watoto newsletter - uk
DESCRIPTION
Watoto Newsletter - October 2014TRANSCRIPT
WWW.WATOTO.COM | OCTOBER 2014 | ISSUE NO.1
WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION
Watoto is thrilled to bring you
a brand new production, Oh
What Love, beginning January
2015. Through this dynamic
worship experience, the Watoto
Children’s Choir, who were once
orphans, share their journeys to
redemption and demonstrate
that God desires to be a loving
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
for me. In the choir, I am going
to show people that God loves
them too,” says six-year-old
Jackie Nakku.
Based on the Bible verse, 1
John 3:1; “See what kind of love
the father has given us, that we
should be called children of God,
and so we are,” prepare for a
unique worship experience that
blends traditional and modern
dance with original music. Oh
What Love celebrates the urban
African landscape and brings
out the unique personalities of
the children.
Since 1994, Watoto children’s
choirs have traveled all over
the world sharing the plight
of Africa’s orphaned and
vulnerable, making an appeal to
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 but they
have been rescued and now live
in a Watoto village.
Book the choir in your region
now. Email us at
Newsletter_OCT'14_UK.indd 1 10/30/14 9:33 AM
A FUTURE SO BRIGHT
SPONSORS RAISE LEADERS
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; an
opportunity.
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
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
to witness 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. After
being paired with Francis Mubiru,
the Freed family has enjoyed
sponsoring him for over 8 years.
“When Francis wrote to us,
we were always amazed at his
devotion to the Lord and his
desire to help expand His Word to
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
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,
a 2-year sponsor of Lawrence.
“He would encourage me through
scripture, and I always looked
forward to hearing from him. I
love 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 and start
today.
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 [email protected].
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
SPECIAL MOVE 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 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.
“It is a great privilege to link up
my key passions for the Church in
mission, community development
among the marginalised and
the nation of Uganda into one
strategic role. I am looking
forward to leading the work of
Watoto UK into God’s purposes
for the coming years, believing
there are exciting opportunities
for churches in the UK to engage
with us into the future as we
support the developing work of
Watoto. I would keenly ask our
supporters around the UK to
please pray for me; for wisdom,
insight and understanding as
I seek to lead the team, get
to know many of the broader
Watoto family at home and
overseas and seek to develop
further strategic relationships
around the country.
Thank you for all you have
already done to bless the lives of
so many children and families in
Uganda. My warmest greetings in
Smiling faces, happy hearts,
enthusiastic expressions and
beautiful voices cascaded again
across our churches during this
year’s Beautiful Africa 2014 tour.
From the Scottish Highlands to
Ireland and the South of England
we have received stories of
people giving their lives to Jesus
and receiving hope for a future.
We serve such an awesome
God; He loves the widow and
orphan but, also the lost, the
hopeless, the friendless and the
hurting.
Our choirs know the change
this love can bring and share
personal testimonies of this truth.
All the children have been
orphaned or abandoned yet
they have a message of Jesus
transforming their lives, giving
them hope, a loving family and a
future.
We love to engage with
you in your concern for your
‘neighbours’ in your community
and support your mission in
bringing the joyful news of the
Gospel to their hearts.
TO HOST THE WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR
We simply request that a love
offering be taken during the
concert and the choir be given
the opportunity to promote
Watoto’s Sponsorship Program
and merchandise sales. We also
ask that your church would
provide 9 host homes and 3
hotel/B&B rooms for the Team
Leader and two drivers, along
with meals for the duration of
their visit.
Sue Jones our Tour Coordinator
would love to chat to you about
the choir so for more information
please call: 0203 225 1048 or
email: [email protected]
WATOTO CHOIR 63
WELCOME PAUL HOUIELLEBECQJesus’ Name”.
Paul originates from the island
of Jersey, one of six sons, who
grew up with a strong sense of
the value of ‘community’. He
worked as a Production Chemist
for a few years in Cheltenham
before entering Elim Bible College
to retrain for church ministry
in 1983. He met his Swiss wife,
Evelyne, whilst at College and
moved to work with a Swiss
Pentecostal Church after getting
married in 1985, ministering in the
German language in Winterthur,
where their sons, Tom and Phil,
were born.
Paul has just completed 20 very
happy and fruitful years with his
family in Cardiff, South Wales,
where he planted a church on a
deprived housing estate in the
east of the city and has spent
the last 3 years working as the
Regional Manager for Samaritan’s
Purse for Wales and the Marches.
During that time, he led a number
of mission teams into Uganda
and has developed a real love
for the people of that nation.
He is an ordained Elim minister
but has worked for many years
across denominations, linking the
Church into mission with a clear
Kingdom focus. He leaves Cardiff
to move to London at the end of
September, with his wife, who is a
social work manager, taking up a
new role with a Christian charity
in west London.
