Mountain of God

Behind a steel gate surrounded by a tall, brick fence laughter and songs can be heard in the yard. Beyond the yard lies a sturdy little house that is home to over 40 children. This is Camp El Har.

Camp El Har (Mountain of God) is a place of refuge for children whose lives have been forever changed by the AIDS crisis. These children have lost one or both parents to the disease and may even be carrying it themselves. But it's not a sad place to be. In the world's eyes, these children are orphans. In their eyes, they've been given a new family and a new hope.

It's one of our favorite places to be while we're in Uganda. The children's laughter is contaigious, their worship pure, and their love unconditional.

Eva, one of the girls our family sponsors, lives here. Eva's father died of AIDS. Her mother is still living and has remarried. From what we have gathered, she was being mistreated at home and just as her mother was about to take her out to the bush and abandon her (something she had already done with her older children, but decided to wait because Eva was still too little), AMG took custody of her.

We had the opportunity to speak to a husband and wife (Americans) who minister with AMG Uganda for 3 months out of the year. They were there when Eva was first brought to Camp El Har. They said she hid under the table so afraid of other people. The thought of her cowering under a table, not completely understanding what was going on, and afraid that someone would hurt her breaks my heart.

But Camp El Har has given her a place to allow hope to grow inside of her. This sweet girl no longer hides from other people. In fact, she has become a strong role model at the Camp, leading worship and guiding the younger kids.

When she first came to Camp El Har she was in grade 3. Since she was struggling so much, they ended up sending her back to grade 1. The last few years we've been there, Eva has been within the top 5 of her class - a bright girl who only needed a chance to shine.

When we first met Fahad in 2008, he had sores on his head, his face looked swollen, and his eyes looked weary. His mother had passed away, and his father is a Muslim man with many wives. Fahad stayed with one of these other women, but was also mistreated (a common thing that happens in Uganda when a child loses a parent and they stay with other relatives).

AMG took custody of him and brought him to Camp El Har in March of 2009. In 4 months, Fahad changed so much that when his father was able to come visit him for the first time, he didn't even recognize his own son.

Each child living at the Camp has a story about the transformation that took them from overwhelming heartache to endless hope. And although these children continue to face struggles, they have a place to call home, and a family formed by God to help them through.

AMG is in the process of building a new facility that will be home to over 80 children and will include a chapel, classrooms, recreational areas, and so much more.

Before coming to Camp El Har, these children had very little chance of being able to attend school, recive medical care, or in some cases even survive. But AMG is not only allowing them the opportunity to do all of those things, but also giving them a chance to have hope. And that hope that lives inside of them, will one day help them change the world.

- Aly

I Carry You In Me

Now that I have seen

I am responsible

Faith without deeds is dead.

Now that I have held you

In my own arms

I cannot let go til you are...

I will tell the world

I will tell them where I've been



I will keep my word.

I will tell them...

From Albertine by Brooke Fraser

- Aly

Ugandan You Should Know

In the coming weeks, we would like to introduce you to some of the people and programs we have the privilege of working closely with while in Uganda, so while we're over there, you will have a little bit of background knowledge when we refer to the people we're ministering with. First off, my dad would like to introduce you to Dr. Reuben Musiime: Dr. Reuben Musiime is the director of AMG (Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel) Uganda , Africa . I first met Reuben in the fall of 2005 when he visited our local church to share the ministry that was taking place in Uganda . Since that night I have been blessed to have the opportunity to work with him in the many facets that he has been called to do In Uganda. Reuben was born in the village of Bugongi which is located in western Uganda . After finishing high school a civil war was taking place in Uganda and the church was under heavy persecution by former military dictator Idi Amin. This difficult time forced Reuben to go into Kenya where he met some American missionaries who were teachers at a Bible college where he began his studies graduating in 1983. A short time later Reuben went to the United States where he received a BA from Calvary Bible College in Kansas City , a Master's Degree in Christian Education from the Dallas Theological Seminary and his PhD. in education from the University of North Texas . While studying in America Reuben's wife Florence joined him and it was here that he started his family. While Reuben had many opportunities to stay in the States and enjoy a comfortable life, he felt the Lord was leading him in another direction. That direction, of course, was back to Uganda . Reuben shared with me, after dinner one evening, that he loved his country and his people & had a burden for the difficulties. After spending much time in prayer with his wife, and connecting with AMG International in Chattanooga , Tennessee , Reuben and his family returned to Uganda . A decision they have never regretted. The ministry work consists of child sponsorship which provides for food, clothing, medical treatment and biblical teaching for 1200+ children. AMG Uganda operates 5 childcare Centers throughout Uganda in which 2 of the centers have on site medical centers to meet the needs of the local people. Also in operation is the Camp El Har orphanage which now is home for 40 children. A new facility is presently under construction to provide for the needs of these children. While the spiritual needs seem overwhelming AMG Uganda's ministry also includes gospel radio broadcasts, prison ministry and pastor training. Many pastors in the remote villages have little or no theological training. Through partnership with churches and religious teachers from the United States , pastor conferences are held annually to equip and train these pastors with the ministry skills needed to teach the word of God faithfully. Reuben is the first to say that it is through God's grace that many people are receiving much needed help and that all things done are for His glory. - Dean

