Category Mission Moroto Stories

Mission Moroto Stories – Just Another Day In The Life Of Rebekah Bullen🙃

At 7:30 a.m., one of Rebekah’s pastor team members is waiting at the door for a motorcycle key to carry our pastor team up to one of our remote village churches for a marriage conference and the grand opening of the new church building. Then Rebekah heads to town to get internet so she can send documents to the Minister of Education for our new school licensing process. On the way, she must drop off a staff member and two sick children at the hospital.

It had rained the night before, and they encounter a mining semi-truck stuck in the mud, so Rebekah guns her Land Cruiser and turns off-road, sliding and bouncing through deep mud and throwing mud all over the vehicle. She stops at two stores for baby supplies. After dropping the children at the hospital, she stops at Mount Moroto Hotel to get Wi-Fi so she can send her documents.

Suddenly, she smells a terrible stench in the vehicle, so she opens the glovebox to find a very large rat with a nest full of baby rats! She screams, slams the glovebox shut, then rips the glovebox out of the dashboard, carries it to the parking lot trash can, and promptly dumps the squealing contents into the trash. 🤣

She does her computer work and realizes she is feeling very ill and needs to go to the clinic to get tested. But first, she needs to buy 20 sacks of maize flour from three different locations, pick up the kids from the hospital, and drop our friends from the Netherlands off at Mission Moroto.

She then picks up another staff member and heads to the clinic, where she finds out she has malaria and typhoid. As the doctor is trying to put an IV port in her hand, she is typing important, time-sensitive information into her phone for the Minister of Education.

Then Rebekah and her staff member head to Moroto Prison for an appointment with the warden to receive six preschool children whose parents are incarcerated there. After waiting for an hour and a half, they explain that the prison’s paperwork is not yet complete, so she must return another day.

She arrives home just in time to have the staff count out the beans and cups of rice and flour for the next day’s meals. District government personnel come and inspect the new school, and all is in process!

She organized family worship, took her medicine, organized for a boy to have eye surgery on Friday, and is sending two staff members to Kampala for school licensing and to get one of our girls with a heart condition some new medicine.

Then she called Lisa and me to catch us up. ❤🙏

Monday, a family of 11 will arrive for a week-and-a-half visit at the mission, and the day after they leave, another team of three will arrive for a visit.

But all in all, it was just another day in the life of Rebekah Renee Bullen and Mission Moroto. 🤣 www.missionmoroto.org

We had recently planted a new church and Jesus & Porridge Program in Morukakero Village and because they sold really good fire wood, we were there to buy some for the mission. Suddenly a platoon of Ugandan soldiers stepped out of the forest in uniform carrying rocket launchers, grenade launchers, machine guns, and even bazookas. They had been patrolling the bush looking for raiders. Rebekah quickly stepped up and greeted the commanding officer and shook his hand. She told him about the church and that we were buying firewood. He said, “Yes, I know about all of your churches and I have to tell you that the villages where you have planted churches are now so peaceful that it’s making our work much easier. Also, there is another village down this road called Napedo and they need one of your churches too. Some of my soldiers are bivouacked near there and would love to be able to attend worship once in a while.” Rebekah said, “Yes Sir, Commander we will do that.”

Today, we have a thriving church in Napedo and a matriarch of the village, Josephine, has come to faith, been baptized, and has been coming to our Bible College every week for over a year, praise the Lord! Stay tuned for more Mission Moroto Stories!

