Journey to Otino-Waa

The Sunday before we left for Uganda we had the privilege of meeting Bob and Carol Higgins. 

 They are just amazing, but regular type folks that are from Central Oregon, and have done amazing work in Ug@nda.

  Their ministry is pathministries.net and we were so blessed to get to go and see, first hand, their work in Ug@nda. 

 I'm amazed at how the Lord can use people to do amazing things if they are just willing to say yes to Him.

                          

If you click on the above video...you can watch part of a documentary done on Bob and Carol Higgins and Path Ministries.

We met Bob and Carol,  just 3 days before our departure to Ug@nda, at a small church gathering right here in Powell Butte. 

As we visited, they invited us to go and see Otino-Waa, even though they were going to remain here in the states for a few more weeks on a much deserved and needed break. They told us they would make arrangements for us if we wanted to go check it out.

   Once we got to Ug@nda and we mentioned going to see Otino-Waa to Kathy from Redeemer House, she was so excited and said she has always wanted to go there.

On that note, we decided to go.  

  We loaded up, and took a 9 hour drive up North.

  It was WELL worth every second of the drive. 

There were many divine appointments and conversations that took place during the journey.

  We were blown away and blessed to the bones by what 

Otino-Waa and Path Ministries

is all about. 

 I can hardly put into words how amazed I am by what the Lord has done through these down home  folks.  

Kathy was beside herself with joy and excitement.

 Seeing the orphanage and school and clinic in full operation gave her a vision of what is on her heart for Redeemer House.  

 Besides, we made good use of the 9 hour (one way) drive, we got to see some monkeys, some beautiful country, and I got to let Simon (my Ugandan teenage son) know all the reasons he needs to stay away from girls and continue to get a good education.  :)  

  As the Lord would orchestrate it, the guy that helped do a lot of the building at Otino-Waa, his name is Joey, just so "happened" to be there leading a short term mission team and he was the one that  showed us around.

 He had moved his family there for 3 years during the beginning building process, so he knew that place inside and out and knew the staff and the children and he could answer all our questions.

 Charlie was THRILLED to get to ask him all sorts of *building in Africa* questions.

  He was a great guy, a builder, and loved Africa and orphans. 

He is a total  Jesus lover. 

Sounds a lot like my man!!

Joey and Charlie talking building.

The details of all they have done at Otino-Waa are fabulous. 

 They have homes for children, 8 orphans to a house, and a widow that is the house Mama. 

 I believe they have over 200 orphans being taken care of right now, they are all getting an education, and any needed medical attention and most importantly they are learning and expriencing the love of God. 

 It feels a lot  like a big fun family, there was nothing "institutional" about it at all, and yet it was very orderly and clean and well ran, with happy children everywhere.

It honestly doesn't get any better than that!!!

There is a school and a clinic right there on the property.  They raise a lot of their own food, and they teach the children all kinds of Vocational trades.

  

 It is just astounding all they have done there in a 10 year span.  If you want to help a child and you want your money to go as far as possible....sponsor a child from Otino-Waa.

  It is an AWESOME investment into precious lives.  

Charsie and Charlie snuck into Carol's office and left her a note.  I took a picture for evidence against them.
  I got your back Carol.  hehe

On the way home is when we got to pick up our friend Mollee Robinson.  So, our journey was a blessing in so many ways, and the long drive "home" went quite fast because we had a year of catch up to do with Mollee, and we had to digest all we had seen and learned about at Otino-Waa, we got to see baboons, and I had to remind Simon of all the reasons to stay away from girls.  :)

Baboons.  Look how close they are.  

Here's our Mollee!!!