Offering Hope to the Orphans of Uganda

Click here for the introductory video about Welcome Home

There are 2.3 million orphans living in Uganda and it is estimated that there will be eight to ten million orphans within the next ten years. Many of these precious children are orphaned because of HIV/AIDS or the civil wars that have erupted in nearby countries. Many of them are struggling to survive with HIV/AIDS, malnourishment, Tuberculosis, Malaria and many other preventable, yet potentially fatal, diseases. They have no where to go and often have to fight to survive on their own by the time they are two years old.

For a very long time these children have gone unwanted, uncared for, and unloved. They have faced things in this life that no child should ever have to be a part of. They are often hurting both physically and emotionally, and all that they want is a place to call home and someone who will love them unconditionally.

Some of the children in Jinja, Uganda.

There has always been a special place in my heart for the children of Africa… and I now proud to announce that I have the opportunity to work with the first a largest baby orphanage in Uganda. I would like to tell you a little bit about this orphanage Welcome Home.

“Welcome Home Ministries, Africa (WHMA) is the first and largest orphanage in Jinja for children from birth to 6 years.
It was founded by the late Jackie Hodgkins in 1995 as a home for dying and destitute babies. Babies born prematurely, or with Malaria, AIDS, Tuberculosis, Measles, Starvation, and other potentially fatal diseases would find God’s love through the staff of WHMA. Although they were able to save most babies, some passed on to a better life, knowing that they were very much loved and wanted.

Because of positive health advances in the nation, Uganda has fewer babies dying from physical starvation and neglect, yet there are still many heartbreaking cases. There are still many orphans whose mothers die in childbirth from AIDS or some other complications, other babies are simply abandoned, often at the dump (some have even been rescued from pit latrines). Some toddlers brought to us survived by scavenging at the dump for food. Still others were born in prison and have only known prison life until they come to us. They all arrive at our door in need and WHMA is dedicated to meet their need regardless of family history, handicaps or disease. Children, who would otherwise be rejected and discarded, now have a chance at life. We are a team of 47 staff presently meeting the needs of up to 60 babies. Our ratio of 1 “Mom” to 3 children ensures that each child gets the love and attention they need and deserve. But often 1 mom is needed for each preemie baby.” – Taken directly from the Welcome Home Africa web site.

God has blessed this orphanage and its ministry for many years. And I am so proud to say that I am going to partake in this wonderful ministry in the form of a one year (or even possibly longer) internship. With this internship comes a widespread opportunity for me to grow in my own missions experience.

I have the chance to care for these precious children, teach English, work within the African court systems with adoptions, boat up the Nile to visit villages and host VBS and to reach out to many of the adults within those villages as well. I will also be inspecting the homes and families into which our kids will be adopted into, guide teams who come to visit the orphanage and so much more. I will be living about half a mile away from the orphanage in my own quarters, so I will be either walking or riding a bike to get there.

I plan to leave for Uganda in January 2009. I will travel to California for a few days to meet the director Mandy Sydo and to get some training. I cannot express how excited I am to be a part of Welcome Home Ministries! And I know that this will be a challenge but I believe that I will come away from this internship being forever changed.

I invite you to partake in the mission, reaching out to the orphans of Uganda with the love of Jesus Christ!