She doesn’t know exactly how old she is, but Sagal assumes she’s around 65, which is considered very old due to the poor living conditions in the area. She resides in the village of Atedeoi, situated fifteen kilometers outside Moroto, where huts with thatched roofs are common and surrounded by a fence made of branches.
As a child, she grew up believing in ancestral spirits, as is customary in Karamojaland, where these spirits are thought to inhabit trees or reside near rivers. Men are traditionally responsible for worshipping these spirits at a shrine, usually located some distance outside the village. In the past, the deceased were not buried but rather tied to tree trunks, allowing wild animals to consume the body, with the bones eventually scattered over a large area, signifying that the soul remained in the tree.
In times of trouble, such as drought, men seek guidance from spiritual healers to appease the ancestral spirits, believed to be punishing the community. Advice may involve sacrificing a cow or goat in a designated manner and place. In the past, human sacrifices were not uncommon but are now illegal. Sagal recalls witnessing such practices.
The introduction of a Catholic church in the area intrigued Sagal, prompting her to attend out of curiosity. She found solace in the faith’s teachings, particularly its emphasis on regular worship and overarching spiritual strength. However, her parents, like many others of their generation, opposed her Christian faith, viewing it as a challenge to their authority and village traditions. Weekly church attendance clashed with their agricultural responsibilities and societal expectations, making it difficult for Sagal to openly practice her faith.
Despite her parents’ disapproval, Sagal maintained her connection to Christianity, occasionally attending church services clandestinely. Marriage and motherhood further constrained her ability to participate actively in religious activities, as women bore the bulk of domestic responsibilities. Meanwhile, her husband adhered to traditional practices, seeking guidance from spiritual healers during crises.
The arrival of the Pentecostal Church brought significant change to Sagal’s life. With services held in the village under a tree, faith became more accessible, leading to a deepening of her religious convictions. While some men resisted the church’s teachings, others recognized its tangible benefits, such as community support and aid for the disadvantaged.
Amidst societal shifts, Aleper observed a blending of old traditions with Christianity within her village. Despite initial resistance, more men and women embraced the Pentecostal faith, drawn by its perceived power and tangible benefits.
As the region grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, Sagal witnessed a resurgence of traditional rituals alongside church services, reflecting the community’s desperation for divine intervention. With the pandemic’s wane and improved living conditions, interest in church services surged again, reinforcing villagers’ gratitude and faith in God’s protection.
Motivated by a desire for spiritual closeness, Sagal decided to be baptized, symbolizing her complete surrender to God. The baptism ceremony, held in the Nakiloro River, marked a significant spiritual milestone for her, providing a newfound sense of peace and liberation from life’s worries. For Sagal, the transformation from Sagal to Hellen represents the most profound change she has experienced, signifying her deepening faith and personal growth. – Transformation by Floris Bijlsma of the Netherlands

Welcome to the family Longem Steven, Loduko John, Lolem Christine, Loono Moses, Loiki Hannah, Aryong Lillian, Longolee Varonica and Taoi James.

Angel is one of the older boys that lives at Mission Moroto and goes to school. In order to attend school next year he had to return to his home village to get his ID and birth certificate. While he was there his mother told him that one of his brothers had been killed by raiders and his brother in law had drown in a river. His 8 nieces and nephews were left with no one to care for them as the grandmother and sister were struggling to support them and the children were beginning to starve. He called Rebekah and begged her to let him bring the children back home with him to Mission Moroto. Of course she said yes and sent him transportation money to being them all home.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

 
READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP

Welcome to the family Teko Claudia and Iriama Caroline

Teko and Iriama are cousins of one of our cooks, Hellen, at Mission Moroto. Their parents have passed away and their aunt recently kicked them out of her house. They have been staying with Hellen but she does not have room to continue taking care of them so she asked if they could stay at Mission Moroto where they would be well fed and cared for.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

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click the yellow donate button below:

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Welcome to the family Apie Lokut

Apie showed up at the Mission a few days ago and asked if he could stay. His parents both passed away from disease and his grandmother abandoned him. He is about 13 years old and was carrying a letter from the sub-county with him requesting assistance.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Lotee Moses, Longok Gloria, Angela Lowot, and Lopuwa Nicholas

Imagine that you step out your door in the morning and these four beautiful siblings are standing there all alone holding a letter stamped by the sub-county politely asking you to take them in at Mission Moroto. Of course Mama Rebekah said yes and welcomed them in.
Their father is dead and their mother remarried to survive but her new husband kicked the children out. They knew their relative, Christine, lived at a place in another county called Mission Moroto and now they are home.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Nachugae Beatrice, Loukae Lomer Isaac, Loyep Lokolkori Judah and Moru Apalona Able

