Buyamba News
Stories and news from Uganda and the U.S.
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Today I had the honor of talking to one of our long-term sponsors, Fran, on the phone. She called to check out how old her sponsored child is because it appeared that either the child (Thomas) or the Buyamba office had the date incorrect. We checked it out, and sure enough, her child got his age wrong on his recent letter. I explained that the kids in Uganda don't necessarily grow up celebrating their birthdays so he might be confused. Before we hung up, after establishing the correct information for Thomas, she told me that she had money set aside for him until he was 18, so she had to know if Thomas was 10 or 11 years old. The story that unfolded behind this information brought tears to my eyes because it was a story of a faithful sponsor called by God to care for a child she would most likely never see. Fran sponsored Thomas in 2016. The Lord had put on her heart to sponsor a child from Uganda because her good friend, whom she served for years as a preschool teacher, went back and forth each year to help children in Uganda. Fran's church at that time was Calvary Community Church in Westlake, which holds a child sponsorship opportunity every year. Fran was preparing for that future Sunday that it would be available to her at church to pick a child. She was a bit nervous about it because she had just retired and would live on a fixed income, but the Lord encouraged her to step out in faith. That same week, she received a communication from a bank to which she had no account.
It turns out this was an account her mother had left her two years before, but she had forgotten about it. The following Sunday "just happened to be" Sponsorship Sunday at her church. She faithfully stepped up to the Buyamba Uganda table to pick a child to whom she would commit. Fran said she looked around at a sea of smiling Uganda children, but the picture that grabbed her was sad. Picking up that photo and reading the child's background, she learned that the child's name was Thomas, which was her father's name that had just passed away. She knew right then that Thomas was hers. Fran found out soon after that it turns out the Lord had given her the TOTAL amount in that random bank account that Thomas would need for years to come until he was 18! God had met her in her step of faith beyond what she could ask or imagine. Fran loves to receive letters and photos of her child each year and was happy to tell me that in every picture since that day, Thomas is always smiling!
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My name is Racheal Namuddu. I am the firstborn of five children. I joined God Cares Schools in 2009. My story started when my parents constantly failed to meet all my school needs and requirements, so they decided to seek help for my education. At that time, Buyamba was running two good schools, God Cares Nursery and Primary School, and God Cares High School. The school focused mainly on children from poor family backgrounds and orphaned children who needed help to get an education. My mother was, and still is, a canteen (cafeteria) worker at God Cares Primary school. She reached out to the Buyamba offices and asked if they could offer me help and take me in so that I could have a brighter future.
I was once a hopeless child, but that is no longer my name. I am now a college graduate as of this May of 2022. I am currently serving as a teacher after following the advice given me by our social worker in Buyamba. As she had advised, I am a happy teacher during the school week and a Sunday school teacher at my church (Kabalagala Pentecostal Church). I am grateful to my parents, who constantly remind me to be thankful and serve diligently in every position the Lord entrusted me. There is no better way of expressing my gratitude to Buyamba Staff and our sponsors than to "THANK YOU, BUYAMBA, FOR BEING KIND TO US"
As most of you know, some classes at God Cares, Primary and Secondary Schools are back on campus. These are the specific classes that are there to study for the National Exams. This makes up about 300 kids in total. Many universities and trade schools have also started back up at different capacities (some being online). No matter the age, the students are grateful to be back to school and away from an exceedingly difficult season at home. One student recently wrote to his sponsor upon return to GCS. His story echoes the story of many of our students and reflects the heart of gratitude for our sponsors.
Universities and trade schools have also started up this October with some studies in person and others virtual, depending on the school. One student going back to school, virtually, is Derrick. Read his story...
Many of our students, like Derrick, are in need of laptops to assist with their virtual learning. A gift of $400 would grant us the ability to purchase a laptop. We can then empower a university student to continue their studies. However, a gift of any amount will help us in our efforts to equip these students!
On Thursday, October 15th, the doors of God Cares Primary School and High School reopened for three levels of students returning for their National Testing. The students are excited to be back, and so are the teachers and administrators. It was a happy reunion!
We will continue to carry out our mission to offer love, hope, and a future through education and discipleship…one child at a time.
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