Meet Patrick & Irene, serving Jesus together at Abaana's Hope

When Okwera Patrick first met Irene, he was not a believer, and he was skeptical of Christians. But through Irene’s caring persistence, he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and now they serve God together at Abaana’s Hope. 

Before the couple met, their home of northern Uganda was plagued by the rebel war led by Joseph Kony and his LRA soldiers. This war made daily life a struggle for each of their families. As a child, Patrick, his parents, and five siblings sought shelter in the town of Gulu. Because his parents didn’t have an education, they relied on farming to provide for the family, but in Gulu there was nowhere for them to farm. Patrick and his family found work where they could – making rope, bricks, and bread or helping dig in other people’s gardens.

One day when Patrick was five years old, rebel soldiers came to his neighborhood, looking for children to take with them. When they reached his home, he pretended to be younger than he was and hunched over to appear smaller. Children who were too small to carry supplies were a burden to the rebels, so they either left them behind or killed them.

Patrick’s older brother, who was only eight years old, was seen as old enough to be taken into the rebels’ ranks, and his parents could do nothing to stop them. They took many children that day, but they left Patrick and his younger siblings alive. For two years, Patrick’s older brother struggled to survive in the bush with the rebels and was trained as a soldier until he escaped and surrendered to the Ugandan army. After a few months in the rehabilitation center, he returned home.

“He was very happy to reach home. He told us he never expected to return. He thought he would die in the bush any time at any day, but God has helped him,” Patrick said.

By the time Patrick reached primary 3 in school, he joined the Uganda Kickboxing Federation where he was able to earn some money through competitions to pay for his school fees. As the second born in the family, Patrick helped shoulder responsibilities to provide for the family. He was also in charge of traveling to the village to collect firewood. The rebels made this a very dangerous task.

“Many people were captured because of that, but I really thank God that I was not captured,” Patrick said.

His parents were not Christ followers, the family didn’t go to church, and he didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That was until secondary school when he met a Christian named Irene. At the age of twelve, Irene put her faith in Jesus.

“Because I realized that I’m a sinner, that’s why I accepted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. He’s the only one who can take away my sin,” she said.

As Patrick and Irene grew closer in their relationship, she slowly introduced him to Jesus and told him how only Jesus can take away our sins and only through Him can we have eternal salvation. She also encouraged him to go to church with her.

“I was not yet ready to receive Christ. No one was close to me enough to convince me and to let me be convicted of my sin,” Patrick said. 

After facing challenges with Irene’s parents about getting married, Patrick and Irene moved back to the village of Kinene to start a family. People in the area encouraged Patrick to apply to work at Abaana’s Hope and invited him to Living Stones Community Church. He didn’t want to go, but Irene eventually convinced him.

Having gone to driving school, Patrick applied to be a driver for Abaana’s Hope, but the position was already filled. Instead, he was hired to work on the farm in 2013. During this time, Irene and FCM missionaries discipled Patrick, teaching him the Word of God. Through missionaries and other believers at Abaana’s Hope, Patrick was exposed to the love God has for his children, and he understood he needed Jesus to save him from his sins. 

“I grew up in a family where I didn’t see the love of the parents in my life, but when I joined here, I found something different,” Patrick said. “I came to realize the word adoption. We have been adopted to be at His table. Yes, we are sinners. We don't deserve it, but the love of God really is sufficient for everyone no matter the tribe, no matter where you come from, no matter the backgrounds, whether you're rich or poor, or you're young or old. God cares for his people. I came to realize while I was here in the ministry that God can show his love through someone that you never expected to know.”

Patrick accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, and missionary Myron West asked him to help as a translator. Patrick told him, “I cannot do that. I’m very shy, and I don’t know some terminology or the words in the Bible. I can’t do it well.” But Myron assured Patrick that he was capable and started having Bible study with him during break times on Wednesdays. Patrick began translating for Sunday school then for church service. 

Holly Hodges (formerly Holly West) also connected Patrick to the Child Evangelist Fellowship to take courses and receive training about teaching children. Through this, Patrick learned how Jesus loves and cares for children. (Matthew 18:1-5)

Now Patrick, Irene, and several others are on rotation to teach children’s Sunday school lessons. He’s also been an elder in the church since 2020. After working for three years on the farm, Patrick was asked to join the Child Development Program.

“I said, ‘That is great that is what I’m looking for.’ I love to serve the kids, so they chose me to work there,” he said.

As an assistant for the CDP, Patrick goes on home visits to meet with the children’s family and on school visitations to check on the children who don’t attend Living Stones Christian School. When a child in the program is sick, he and another assistant take the child to a medical clinic or hospital. He helps oversee the various activities within the CDP including Sunday School, Bible clubs, sports, youth conferences, camps, workshops, tutoring, skills training, counseling, and most importantly, teaches the Word of God.

In 2020, Irene was hired to work in the Abaana’s Hope missionary compound. She is also a leader in the Women’s Discipleship group, and she teaches children’s Sunday school with her husband. Together, they enjoy sharing the gospel with these children and their three daughters – Desire, Sally, and Cherish. All three attend Living Stones Christian School.

“I see that God is working because now this ministry is helping me to grow deeply in the Word of God. Right now, I can share the Word of God, I can teach, I can lead, and I can help children,” Irene said.

Before Irene and Patrick moved to Kinene in 2012, she told him he had to give up kickboxing so they could start a family. He was competing in Uganda and against competitors from other African countries. Because he loves and respects his wife, he did as she asked.

“Many people when they see me, they say they thought maybe I was dead because they’re not seeing me on TV or in the competitions. I say, ‘No, I’m now fighting for Jesus. I’m not fighting the flesh anymore,’” Patrick said.