Siblings Nachugae, Loukae and Loyep’s mother died in the mines recently, and they are the relatives of our nurse Sylvia. They’ve been sleeping in her house for the last couple of months, and she finally asked us to help her. Moru is also the relative of Sylvia and the cousin of the two other boys. His mother is deaf and works in town as a maid but he’s been living with the other two boys because she can’t keep them in town with her.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family sisters Lokol Hellen, Kerisa Angelina and Manang Marry

Welcome home Lokol Hellen! Her parents passed away and she’s been living with her aged grandmother who has fallen very ill and cannot take care of any of them. Hellen’s little sisters, Kerisa Angela and Manang Mary have been at Mission Moroto for awhile and we are glad to have Hellen home now too. Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Lokol Ayole

Lokol Ayole is 6 years old. His aged father brought him to Mission Moroto because he is unable to take care of him. His mother passed away.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family brothers Logiel Godfrey, Liko Mark, Ochen Joshua and Opio Moses

Rupa Subcounty leaders brought the boys to Rebekah stating that their parents had abandoned them. The neighbors alerted the police and a month-long search was made but they failed to track down the parents so they brought the boys to Rebekah. The baby had a badly infected surgical wound on his leg that would have gone sepsis and the leg would have been lost but today they are happy and healthy. Joshua and Moses are twins.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Keem Loteleng James

Keem Loteleng James was brought to us by the leader of his village. He is an orphan and would have had to go to the streets if not taken in by us.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Israel and Erereng Blessing

Their disabled father heard Pastor Matthew preach, gave his life to Jesus and was baptized in the river in December. He quit drinking and has been serving faithfully in the church, but his wife did not like that he was not partying anymore, so she left him and the children to go back to the bar lifestyle so we have taken them in to live here at Mission Moroto since their father cannot care for them on his own due to his condition.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Lotikol Joab, Ichumar Yoana and Amodoi Gabriel

Joseph Longoli Behrmann is one of our boys here and he has a friend in town who owns a shop. Everyday Lotikol Joab, Ichumar Yoana and Amodio Gabriel who were living on the street, would hang around the shop hoping for a little food.

Joseph brought them home to Mission Moroto because he knows they will be well cared for and will never have to beg for food again. They are safe here at home.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Longole Alice, Korobe Mary, Yona Munyo, Lobur Petero, Imuk Justice, LLukol Sarah and Lowanyang Abner.

Joseph Longoli Behrmann is one of our boys here. His uncle was killed last year by soldiers and his aunt remarried but her new husband gave her HIV. She was dying and could not take care of Joseph’s 7 cousins so she abandoned them with his mother.

Unfortunately, she cannot care for so many children so Joseph went and brought them back home with him to Mission Moroto. Losing a father and a mother is devastating. Please pray that the love of God and new friends will help heal their hearts during this very sad time for them. They are now in a place where they will be loved and cared for.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Akol Jonah

Akol Jonah, nicknamed Brown, came to us 2 years ago. His father had been a worker at Mission Moroto many years ago before our family came and he had helped build the original buildings at the mission and had one day fallen from the roof of one of the buildings and was crippled.

2 years ago his father died and Brown was brought to live at Mission Moroto. He is a great boy and a sweet big brother to all of the other kids. He is an exceptional soccer player too.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family siblings Veronica, Johan and Moses.

One day in July 2021, Augustine, who is now graduated from Mission Moroto, came to Rebekah to ask if we could help his 3 siblings, who were being cared for by their aunt. The aunt had been recently attacked and nearly killed by raiders and all of their livestock had been stolen. The aunt had two children of her own and because of the misfortune could no longer care for Augustine’s siblings.

Rebekah, Papa Matthew, Mama Lisa, and Ellie Kate Gorman drove an hour through the rain and mud to a remote village and three precious little souls, Veronica, Johan, and Moses, came walking out to the road. They were very skinny and very scared. Now 2 years later, they sing and pray and worship and are good students at school and anytime Rebekah, Lisa, or Matthew leave the house one of them is almost always instantly there to give them a long hug.

