{"id":4897,"date":"2018-11-27T10:16:45","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T15:16:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/?p=4897"},"modified":"2018-11-27T10:16:45","modified_gmt":"2018-11-27T15:16:45","slug":"small-feet-leave-big-footprints-uganda-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/ponte-vedra\/small-feet-leave-big-footprints-uganda-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Small feet leave big footprints in Uganda, Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Heidy Brosofsky-Weaver<\/span>
\n<\/span>mail@floridanewsline.com<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Tyler Workman laughs as he looks back at an old photo of himself as a Palm Valley two-year-old engulfed in a pair of men\u2019s boots. Little did he know that he would one day walk the dusty streets of Masaka, Uganda, in a pair of well-worn boots rescuing hundreds of children in dire need and empowering a village by providing jobs and hope. But that is exactly what Workman is doing through Okoa Refuge, the non-profit organization he founded with his wife, Liv, 10 years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Workman, 32, recalls this \u201crollercoaster\u201d of a decade, he is humbled at the positive impact Okoa Refuge has made in thousands of lives, but he is not surprised. Sean Yost, pastor of Redeemer Church in Ponte Vedra, is not surprised either.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw Tyler as a 13-year-old reading books about starting an orphanage. It\u2019s not what the average person is doing at that age,\u201d Yost said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yost spoke recently at \u201cAn Evening of Hope,\u201d the 10<\/span>th<\/span> anniversary celebration and fundraiser for Okoa Refuge at Bowing Oaks Plantation. He says his own children volunteered at Okoa\u2019s compound in Kayirikiti Village, and it inspires youth to see that \u201cyou should never give up on a dream just because there are obstacles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While working in a Jacksonville book bindery from age 15 to 22, Workman spent his breaks drawing out plans for an orphanage. During this time, he met Liv, who shared his vision of going to Africa, and they opened Okoa Thrift Store to raise funds. Meanwhile, she earned a degree as an infectious disease nurse, and he obtained an AA degree and contractor\u2019s license. The two were able to open the orphanage in 2010 with 20 children and six volunteer caregivers and teachers.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2012, after building a girls\u2019 dormitory and starting a Bible school, the Workmans moved to Uganda permanently with their two young daughters, living on a sparse budget. Amid death threats and attempts to raid the orphanage, the couple persisted, opening a boys\u2019 dormitory, a baby home, and a church in 2014. After obtaining 15 additional acres, the first coffee crop was planted, providing jobs through Okoa\u2019s Community Empowerment Program, which trains adults in everything from raising pigs to computer skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, Okoa started a medical and dental clinic, a career home for former prostitutes and abused women, Bible schools in three African countries, and (upon request from the government) a business center for people with disabilities. Okoa\u2019s mobile medical clinics have helped more than 45,000 people, and Workman says it is not uncommon for them to give out close to 6,000 prescriptions in one of their free care days.<\/span><\/p>\n

A photographic timeline of Okoa\u2019s milestones was on display at the recent anniversary celebration, and many in attendance fondly remembered their own visits to the refuge, smiling at specific pictures that sparked memories. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis girl, Nampija, loves to dance,\u201d Charlie Stoner pointed to a 2017 photo taken during her mission trip, when she assisted in one of Okoa\u2019s medical clinics and helped build a road and kitchens. \u201cOkoa is well received in the community, and everything that is donated is used to maximum capacity,\u201d Stoner said.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, Okoa has earned the respect and trust of the locals and officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe government comes to use for help with the hard cases,\u201d said Workman, relaying story after life-changing story. This year, he said Uganda ordered almost 600 international aid agencies to leave the country due to corruption. As a result, just three months ago, Okoa was designated as the only orphanage allowed to care for infants in the district. This means expansion is needed. At present, Okoa serves 200 children (85 live at the orphanage) and employs 80 staff members (30 work at the orphanage).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOkoa is personal. Okoa is family. And what\u2019s left is for Okoa to grow,\u201d Workman said. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Workmans host mission groups throughout the year, with Liv running the www.okoarefuge.org website at home while caring for her family of eight. Despite the many challenges, including bouts of malaria within their family, the dedicated couple is happy to see the fruits of their labor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a wild ride. We could never have imagined what God had in store for us,\u201d said Workman, who looks forward to many more years walking through Masaka in his dusty boots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Visit www.okoarefuge.org for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Photo courtesy <\/span>Sarah Eddy, Sarahdipity Photos<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Tyler and Liv Workman and family in Africa<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Heidy Brosofsky-Weaver mail@floridanewsline.com Tyler Workman laughs as he looks back at an old photo of himself as a Palm Valley two-year-old engulfed in a pair of men\u2019s boots. Little did he know that he would one day walk the dusty streets of Masaka, Uganda, in a pair of well-worn boots rescuing hundreds of children […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4886,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4897","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-creekline-st-johns","8":"category-ponte-vedra"},"yoast_head":"\nSmall feet leave big footprints in Uganda, Africa - Florida NewsLine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CreekLine, Ponte Vedra NewsLineBy Heidy Brosofsky-Weaver mail@floridanewsline.com Tyler Workman laughs as he looks back at an old photo of himself as a Palm Valley two-year-old engulfed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/ponte-vedra\/small-feet-leave-big-footprints-uganda-africa\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Small feet leave big footprints in Uganda, Africa - 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