From the Archives

It was Sunday August 2nd, we were preparing to attend church services at The Breath of Life Church . The newly built church stands strong and proud as people come together to worship and to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The church has faced opposition where it is located, with a cult on one side and the Muslim community on the other. During the night thieves had come in and cut the electrical wires and taken them. It seemed impossible to carry on with the service, the message of the pastor would not be heard!


The Choir of voices sang louder, singing praises to the King of Kings, the pastor was able to belt out the message loud enough for all to hear! Nothing would stop this body of believers from hearing the word of God that day. What a testimony to the neighboring houses and community that this body of believers didn't fear, but rather came together and stood united to worship in the house of the Lord that day.


Although the church wasn't sure how the electricity would be replaced, or where the money would come from, there was great hope and joy in knowing that God provides. Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding:In all your ways acknowledge Him, And he shall direct your paths."


- Karen

Life Subject to Change: God is on African Time

If you've listened us speak at church or talked with us about our trip, you may have heard us joking about the difference between African Time and Muzungu Time.

Muzungu (pronounced kind of like moo-ZOON-goo) is a word we hear over and over (and over and over) while in Uganda. The kids shout it on the street as we drive by, 'Muzungu!' When we're speaking at a church and the pastor is introducing us, he might speak in the native language. We have no idea what he is saying, but one of the words we can pick up on: Muzungu. It simply means white person.

So Muzungu Time is basically the white person's time. As Americans, we take time seriously. If you tell someone a meeting starts at 6pm, what you really mean is if you show up at 6 you're late.

African Time is a bit different. When the driver says he'll pick you up at 9am, and he's on African time, 9 am could mean he gets there at 9. But more often than not, it means he might pull up, at the earliest, around 9:15. You're better off not expecting him until 9:30, but make sure you have something to keep you occupied in case you're waiting until 9:59, or if something really out of the ordinary happens (like the driver needs to put new tires on the bus before you make a 6 hour drive) and he doesn't come until 11:30.

It goes back to what we said before about how Africans are people oriented. The task isn't quite as important as the relationships you build along the way. We've been able to build some strong friendships in the time we've spent waiting.

We joke back and forth about the different perspectives of time, but African Time has taught me a lot in life.

Last year before we left, I prayed that God would guide me in knowing His plan for my life. I had just graduated from college with my teaching degree, I had no permanent job lined up for the beginning of the next school year, I had decided not to start grad school right away, and I had an ever increasing desire to pursue full-time missions work in Uganda. I left home convinced that I would know exactly where God wanted me, when He wanted me to go, and what I needed to do to get there.

Looking back, I kind of have to laugh at myself. God sure did answer my prayer, but it wasn't in the way I thought He would.

We came home and a few short weeks later I was bed-ridden with some illness no one could figure out. This entire year hasn't turned out the way I had planned. When I started college, I never once imagined that there wouldn't be a job for me. I figured I'd graduate, get a job, and start doing what I love to do - what I believe God created me to do - teach. But life didn't quite turn out that way.

Last year when we arrived in Bugongi, a small village in Western Uganda, we received an itinerary for the week. At the bottom it said the schedule was subject to change.

Isn't that just like life? I think life should come with a disclaimer:

Life subject to change. God is on African Time.

God doesn't work in our time. We can't give Him a timetable, and He pays no attention to our deadlines.

Trust me. I've been sick for 10 months. If God worked on my time, I would've been healed approximately 9 months 3 weeks and 4 days ago.

I don't know what's going on in your life right now, but maybe God's just not showing up the way you thought He would show up. Or maybe you've been waiting for something to happen and it seems like God is not working in your situation, or even worse, that He's forgotten you altogether.

