watoto newsletter - us

WWW.WATOTO.COM | MARCH 2014 | ISSUE NO.1

One Amazing God

T H E F U T U R E I S N O W

YOU ARE INVITED

WHAT WE DO ORPHANED CHILDREN | VULNERABLE WOMEN | COMMUNITY TRANSFORMATION

WATOTO BIG PARTYThis year, Watoto celebrates

30 years of Gods faithfulness in Uganda. From June 1 to June 8, 2014. Gary and Marilyn Skinner will host a Big Party in Kampala to commemorate the occasion.

We are having a big party because we want Jesus to be

famous for the good things He has done in Africa. I am so thankful for all of the individuals, teams, churches and other groups around the world that have been involved in so many ways, helping us make all of this happen. God bless you,

comments Gary Skinner, Watoto Founder.

Currently, Watoto cares for almost 3,000 children in three self-contained villages and three Baby Watoto facilities across Kampala and Gulu, Uganda.

George Akankwasa, one of the first students of Hope Senior School in Watotos Bbira

Village says, I have seen Watoto grow tremendously from one classroom block to over 10; from four clusters of nine homes per cluster, to over 15 clusters; and from us doing only indoor games to outdoor facilities for various activities. We need to celebrate and thank God for all He has done for us, and what He

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is still doing.In the lead-up to the Big

Party, we are launching an exciting challenge for people to do something extraordinary, which in turn will help raise awareness and funds for Watoto. This is your chance to make a difference and to share your passion for Watoto with others. Everyones challenge will look different.

Watoto friend, John Burns, from Relate Church Canada is pushing his physical and mental

boundaries to run 200 holes of golf in 24 Hours. He hopes to raise $5 million for Watoto. Tell us what your challenge will be. Log on to www.manup4watoto.com and start a challenge of your own, or support Johns. Every effort helps to transform the lives of vulnerable women and children in Africa.

For more information on how to be involved in the Big Party, please log onto www.watotochurch.com/bigparty.

A HELPING HANDIn February, Living Hope

community workers began interviewing women who were isolated, and struggling, both financially and emotionally. We hope to enlist 380 new ladies in the program this year.

When I hear their stories, I realize how much they need to be in the program, says Hannah Atim, a community worker.

Living Hope graduates like Monica, who are now community leaders, are helping us identify and enlist new women. In 2005 when Monica was pregnant she discovered that she was HIV positive. She used to make money by selling liquor, but this was not enough to support her five children. Living Hope found me when I was not doing well. I thought I was dumped and forgotten, but at Living Hope I found joy and hope. I found others who are like me, and people who love me, she said.

Monica, who works in our jewelry department, is now one of Living Hopes community leaders. She often visits other HIV positive

women to share her story, pray for them and remind them to look after themselves.

Living Hope empowers women so that they can walk alongside others who are in need of support. They learn that their stories have power to inspire others and to change lives. By helping women like Monica engage in their communities, we are able to infiltrate the most impoverished neighbourhoods and embrace others who are still in desperate need of help.

This year we have framed our program around three words that we feel capture our mission: Embrace, Empower and Engage. We embrace women by caring for their basic needs. We empower them by developing their life skills and we engage them with the community by helping them become successful businesswomen and pillars of influence.

Follow the progress at www.watoto.com/livinghope and encourage others to partner with us today.

Vocational Students Graduation

On December 4, 2013, 38

Watoto students graduated

from the Vocational School

at Watotos Suubi Village.

The ceremony was filled with

jubilation and hope as the

students celebrated and couldnt

wait to start their careers.

21-year-old Dodovico Nsereko,

who graduated as an electrical

installation engineer, believes that

choosing vocational studies was

the best decision he ever made.

The practical lessons allowed

me to gain valuable skills that

helped me excel while I was a

student. I am excited about the

future, says Dodovico.

He is currently working at one

of Watotos sustainability

projects as an electrical

installation engineer, where he is

convinced that he is gaining the

hands-on skills he needs to start

up his own business.

Watotos objective is to

rebuild the nation by raising

African leaders in every sector of

influence in society. We want to

celebrate empowered graduates

like Dodovico and thank all our

partners for their contribution to

this effort.

