In August of 2006, 21 people from our church traveled to Kampala, Uganda to work with Watoto Childcare Ministries. In recent decades Uganda has endured the scourge of civil war and the deadly AIDS epidemic. Approximately 1.7 million children in Uganda have been orphaned by these calamities. Each day too many precious children die from AIDS. Currently there are over 880,000 Ugandan children living as orphans as a result of AIDS. As we traveled thoughout the country we saw only a glimplse of the poverty and the devestating effect on these children, and even that was overwhelming. We saw children dressed in rags, begging on the side of the road, and saw despair and hopelessness in the eyes of many we met. But our experience working with Watoto was just the opposite. Thanks to Watoto, teams like ours, and those who supported us, the children at the Watoto villages were well fed, clothed and educated. They were smiling, laughing and playing as children should. These children have been given hope and a future.Watoto's mision is to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders by placing parentless children in families where the necessary love, care, spiritual discipleship and physical needs are provided. Each child is placed in a home with a loving house mom and seven new siblings. They are currently responsible for over 1400 children, their goal is to care for 14,000 children in the future. It was our privilege to be able to help them.
While in Uganda, our team built two classrooms in Suubi Village, Watoto's newest village. We also brought a medical team that worked with Watoto doctors at village clinics providing medical exams and ultrasounds. They also taught basic first aid and CPR to all of the Watoto moms. We were also able to work directly with the children in their classrooms and had several wonderful visits to their homes.
Being there to witness firsthand the impact our visit made was amazing. Each and every team member was profoundly impacted by this experience and will carry the memories of those children with them forever. When the Watoto Children's Choir came to our church in January of this year, we were able to visit with several children that we had met while in
Uganda. Some remembered us and couldn't wait to hug each of the team members. Seeing the smile on their faces when they recognized us and knowing that we had made such an impact in their lives was worth all the sacrifices it took to go.
Uganda. Some remembered us and couldn't wait to hug each of the team members. Seeing the smile on their faces when they recognized us and knowing that we had made such an impact in their lives was worth all the sacrifices it took to go.We are already planning a second trip to Uganda for 2008 and are eagerly anticipating what this trip will bring.
To see more pictures of our 2006 trip, please visit the photo gallery. For more information about Watoto Childcare Ministries and how you can help, please visit www.watoto.com.