In church on Sunday, our congregation was blessed with the guest appearance of the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda. Their stories and their love of the Lord captured my heart. Last night, my husband and I were privileged to eat dinner and spend some time with two of these children and their chaperone who were staying with some friends of ours.
Uganda is a nation that is so poverty stricken we cannot even begin to imagine the condition. The country has been ravaged by war and the AIDs epidemic. With a population of 32 million people, half of whom are under the age of 15, the hope of the nation lies in its youth.
The Watoto ministry rescues babies and children off the streets and places them in a home in one of their three villages. Each home will house a mother and up to eight children. The members of the household function as a family. The children are fed, clothed and educated. Each child has medical insurance. I asked how long the children are allowed to stay in the homes, and it was explained to me that those homes are their families. They can stay until they are self-sufficient. A family does not kick a member out when they reach a certain age.
The fruit of the ministry is already evident. Some of the chaperones of the tour are former children of the ministry. They have graduated from university level and are working. Another graduate is a member of parliament in Uganda.
What struck me the most in our conversation was the things we each noted about the others' circumstances and environment. Michael, the 33 year-old chaperone of the two boys expressed that this trip was fulfilling a lifelong desire to see America. He says that it is evident that the Lord has greatly blessed this nation. Michael is a member of the church that sponsors the Watoto Villages. He has a degree in journalism and human resources. He shared with us that he has never made more than $75 in a single month in his entire life. He described the huts that many people in Uganda live in. It was quite a contrast to the home where we were sitting and enjoying his company.
Michael commented on our roads and infrastructure. The children are fascinated by our highway interchanges. Many of their homes have no running water or electricity. Contrast that to the fact that the majority of those living in "poverty" in our nation have color televisions and mobile phones.
I cautioned him not to be deceived by our wealth. Our materialism masks our spiritual poverty. I explained that we were living in a country where the ornate facade on the exterior hides the emptiness that lives inside. We are a nation in decay due to our turning away from God.
Uganda and the United States have little in common, except for the fact that the hope of both nations is in the Lord.
If you are interested in learning more about the Watoto children's ministry, you can check out their website at http://www.watoto.com/ .
And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. Matthew 10:42
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