Newsletter_OCT'14_UK.indd 2-3 10/30/14 9:33 AM
A FUTURE SO BRIGHT
SPONSORS RAISE LEADERS
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; an
opportunity.
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
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
to witness 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. After
being paired with Francis Mubiru,
the Freed family has enjoyed
sponsoring him for over 8 years.
“When Francis wrote to us,
we were always amazed at his
devotion to the Lord and his
desire to help expand His Word to
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
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,
a 2-year sponsor of Lawrence.
“He would encourage me through
scripture, and I always looked
forward to hearing from him. I
love 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 and start
today.
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 [email protected].
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
SPECIAL MOVE 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 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.
“It is a great privilege to link up
my key passions for the Church in
mission, community development
among the marginalised and
the nation of Uganda into one
strategic role. I am looking
forward to leading the work of
Watoto UK into God’s purposes
for the coming years, believing
there are exciting opportunities
for churches in the UK to engage
with us into the future as we
support the developing work of
Watoto. I would keenly ask our
supporters around the UK to
please pray for me; for wisdom,
insight and understanding as
I seek to lead the team, get
to know many of the broader
Watoto family at home and
overseas and seek to develop
further strategic relationships
around the country.
Thank you for all you have
already done to bless the lives of
so many children and families in
Uganda. My warmest greetings in
Smiling faces, happy hearts,
enthusiastic expressions and
beautiful voices cascaded again
across our churches during this
year’s Beautiful Africa 2014 tour.
From the Scottish Highlands to
Ireland and the South of England
we have received stories of
people giving their lives to Jesus
and receiving hope for a future.
We serve such an awesome
God; He loves the widow and
orphan but, also the lost, the
hopeless, the friendless and the
hurting.
Our choirs know the change
this love can bring and share
personal testimonies of this truth.
All the children have been
orphaned or abandoned yet
they have a message of Jesus
transforming their lives, giving
them hope, a loving family and a
future.
We love to engage with
you in your concern for your
‘neighbours’ in your community
and support your mission in
bringing the joyful news of the
Gospel to their hearts.
TO HOST THE WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR
We simply request that a love
offering be taken during the
concert and the choir be given
the opportunity to promote
Watoto’s Sponsorship Program
and merchandise sales. We also
ask that your church would
provide 9 host homes and 3
hotel/B&B rooms for the Team
Leader and two drivers, along
with meals for the duration of
their visit.
Sue Jones our Tour Coordinator
would love to chat to you about
the choir so for more information
please call: 0203 225 1048 or
email: [email protected]
WATOTO CHOIR 63
WELCOME PAUL HOUIELLEBECQJesus’ Name”.
Paul originates from the island
of Jersey, one of six sons, who
grew up with a strong sense of
the value of ‘community’. He
worked as a Production Chemist
for a few years in Cheltenham
before entering Elim Bible College
to retrain for church ministry
in 1983. He met his Swiss wife,
Evelyne, whilst at College and
moved to work with a Swiss
Pentecostal Church after getting
married in 1985, ministering in the
German language in Winterthur,
where their sons, Tom and Phil,
were born.
Paul has just completed 20 very
happy and fruitful years with his
family in Cardiff, South Wales,
where he planted a church on a
deprived housing estate in the
east of the city and has spent
the last 3 years working as the
Regional Manager for Samaritan’s
Purse for Wales and the Marches.
During that time, he led a number
of mission teams into Uganda
and has developed a real love
for the people of that nation.
He is an ordained Elim minister
but has worked for many years
across denominations, linking the
Church into mission with a clear
Kingdom focus. He leaves Cardiff
to move to London at the end of
September, with his wife, who is a
social work manager, taking up a
new role with a Christian charity
in west London.
Newsletter_OCT'14_UK.indd 2-3 10/30/14 9:33 AM
CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND
A Christmas tree, a glow with lights and
coloured baubles surrounded by presents
wrapped in shiny Christmas paper, this is
the scene millions of excited children will
wake up to this year.
The anticipation of discovering what is
inside those parcels can be seen in faces of
the children, the smiles getting bigger and
bigger as they open that long awaited gift.
Giving a financial donation to the gift
fund enables you to be a part of putting
that same excitement on the thousands of
faces in our Watoto villages. If you would
like to make a donation to the Watoto Gift
fund you can mail your donation to Watoto
Child Care Ministries, P O Box 64946, London E4 0EF or call our office on 0203 225 1048 to give by debit/credit card.
WATOTO EUROPEPO BOx 64946LONDON E4 0EFEMAIL: [email protected] NO. 1090810
Newsletter_OCT'14_UK.indd 4 10/30/14 9:33 AM