Divine Orphanage Secondary School

This morning at Acacia Tree a girl we hadn’t met arrived, wanting to bring me and Leah to an orphanage she volunteers at. We were reluctant to leave the boys and weren’t in the mood for walking out in sun after becoming painfully sun burnt this weekend. We ended up going anyway.

We walked from Acacia Tree to the taxi park in Kitooro, and from there caught a coaster to the orphanage, located not far from Lake Victoria down a path of red dirt. The sights of the children and their orphanage were overwhelming. The current center for the children is composed of three rooms with bunk beds, sleeping three to a bed, and a playroom recently painted blue and yellow. The director, Molly Tabaro, has taken in fifty-three Ugandan children, even though she has no staff and only a few Ugandan volunteers. The children here at Divine come from all over Uganda, many of who Molly found abandoned, abused, and sick sleeping under trees and in the streets. She pays for their schooling, meals, and clothing all on her own. When asked if this is difficult for her, Molly said she often doesn’t know where the next meal will come from, but she trusts God to provide.

After touring their rooms, we met the children too little to attend school. Before we could step through the door into their makeshift playroom, Leah and I were overwhelmed with small brown hands touching our hair—they’d never seen blonde hair before—our earrings, our clothes, our mouths; we were utterly fascinating to them.  The children told us their names, but most couldn’t say more than that, so for the remainder of the afternoon we communicated through touch. The children, especially the little girls, seemed so desperate to be held. The youngest of the girls, three year olds Kavena and Shiana, clung to us and were so visibly happy it made me feel mean to set them down as we said goodbye.

                                           Falling in love with the children at the Divine Orphanage

While we were there, the thirty children took turns removing their sole set of clothing to jump in an undersized inflatable pool. They have no toys, books, pillows, and very few blankets. The children passed around a pink yo yo while we were there. It was the only toy I saw.

I know God’s timing is perfect, but Leah and I felt guilty for not learning of Divine sooner. They urgently need volunteers to play with and teach the children English and numbers, and so in this short time we have left in Uganda, we’re going to spend as much time as we can with them. Tomorrow Leah and I plan on going to the market to look for clothing and toys for the children. We also want to encourage you to send donations of clothing, books and toys to Molly and the kids. They would be so grateful for the used items you no longer use. Divine Orphanage is relatively new and there is no website available for information, but please contact me if you would like to learn more about how to support Molly. She can receive all packages at:

Molly Tabaro S.P.
Divine Orphanage Secondary School                                 
PO Box 55
Baita, Entebbe
Uganda                                                                                                                                                                      

I think it is rare to come across an organization where finances are so wisely used, but this is so at Divine Orphanage. She is currently in the process of constructing a larger home for the children, which Leah and I also toured. Molly’s love and interest in all fifty-three of the children is tangible, and Leah and I felt instantly at peace in her presence.  It was Molly who found baby Moses under a tree, and brought him to Acacia Tree, genuinely believing he wouldn’t live through the day. I’m inspired by her heart and deeply encouraged by her capacity to love and care for so many. God has completely laid this ministry on my heart, and I’m excited to see the impact we can have on these beautiful children.

                                          With Molly, the director and founder of the orphanage
More soon-
E.