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them here at Mission Moroto

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family siblings Moru Jessica, Ipoloo Paul and Lopeyok Daniel

One day very early on before we even had a fence around Mission Moroto, Mama Rebekah saw a woman with 3 very sick children crossing the grounds and went and spoke to her. She was the aunt of the children whose parents were dead. All 3 children were covered in Scabies, a skin parasite, and were malnourished. Rebekah treated the baby, whom the aunt was nursing, but she took in Daniel and Paul and began treating and caring for them. Little Paul’s shirt had not been changed in so long that he had badly outgrown it and it had to be cut off of him. Layers of dead skin came with the shirt.

A few days later Moru Jessica showed up looking for her brothers. She was malnourished and very skinny. Rebekah invited her to join the family and she gladly accepted. About a year later our traveling nurse recognized a very rapid heartbeat in Jessica and Rebekah took her to the heart hospital in Mbale. She was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. The left side of her heart is swollen from a childhood infection. She receives monthly injections and checkups. All three children are thriving, happy, and very loving. Their aunt and grandmother come regularly to visit them here at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family siblings Lorot Paul, Teko Margret, Ngoleluk Luke and Sagal Jacinta!

Every day at Mission Moroto we have a preschool for our 65 preschoolers with a professional teacher, and we invite the local village children to attend and have some porridge. A few days ago, mama Lisa reached down and put her hand on the back of this little child that Rebekah is holding named Sagal Jacinta to guide her up to the porridge line. She was shocked when all she could feel were bones so she asked Rebekah to please check on this little one and find out what is going on with her.

Rebekah found out that she and her two brothers and sister had been coming here every day for two weeks and our cooks have been feeding them and keeping them in their own houses because they knew Mission Moroto is full and busting at the seams.

Little Sagal Jacinta is three years old and can barely walk. She’s so malnourished that without our help she will not live to see four years old so we have taken her and her siblings into our mission and into our hearts at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Hello, my name is Joseph Longoli Berhmann.

Joseph has been a huge blessing to Mama Rebekah and to Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Mother Lucy, David Awas, Nadim Hellen, Sagal Anna, Lokor Josephine, Iriama Lina!

In October 2021 widow Lucy and 5 of her 6 children were all living in a mud hut. They were all starving and sleeping on one twin sized bed. One day Mother Lucy came and asked Rebekah to take her children in to Mission Moroto but since Mission Moroto was at full capacity and there was not a single empty bed, Rebekah had to say no. The widow then went to Pastor Matthew and pleaded with him to take her children in but he said that there was no where for them to sleep.

The widow went back and forth between Rebekah and Pastor Matthew begging and pleading with them and would not take no for an answer until finally she fell down on her knees crying and begging them to take her children. Rebekah and Pastor Matthew were touched by her persistence and by how desperate she was and they said it reminded them of the persistent widow from Luke 18:1-8 and felt they must say yes and not turn her away. Lucy came to work at Mission Moroto as a house mom and one day Rebekah asked about her other two daughters Josephine and Lina. They had been living out in the wilderness and fending for themselves (they are 8 and 10). Rebekah said Nadim! Go get them! So the persistent widow, whom we love, whom is a great blessing to the mission, and her 5 children now live and help at Mission Moroto.

David is now boarding at the apostles of Jesus boarding school in the mountain. The eldest sister Nadim is one of the house moms and takes care of the other children at Mission Moroto, she also sings like an angel in the church choir and planted and tends the gardens. Anna is a very precious girl who is a ray of sunshine everywhere she goes and brings joy to the whole family here at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Lokita Lochoro!

Lokita is the younger brother of one of our precious children here at Mission Moroto, Kem Veronica.

He had started living on the street when he was very young to survive and they had not seen each other since they were both very young.

At one of the recent revival meetings Lokita walked in and was recognized by his sister Veronica. It was a very joyous and tearful reunion! Now they are home safe together at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Logiel Marko!

Marko and his 2 siblings (Lokonyang Hannah and Lowal John) were orphaned when their mother was killed by raiders this week.

