Buyamba News
Stories and news from Uganda and the U.S.
Maria's grandmother is a widow, and her home is comprised of nine people. She is a small-scale market vendor who sells vegetables like onions, tomatoes, etc. Her earnings cover the basic domestic needs of her family. Due to the ongoing financial struggle, Maria's grandmother could never help her children go through school, nor could she pay for her granddaughter's school.
The social workers' office at God Cares School became aware of Maria's plight and invited her to school. Maria was blessed with a sponsor through Buyamba Outreach Ministries in Uganda and began school in 2019. She loves her studies, recently graduated from kindergarten, and has advanced to the Primary level. Maria is full of hope and can now dream big because of the quality education she gets from GCS, the love and support of her sponsor, and her new family…the God Cares family.
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My name is Maria Gorrett Nassolo, and I am currently a student of Early Childhood Development at a trade school called the YMCA Comprehensive Institute. I grew up with my grandmother. At three months old, my mother abandoned me and left me with my father, who could not take care of me. In the same village where I was staying with my father, there was an old lady who loved kids so much and could take care of them, even those not related to her. My father decided to take me to her home. She loved me even though I was not in her biological family.
"God surely knows His own." I joined God Cares High for my secondary level. In 2016 when in my S4 year, my grandmother passed away. I felt my life had come to an end. God surely knows His own; He created a way for me and gave me a new family. After my grandmother passed away, a friend told me I could live with her family. She took me to her home. I was accepted again and taken in as a child; since then, they have become family. God is so good.
In 2018, I completed my high school level. I joined a Tertiary Institute, where I am finishing my Certificate in Early Childhood Development. I thank God that amidst all challenges, He always created a way through for me. I thank God that my dream of becoming a teacher is becoming a reality. I thank my sponsors and Buyamba Outreach Ministries for loving, caring, and not giving up on me. May God bless all of you for helping me! The recent annual parent meeting for the students at God Cares High School took an unusual turn when Worship Dongo Byakika, the CEO of Buyamba in Uganda, asked for questions or comments at the end of the meeting. One mother stood up, wearing the traditional Muslim attire, and started thanking the administration at GCS for all they had done for her son. Apparently, she had seen a dramatic difference in her once disobedient son this past year, who told his mom that he had accepted Jesus into his heart as his Savior. She was so taken with his transformation and a new love for the family that she asked how she might also be saved. 
Pastor Florence Dongo leads GCHS Mothers in a prayer for salvation Immediately, another mother of Muslim descent stood up, testifying to the dramatic change for the better in her daughter. She also asked how she might also know Jesus as Savior.
It didn’t stop there, for three other moms stood up asking the same question. The meeting took a turn, and all were excited and amazed at what was happening. Pastor Florence immediately stood up and took the lead to lead these five women in a prayer of salvation. There was so much joy that night among the parents who rejoiced over these women and the ongoing discipleship of the children at God Cares School that impacted their families. 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! 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. |
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