the rest of the choir twice more before they returned home to Uganda. I now sponsor two children at Watoto and someday I’ll make the trip out to Africa to see them and Fortunate. The surgical procedure we were able to give Fortunate will make a big impact on her quality of life, but even In the midst of her medical situation, not knowing her mother or father and being an orphan, she already has such a great peace about her. You realize how much Watoto does for them. How Watoto changes their lives and gives them hope for the future. She knows she is special to Jesus, that she already is fortunate. I just kept thinking, at 12-years-old, you get it. If I were to sum up in one word my experience getting to know Fortunate it would be ‘blessed’. Tracy Howell RN CPN
Bring The Watoto Market To Your Church This Christmas
Watoto Dinner Experience Starting this November your church or Bible study group will have the opportunity to come together for a fun night of food and reflection as you consider God’s heart for the orphan. When you host a ‘Watoto Dinner Experience’ you’ll journey in the shoes of a child in Africa and come away with a renewed sense of God’s heart for the orphan, and his exciting call on our lives! This tool will be released just in time for Orphan Sunday, November 3, 2013. To find out more or to download the toolkit. go to www.watotoandyou.com/getinvolved.
For the second year in a row, we are offering churches in the U.S the opportunity to host an exciting shopping event that helps rescue lives. The Watoto Market is a fun and easy way to come together as a church to make a difference in Africa. Shop for beautiful handmade handbags, scarves, purses, necklaces, bracelets and more for the special people on your Christmas list. All proceeds go to
benefit the ministry of Watoto. Many of the items in the Watoto Market are hand-crafted by one of the once vulnerable women being cared for by Watoto through our Living Hope initiative. These items go quickly so be sure to book early! Book the Watoto Market at your church today by having a member of your church administration team contact usa@watoto.com or call 1-866-492-8686.
BEFORE
SPONSOR BABY WATOTO “I’m a pastor,” Junior tells his village mom every day. Junior knows his Bible stories and uses every opportunity to ‘preach’ to his friends. Junior’s biological mother passed away when he was only two-weeks-old. He was malnourished and sickly when he arrived at Baby Watoto, but God healed him and made his frail little body strong and healthy. He is now six-years-old and attends primary school, where he relishes every learning experience. He loves playing ball, singing and dancing. His favourite food is rice and beans and he loves helping his mother around the house.
I “ ’m a pastor,” Junior tells his village mom every day.
AFTER
WATOTO USA PO BOX 1320 LUTZ, FLORIDA 33548-1320