Opwonya Jonathan’s Journey

What a difference hope makes! When Jonathan was first enrolled in Hope Alive!’s Koro (Gulu) site, he couldn’t bring himself to smile for the camera. At age six, Jonathan had already experienced challenges that shook him to the core. His mom had disabilities and struggled to provide for the family. To Jonathan, going to school and having any kind of stability seemed like distant dreams, until Hope Alive! entered the picture.

When he joined Hope Alive! it was time for Jonathan to have his photo taken to share with a potential sponsor. It was a moment meant to symbolize a brighter future, but Jonathan still had difficulty smiling.  We took his photo but this kind hearted boy couldn’t find a smile to give the camera.

A few months later we went back to Jonathan and asked him if we could take a new photo, hoping that Jonathan’s joy had returned- at least to some extent. Before taking the second photo (blue shirt-above), Jonathan did something extraordinary: he prayed, saying “God, my mom is lame, but you have given me this opportunity. Allow me to smile in the photo.” God answered Jonathan’s prayer and gave him the courage he needed to smile, and soon that smile of resilience warmed the heart of someone looking to change a child’s life- Jonathan was matched with a sponsor! Through Hope Alive! and thanks to his faithful sponsor, Jonathan now goes to school and has a caring mentor, giving him the tools he needs to build a brighter future. Jonathan’s story is a powerful reminder that God shows up in the smallest moments to bring hope and transformation. His journey inspires us to trust in God’s faithfulness and celebrate the growth that occurs in us when we step out in faith.

Would you like to be part of a story like Jonathan’s? Sponsoring a child through Hope Alive! can make a world of difference. 

Together, we can transform lives—one smile, one prayer, one sponsorship at a time.