In Loving Memory of Mrs Pauline Abonyo Onojobi
Birth and Childhood
Pauline Abonyo Onojobi, was born on 4th January 1940 in Gulu, Uganda. She was the daughter of Mr Erisa Oketayot Lakor OBE and Mrs Jojina Angom Lakor.
Paulina, she was called, was the 6th child of 13 children born to Mama Jojina - five boys and eight girls. Most of her childhood was spent in Gulu within a large, comfortable, close-knit family. Pauline spoke of having a happy, secured and healthy childhood, even recalling that a teacher commented that she had never been sent home sick.
Education and Training
Pauline completed her O levels at St. Monica Gulu Girls School in 1959. From there, she proceeded to Mulago General Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, where she trained for three years as a Uganda State Nurse from January 1960 to December 1962.
Pauline left Uganda on 31st December 1963 for London, England, arriving on 1st January 1964 in the winter. It was the first time she had seen snow and felt extremely cold. She then took a train ride to Salisbury General Hospital in Wiltshire, where she spent one and a half years in the Nursing School and qualified as a State Registered Nurse. Upon completion, Pauline moved on quickly to Liverpool, Broadway Midwifery School for a year and became a Certified Midwife.
In December 1965, Pauline visited her brother Charles Otunu in the Czech Republic. He was there training as an air-force pilot. He had sent her a ticket to fly to Prague, where he was waiting to meet her. She found the people to be social and friendly. She was also told that she was the only black woman they had ever seen. They wanted to know much about her and were surprised how well she spoke English. Pauline would reminisce of the ten fabulous days she spent with her brother Charles in the Czech Republic. Sadly, that would be the last time that she saw her beloved brother Charles alive. After his training, he had returned to Uganda and tragically died in an air crash on18th of April 1968.
After midwifery, Pauline undertook further nursing training to work in acute wards. She worked for ten years in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at West Middlesex Hospital and finished her nursing career, after further specialist training, in the Renal Ward at Charing Cross Hospital in West London.
Marriage and Children
During Pauline’s first job at Queen Charlotte’s Maternity Hospital Hammersmith in London, she met Mr Adedotun Maclue Onojobi and they married early in 1967.
Pauline then went on to have five children: Samuel, Jennifer, Elizabeth, Adedotun (Jnr) and Michael. Sadly, two of the children died at an early age; Elizabeth at only 2 years of age and Michael at 5 years old.
Faith and Ministry
Pauline committed her life to the Lord Jesus Christ as a teenager - age 15, She had always desired to be active in the church ministry wherever she lived or worked.
In 2000 she gained a Higher Diploma of Christian Ministry at The International Bible Institute of London under the auspices of The London City Church Network.
After her training in Christian Leadership, she led a satellite church of Kensington Temple in Wandsworth called Southfield Christian Fellowship. Pauline continued to pastor that church for the next 20 years.
Gulu Orphan Project - Uganda
Pauline programme to help orphans in Northern Uganda started in 2009 with 5 children and their numbers grew to over 30 by 2012. These children were those that were left as orphans through death and displacement caused by sickness and the raging civil war at the time. These children were either fending for themselves or being minded by others who were also in desperate need of support.
The Gulu Orphan project provided funding to educate, provide clothing and other necessary support required. Some of the children were sponsored right from primary school through secondary school and then to further training at colleges.
Pauline persevered faithfully in the work to the children despite the frustrations that some of the children could not adapt to the rigour to the educational life and would disappear. An example of Pauline's care was seen with how she persevered with one girl who had disappeared. Upon visiting Uganda, made a great effort to find and bring her back to school; as it were, the good shepherd sought and brought back the lost sheep to the fold. She was very committed to this work of mercy and continued with it even in poor health till last year - 2023.
Pauline Abonyo Onojobi is survived by 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
Closing comments
Our beloved mother, Pauline Abonyo Onojobi realised that despite the many afflictions and sorrows in life, that God is sovereign, faithful and good. She grew stronger and more rooted in God's Word, committed to a life of prayer for comfort and strength and dedicated her life to the good work of faith.
Pauline was grateful to God for her parents, who had brought them up to believe in God from childhood and trust Him for everything. She often testified saying:
“We wonder, as a family, how we would have survived during the years of conflicts and sudden deaths in the family without faith in God and the hope of glory for those who believe.”
Pauline Abonyo Onojobi
in her own words:
“Out of all the sorrow and afflictions we have experienced in our family, I feel that our faith has steadily grown, for all of us, the six girls left behind. We have been Christians from childhood, and now we are all serving God in our little way.
The world is full of complexity, not easy to understand. That is why the Lord wants us to serve Him and seek His face diligently without ceasing, because He wants to communicate with us. The Lord loves to bless and give His peace to those who love Him.
There is such a fantastic life with Jesus when we leave this world, but not everyone will get there. You need to reverence Him here and keep His Holy commandments. Remember to confess Him as your personal Saviour. You should ask Him to forgive all your sins and all your past wrongdoings, so you can start afresh as a believer in Christ Jesus. He is faithful and full of compassion, and He is ready to receive you in His Kingdom.
Signs and wonders follow those who believe that Jesus Christ came from God the Father. He suffered in the hands of sinners, was crucified, died, but rose again after the third day and was lifted to heaven alive. On earth, He was born by a virgin birth and lived among us and taught us about the righteousness and the Kingdom of God in heaven.
All that He requires of us is repentance from our sins and faith in Him. Believe in Him and also believe in God the Father and keep the Holy Commandments. To love God with all our heart, mind, and soul and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. (Luke 12: 30-31). He said that if you have faith in Him, then you too will do the works He does and after your passing, He will receive you in heaven. God is love and to all those who know Him will live in love.
Jesus left us with great assignments: to go into the whole world to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils. Jesus gave us the power freely and freely we should give. (Matthew 10: 7-8). I realise that the time is too short to fulfil God' s commission on this earth, too much interference from the dark world, but it is better to stand firm on the Word and continue with the work. Jesus promises you that He will not leave you nor forsake you. He will be with you always. How wonderful.
Thank you for reading this. I pray that it will help you to manage your life better through your past and present challenges. God is very much alive, He is ever present and all knowing, full of compassion and mercy. Amen!
Your loving sister in Christ,
Pauline Onojobi”