WWW.WATOTO.COM | NOVEMBER 2014 | ISSUE NO.3
for me. In the choir, I am going
What Love celebrates the urban
have been rescued and now live
a brand new production, Oh What Love, beginning January
to show people that God loves them too,” says six-year-old
African landscape and brings out the unique personalities of
in a Watoto village. In addition to this new
2015. Through this dynamic worship experience, the Watoto
Jackie Nakku. Based on the Bible verse, 1
the children. Since 1994, Watoto children’s
production, we are still touring the country with Beautiful
Children’s Choir, who were once orphans, share their journeys to
John 3:1; “See what kind of love the father has given us, that
choirs have traveled all over the world sharing the plight
Africa: A New Generation in select cities throughout the U.S.
redemption and demonstrate that God desires to be a loving
we should be called children of God, and so we are.” Prepare for
of Africa’s orphaned and vulnerable, making an appeal to
Be sure to check out our online calendar for dates and locations.
father to all mankind. “After losing my parents I felt lonely, with no one to love me. Now I know that God is my father. He loves and cares
a unique worship experience, underscored with the sounds and rhythms of Africa, that blends traditional and modern dance with original music. Oh
help raise these children so that they can rebuild their nation. Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of one or both of their parents and they
Book the choir at your church now. Email us at usa@watoto.com.
Watoto is thrilled to bring you
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
SLEEP OVER WITH A BIG IMPACT At the age of 11, Annika Mossberg learned about Watoto and wanted to be a part of the mission to rescue, raise and rebuild. After the Watoto Children’s Choir performed in her hometown of Moose Lake, Minnesota, Annika and her family hosted three choir members in their home for the night. “We hosted Irene, Faith, and Auntie Perry,” said her mom, Doreen. “The girls were the most respectful and kind children we’d ever met.” Fueled by the positive experience, Annika decided to make a personal contribution. “I decided to sell lemonade, cookies, and board games at my grandpa’s yard sales to raise money for Watoto,” she says.
She raised $110 and sent it to Watoto with a letter about how much she loves the mission of Watoto. “When I grow up, I hope to have a family with kids and go on mission trips,” declares Annika. According to her mom, Annika has always been passionate about helping those in need. Now familiar with Watoto, Annika is eager to give back to others. “Even when Annika was younger, she has talked about becoming a missionary and traveling to China. Now, she wants to go to Watoto,” said Doreen. “She has a heart for God, and we are so thankful for the opportunity Watoto has given her to show that.”
SPONSORS RAISING LEADERS
Watoto gradutes from left to right are Irene Atim, Francis Denis Mugisha, Being a child sponsor for Watoto is a rewarding experience, especially during graduation season. This spring 2014, Watoto congratulated a number of new graduates for their skills, knowledge, and accomplishments. Our sponsors have had the pleasure of witnessing their sponsor children grow into mature leaders. Now ready for the real world, our graduates have made great strides with the support of their sponsors. Chuck and Julia Freed saw the Watoto Children’s Choir perform at their church in Glendale, Kentucky in 2005 and were inspired to become sponsors and guide a child
spiritually and emotionally. The Freed family was paired with Francis Mubiru and has enjoyed sponsoring him for over eight years. “When Francis wrote to us, we were always amazed at his devotion to the Lord and his desire to help share God’s Word with others,” said Chuck Freed. “We are so proud of his accomplishments. He took advantage of all of his opportunities and has grown into an upstanding young man.” An avid soccer player, Francis graduated from Kampala International University with a degree in Medical Lab Science and is employed as a Farm Supervisor in Watoto’s poultry
Annika and her mom, Doreen, with two Watoto girls; Irene & Faith
A FUTURE SO BRIGHT Juliet ran her fingers over the wheel of her tailoring machine, admiring its contours. She shifted the weight of her feet over the pedal and listened to them falling into rhythm. The machine was a gift from her husband’s grandmother on the day she gave birth to her first child. It became one of her most valuable possessions. She stared at the machine with a faint ache in her heart, wishing she had the skills to use it. When Juliet met her husband, she was searching for a home. Her father had stopped supporting her and she was forced to drop out of school. When she tried to move in with her mother, she was rejected. She saw marriage as an escape. Juliet was twenty-one when she sat at a maternity ward holding the results of her routine HIV test. She was pregnant with her first
child. She was shocked when she read that she was positive, but her husband seemed unfazed. Juliet wondered if he’d always known, but she didn’t ask him any questions. She couldn’t afford to lose another home. Seven years later, he abandoned her and she was left to look after their two children on her own. She managed to support herself by helping her sister braid hair, but work was irregular and she never had enough. She worried when a child showed any sign of sickness because she couldn’t buy medicine. She knew that soon her eldest would be old enough to start school, but she wouldn’t be able to afford it. Juliet heard of Living Hope from other women in the community. “I knew that if I was given the chance, I could also become an empowered woman,” she said.
Last month Juliet and five other women were called to be trained in tailoring at our workshop in Kampala. In just three weeks, she went from learning to run the machine and making basic stitches, to learning how to make
a dress. “I hope to be a tailor and to grow so that I don’t need to depend on my family,” she said. Empower other women like Juliet by partnering with us. Email us at livinghope@ watoto.com.
