Achia Beute

Achia’s Story is God’s Story

Achia was born on October 5, 2010 to Opio and Regina in the Karamoja region of Uganda, Africa. This is a desolate, harsh, desert-like region in Eastern Uganda. This area is filled with violence, tribal wars, and the darkness of witchcraft.

In 2014, the family traveled west to the town of Soroti and found their way to the village of Obule where Mandy (our daughter) and Josh Shaarda serve as missionaries. The Shaardas came in contact with 4-year-old Achia who looked to be 6 months old, not able to speak nor walk and presumed blind. For several years, the Shaardas tried to teach the parents how to care for a special needs child. They would exercise her legs, provide food, sought medical answers and encouraged the parents to love Achia and see her as a child of God instead of as a curse.

Shaardas returned to the States for a time of home service in 2016 and upon returning to Uganda, they found Achia in an emaciated state, weighing 13 pounds at age 6. Shaardas brought Achia to Amacet, a child’s shelter which works to restore health to ill and physically compromised children.

I (Mary) had already grown to love Achia from afar as Mandy would often give me updates on this precious child and send pictures. Mandy was in tears when she called explaining how physically deteriorated Achia. We cried together on the phone as it broke both of our hearts. The director and staff at Amacet did not believe Achia would survive. I more then once, cried out to God, with tears to take this child home and remove her from her suffering.

God had other plans.

Mandy and the girls would go to see Achia and it was heartbreaking for them as Achia cried non stop. They would hold her, pray and sing over her but nothing stopped the crying. It was agonizing to see her suffer for weeks. Mandy would update me on a regular basis and we would cry together praying with our tears. Then Achia began to be calmer and she began to gain weight and grow stronger. I, Mary, traveled to Uganda in the fall and was able to see Achia at Amacet. I cried the minuet I lifted her into my arms, so in love with her and so thankful for her amazing transformation to better health! She now weighed 18 pounds at age 6 and was wearing 18 month clothes.

When I returned to the States I told Dave, “If I could have put her in my suitcase, I would have taken her home.” I loved Achia deeply. Dave’s reply was “maybe we can adopt her”. I doubted that was possible because I didn’t think they let 66 year old people adopt.

Achia was now doing well and was returned to her parents. However, the father really did not want her and kept trying to return her to Amacet. Ugandan social workers would occasionally visit the home but realized she was vulnerable. The father had told neighbors that some night he was going to throw Achia in the swamp. So the family was watched closely and the father was told if she disappeared he would be prosecuted. There is no foster care system in Uganda. There is no care for special needs children either that can help parents. We do believe the mother loved her but there were 3 children under Achia and the youngest child would travel on the mothers back and because Achia was not able to walk she was left in the hut while mom and the 2 walking children went to retrieve water or to work in a field. That left Achia alone most of the day.

Dave and I visited Uganda together in February 2017. Dave met the little girl who had stolen my heart and he too was smitten. Each day Achia came to the Shaarda home and we cared for her. We bathed her, fed her, rocked her, and sang to her. With heavy hearts we returned her to her hut each night.

During our visit, it was determined that Achia was not safe in the home, but there was nowhere for her to go. Amacet is not an orphanage and it was full. We asked if we could adopt her and, after some legal inquiries, we found out our age would not be a hindrance in Uganda or in the USA. Our kids were shocked and quite frankly thought we were nuts. Dave had just retired; we were both 66 years old and finally empty nesters after having raised 9 children.

Prayer went into this decision along with many discussions and checking out other possibilities for Achia, none of which worked out. We were very much at peace with what God was telling us to do. Achia was left in the care of the Shaardas and their house-helper, Lusi, and we returned to begin the long process of adoption state-side.

We found an agency in North Carolina that worked with Ugandan adoptions and had a good reputation there. They had a reliable, honest Ugandan lawyer for us to work with. Adoption Associates in Jenison agreed to do our home-study. The mounds of paperwork, meetings, and adoption parenting classes began. Yup, 10 hours of parenting classes even after raising 9 children. It took us almost a year to get all in order so we could return to start the adoption process in Uganda, which meant moving there for at least a year.

Living in Uganda was going to be a big hurdle for me (Mary) to overcome. Village life, 3rd world country living, hazardous driving, unusual customs, a country of confusion, and strange laws (written and unwritten, some followed some ignored). For 2 people with hearing problems, language barriers and strong accents would really challenge us. We were going to be tested and fully out of our comfort zones. Knowing our 2 daughters, Angie and Mandy, and their families were living there was a great comfort as was knowing we were following God’s will.

We took over Achia’s care as soon as we arrived in Uganda and settled into a new way of life. We experienced much in that 18 months; some difficult, some frustrating, some scary. But we also had an abundance of good! The experience tried us beyond what we believed we could do but by holding on to faith, trusting God, and remembering his faithfulness we overcame obstacles. We fully enjoyed immersing ourselves into our children and grandchildren’s lives. Experiencing village life, doing school, ministry life and travel together was amazing and memorable, as was spending holidays together. We made MANY new Ugandan and American friends that we still hold dear to our hearts. We enjoyed new cultural experiences, different ways of worship and types of ministries. What a privilege and honor it was to share in the lives of so many people who have dedicated themselves to kingdom work!

