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We learned about God Cares School, Buyamba, in late 2005. Our church at the time hosted the late Pastor Betheul Dongo in Sebring, Florida. My husband I were blessed to provide his transportation during his stay in our town. To know Pastor Dongo was to love him! He enthusiastically shared his vision for the school with our church and several others.Our church at the time hosted the late Pastor Betheul Dongo in Sebring, Florida. My husband I were blessed to provide his transportation during his stay in our town. To know Pastor Dongo was to love him! He enthusiastically shared his vision for the school with our church and several others.Our church at the time hosted the late Pastor Betheul Dongo in Sebring, Florida. My husband I were blessed to provide his transportation during his stay in our town. To know Pastor Dongo was to love him! He enthusiastically shared his vision for the school with our church and several others. Afterward his presentation to our church, we selected Deborah, age 10, from his display table. We committed to supporting her education with additional support for extra events. It was wonderful receiving letters from her, regular photographs and her report cards. What a joy for her to graduate in 2016. She wanted to earn a college degree. We were grateful we could continue to provide support. She then was accept to attend Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development for a Degree of Arts in Social Development. She graduated January 2022. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Her progress was amazing and such a joy to watch her blossom and develop into a well-educated citizen of Uganda. Her heart was set to help others. We thank God for the privilege of providing support while Pastor Dongo’s dream grew and flourished into 25 years of untold lives being enhanced. We praise God for his family that has continued to serve Jesus, one child at a time! We praise God for this privilege. We are enjoying our second child, a young girl. What a joy to help support this fantastic ministry. Bill and Debbie Lees I was first introduced to God Cares School in 2010 by a friend in our life group at Calvary Community church in Thousand Oaks, Ca. She had been involved in helping Pastor Dongo with his traveling ministry. She invited him to come to a home and share sponsorship opportunities. I was so moved by the stories and excited to be able to sponsor 2 students. One of them has since graduated from university, so now I am sponsoring a different student who was new to the program.
Julie's story of how she came to Buyamba ... It was around 2002 when I first met a visiting Pastor Dongo in the halls of Hillcrest Christian School through the computer teacher, Degna Horton. I was working as an administrator and teacher, and Pastor Dongo shared with us during a chapel about his children in Uganda, and I felt God's leading to open the door to help. I didn't know then that a few years later, in 2007, God would call my husband David and I and a new Board of Directors to take over the Buyamba ministry from the beautiful hands of Jerry & Pat Lehman, who had started Buyamba U.S. ministry in Kingston, New York. Together, we reopened the ministry in California, and from there, God continued his work of expansion into the lives of many churches, schools, sponsors, and donors.
In 2010, I was still teaching at HCS and running Buyamba, and the ministry became so big I could not handle both jobs. The Lord led me to pray about which job he would call me to full-time. It became clear that although I was still passionate about Christian education, God was doing something different. He called me to help God Cares School in Uganda and continue expanding his work in the U.S. as the Executive Director. It has been an amazing adventure with the Lord that has led me to Uganda and back 11 times and the ability to interface with thousands of sponsors, donors, and volunteers in the U.S. that God has called to help! I have never looked back, and I am grateful for the blessing of Buyamba and working sponsors and donors who are making such a difference! There are some fantastic creative givers in the Buyamba Community, and The Griswold family is one of these unique donors! I have had the privilege of knowing the Griswold Family for over ten years. God has blessed Buyamba continuously through them, and I have been impacted personally by this family, ongoing, and have had the privilege of going to Uganda with Natalie Griswold. I recently visited part of the family at Mark and Sandy Griswold’s home in Huntington Beach. I was welcomed with cheerful hearts and lots of stories from the couple and their daughters Whitney, Natalie, and Annjolie, not to mention a fantastic lunch. I wanted to take some time to sit down with all of them to talk about the incredible legacy giving their family has been empowered over the years through the former patriarch of the family, John C. Griswold. Buyamba has been a recipient of part of their annual giving through the family foundation opportunity for over a decade. The Griswold Family:(left) Annjolie, Whitney, Natalie, Sandy & Mark Griswold The beautiful thing about how the John C Griswold Foundation (Est.1978) is set up is that the family gets together once yearly and is charged with giving philanthropically. The family has identified the charities they will financially support through grants. Every family voice counts; each person gives an update on the non-profit of their choice and what they have accomplished through the gift given in the previous year.
This wise man knew his family would be blessed by coming together once a year and having the opportunity to give. John started the family foundation in 1978 as a vehicle of giving, and then he passed it on to his two children as recipients after his passing in 1987. They continue to get their families together once a year for this particular purpose. As the years went by, John’s children married and had children who are now having their own children. Today, John’s great grandchildren are part of the giving force, and some of their children are learning the concept too! I heard many stories of the growth and transformation of this man’s massive gift to the family over the years. It was not always easy, but love prevailed through the generations in this family, who are now passing it down. As I met with part of Mark’s family that day, I was touched by how they thoroughly enjoyed each other. As they shared the story of their family giving, they all recognized the value of their gift and the gift they continue to be empowered to share with charities they love. Buyamba is blessed to be among the recipients. The Griswold family has helped Buyamba in the building process of God Cares Schools over the years, and have helped build classrooms, dorms, and the assembly hall, and even joined the effort to put on a bible camp for the primary school one year. Together the family has served the population of God Cares School through the years. Their generosity has touched thousands of children, and thousands more will benefit from their Buyamba-building efforts in years to come. This family has genuinely touched Buyamba with their love gifts for the ministry and each other with their creative giving! By Julie Dimas Executive Director |
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