7/30/2019 Rough Past Inspires Adoption

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Juniors |143

Apassion for Christ led junior Anitha Kobusingye to adopt 12

children and place 41 others in loving homes by age 22.

Kobusingye was orphaned in Uganda after her mother

died in childbirth and her father was killed during the 1984 genocide

in Rwanda. She lived in an orphanage until age 5, when she was

adopted by an abusive Ugandan family. Kobusingye said she stayed

there for two years, until she escaped to the streets of Kampala,

Uganda, where she lived among thousands of homeless children.

I think I understand the pain of those [homeless] children more than

anyone does because I have passed through that, Kobusingye said.

After a few months on the streets, Kobusingye went to an orphanage

in Kampala for help. A German couple, George and Helen Hawkes,

who were missionaries in Africa, adopted her when she was 9 years

old and took her back to Rwanda with them. While living with the

Hawkeses, Kobusingye lacked nothing because of their love, but

the pain from her past prevented real happiness.

At 16 years old, Kobusingye reunited with her biological fathers

family in Rwanda. In 2003, she started attending Cornerstone

Leadership Academy, where the principal Mr. Johnson showed her love

and grace. Kobusingye was touched and asked him how she could

repay him. Johnson told her to love others the way Jesus loved her.

Kobusingye became a Christian shortly after. She wanted to keep

doing the Lords work, and that desire led her to adoption. At 18,

she adopted her first child and lived in a house donated by a pastor.

Kobusingye adopted 11 more children over the next two years.

The moment I received Christ as savior, I said, Okay, now Im

going to become a single mom, and maybe this will keep my focus

on loving this child and trying to take care of her just as someone

took care of me, Kobusingye said.

While in high school, Kobusingye wrote, produced and acted in

her own film called Lusting for Something. She used the profits to

adopt and support her 12 children.

Christians from Arkansas met Kobusingye on mission trips and,

inspired by her work, offered her a scholarship to Arkansas Baptist

College. Kobusingye decided to get a nursing degree to make a better

life for herself and her chilldren, so she left her kids with friends and

family and headed to Arkansas. After two years at Arkansas Baptist,

which did not have a nursing school, Kobusingye transferred to Harding.

Kobusingye shared her story at different venues, gathering

supporters with her gracious spirit according to Linda Weir, who housed

Kobusingye during her time at Arkansas Baptist and supported her

and her children.

Instead of allowing her horrible past to defeat her, she has used

her past experiences to benefit others who are vulnerable: the little

ones of His kingdom without hope living on the streets, Weir said.

Kobusingye planned to return to her children after graduation

and to do mission work in Rwanda and other developing countries.

Kimberly Miller

rough pastinspires

adoption

A student from Rwanda,

junior Anitha Kobusingye,

shows love to orphans

through adoption

Ashel Parsons

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