I can't remember what year it was, but we were visiting my husband's brother Jerry at his farm in New York state, at the same time as Pastor Dongo was there. It was a real pleasure to meet him, we had heard so much about him when Jerry was in Uganda. Kelly Kreps, a neighbor, came over and they were talking about possibly setting up a sponsorship program for the increasing number of AIDS orphans being taken in by families in Kabagala Pentecostal Church. Kelly wrote out a check, handed it to Pastor Dongo, and said, "Here's a sponsorship for one child." There was no thought of a school yet, but God Cares was launched in that moment.

I first heard about Buyamba when I was attending Calvary Community church. From time to time the Dongo‘s would come to the church and share about their ministry in Uganda. In 2017 I heard about an opportunity for international mission trips through the church, and I really felt God nudging me to go on one of them. I asked my mom if she would go with me on a mission trip and apprehensively she said yes. She picked the trip to Uganda, and we were off to Kampala with a team of four others from the church!

We had the most amazing week there getting to know the Dongo family, seeing the God Cares School campuses, visiting the slums where many of the God Cares students are from, and delivering water filtration systems to many neighborhoods and schools. It was humbling to see how happy and thankful the people were to have access for the first time to clean and safe water near their homes and schools. The first trip to Uganda was life-changing and immediately after that trip my mom and I started sponsoring Prosper so that he could attend the school and board there as well.

For the next several years, we were planning to return to Uganda this time as a family with my dad and sister coming with us. That trip was delayed for a few years because of the pandemic but finally we were able to return in July 2023 with a team from Buyamba (and as a newlywed I was able to share Uganda with my husband, too!)

There’s nothing like going back to Uganda and feeling like you are finally reunited with family! We experienced miracles, and again it was a trip that will never be forgotten. Our love for Uganda grew even deeper on this recent trip and our family expanded when my husband and I met Precious and her brother Isaiah. They are our new sponsor children and they started attending God Cares School in January 2024!

In the six years since I first traveled to Uganda, it has been amazing to see the growth and developments that have taken place at both of the campuses, the farm, within the Dongo family, and the Buyamba organization. They are doing amazing things to spread the good news of Jesus and share God’s love all around Uganda. We have been so blessed to be a small part of it! Praise God!

I had the privilege of joining the Calvary Community Church short-term missions to God Cares for four consecutive summers from 2012 thru 2015. I had the joy of meeting one of my sponsored girls and look forward to meeting my current sponsored daughter in the future . She is now in University.

I will always remember the wonderful worship services at KPC with Pastor Dongo singing to Jesus “you deserve the Glory and the Honor as I lift my hands in worship and praise your Holy name.”
Those words describe the heart of Buyamba and the Dongo family. Helping Uganda …one child at a time to the Glory and Honor of God.

I partnered with some fellow teachers way back in the early 2000s. At that time, they were with another ministry. Then they became part of Buyamba. It has been sweet seeing the handwritten letters and the photographs of the beautiful young ladies that I have the privilege to support. Maybe one day, I can go to Uganda and see them! My favorite memory is from January 13, 2018. I had some personal medical issues and took a break from sponsorship to catch up on some medical payments. Then one day, my former adopted student was strong on my hear, so I reached out to Julie to see how she was doing and to ask to become a sponsor again. On that day, January 3, 2018, Jovia's new sponsor had to stop donations unexpectedly, so not only was I able to sponsor again, but I was able to sponsor my same student! It was a big moment for me to see how much God cares about each of us! Since then, I have taken on another student, and I am very proud of all the work they do. Thank you, Buyamba, for letting me make a difference in the girls' lives.

I believe I got involved with Buyamba around 2009. Julie called me and said you need to HELP! I was excited to jump in and took over the processing of the credit cards.
Our family sponsored Brian Gumira from primary to trade school and now sponsor Milka Ndagire. I love working with Buyamba!!