KAMPALA, UGANDA — Children in Uganda, who have undergone congenital heart surgery that was arranged through Children’s Heart Project, enjoy a Christ-focused week of Bible study, crafts, and games at Heart Camp in Kampala.

Irene Mwanje – Heart Camp Director:

The thing I love about Heart Camp is that Samaritan’s Purse will come and operate the children’s physical hearts, and then Heart Camp will come and bring healing to their spiritual hearts.

Cindy Bonsall – Samaritan’s Purse:

Children’s Heart Project Heart Camp is a way to disciple the children that have had heart surgery. A lot of these children come over for surgery when they’re infants. So we’re able to bring them when they’re six years old to camp, and they get to hear the gospel. It gives us the opportunity for children that have been through our program to all know the Lord. And they’re able to just make these incredible relationships with one another over the years.

Daisy – Heart Camper:

I love camp. It teaches us the word of God. It entertains us in games and sports.

Khloe – Heart Camper:

I want to come back to camp until 20 years.

Sheena – Children’s Heart Project Program Manager:

At 15 years, I had the opportunity to receive surgery through Children’s Heart Project. But I remember my life turning around at Heart Camp. Finally, I had brothers and sisters that I could relate to. We shared our experiences. We shared our backgrounds. We shared our testimonies. And I could see that they went through the same thing that I went through. Because the families don’t understand what congenital heart defects are, families believe that these children have been bewitched. This is a punishment from God. Children suffer neglect, abandonment.

Irene:

Some of the children say they used to call him the living dead. I mean, the expectation is that you’re going to die. These children come with wounded hearts.

Sheena:

So when children come to Heart Camp, a new chapter is opened in their lives.

Karen Bahizi – Heart Camp Co-Director:

They’ve been such wild abandon. They’re happy. They’re full of life.

April Johnson – Samaritan’s Purse:

They were once without breath, and they were once being carried. But now they’re running.

We want to teach them who it was, who was the God that healed their hearts, who gave them a new life.

Khloe:

I had a surgery. I was almost to die. But God saved my life. I have given my life to Jesus.

Sheena:

I heard about Jesus Christ during my trip to North America when I went for my surgery with Samaritan’s Purse. It just didn’t make sense to me. Also, what didn’t make sense to me was how much people loved us, how much they embraced us, how much they were willing to sacrifice so many things just for me to get a second chance at life. The second camp, I remember kneeling by my bed, and I said, “God…” The other time, they talked about Jesus. But this time, when I go to camp, I want to meet Him. And that’s how I ended up receiving Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Cindy:

I really believe Heart Camp was God-ordained. He gave us a verse in Isaiah, “All your children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” And what I have seen is many, many children accept Christ during camp and become leaders.

Joan – Heart Camper Leader:

I was five years old when Jesus came into camp, and now I’m 15. And now I feel so good that I’m taking care of other little children.

Joseph – Heart Camp Leader:

It’s very lovely that now I get to give what I have been given.

Reagan – Heart Camp Leader:

After giving my life to Christ, confidence grew in me. I keep telling these children that, “Look at me. Even I show them the scar. Look, I’m like you.” I’m playing one of the hardest, aggressive games. So if I have four medals, I can do everything you want. That is the point I am putting out to these children, so that they can also get confidence.

Joan:

I believe God brings problems for a reason. He knew me before I was born in my mother’s womb, so we should not look at our problems as roadblocks. When we see problems, God sends testimonies.

Sheena:

I pray that many children will continue to have surgery through Children’s Heart Project. And many children will have the opportunity to come to Heart Camp to meet Christ. No matter what challenges they may go through in the future, they will remain strong in Jesus Christ. And they will take this testimony and use it for the glory of God.

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Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Gabrielle Bouquet, news@samaritan.org

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