A Friendship Transformed into Hope: The Story of John Mataya
Some friendships don’t just stand the test of time—they change the world.
For John Mataya, our longest-giving Sustaining Angel, the story begins back in 1964 during his time in the Air Force. That was when he met Paul, a fellow service member who would quickly become one of his closest friends and his roommate for three years.
Paul & John (best man) at Paul and Nancy’s wedding
A few years later in Omaha, John attended a party and met a young woman named Nancy. As John fondly recalls:
“She didn’t like me very much at that time. The next week Paul came with me to another party that Nancy was going to be at and I introduced them. The rest is history.”
Though Paul and Nancy only lived in Omaha for two years, the bond between the three of them remained strong across the miles for decades.
A Journey That Changed Everything
In 2011, Paul reached out to John with a life-changing call, inviting him to visit their school in Chelekura, Uganda.
“It didn’t take long to say yes,” John remembered.
Upon arriving in Entebbe, John experienced a world entirely different from home. Traveling through Kampala and past the slums, he was struck by the stark reality of the region’s poverty. The journey to the school itself was an adventure through rugged terrain.
“On our way to JPS we would have to stop to get around a washout in the road. Whenever we stopped children would come out of the bushes to look at us. White people were very new to them.”
Finding Joy in Chelekura
When John finally arrived at John Paul School, the landscape of hardship dissolved into pure hope and joy. The connection to the students was instant.
“At the school I could see the love the children had for their school and the chance to get an education,” John said. “When they put on their music show their joy was infectious. I couldn’t help but to fall in love with this place, a whole world apart from where I lived.”
A Lifelong Commitment
Deeply moved by the passion of the students and the dedication of his lifelong friends, John knew he had to act.
“I decided to start donating as soon as I got back,” he reflected.
Since that memorable journey, John has faithfully supported the school month after month as a Sustaining Angel. Looking back on his decades of friendship with Paul and Nancy and the incredible legacy built at JPSS, John shares:
“I have told Paul and Nancy that I am more proud of donating to JPS than any other donations I make. I am also very proud of what Paul and Nancy have been able to accomplish at JPS and our ongoing friendship.”
John’s journey is a beautiful testament to the core of our mission: John Paul School simply would not exist without deep personal connections and unshakable commitments. Brick by brick, this entire campus was built on the foundation of relationships—friends reaching out to friends, family rallying together, and a community of compassionate hearts united by a shared purpose.
Through his unwavering support as our longest-giving Sustaining Angel, John continues to prove that when love and loyalty lead the way, friendship can truly transform lives across the globe.
Find out more about our Sustaining Angels program below:
