Buyamba News
Stories and news from Uganda and the U.S.
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On Thursday, March 19, 2020, during our school chapel, the Headmaster announced that all students were to go home the following day, per the President's directives, following the Covid-19 outbreak. It was a surprise to all students, even though we were aware of the virus's existence. It was extreme excitement to most students, but to me, it was the opposite because I knew what home was…a flooding house!
My mum and two other siblings and I resorted to moving house to house, washing people's clothes, and doing other house chores to enable us to have something to eat and meet a few of our basic needs. The search for us got harder and harder since shortly after, a total lock down was announced. Life was difficult, and the days seemed to be appearing darker and darker. Fortunately, when the lock down was lifted a bit, Buyamba reached out to us with food and supplies. To us, this was like heavenly manna! The joy we felt cannot be expressed in words.
The time came when the water levels in the house were too high, we could not live in the house anymore, and we had to leave. We thank God that someone offered us a little shelter to stay in for a week. We reached out to Aunt Worship (Buyamba), and she helped us; she found us a place to stay with no floods, which is where we are currently living.
Despite all the hardships and trying dark times in this COVID 19 outbreak, Buyamba has been reaching out to us, checking on us, and providing us with food. All this has enabled us to hold on to the hope that "God indeed cares for us!" We are so thankful to our sponsors for all the love, care, and support towards us during these challenging and dark Covid-19 times. Thank you for believing in a great and brighter future for us. May God bless you all!
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When the President of Uganda announced the abrupt closure of schools in Uganda on March 20, 2020, trust me when I say that we didn't see this coming. We all thought that this virus was all going to end within a few weeks or maybe a month tops, but here we are, still living in uncertainty. Amidst it all, I am thankful to God, who has been so good to us. God continues to provide ... indeed GOD CARES. On behalf of the teachers and students of God Cares Schools, I am honored and humbled to extend our appreciation to the Buyamba Ministry. Thank you so much for standing with us and for not giving up on us; you have reached out to us in many ways, but most importantly, you have prayed for us.
Many schools in Uganda stopped supporting their teachers, even the "Big" private schools. We have heard from some of these teachers that the administration doesn't check on them, and they don't know what their teachers are going through. The teachers were the most affected people as far as workers are concerned. Many teachers in private schools have not been paid since the government temporarily shut down the schools, but the Buyamba ministry has managed to stand with their staff. This act of care is vast and has impacted the Buyamba staff in so many ways. One teacher gave his life to Jesus Christ because Buyamba has shown the love of Christ. Teachers often have many responsibilities. I know of some female teachers who are the breadwinners of their families. Other teachers have extended families looking to them for provision. All of us have to pay rent in our areas of residence, and we couldn't be doing this if we weren't receiving support from Buyamba. The food Buyamba shares with us usually provides for two-three weeks, depending on the family size. This is counted as a blessing, which has motivated teachers and sent them the message that they matter, and that they are in the right place. One teacher gave his life to Jesus Christ because Buyamba has shown the love of Christ. Words can't express how grateful we are, but indeed we are. We bless the Lord for you.
Earlier this week, a teacher in one school in Uganda set himself ablaze because he couldn't keep up with life anymore...he had no means to live. I thank God that none of the staff at God Cares has gone through such despair. God has been so good to us. It reminds us of the time the Israelites were in the desert under the leadership of Moses, but amidst it all, God was so good to them. We are grateful for our beloved sponsors and friends. We also appreciate the Buyamba administration in Uganda, for being faithful stewards because we know very many organizations that have not served their purpose. You have continued taking care of the students, reaching out to them, and giving them support. I was recently talking to one of the students who told me that if it weren't for the food provisions from Buyamba, his family would have died - they were really in a dark place, but God didn't forget them. Peace be with you all. We are praying that the good Lord blesses the works of your hands. May He prosper you all and give you more life. We are grateful for your support. We love you all, and we are proud to be a part of your lives. Worship reported that the food outreach team drove more than four hours this past weekend to reach the 100 student families that live in the far end of Jinja. The process required the team to stay overnight to distribute food to all the intended families. The situation in the outskirts of Jinja was far worse than the team had seen for the flood area was far-reaching, and stagnant water filled the area --which can bring more disease. It took awhile to find all the God Cares student families and the students who attended an approved school in Jinja called Blessed Hope School, for some families had been displaced.
Uganda remains in a lockdown state due to the Corona Virus, thankfully though, limitations on transportation have lightened, allowing God Cares teachers and staff to reach more students. During the lockdown, God Cares administration and staff have continued to work tirelessly, preparing assignments for students to stay on track while they are out of school. Take a moment to hear directly from the headteacher, Ernest, as he explains how the teachers are navigating through this time, and how we can be praying for our students. Since the transportation ban has been lightened, some students have been able to visit God Cares School campus to return their work and receive feedback from teachers. This process has been especially crucial for the "candidate classes" who will have to go through national testing this fall to advance to the next level.
"Allow me on my behalf, and behalf of other members to express our gratitude to the directors, rector, headteacher, and top administrators for the financial, spiritual, psychological support extended to us. We don't take it for granted, especially in this most difficult time of the 'devil' corona pandemic. You have shown that you're caring and loving parents who render service above self. In management, this is first-class human resource retention skills that ensure progress in an organization's continuity. The most valuable yet cheap word to express this is THANK YOU. God bless and stay safe." Buyamba’s latest effort in Uganda to deliver food to our student families was not easy. The Dongo family and helpers went into three villages to reach out to God Cares families living in slum areas where food is scarce, and heavy rainfall has caused flooding. Last week, they were able to reach 110 families in the villages of Bukasa, Nabutiti, and Kitalanga. The next two weeks will see hundreds more packages delivered. The Buyamba Team was well received by the families. Students ran to meet them wherever they went, screaming and embracing. The leader of the village of Nabutiti got on a loudspeaker and announced, “God Cares is here! They are here!” The team delivered food packages and visited with each family. Each package had a variety of food staples that would keep a family fed for 3-4 weeks. The families shared their stories and pointed out the damages that had occurred. Whatever the situation, the God Cares Team prayed over them, encouraging all to keep their eyes on the Lord. Worship emotionally explained, “The children and their families felt so loved, and they were so grateful. It was so hard to see many of them in desperate situations.”
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