The team at Mission Moroto had been in contact with their mother since December 2022 when they invited her to church and attempted to help her with her mental health issues and alcohol addiction. She had come to church and been prayed over and supported many times during her spells of rage and violence.

Unfortunately during her last mental break she became very violent with her children and was put out of the hut until she calmed down. She ran off and was murdered by raiders that same night leaving all three of the children alone. They were brought home to live here where they will be safe at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Lowal John!

John and his 2 siblings (Lokonyang Hannah and Logiel Marko) were orphaned when their mother was killed by raiders this week.

The team at Mission Moroto had been in contact with their mother since December 2022 when they invited her to church and attempted to help her with her mental health issues and alcohol addiction. She had come to church and been prayed over and supported many times during her spells of rage and violence.

Unfortunately during her last mental break she became very violent with her children and was put out of the hut until she calmed down. She ran off and was murdered by raiders that same night leaving all three of the children alone. They were brought home to live here where they will be safe at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Lokonyang Hannah!

Hannah and her 2 siblings (Lowal John and Logiel Marko) were orphaned when their mother was killed by raiders this week.

The team at Mission Moroto had been in contact with their mother since December 2022 when they invited her to church and attempted to help her with her mental health issues and alcohol addiction. She had come to church and been prayed over and supported many times during her spells of rage and violence.

Unfortunately during her last mental break she became very violent with her children and was put out of the hut until she calmed down. She ran off and was murdered by raiders that same night leaving all three of the children alone. They were brought home to live here where they will be safe at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Aleper Genevieve!

Genevieve’s parent’s had abandoned her and she had spent everyday running the bars around their village begging for food.

One of our friends Pastor Grace could hear her crying every night so she brought her to Mission Moroto.

After this photo was taken, Papa Matthew told her “You are loved and safe here” she smiled. She will be cared for and protected for as long as wants here at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Munyes Prisca!

Prisca’s mother died when she was very young. She never knew her father. She lived with her uncle for a while, but he got sick.

One of our cooks took her into her family for a while and then brought her to Mission Moroto in March 2023. Due to a shortage of sleeping space currently at Mission Moroto, Mama Rebekah told her that we didn’t have any more room right now and she said she understood but then she just never left so now she’s one of ours

Rebekah and all of us at Mission Moroto feel God can provide for any children who He sends our way so we accept everyone we can with open arms here at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children and funds to build more houses for them.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Philip Lowal!

Philip was a stowaway hiding in one of the boys houses back in 2021.

When Rebekah finally learned that he was there she told the boys to bring him out to meet her. He has never left and no one has ever come looking for him. Little is known about where he came from or his life before coming to Mission Moroto.

He is a passionate worshiper at family prayers and at church on Sunday. So much so that the other children affectionally nicknamed him Pastor. He is a wonderful part of the family here at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Sagal Joseph!

Sagal Joseph showed up at the mission one day in spring of 2022 begging for food. His only living relative, his grandmother, was in the hospital dying of AIDS and she told him, “Go to Mission Moroto. They will help you.”

He walked the 7 Kilometers (3.5 miles) to the mission and was nearly dead when he arrived. He wanted food to take back the 7 Kilometers to the hospital but Rebekah knew he would faint on the way so she just kept him and he has been here ever since.

He has found a family and a home where he can be safe at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS

Welcome to the family Amiyo Charles!

After preaching in two remote villages on Wednesday, the pastors took us to a nearby hovel of huts. We crawled through layers of makeshift barricades of sticks and thorns in an attempt to keep raiders out.

We filed past multiple fresh graves of those recently killed by violence and/or hunger. Deep inside we found a dying emaciated grandmother and Charles’ little brother Michael taking care of her. Charles had gone to live on the streets and beg for food for the boys and their dying grandmother.

One of the team members at Mission Moroto went searching for Charles and finally found him and brought him home. The pastors will now care for the grandmother in her final days and little Michael and Charles are home safe at Mission Moroto

We are praying for more sponsors for these precious children.

READ HERE ABOUT SPONSORSHIPS