Behind the Faces of Masaka (continued)
In January, I was able to return to Uganda to visit some of the families we have been working with for the past few years. Two of the families lost a child and it was important for these families to know that Shupavu was with them. For the first time, Tonnie decided to join our team on the field since there were only four of us. Our first stop was at a school to meet with the teachers who agreed to take one of our children last year. As we spoke to the teachers, we realized how passionate these teachers are about Shupavu’s vision: to bridge the gap between people with special needs and their communities. As we continued to talk, I turned to Tonnie and challenged him. I said, “You should speak at one of the school’s assemblies!” The teachers started cheering and said, “Yes, we love Tonnie! You need to share your story!” After that conversation, something happened with Tonnie. All of a sudden, he felt the need and had the confidence to share his story with the families we visited on our trip. We met four new families who were contacted by Tonnie throughout the year. He used his own resources and time to seek out these families and tell them they are not alone. It was incredible to see how Tonnie’s story inspired and challenged the families we visited. One of the young boys even said, “I want to be like Tonnie when I grow up!” Tonnie was so moved and his confidence increased. All of a sudden, Tonnie’s true personality blossomed. He has such a great sense of humor and always made sure to make all of us laugh. It was an honor serving with him!
Tonnie is such a determined young man. He continues to surprise everyone in his community, and, as they see what a hardworking, gentle, kind, and caring man he is, they look up to him as a leader in the community. His father and mother are very proud of him. They always speak of him with such pride, and they are thankful that Shupavu has given their son an opportunity to shine as a human being—regardless of all the obstacles he has to face because of his special needs. Keep shining, my brother!