Shilla Wamala is the biological mother of five children, but she is also a spiritual mother to 300 orphans. She and her husband fulfill the command in Isaiah:
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)
They have devoted their lives to helping those who are fatherless and motherless in Uganda. You see, Uganda has been devastated by the terrible HIV epidemic. As a result, many children are born only to see their parents succumb to this disease. Often, a mother or father is left widowed, leaving a single parent to raise children alone. Shilla and Emmanuel frequently take in children who have been surrendered by a single parent unable to provide for or care for them.
I try to imagine what it must feel like to take your child to an orphanage and leave them there. What thoughts must flood their minds? What grief must they experience? It’s hard for me to comprehend, yet it happens all too often in Uganda.
Shilla has expressed her desire to take in more children if she could, as there are many orphans left to fend for themselves on the streets.
They started Everlasting Hope Orphanage with the belief that, in their words, “We help because we ourselves were helped.”
The needs are immense. A child is often unwell, food supplies run low, storms damage the buildings, cars break down, and the government constantly seeks some form of extortion. It seems they are always running from one crisis to another, facing a multitude of needs. Yet, God continues to support them. They call upon the Lord daily for their provisions. Shilla has been sick multiple times in 2024 with mosquito-borne illnesses, yet she smiles and perseveres. She prays and keeps asking for help.
IWM aims to alleviate some of this burden. Our focus this week is on the incredible work they do with so little. In their hands, the little they have becomes much. I pray that you will consider making a monthly donation to support the orphans. Your contributions can help provide education, clothing, and food to those in need. I have been praying that 20 donors would step forward and commit to donating $20 a month to support Everlasting Hope Orphanage.
While there are many needs, we strive to do what we can. Thank you for your support.
