Wells of Hope Ministries

Will my Father Return Home?

2011-07-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

Will my father return home?This is the question on Joan’s lips.Joan ‘s father was released from prison in January this year ,but he never returned home,he had spent 8 years in Prison ,his children always looked forward to the day he would come home,but alas this not happened yet .

Last Saturday Joan who is 10 years old asked Marjorie our outreach coordinator whether it was true that her father was released and whether he will return home, Joan told Marjorie that she loves her father and would want to meet him outside the prison walls and stay with him but she doesn’t know where he is.

For the last three years with the help of Wells of Hope she has been meeting him within the prison environs, it would be a great joy for Joan to meet her father this time outside the prison. Please pray for Joan so that she can meet her Dad.

Joan is a happy and friendly young girl . she has two sisters,Lillian and Maureen . She loves being at school and believes it is a big chance she has acquired.

Joan’s father was jailed for charges relating to acid burns he is alleged to have inflicted on his wife Aida. as days of Joan’s father’s release drew nearer ,Joan’s mom ,who has many scars on her body became more worried because she feared that the father of her children would return to kill her and when she got to know that he had been released she abandoned the children and went to southern Sudan to work as housemaid. The children are now under the guardianship of Aida’s sister.

This is now a dilemma for these children, Dad is no where to be found and their mother has also abandoned them.

We have other children like Joan whose fathers were released and never returned home, yet they are believed to be alive. Such children include Nagujja Mary, Nalugo Jackie.

On the 21^st and 22^nd July 2011 we will be taking the children to visit their parents in prison, however,for Children like Joan, they have to be helped to handle the disappearance of their parents.

In the picture attached, Joan (Extreme right in green uniform)is seated with her father in prison, this was last year when children visited their parents in prison.

Francis Ssuubi

2011-06-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

Young Workers - Watoto North visted childtren of prisoners at Wells of Hope Academy on the 25gth June 2011 Saturday.They played,prayed for them children.They counselled them and donated some foodstauffs and an assortment of clothes

Sports Competition

2011-06-22T02:32:00.000-07:00

Children of Prisoners at Wells of Hope Academy are competing with a neighboring school.The games include football and netball

A test of forgiveness

2011-03-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last week will be one for me and the ministry to reckon, we had a marathon of outreaches in prison. Children of prisoners visited their parents in four different Prisons. Working with VFI we took the gospel to Kasangati and in Kigo Prison we worked with Watoto 360.Everything was real magnificent.

On Thursday, while visiting the prison, I saw Godwin Tumusiime, one of the suspects who reportedly confessed to killing Khan Kakama a 16-month old baby, and dumped the dead body in a swamp. The media was awash with the gruesome murder of Khan for over two months from 8th June 2010 when the baby disappeared.And the story goes that Godwin connived with Molly Nabassa a housemaid who handed Godwin the baby. And Godwin connived with one Brian Ssajjabi to abduct the baby. Godwin had earlier demanded a 30 million ransom for the child which was paid to him and had promised to direct Khan’s parents where the boy was, but this was not done ,together with his accomplice he went ahead to suffocate Khan to death .

When I saw Godwin Tumusiime among the inmates we were going to preach to, I was filled with rage, actually at that instant I wanted to go and confront him (I don’t know what I would do to him),but I remembered immediately that I was within a prison environ and besides I was there as a prison minister who has to reach out to inmates with love and not think of the crimes they committed.

We find ourselves at crossroads everyday as we reach out to prisoners, while inside the prison we are fueled by the love of God to reach out to the prisoners without considering their crimes( we teach the volunteers never to ask the inmates the crimes they committed), Outside the prison walls people are asking us why we reach out to criminals, actually others have said that we are rewarding crime by helping children of prisoners.

But the question here will always be “ What would Jesus do? “ Our answer just like for all prison ministers is embedded in Matthew 25:36,where Jesus says ,:…. I was in prison and you came to visit me.' As you may see,its not the prisoners we are reaching out to, but Jesus Christ the master . I think Jesus understood that all of us whether in prison or not are not worth, so He places Himself in our situation to shield us.Jesus lovingly presents Himself and pleads on our behalf. Again God through Jesus understands the pain of the suffering people for instance the sick, hungry ,poor and prisoners, he places Himself in their position, that is why Mathew 25:31-46 can be regarded a pivot for the future of the Human race. In these scriptures the reality of judgment is brought home where a distinction is made between the Sheep and the Goats.

