'Concert of Hope' is a celebration of God's love

Intermountain Catholic

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The Watoto Children's Choir share their love for God in their songs. They each lost one or both of their parents to AIDS, and each tells a story of being lonely, hungry, scared, and desperate before being rescued by Watoto Child Care Ministries.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Watoto Children’s Choir from the East African nation of Uganda tugged at the heartstrings of students and their parents at Kearns-St. Ann School Jan. 24, as they sang and danced with high energy, enthusiasm, and big smiles.

The Watoto children share the love of God in their songs and the tragic stories of their lives. They range in age from 6 to 12. When they grow up they want to be teachers, nurses, doctors, a lawyer, a pastor, and a footballer.

In 1983, Canadian missionaries Gary and Marilyn Skinner established Watoto Child Care Ministries, an orphanage in Kampala, Uganda, in response to the AIDS crisis. Uganda has endured the scourge of civil war and the deadly AIDS pandemic. Approximately 1.7 million children in Uganda have been orphaned by these calamities. Gary, a pastor, also established a Pentecostal, English speaking church in Kampala.

Since 1994, Watoto Children’s Choirs have toured internationally as ambassadors for the orphanage. There are now four choirs traveling internationally. They consist of 18 boys and girls who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Watoto is currently caring for 1,377 orphans.

"We are so grateful for the choir and the adult leaders, who travel with them, for enriching our lives," said Kathleen Hood, principal of Kearns-St. Ann School. "It is very fitting that the concert was held at Kearns-St. Ann School, which began as an orphanage in 1899 and remained until 1954, when it became a school.

Members of the Diocese of Salt Lake City also saw the Watoto Children’s Choir perform at New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Salt Lake City Jan. 25. Pastor Corey Hodges said he spent the day with the children and they changed his life through the love they show and the testimony their lives exhibit.

Watoto team leaders Chris and Jennifer Banas moved to Uganda in April 2005, from Edmonton Alberta, Canada, after seeing the Watoto Children’s Choir perform. They knew from that moment they wanted to be a part of the Watoto Child Care Ministries. Chris was a pastor at a Pentecostal Church just outside Edmonton for nine years. He and Jennifer always had a desire to do mission work. They worked with the Watoto ministry in Kampala for six months, and will be traveling for six months to raise awareness. They have two children of their own, who travel with them and a nanny.

"We believe our commitment to Watoto is for life because what is happening there needs our attention for as long as we can possibly help, although our role may change," said Jennifer. "Once Africa is in your heart, it is very hard to get it out."

Jennifer is the choir director, and Chris serves as pastor. They both teach the children math and English. The curriculum they use is from the school in Kampala, and they are expected to meet a criteria before the tour ends. Touring is considered part of their schooling, because it offers the students an opportunity they may never have again.

"It is amazing to see how the world wants to help," said Chris.

There are six other adult leaders who travel with the choir. Each adult is responsible for three children. While traveling, the children stay with host families. Kearns-St. Ann Advancement Director Kristin Freeman hosted three girls.

"It was an incredible experience," said Freeman. "We became instant friends, and felt like they were part of our family. It taught my two boys, Brandon, 6, and Dustin, 9, stewardship. They will never forget this experience, and cannot wait until we can travel to Uganda to see the children again. Brandon has already established his own Watoto fund.

Watoto Child Care Ministries places orphaned children with families and builds homes, medical clinics, and provides food, clothing, and an education through sponsorships and donations.

For more information about sponsoring a child, visit www.watoto.com.