Irene's Story
Background
I am Irene Nawaguma, a teacher and a Christian by the grace of God. I was born and raised in Uganda and come from a large polygamous family, a common practice throughout Africa.
I grew up in the homes of different relatives. In Africa it's an acceptable practice for children to grow up in the homes of relatives. At the home of my widowed grandmother, where I lived as a child, there were over 20 children from different relatives! We thank God none of us died. Isn't God awesome in protection and provision?
When growing up, life was full of brutal experiences, characterized by poverty and diseases. Despite being members of local churches, there were many answers to our experiences we didn’t have. Amidst such difficulties, my mother sought help from traditional witches.
One day, when she was going to the witch's shrine, she totally lost her way despite the fact that she knew that place very well. She felt convinced God was showing her that going to the shrine would not solve her problems, so she resolved to get born again.
Coming back home, she shared this experience with us, and so I also decided to seek refuge in Christ, the Rock of Ages. This was a time when I was attending University. Since then, He has not disappointed me and neither did He disappoint my late, loving mother. Christ changed our lives process by process. It is amazing what Christ can do.
Education
From a humble family, God preserved me through a rough childhood where it was necessary to find ways to generate money even as a child to attend school. Because my mother was not able to raise enough cash to pay for our school fees, I used to take raw beans, potatoes and cassava (a starchy root of a tree grown in tropical climates) to the school in place of school fees.
The sweet potatoes and cassava were not accepted with peels, so we had to peel enough for the whole school. Then we would transport it to school on our ramshackle bicycle. Our bicycle was in poor mechanical condition and would often turn over with the heavy loads from the garden to the house and from the house to the school.
Becoming a Teacher
My becoming a teacher was coincidental. Teaching was never my dream career but education was the most affordable course.
Nevertheless, to God be the glory for this course: because, as a Christian teacher I've led some of my students to Christ. I have also been able to meet and encourage many young Christians over the years—encouraging them to walk mindfully on their Christian journey.
Peter’s Heart
The opportunity to serve in Peter's Heart has been a great blessing since 2018 when I started as a volunteer. In PH, I serve in different areas. Some of my responsibilities have included administering academic progress assessments for our scholarship children and offering career guidance. Throughout the COVID19 Lockdown, I have been homeschooling the children. I also teach them vocational skills.
Many children who I have taught previously came from stable and supportive families who could take care of their children's moral and physical needs. In contrast, the children at PH have gone through trauma and many have experienced a loss of hope. These children wouldn't have access to food, safe shelter, education, and medical care if not for the intervention of this organization. I've witnessed how love and care is bringing meaning to the lives of these boys and girls. They are being transformed and are being given hope for a brighter future.
As their teacher, I am hopeful that they will become self-reliant responsible citizens who will cause change in their families, their communities, Uganda and beyond!
Thank you caring friends in the USA. Thank you for accepting to serve the Lord through Peter's Heart. We pray that you are blessed abundantly by our God.
"Mwebale nnyo" (Thank you very much).