APOKO GRACE OKWERA

Apoko Grace Okwera “Grace” has communicated with our family over the past two years and has expressed much gratitude for her sponsorship that allows her to continue on with her education.  We have had many conversations with her concerning her prayer of becoming a nurse to serve in her community that has been torn by attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). 

Both blood parents lost their lives in the bombing, burning and rampant shooting and malicious destruction by the Lords Resistance Army (L.R.A) as they surrounded Pajule Internal Displaced People’s Camp (IDP) early in the morning at around 6.00am. No one could escape the attack.  As for her mother, her breast was cut with a knife. She was taken to a hospital but this could not rescue her and finally she died of her injuries sustained in the attack. Her father was cut with panga-nife and along with many other people he died along with her eldest brother and sisters.  She has one surviving brother, Olang Robert Okwera who is 14 years old.  He is currently a student at Nebbi Standard Academy in Nebbi Town, Uganda. 

Grace will be 17 years old on December 25, 2011. She is hoping to continue with her education beyond the secondary level and then attend college.  Our difficulty is that in the area that she resides there is not adequate higher education for her to receive her training for specialty nursing.

We have extended the offer to bring Grace to the United States of America to further her higher education.  She has responded with much excitement! 

As we prepare the paperwork, we can not do this without prayer and support. 

Our hope is that she will be able to finish her high school education here at Portage Public Schools and move on to finish her college nursing degree in Kalamazoo. 
We love Grace so very much!  She is a very strong young woman who has endured many tragedies.  We see so much potential for her to grow healthy and strong. 

God has provided to our family many blessings.  We are prayerful that Grace’s dreams of helping her community heal both physically and emotionally will be possible!  

Thank you for your time and efforts.

Respectfully,           Brian, Sue, Emma & Allen