S
, Tom Kasaiija, Francis Mubiru, Lawrence Kyebanja, and Rebecca Kirabo. farm in Buloba. Fellow Watoto graduate Lawrence Kyebanja received a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration from Kyambogo University. Lawrence has been a facilitator at children’s camp and is also currently pursuing a music career. “Lawrence was excited to talk about his work and school progress,” said Destiny Valladares, who has sponsored Lawrence for the last two years. “He would encourage me through scripture, and I always looked forward to hearing from him. I have loved being a part of his life and a supporter of Watoto.” Rebecca Kirabo received a Bachelor’s degree in
Public Administration and Management from Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development, and volunteers as a social worker for Good Life of Hope Ministries. Irene Atim also received a degree in Social Work, and attended Uganda Christian University Mukono. As our graduates venture into the next chapter of their lives, we want to thank our child sponsors for being there every step of the way. Without our sponsors, Watoto would not have the ability to provide these young adults with the skills they need to rebuild their country. You too can change a child’s story. Log onto www.watoto. com/sponsorship.
HOST A WATOTO MARKET THIS CHRISTMAS At Christmas, do you often find yourself in a tug-of-war between wanting to take time to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and just trying to survive the busy season? The Watoto Market was created to provide a way for people to let their Christmas shopping double as a way to celebrate the birth of Christ. At no cost, Watoto will send your church a shopping kit with a variety of products such as beautiful hand-made handbags,
purses, necklaces, bracelets and more. 100% of the proceeds from items sold will benefit orphaned children and vulnerable women in Africa. Friends and family on your list will love knowing the gift they’ve received also made a difference in the life of a child or vulnerable woman in Africa. To learn more visit www. watotoandyou.com/market or order the Watoto Market event kit today by emailing us at usa@ watoto.com or call 1-866-4928686.
SPECIAL MOVE This past quarter, a number of our Baby Watoto Suubi toddlers graduated into our villages. Many of these abandoned babies joined the Watoto family severely malnourished, premature, abused, and/or neglected. They are now cherished, active, creative toddlers filled with hope and joy. It is amazing to watch their transformation and we celebrate this exciting milestone in their
lives. For a number of years, we have been praying about and discussing the best long term plans for our children with significant special needs. Over the past few months, we established a partnership with a new Christian organization, The Gem Foundation, in Kampala. They specifically care for children with significant special needs, into their adulthood. We are excited by what this organization is doing and believe that this is the best option for some of our children with special needs who have outgrown Baby Watoto. The first group of children were moved from Baby Watoto Kampala to The Gem Foundation in August. We believe that this is a great opportunity for our children and are excited to continue to watch them grow and develop. Partner with us by sponsoring Baby Watoto at www.watoto. com/sponsorship today.
THOUSANDS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE IN NORTHERN UGANDA In September, a courageous group of members from Elevate Life Church in Frisco, Texas set out on the mission of a lifetime. Fortytwo congregation members visited rural northern Uganda. Dr. Eugene Gicheru, head of the medical clinic, along with his team of physicians, nurses, lab techs and volunteers were focused on helping aid the sick, especially children. “I’ve been on many mission trips,” said Dr. Gicheru. “But this one was really memorable because the focus was on the kids and families. We built a playground, provided a prayer team, and bonded with the children. Members of our church who are Watoto sponsors even got the chance to meet their sponsor children, which was incredibly rewarding.” “Our goal was to set a benchmark for each medical provider to see at least 100 patients per day,” Dr. Gicheru said.
“We ended up treating over 1,300 patients per day.” The team treated women, children, and teenagers for malaria, worm infestations, thyroid disorders, typhoid fever, and leprosy. “It rained every day, but no one wanted to leave,” Dr. Gicheru said. “By 8:30am, there were 400 patients in line no matter what the weather was like. They were just so grateful to get treatment.” Thanks to the hard-working, selfless, and empathetic members of the Elevate Life team and the commitment of pastors Mark Blum, Sheila and Keith Craft, rural Uganda is getting steps closer to becoming a healthier place to live. “I am constantly reminded that my goal is to serve others,” Dr. Gicheru said. “I never know in what capacity I’ll be serving, but I know I’ll continue to do it.” To learn how you can visit Watoto, email us at usa@watoto.com
WATOTO USA PO BOX 1320 LUTZ, FLORIDA 33548-1320
CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND Curled ribbons and shiny bows on top of wrapped packages are what millions of children will wake up to see at Christmas. The anticipation of what’s waiting to be unwrapped can be seen in the smiles on the faces of every child. Giving a financial donation to the gift fund or donating a gift allows you to be a part of putting that same excitement on thousands of faces in our Watoto villages. You can make your tax-deductible gift to the Watoto Gift fund by donating online at www.watoto.com/ get-involved/donate-now then under the “designated to:” drop down menu choosing Gift Fund, or you can mail your donation to Watoto P.O. Box 1320 Lutz, FL 33548 and simply write Gift Fund in the memo.