Vision for Uganda orphanage
On the afternoon of Saturday 19th September 2009, I arrived in Uganda, a nation devastated by decades of war and by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Two years ago, I had only hoped that I could somehow contribute to the pressing needs on the other side of my world.
I first heard about the great work Watoto Child Care Ministries was doing in Uganda while I was at a womens' conference.
[Photo: Tina Wong in Uganda, Africa Orphanage]
I was inspired as I heard the stories of orphans who each had been placed into a new home, with 7 other parentless children, and a widow to look after them; and how these families, within a wider village community, were raising children into strong, God-loving adults. These children, most of whom had lost their parents to AIDS, now have hope again and believe in a brighter future. So I started raising funds. I thought I would help by contributing towards the cost of building a house. Little did I know that God had plans for me to join with a team to go to Uganda and actually build the house.
Teaming up with Glebe Rd Uniting Church
The team was a beautiful collage of personalities. From my church, there was myself, Melissa Toh, Kevin Choo and Mei Goh. The majority of the team were from Glebe Rd Uniting church in Ipswich, and a few of their friends.
All up, there were sixteen of us. We had been meeting up and praying together for months leading up to the trip, so we arrived in Uganda with ample anticipation. We were committed to building a house, but not just a house - a home. A place where precious lives would be restored.
Bulrushes, Watoto's Baby Centre
The day after we arrived, we visited Bulrushes, Watoto's baby centre, where orphaned or abandonned babies are rescued and nurtured. Babies scurried towards us from all directions, crawling into our laps and reaching out for cuddles. We all melted like butter! To think that many of these precious ones would have died had it not been for Watoto.
Many were brought to Bulrushes premature, malnourished or in terrible condition, but are now happy, healthy, bouncing babies!
Building a house in Suubi Two
The next day, we started to build in a new village called Suubi Two. We loaded and unloaded bricks and formed a long chain so that we could move bricks from A to B.
Each brick weighed 7.5kg so we got a great work out. With Ugandan builders assisting us, we all got the hang of bricklaying fairly quickly, and by the end of Day One, we had built eight rows of bricks. That evening, we all groaned in agony from sore muscles and aching backs, arms, and legs, but after some Tiger Balm and a good night's sleep, we were back on site early the next morning, eager to keep at it. We were determined to finish buillding the house! After a total of three and a half days of vigorous brick-laying, enduring scorching heat, braving shaky scaffolding, getting mortar and mud in our shoes, clothes and hair, we finally completed the house!
Together with the builders, we had a dedication ceremony to dedicate the house to the children of Uganda, and prayed a prayer of blessing over the house and over the lives of those who would call this dwelling their home.
We had worked hard, but it was a labour of love. While we were building, God was also building faith in us. We had an opportunity to visit and pray for one of the children in the village bed-ridden with malaria, and by the next day, he was out of bed, joyfully drawing with the colour pencils we gave him. On the final day of building, we also had the honour of seeing one of the Ugandan builders give his heart to Christ. We cherished every moment in our hearts, and felt so privileged to be a part of God's great work.
Fellowship with the locals
The highlight of the whole trip was when we went to one of the established Watoto villages where we had lunch with the families.
The family that I visited had eight girls and a Watoto mum, who greeted us at the door with big smiles and warm hugs. We were then spoilt with the best Ugandan home-cooked meal ever. As we ate, the girls happily shared about their favourite subjects at school and what they wanted to study in university. There was so much hope in their eyes. As they were excitedly showing us their rooms (4 girls to a room), we were saddened to hear the story of how only a year ago, they lost their previous Watoto mum to AIDS.
I couldn't even try to comprehend how it would feel to lose your parents and then to lose your adopted mum, to go through so much grief as a child. Yet these girls had a strength of faith about them that was remarkable. Before we left, they blessed us with a delightful dance and a couple of beautiful songs. We were so touched by their love and found it so hard to say goodbye. We already knew that coming to Uganda to build a house was going to make a difference, but after spending time with one of the families, we were absolutely convinced that what we have built will make a difference in childrens' lives, and a lasting impact in the nation of Uganda.
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Compassion for the orphans and widows
As long as there are orphans and widows in need in our world, there will always be work for the church. We left Uganda with a strong sense that our work had only just begun, and that the building will continue when we landed back on home soil. So I am setting my sights on another house, another eight precious orphans rescued by 2012. Some team members have determined in their hearts to return to Uganda in the near future to serve as volunteers. All of us will continue to champion this cause.
We set out to build a home and change lives, and in the process, God built His compassion deep in our hearts and changed our lives forever.
Uganda Africa Mission Photo Website
Tina Wong
Hope Church, Brisbane
- Write to Tina Wong for more information about "Orphanage ministry in Uganda, Africa: tinie_wong@hotmail.com