I want to encourage you to remember that His ways are not our ways, and His timing is perfect even when we don't understand it. God always has a plan. He knows where we're headed, and He'll get us there in His time. But for now we wait, we trust, and we love.

Life subject to change: God is on African Time.

- Aly

Our Buddy

Meet Buddy.

Buddy is the fourth member of our team. He likes eating honey, cuddling, and long luxurious bubble baths. Ok, so maybe not, but he really is an important member of our ministry team. He's the unofficial spokesbear for AMG Uganda, and he even has his own passport.

We introduced him to the kids one day and they absolutely loved him. He wears the same uniform that the AMG sponsored kids wear, which they find pretty hilarious. We explained that in America, Buddy means friend, and that's exactly what Buddy is - their friend. And he comes with a message and that message is...and then we'll share a Bible message with the kids.

He's loved by children

and adults alike.

He loves to play games, and share with the children. But his very favorite is finding someone who needs a hug.

Someone who needs a Buddy.

And just like the rest of the team, after a long day of ministry he likes to unwind by laying under his mosquito net (don't want to get bit), listening to MercyMe, and reading his Bible.

Buddy is one of us. And we're glad he's part of our team!

- Aly

One Child at a Time

Last week on the blog, I issued a challenge to find sponsors for children in Uganda who had lost theirs. I challenged anyone who is reading this blog to consider it, as well as going out and challenging others you know. I prayed that God would open people's hearts to impact the lives of these children.

I'm so thankful today because a family has stepped up and chosen to help. This family told me the decision came after a trip to Walmart. They went to buy potting soil and flowers for the garden at their home. When they saw that the total cost for the materials came to $26 something happened in their hearts, and they knew that they had to sponsor a child. This family already sponsors a child through AMG, as well as children from other programs around the world. They are not an insanely wealthy family with money to just throw around wherever. They just ordinary people who believe in God's amazing provision.

When I asked why they chose to sponsor through AMG the mother replied, "Because we can see that AMG is bearing fruit. AMG is making a difference. There are hungry children all over the world. We could give our money here or there, but with AMG they are also fed the Word of God. They come to know the hope of Jesus. If we can do something to help children know Jesus, then we want to do it."

Wow. My heart is soaring right now! This family gets it. They understand the impact they can have on one child's life, a child like Solomy.

Solomy was born prematurely with a crippled leg at a medical facility that was not equipped to provide for her needs. As she grew, she was still unable to walk and instead made her way around by dragging herself through the dirt. Our good friend, George Miller (who you may remember is the one who started us with AMG sponsorship) began to sponsor her after meeting her on an AMG mission adventure. He began telling her story and raised money for her to receive medication, physical therapy, and a wheelchair.

At age 11, Solomy was finally able to begin attending school. In a very short amount of time, she went from crawling around in the dirt to walking with the help of a walker. After some much needed (but impossible for the family to afford on their own) medical care, doctors believe that Solomy will be able to walk on her own by the end of this year.

There are so many children who, if just given a chance, would surely thrive. We see and hear stories of so many children with great potential, but don't have the proper nutrition or medical care and can't go to school, and in turn they cannot fully achieve the great things God has planned for them. Every child has the right to eat at least one meal a day, to receive an education and medicine when they are sick.

But, unfortunately, without some outside help these children aren't even afforded what we consider basic human rights. Without some outside help, children like Solomy don't have a chance.

If it weren't for this sponsorship, Solomy would still be crawling in the dirt. She wouldn't know the wonders of learning to read and write. She wouldn't know what it's like to feel the wind brush her face as she walks.

The Bible says, "If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need, but shows no compassion - how can God's love be in that person? Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." - 1 John 3:17-18.

I'm not trying to guilt anyone into sponsorship. We must choose where and how we will focus our love to make a difference. Today I am simply conveying pure, Biblical truth. Jesus gave us an example of love when He gave His life for us, and He tells us we must be willing to do the same. This doesn't mean we need to go around looking for ways to die for other people, but we do have to be willing to give up the parts of our life that are important to us - luxuries, time, money.

It is $28 a month to sponsor a child. If you feel God tugging at your heart, I pray that you will email us at housers4uganda@yahoo.com. You have a chance to take part in an amazing story that will change a child's life, as well as your own.

Very few of us can change the world millions of dollars at a time, but each of us can change this world for good one child at a time.

- Aly