"Open on a Day Your Heart Breaks"

Otino Waa is not just an orphanage, it's its own community filled with real individuals living real lives and facing real issues. Throughout my time at Otino Waa, I've witnessed the holistic method by which this community operates. These children, like everyone else, have needs that reach beyond just the physical realm and into the social, emotional and spiritual. It's been fascinating to see the intricate details that are required to make a place like Otino Waa work.

Towards the beginning of our time, Bob took us around the grounds and gave explanations for why and how they did the things they do -everything from water, to power, to sanitation, nutrition, and the list goes on. The efficiency and strategy behind the planning of this place is remarkable.

Getting to know the children and the mothers has been a privilege and a stretching experience. Sometimes I forget that these kids are orphans and that they've suffered a great deal in their short lives. They're so happy and energetic that it's easy to think that their lives have always been this way. But in some cases as I've looked closer, I've found the ones who are still healing from the wounds of their past. The process of moving forward is different for each one and they are in different stages of this journey. Some of the younger kids who just arrived a few months ago seem well adjusted and happy, while others who have been here for years still hold back and smile sparingly.
 Mingled throughout the joyful days of laughter, bright eyes and smiles, I began to realize the suffering and pain behind each one of these beautiful faces. Staring into the crying eyes of a girl who spoke of how her healing would come through the forgiveness of the people and circumstances surrounding her parent's death, listening to the silences of a widow's story, holding the tiny hand of a 5 year old who lost her parents that year...my heart began to slowly, steadily break for these people. Bob told us that there were over 500 children on the waiting list to enter Otino Waa, children whose lives are hard, who work all day, who don't go to school, who don't have anyone who loves them. He also revealed that children on that list have died...still waiting.

But they - and I - are not without hope. In so many ways, Otino Waa is a picture of what has gone right. I see the ambition and courage that is being instilled in these children. They have begun to dream of what the future may hold for them. And they are so grateful! They speak often of how thankful they are that God has brought them to Otino Waa and how they know that He has a plan and a purpose for their lives. They also talk about their sponsors and how much they love them. I asked some of them where they would be if they had not come to Otino Waa, a number of them said they would be dead. They understand so well the blessing that Otino Waa and their sponsors has been in their lives.

My team and I are learning new things each day about ourselves, God and about the people that He loves so much. God has kept us safe throughout this journey, He has given us safe travel and good connections throughout our flights, He guided us peacefully through Kampala in the midst of unrest, He has kept us energized and has blessed us so richly through our hosts, Bob and Carol and through the staff, widows and children of Otino Waa.

We are so thankful to be here and thankful for the prayers and support of our friends and family back home.