Emmakulatha’s Testimony

My Testimony My   name   is   Emmakulatha   Robert   Bujiku.      I   was   named   Emmakulatha   after   my   great   grandmother.   It   is   a catholic   name   and   it   means   pure   (immaculate).      I   joined   the   Bethany   family   at   the   age   of   6,   and   this   was because   I   lost   my   parents   to   AIDS   when   I   was   about   1   or   2   years   old,   and   this   left   my   grandmother   with the   responsibility   of   looking   after   me.      I   have   no   memories   of   my   parents   at   all.      I   grew   up   knowing   my grandmother   was   my   mother   as   she   was   the   only   person   who   nurtured   me   and   I   indeed   created   a   very strong   bond   with   her.      My   grandmother   could   not   afford   to   provide   for   me,   so   when   she   heard   about   the Bethany   family,   she   was   thrilled   and   immediately   did   all   she   could   to   ensure   that   I   went   to   Bethany.      I remember   my   first   experience   at   Bethany   was   having   a   bed   of   my   own.   Back   at   my   grandmothers’   house   I slept   on   floor,   so   having   to   sleep   on   the   bed   all   by   myself   was   such   a   joy   to   me.   I   remember   saying   to myself,   I   cannot   wait   to   see   my   grandmother   and   I   am   definitely   going   to   brag   about   it.         Looking   back now,   I   am   so   grateful   that   she   took   me   to   the   Bethany   family,   because   I   am   now   part   of   this   amazing   big family,   with   lots   of   brothers   and   sisters.      I   have   met   some   amazing   people   who   will   always   be   my   family and   nothing   will   ever   change   that.         I   am   quite   aware   that   people   have   always   had   a   stereotypical   view about   orphans   or   orphanages,   for   most   people,   the   word   "orphanage"   always   conjures   up   the   image   of poor   little   Oliver   Twist   pleading   for   more   gruel,   overcrowded   places,   places   where   children   are   abused. Personally   I   come   from   a   country   were   orphans   are   not   given   the   time   of   the   day.   Growing   up   in   a   society where   orphans   are   seen   as   children   with   no   values   or   are   nothing   but   full   of   troubles   was   sometimes   a challenge.   My   personal   experience   shows   that   orphanages   are   wonderful   places.   They   are   full   of   children who   are   happy   and   contented   with   whatever   is   provided   for   them   by   their   supporters,   sponsors   and carers.      At   Bethany   I    felt   safe   and   loved,   care   workers,   supporters   or   volunteers   made   me   feel   I   was   just like   everyone   else   out   there.      This   was   the   same   with   my   100+   brothers   and   sisters   in   the   orphanage.        Consequently   this   made   me   into   a   person   who   was   proud   of   what   type   of   family   I   belonged,   and   no   matter what everyone else thought about it, it did not make me feel ashamed of where I came from. Living   at   Bethany,   I   had   the   privilege   of   growing   up   around   people   who   contributed   a   lot   towards   my   faith in   Jesus.   I   never   once   doubted   that   God   was   the   reason   why   I   became   part   of   this   amazing   family.   Looking back   at   my   life,   I   see   the   work   of   God   and   sometimes   I   wonder   where   I   would   be   today   if   it   was   not   for God's   hand   on   Bethany.   I   have   came   to   realise   the   important   thing   in   life   is   not   about   putting   myself   first but   it   is   about   putting   others   first,   saving   others   just   like   how   God   has   used   people   to   generously   provide for   me   and   because   of   this   I   have   learnt   to   put   others   before   myself,   give   more   than   I   take;   and   because   of this I am well prepared to make a difference in my community, in my country and Africa as a whole. Furthermore   being   part   of   the   Bethany   family   provided   me   with   great   opportunities,   for   example   right   after my   secondary   school   education   in   Tanzania;   I   was   given   this   golden   opportunity   to   go   to   the   UK   to   study. Initially   I   was   not   so   thrilled   about   the   idea   because   as   many   would   describe   me   I   am   a   home   person   and always   comfortable   in   my   zone.   Therefore   going   to   England   made   me   worry   a   lot   and   posed   many questions   in   my   head,   for   example   how   am   I   going   to   survive   in   a   foreign   country   with   different   people, culture,   food,   weather   etc?   To   put   it   simply   I   was   scared   and   anxious   about   it.      Anyway   after   being reassured   by   people   especially   Graham   and   Sheila   I   decided   to   go.      I   stayed   there   for   six   years,   and   in   that time   I   managed   to   do   a   Diploma   course   in   Child   care   and   Education,   a   BA   in   education   studies   and   PGCE in   lifelong   learning.      To   be   honest   I   have   never   imagined   in   a   million   years   that   I   will   one   day   study   in   a foreign   country.      I   am   now   a   well   qualified   teacher.   Becoming   a   teacher   is   a   blessing   in   itself,   it   has   given me   a   good   opportunity   to   share   my   knowledge   with   others   and   I   cannot   imagine   myself   doing   another   job other   than   teaching.   It   is   always   a   good   feeling   to   know   that   the   future   of   the   world   is   in   my   classroom today,   what   a   blessing!      Studying   in   the   UK   was   worthwhile   and   it   was   such   an   eye   opening   experience   to me   as   it   gave   me   the   opportunity   to   learn   and   grow.      I   will   forever   be   grateful   to   Graham   and   Sheila   who took   their   time   to   look   after   me   during   the   whole   time   I   was   in   the   UK.      They   were   there   through   the   ups and   downs   and   never   once   gave   up   on   me.   They   have   greatly   inspired   me   to   definitely   make   a   difference in my own country.  Living   at   Bethany,   has   really   changed   my   life,   not   only   in   terms   of   being   able   to   eat,   go   to   school   or   sleep, but   Bethany   has   given   me   more.      Bethany   has   shown   me   what   it   means   to   have   a   place   where   you   can call   home   and   has   unquestionably   made   me   realise   that   family   is   not   always   about   the   people   in   your   life who   are   blood   related.   It   is   about   the   people   in   your   life   who   want   you   in   theirs.   It   is   about   the   people   in your   life   who   accept   you   for   who   you   are,   who   support   you   in   the   things   you   choose   to   do   and   no   matter what   are   there   for   you.   It   is   about   people   who   love   you.   Now   to   me   that's   family.      Bethany   has   given   me   a home,   a   place   where   I   have   and   still   receive   a   lot   of   love,   care   and   support.      Sometimes   I   ask   myself,   ' where   would   I   be   today,   if   it   was   not   for   Bethany?'   and   the   first   things   that   comes   in   my   mind   are   probably dead,   married   with   children   who   I   cannot   take   care   of,   homeless   or   even   a   prostitute.      I   am   forever   grateful to   God,   the   Bethany   family   and   all   who   made   it   possible   for   me   to   be   where   I   am   today.      Growing   up   at Bethany   was   the   best   thing   that   has   ever   happened   to   me   and   I   will   always   treasure   all   the   memories   I have spent there. I sincerely mean every word I say. I   am   very   grateful   to   everyone   who   has   played   part   in   my   life,   because   without   them   I   would   not   be   where   I am   today.   The   only   way   of   paying   back   what   I   have   received   from   being   part   of   the   Bethany   is   to   pay forward   to   others.      I   pray   and   hope   that   I   will   continue   to   have   the   courage   and   wisdom   to   never   lose   the vision   of   helping   others   like   how   I   was   generously   helped.      If   you   are   reading   this   now,   please   do   keep   me in   your   prayers   as   I   clearly   know   that   I   still   have   a   long   way   to   go   and   of   course   there   are   going   to   be   a   lot of temptations, challenges and obstacles along the way.  God bless you.