Close on 400 children and adults packed Queanbeyan Uniting Church on Tuesday 29th July to hear the Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda. Eighteen primary aged children and ten leaders in their later teens and early 20s sang their hearts out and entertained us in song, dance, personal testimony and praise to God.

Watoto began when a Canadian Pastor – Gary Skinner and his wife Marilyn provided a home for babies. It has grown into a home for children of Uganda orphaned to HIV/AIDS or war. Over 1700 children are cared for now with plans to increase this to 10,000 and to use it as a model for the whole of Africa. It is by the powerful love of God in Christ that they give hope to an orphaned generation and raise leaders to rebuild a nation.

This was the Choir’s third visit to Queanbeyan – arranged by the Anglican Church and held in the Uniting Church as a sign of our working together [and they have a larger building!]. Each year excitement grows.

Now we have dreams to send a team of young people to Uganda to help build homes and schools.

For more information about the Watoto Children’s Choir go to www.watoto.com