As the service in the prison went on, I convinced myself that I had forgiven Godwin , and so I was able to re-compose myself because I was the main preacher, the other volunteers from Watoto 360 encouraged the inmates through testimonies and scriptures and words of exaltation. I can witness that the inmates were really touched and blessed.

When the service ended, as it happens normally at the end of the service prisoners come forth to shake hands, I realized Godwin was also stretching forward to meet us and shake hands ,I began struggling inside me, one voice inside me said that if i did that it would be as if I am appreciating what he did and at that point I had already started moving towards the gate out while telling the other volunteers to start moving away, but a still voice came to me and said,’ forgive, when I was in prison you visited me’, so I immediately turned back and at that time he had already finished greeting the other volunteers ,so I gave Godwin a smile, shook his hand .He thanked me for the message and for visiting them and I answered ,”you are welcome, God bless you”, immediately I regained my peace.” This was a test of forgiveness .

Francis Ssuubi

Christmas Party for Children of Prisoners

2010-12-19T10:08:00.001-08:00

We held a party for the children of prisoners, it was a lot of fun for the children ,they were treated to ot of entertainment , a sumptuous meal and each child got a Christmas gift from. Click here for photos

Wells of Hope Christmas time Special Update

2009-12-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

On the 25th December 2009(Christmas day) we reached out to Beatrice who is grandmother and caretaker of two boys Andrew and Edmund, their father is in Prison and living with HIV/AIDS, Edmund is also living with HIV. Their mother past away.
On this day we failed to reach their house, because their house was flooded, instead we sent a message that they find us across the waters. They had to wade through the heavy pool of waters almost falling in; the deepest end was covering above the knees.
This did not hinder them from being happy; we had taken them Christmas gifts and money for upkeep and medical care a donation from one of our friends-Dana Scott.Beatrice has been sick for the last two weeks, yet she has to look after these little boys.
The father of these little boys is in Prison and living with HIV/AIDS. Edmund is also living with HIV/AIDS. I am happy that the Lord continues to use us. Follow this link to see the photos http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32271&id=1612269332&l=3a7ce87c09

On the 24th December 2009, we visited Jinja Main prison and we were able to have prayers with inmates on death row 9 of them being women. We donated 150KGS soya posho to the HIV/AIDS sick inmates among other gifts. We visited with a team from Watoto 360 lead by Jesse Ntaborwa and Linda Duncalfe, they provided the transport and also were a great encouragement to the Prisoners especially on this day. One of the Prisoners said that the relatives had abandoned them and on such a day we had made a big sacrifice and showed them love and that they were touched by this visit.

On the 23rd December 2009, we hosted 17 children of prisoners to a Christmas party, we had almost given up but God provided for these little ones. One of my friends Ronald Kaweesa I studied with at King’s College Budo together with his wife Esther and sister in law Patricia donated the gifts. They attended in person together with their own children and blessed the children whose parents are in prison. We also gave three care takers cash gifts to buy food at Christmas time. The children's choir presented special songs with the help of Rachel one of our volunteers. Follow this link to see the photos
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32270&id=1612269332&l=d34d41d631

Meanwhile, on the same day 23rd December 27, 2009, we signed an agreement and paid rent for six months for premises where we are going to conduct the school, however, we still need friends to stand with us as we establish the first school for Children of prisoners on this land possibly even the first on the African continent .One of our friends Joan will be donating 20 basins for the children. Our website has details of the school needs.

The Annual Christmas Party for Children of Prisoners

2009-12-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

we had cancelled the Annual Christmas Party for Children of Prisoners because we did not have money .!

I did not know God was working behind the scenes ,so on Thursday, I get a call from Ronald Kaweesa a former classmate, saying that together with his wife they want to give Christmas gifts to the children under our care, so on Wednesday 23rd December 2009, we will have 16 children come together with their caretakers, yesterday Ronnie even agreed to buy the sodas too,we will have to look for funds to transport them from their grandmothers homes.we have a total of 100 children, but at least we will reach out to 16 of them.

Wells of Hope to start a school for Children of Prisoners

2009-12-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Wells of Hope hopes start a primary school for Children of Prisoners in 2010,pray for its success

Joint Prayers

2009-07-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

We had successful Joint prayers together with other volunteers in USA . Our time here was 10pm.We will have same type of prayers after two months.
We know God answers.