Our greatest joy though while living in Uganda was that we experienced God in new ways. We learned to fully rely on Him! We learned to trust Him like never before. It was He who gave us strength and endurance. He gave us healing when we were very sick and He stayed by our sides providing protection when things could have been unsafe. God was faithful in all things giving us assurance, wisdom and a confidence in His plan. We never once wavered on whether we heard God wrong even when others thought we may have. We heard him right and never doubted the decision. Our love and commitment for Achia never wavered.

During our time in Uganda we also had visits from dear friends who bravely came to support us. Four different couples stretched themselves by leaving their comfort zones to love on us and experience the adventure with us. We are grateful for the blessings of these special people and all they gave us then and still do today. They love Achia as we love her and see her as a gift from God, perfect in our eyes and hearts.

Achia lived in Michigan for 8 years; receiving incredible medical care and being embraced in love by family, friends, church, school, and community. This blind, non-verbal, cognitively and physically impaired child of God accomplished beyond what was expected – way beyond what her MRI revealed was even possible. She learned to walk when that didn’t look possible. She learned to say “Uh-Huh” with variations that communicated to us in her own special way. She began to understand simple directions and would understand daily life activities usually being excited over simple joys like going away, time to eat and taking her medicine (yup, we couldn’t even say the word). She loved following us around while making a meal and setting the table, holding on to the back of our shirts so she didn’t miss a thing. What she didn’t like and would squawk about was having her hair done and having lotion put on. Her other dislike was shoes and socks. They came off as fast as they went on, annoying her dad and probably the bus attendant as they repeatedly had to put them back on.

She enjoyed investigating and amazingly never bumped into anything making us and her teachers question the specialist about her eye sight. We were told over and again SHE CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING, not even light or shadows! Her hearing and “radar” apparently created an amazing avenue for her to navigate any area, even if it was unfamiliar territory. Achia also enjoyed eating chicken nuggets and popcorn shrimp. Snack of choice was fishy crackers. Her favorite activity was spinning and banging cylinders and bowls. NO ONE could spin something like Achia could!! MANY tried, never to achieve it. She was an enthusiastic worshipper, often jumping or clapping while expressing an “UH-HUH” now and then. At times she would gently tap her hand by her mouth while sitting on her knees soaking in the sounds of the praise music. The mouth tapping also happened frequently during the day and evening which was her way of letting us know she was content and happy. But her greatest love and ours too, was snuggle times! Just to hold her quietly in a chair (dad’s place) or on the couch (mom’s place) or all of us in bed together were times that were beyond precious! In our arms was truly her happy place!!

Achia overcame obstacles and defied the odds. She was filled with joy and blessed our lives beyond measure. God took two retirees and placed before them a task that looked too many as insurmountable or just plain crazy. He showed us that in His love, power, and strength all is possible.

Our hearts are broken and will miss the everyday care of Achia. We will miss her snuggles, love, laughter, and noise. We will miss feeding her, traveling with her, visiting her school, watching her worship, bang her toys, spin her cylinders, and even drooling on our shirts and the floor. All these things brought us joy! God’s child Achia was a survivor; strong, amazing, beautiful, and courageous. Achia was loved and gave love unconditionally. She touched so many lives in her 15 years of life. It has been an honor and privilege to call her our daughter and to have been chosen by God to be her mom and dad.

Thanks be to God for the gift of Achia, the little girl who changed our lives and the lives of many others. What she did was small and simple but God used those things in great ways that glorified HIM. Thank you, Achia, for all you have given and done. We love you and long for the day we see you again. Enjoy seeing, singing, and dancing as you freely worship Jesus. See you later precious one!

Love, Mom and Dad

Achia Pascal Beute, age 15, entered into the arms of her loving Lord, Jesus Christ, on April 17, 2026. Now, she is joyfully dancing with her Savior.

Achia was born on October 5, 2010, in Matany, Uganda. She found delight in life’s simple joys—chicken nuggets, fishy crackers, playing with her toys, car rides, naps on her dad’s lap, and praise and worship music. She especially loved to dance in church whenever music was played, bouncing and moving with joy in her own special way. She was also known for her sweet, generous hugs that made people feel deeply loved and seen. Her life was marked by a beautiful openness and unconditional love that she freely shared with all who knew her. She brought tremendous joy and was a true blessing, especially to her family.

Achia is lovingly remembered by her parents, David and Mary Beute; her siblings, Jenna and Mike Leys, Jeremy and Sonja Beute, Angie and Tim Sliedrecht, Mandy and Josh Shaarda, Dorothy and Ben Dusendang, Chris and Paulita Beute, Amanda and Ben Boverhof, and Kansas and Nick Vande Kopple; along with 30 nieces and nephews and one great-nephew.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Georgetown Christian Reformed Church, 6475 40th Avenue Hudsonville. Visitation with the family will take place on Friday from 2:00–4:00 PM and 6:00–8:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. Private interment will follow at Rosedale Memorial Park.

A heartfelt thank you to the nurses and doctors at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital for their compassionate care, and to her teachers at Ottawa Area Center for their love, patience, and kindness.

Memorial contributions may be made to Amecet Children’s Shelter or Ekisa Ministries. To read more of Achia’s life story, leave a memory, or sign the guestbook, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.