While most 11-year-olds were sleeping late during February vacation, playing in the snow or going on family vacations to Disney World, Jason Bing had other obligations — he was in Uganda, building a home for orphaned children.
Jason spent eight days in Uganda, building the home with his mother, Cindy Parolisi, father, Randy Bing, and 13 other members of West Congregational Church.
He even spent his 11th birthday on three continents, in a 35-hour marathon celebration that took place on their lengthy flight home. But more memorable for him was that he saw children with no food and no beds, and realized how important it was to help.
"I really enjoyed helping the children," Jason said.
When adults took breaks after working long hours in the scorching sun, Jason channeled his boundless energy to keep working. His experience gave him a new perspective on his own life, and wisdom that well surpassed his young years, his mother said.
"He got a chance to see something I didn't see until I was 43," said Parolisi.
The team from Haverhill laid 3,600 bricks in three days. The home they built will house eight orphans and a widowed woman to care for them.
They first became involved with the Watoto organization when its choir came to Haverhill to sing in January 2007. "We were incredibly moved by their mission," Parolisi said.
The goal of the Watoto is to raise future leaders for Uganda by educating and housing those children who have been made orphans by the AIDS epidemic and by other tragic circumstances. The children are placed in loving homes, taught life skills and given the moral foundation to become contributing members of Ugandan society. Watoto believes that by giving bright futures to the country's youths, those children will someday grow up to replace the corrupt leaders that reign over most of the African continent today.
"When they came, we really latched on to the needs of the orphans," said church pastor Rev. Dale Brown.
After the Haverhill concert, and after chatting with the children and their chaperones, members of the Haverhill church wanted to know how they could help. They learned it would cost $30,000 to build the home the village desperately needed, but it would also cost another $30,000 to get their team there.
West Congregational Church began raising the money. In November 2006 one of their beloved parishioners, Maryann Noonan, died and her family graciously donated $30,000 to the church, making the trip possible. The Haverhill parishioners believe it was divine intervention.
"It was totally God showing up," Parolisi said.
Once in Uganda, the team became even more inspired by the mission of Watoto.
"Instead of seeing despair in these orphans, they see opportunity," said Rev. Brown. "They're really building future leaders."
Brown was touched that, when speaking to the children, they all had high hopes for careers. They dreamed of being lawyers, teachers and businessmen and women, a dream that is entirely possible now that they are no longer sifting through trash on the streets with nothing to eat and no place to sleep.
"For us, we have the dilemma of choosing public school or private school for our kids," Brown said. "Piano lessons or guitar lessons? But for these children, the option is dying an early death — or life."
Brown was inspired by the diligence of his parishioners. Seeing them complete their project was one of the highlights of his time in Uganda.
"As a senior pastor, I was so proud to see our people working so hard," he said. "It was an amazing trip."
Jason has told the story of his trip many times to his friends, classmates and teachers. He even went in front of the entire parish to share his experience — without any notes. Parolisi said her son just spoke from his heart.
"He said, 'It was a lot of hard work, but I knew that if I was helping them, it was all worth it,' " Parolisi said.
