Introducing Grace Koelewijn
I come from a very nice family background of Christian loving
parents. My mum is a Kenyan while my father is a Ugandan.
My parents met when dad had gone for studies in Kenya. As a matter of
fact, my father was a missionary in Kenya. He is a Pastor
and a Bible school teacher. Therefore, I had the opportunity to
learn about God. I am the first born amidst four sisters and two
brothers.
The year I was born my father was a pastor of the first Pentecostal
church in Gulu, a place in the far north of Uganda. It was the time
when Ida Amin was president of Uganda. Ida Amin was a Muslim and being
a Pentecostal in those days was not a popular thing to do. Moreover,
being a Pentecostal pastor was a dangerous profession!
One day, one of the members of our church warned my dad to run with his
family for his life. He was supposed to be shot that night and his
house and church where to be burned down. Was it not for that warning I
would not be here today for the following morning, very early, solders
came and looked for us. They burned the house and church down just as
we where warned! My father had taken his family to Kenya where it was
safe.
Most of my childhood I spend in Kenya. I went to primary school there
and Kenya was like my home. For my secondary education we went just
over the border to Uganda for education was cheaper there. Once again
we Narrowly escaped death. When the NRA fought for power in Uganda and
the fighting came as close as our school, we had to walk for days to
take refuge in the village of our grandparents. From there we quickly
went back to Kenya!
Jesus became my personal Savior in February 18th 1982. This
happened while in one of the prayer meetings held at home. I
picked up the courage of sharing the word of God and while at school, I
promised to serve God. When I completed secondary studies I told
my parents that I wanted to serve God. Hah! "What an idea!" I
thought! But I was determined to serve God. So my dad advised me to go
to Bible school. "What?" I thought. I have never been to
Bible school. "Anyway" he said, "If you want to serve God, it is good
for you to get training on how to do it" Oh that made sense. So I
went for the training with East Africa School of Theology Kenya for
four years.
After my studies, I looked out for opportunity to work. At that
time the relationship between Kenya and Uganda was bad. So it was
hard for me to get jobs in Kenya. I requested my parents to let
me go and look for a job in my homeland (Uganda). Before
leaving for Uganda, I wrote some applications and sent to Kampala
Pentecostal Church.
My parents brought me to Uganda and left me with my cousin who happens
to be a Pastor in one of the Anglican churches. My stay with them
was very good but still I wanted to do something to feel like I am
working, earning and yet serving God. While at my cousins' place,
I used to attend services in Kampala Pentecostal Church. I used
to pray hard and once Pastor Kato came to me and said that God will
answer my cry. I actually did not know that he had received my
applications for a job. Shortly, I was called to see
Pastor. He had news for me. He said that there was an
organization looking for someone to look after children. So we
made appointment and I met Cor Koelewijn. I was ready to serve
God in anyway. Money was not the issue but getting something to
do. There I was! In 1992, I began the work of matron ship
with the first 4 children.
Next: Let us finish the rest of the story together.