There are many children like

Dodovico, who need someone

to come alongside them to help

them pursue their dreams. Be

that support and encourage

others to do the same

www.watoto.com/sponsorship.

SPONSORSHIP INCREASEThank you to each and every

sponsor who chose to share a portion of the increased costs of care by raising your support by $3 a month to ensure that we can continue to provide quality, holistic care for our babies, children and mothers. We never initiate such changes lightly and

appreciate your commitment and generosity. With your ongoing prayer and financial support, we are able to continue to move forward in the work that we do in Uganda. We cannot say thank you enough for your ongoing sponsorship support.

Inspire the hearts of children with our new, easy-to-use, multi-media Watoto childrens curriculum called We Can Change A Story! Children in grades K-5 will love exploring the country of Uganda through video, animal sounds and coloring sheets. Most importantly, theyll learn about Gods heart for the orphan. Theyll also learn about

how God can use them to help change the outcome of an orphaned childs story.

Children will have the opportunity to color and assemble their very own piggy banks and collect coins or dollars for Watoto. Piggy bank kits are provided free-of-cost. At the end of the fundraiser Watoto will send your class a set of stickers for a

job well done!An excellent tool for vacation

Bible school, childrens ministry departments and schools! To download the curriculum and order your kit visit www.watotoandyou.com/getinvolved

An excellent tool for vacation Bible school, childrens ministry departments and schools!

We Can Change A StoryCHILDRENS CURRICULUM AND PIGGY BANK FUNDRAISER

At the age of nine, Rhodes Jackson learned about Watoto and the Gulu Childrens Village from his aunt and uncle who had just returned from a mission trip to Watoto.

Rhodes was particularly struck by the fact that his aunt and uncle had mentioned that the medical clinic was lacking clinic beds and that some patients had to be examined sitting up in chairs. Rhodes was also blown away by the photo of the library that had very few books, said his mom Melanie.

Being the determined and tender-hearted little boy that Rhodes is, he decided he wouldnt let small things like age or money get in the way of meeting those needs! He decided he would raise the money to purchase books and beds through the Books and Beds fundraiser!

With the help of his parents, Rhodes reached out to a number of people in different ways.

In just six weeks, Rhodes had surpassed his fundraising goal and so was able to channel the rest of the funds towards purchasing Truvada, an important drug for children with Hepatitis B.

We truly believe his little heart was called to raise funds for this very project at this very time, said Melanie.

Watoto is so thankful for Rhodes and his loving heart. We pray other children will be inspired by Rhodes to know that God can also use them to make a difference.

Bedtime Prayers for Watoto

Third Grader Hears Gods Call to Help

My children attend Lamb of

God school but unfortunately

last year we missed the Watoto

Childrens Choir. After that show,

my daughters teacher played the

music in her class and everyday

my 4-year-old daughter, Ava,

would come from school singing

Beautiful Africa. She kept asking

me to get the music but since

I had no idea of what she was

talking about, I asked her teacher

who told me about Watoto:

Beautiful Africa. This prompted

me to download the album off

iTunes.

Every night before Ava went to

bed after she said her prayers,she

would say, mommy, please take

me to Africa to see Watoto.

After weeks of Ava asking me to

take her to Africa to see Watoto

and with the music and the

story behind it drawing me in,

I searched the Watoto website

for when they would be close

to Houston again and found the

closest was Austin. I told Ava we

would be going to Austin to see

Watoto. Then her nightly request

became mommy, please take me

to Austin to see Watoto.

Though I was stressed about

having to drive the 174 miles to

and from Austin with the girls,

I didnt care because this was

important to the three of us.

As the choir performed Ava

jumped up in the isle and started

dancing in sync with the Watoto

choir. She had watched several

of the videos on YouTube and

had learned the Watoto childrens

choir dance routines. I purchased

quite a few items after the show

in support but my goal is to do

more. I read the childrens book

at night to my daughters Ava and

Ayanna at bedtime. Avas night

time prayers have consisted of a

prayer for the children of Watoto

every night since we left the

show.

Watoto, Im glad my girls look

up to you; youre the true heroes.

Lystra McCoy

Bed Time Prayers for Watoto

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