Somehow, I found myself in a nearby church. All I remember is kneeling down and crying unto God. I doubt I knew Him then, but my heart was craving for relief. I needed a savior, and am glad Jesus Christ found me.
One day I decided to tell my father about my going to church, and I received a full dose of his fierce anger. He later denounced me and he and my stepmother chased me from our home.
I went to my aunt who sent me back to my grandmother’s place. I couldn’t stay with my mother because she had gotten married to another man.
After passing my primary school national exams with high scores I called my father for tuition fees for secondary school, but he refused and reminded me that I was no longer his child. My uncles nor my aging grandmother could help. I remember vividly the pain as I write this. I sobbed bitterly. Why was I born? I asked myself several times. I didn’t know the joy and love of having a father or mother. I worked hard in all sorts of work like cultivating rice, making bricks, burning charcoal but I couldn’t gather enough money to go to school.
I met Henry and Duchu who became my brothers and we kept encouraging each other in Christ. They could help me with books, pens, clothes and food sometimes since they were already being sponsored by HUM. I was chased several times from school for my lack of tuition fees to the extent that I almost missed my secondary 4 final examinations. Teachers contributed money for me. God helped me and I excelled highly.
As people were celebrating and looking for schools to take their children for advanced level secondary education, I was in the dilemma of having good results and no fees. Mum Katherine Hines sent for me to meet her. I was initially scared because I didn’t know why she would meet someone like me. Maybe she had work for me? Mum is a spirit filled lady and I love her. She asked which school I was attending, who were my parents and where was living? I had no answer because I was tired of life. I remember I had just lost one of my friends, Amos (RIP), to sickle cell disease. Unlike me, Amos was from a wealthier family and I kept asking why would God take him and leave me. Mum offered to pay my tuition fees, bought scholastic materials and a uniform. It was my first time to put on a new school uniform and life started to change. I thank God and I continue to pray for Mum and my sponsors who accepted to bless me. I love you and I hope one day we shall meet. I am grateful to Pastor and his wife, mummy Judith, Aunt Christine and the entire staff of HUM. God bless you.
Benjamin did so well in advanced level secondary school (grades 5 & 6) that the Ugandan government offered him a scholarship to medical school. Along with Henry, he attended Bible school in Malawi in between secondary school and university. Benjamin has been a real Christian leader at Mengo Hospital and amongst his Christian peers. We are so proud of him and blessed to see God’s work in his life.
