The Need

There are over 260 kids who call Otino Waa home. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a number of them. I asked them what life at Otino Waa was like, what subjects they enjoyed the most and what their dreams for the future were. But the question that I was most intrigued to know the answer to was this, "Where would you be if you hadn't been able to come to Otino Waa?"

What a difficult question.

Until I heard their answers, I don't think I really understood how important Otino Waa is. Their responses ranged from silent reflection to descriptions of the difficulties orphans face - being mistreated by relatives, no food, no education, rejected, alone, hopeless, unwanted. Some of the children looked me straight in the eye and explained that if they had not come to Otino Waa, they would be dead.

Can you imagine a 10 year old grasping the reality that they would not be alive without the intervention of Otino Waa and the people who sponsor the children?

The photo above is about 250 of the 260 children currently at Otino Waa. Bob and Carol explained that children are placed on a waiting list to get into Otino Waa. Dickens, the pastor of Ilera Community Church who works at Otino Waa researches the history of each child on the list, ensuring that they are indeed orphans and discerns which children are in the greatest need. The hard truth is that many children have died while on the list - still waiting for someone to help them. There are over 500 children on the list right now.

Look at that photo, now double it. That's the need in Lira. There are over 3 million orphans in Uganda.

Overwhelmed? Yeah, me too.

But, it is remarkable to know that hundreds of lives have already been saved. I wonder what could be done if everyone did the part that they were called to? How many lives would be changed.

Lately, I've found myself asking the question, "What does taking up my cross and following Christ look like in the context of MY life?" The answer is different for everyone, we all have different callings, passions, opportunities and responsibilities. What does stewardship of the gifts, connections, education, and opportunities look like for me personally and practically? I don't have many answers, truly I am collecting questions, but I think the key is obedience. God does not call us to fix the whole world...he calls us to love our neighbor, to love right where we are, to love the people he puts in our path.One step at a time.

So, what does that look like in the context of your life?