WWW.WATOTO.COM | NOVEMBER 2014 | ISSUE NO.3

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,

underscored with the sounds

and rhythms of Africa, 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 and they

have been rescued and now live

in a Watoto village.

In addition to this new

production, we are still touring

the country with Beautiful

Africa: A New Generation in

select cities throughout the U.S.

Be sure to check out our online

calendar for dates and locations.

Book the choir at your church

now. Email us at

usa@watoto.com.

Newsletter_OCT'14_US.indd 1 11/3/14 9:28 AM

A FUTURE SO BRIGHT

SLEEP OVER WITH A BIG IMPACT

SPONSORS RAISING 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.

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.

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

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.

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.”

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.

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 1-866-492-8686.

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

In September, a courageous group of members from Elevate Life Church in Frisco, Texas set out on the mission of a lifetime. Forty-two 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

THOUSANDS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE IN NORTHERN UGANDA

SPECIAL MOVE

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.

HOST A WATOTO MARKET THIS CHRISTMAS

Annika and her mom, Doreen, with two Watoto girls; Irene & Faith

Watoto gradutes from left to right are Irene Atim, Francis Denis Mugisha, Tom Kasaiija, Francis Mubiru, Lawrence Kyebanja, and Rebecca Kirabo.

Newsletter_OCT'14_US.indd 2-3 11/3/14 9:28 AM

A FUTURE SO BRIGHT

SLEEP OVER WITH A BIG IMPACT

SPONSORS RAISING 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.

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.

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

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.

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.”

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.

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 1-866-492-8686.

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

In September, a courageous group of members from Elevate Life Church in Frisco, Texas set out on the mission of a lifetime. Forty-two 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

THOUSANDS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE IN NORTHERN UGANDA

SPECIAL MOVE

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.

HOST A WATOTO MARKET THIS CHRISTMAS

Annika and her mom, Doreen, with two Watoto girls; Irene & Faith

Watoto gradutes from left to right are Irene Atim, Francis Denis Mugisha, Tom Kasaiija, Francis Mubiru, Lawrence Kyebanja, and Rebecca Kirabo.

Newsletter_OCT'14_US.indd 2-3 11/3/14 9:28 AM

WATOTO USAPO BOX 1320LUTZ, FLORIDA33548-1320

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.

Newsletter_OCT'14_US.indd 4 11/3/14 9:28 AM