Children After God’s Own Heart

On a warm, sunny afternoon on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, dozens of boys and girls run, laugh, smile, and play various childhood games on a large, grassy lawn. Boys race about kicking a soccer ball, while several girls jump rope. Others giggle as they attempt to twirl hula hoops around their waists. Later, they all test their strength in a challenging game of tug of war. Nothing special, some might say. But for these kids, these simple physical feats would have been impossible just a few years ago. And some of them likely wouldn’t even be alive.

Each of these children, who range in age from 6 to 12, has undergone critical congenital heart surgery that was arranged by Children’s Heart Project, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. They are among the nearly 1,600 boys and girls from over a dozen countries who have received heart operations through the programme over the past 27 years.

Connect the Children

The kids playing on the lawn have come to Kampala to attend the 2024 Heart Camp, an annual week-long retreat for children in Uganda who have had heart surgery through our programme. Two camps are held each year, one for these younger kids, the other for teens, ages 13 to 17. The camps allow these children to realise more fully that they are physically healed—they can run and play just like other boys and girls—and it creates an environment where they can bond with one another over their shared experiences. It is also Christ-focused and discipleship oriented.

“These children come with wounded hearts,” said Irene Mwanje, the camp’s director. “Heart Camp brings together these children who have been rescued from death and helps lead them into God’s purpose for their lives.”

Karen Bahizi, Heart Camp co-director, echoed those thoughts. “The purpose of Heart Camp is to let these children know that they’re healed physically and that they can also be healed spiritually,” she said. “It’s also a time for them to forget their worries because most of them come from impoverished homes. This is a place for them to be loved on and just feel special. But, most of all, to know God and His love for them.”

Cindy Bonsall, Children’s Heart Project director, conceived of Heart Camp in 2010 after God led her to “connect the children” who have undergone surgery. She said God gave her the promise of Isaiah 54:13, “All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”

“A lot of these kids have surgery when they’re a year old or two or three years of age,” Cindy said. “They’re too young to hear the Gospel, so Heart Camp is an opportunity for them to hear it themselves. We’ve seen many of them accept the Lord at camp.”

A New Chapter

Each day during camp, the children attend Bible class, participate in praise and worship, create fun arts and crafts projects, and enjoy various sports activities. Even after surgery, many of the kids are held back by their parents out of fear that their child isn’t a hundred percent healthy. At camp, the boys and girls gain confidence when they see other kids with the same scar on their chest running and playing. They also feel accepted and loved. Many children born with heart defects in Africa suffer neglect and even abandonment. Some families believe these children are bewitched and that God is punishing them. One child at camp said he was referred to as “the living dead.”

“When children come to Heart Camp, a new chapter is opened in their lives,” said Sheena Basemera, programme manager for Children’s Heart Project in Uganda. “They learn that God loves them and that they can know God personally. A child who has come from a background of abandonment or neglect, now is being embraced.”

Sheena personally knows the value of Heart Camp. She underwent heart surgery when she was 15 and attended her first Heart Camp in 2012, when it was introduced in Uganda. (Heart Camp is also offered in two other countries, including Bolivia.) Following her surgery, Sheena struggled with many questions. Was she totally healed? Was she normal? Why did God give her a second chance at life when so many others with heart defects perished? At camp, she discovered that the other kids there battled similar doubts and questions.

“My life turned around at Heart Camp,” she said. “I met children who were like me. I saw children with scars and their stories were similar to mine. 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 things that I went through.”

Sheena gave her life to Christ the second time she attended Heart Camp. Now, she helps manage the camp, along with Irene and Karen. “The teachers here speak life into these children,” she said. “I see children being transformed emotionally and spiritually. They come out of camp knowing that they can do anything and can be a good person because someone here told them that they loved them and cared about them.”

“I love coming here!”

Eleven-year-old Khloe is attending her third Heart Camp. She accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour this year. “Here I learnt that Jesus died for our sins. He took our place,” she said. “I like the teachers here because they teach us about God and that He wants us to live forever with Him in Heaven. One day, I’d like to be a teacher at camp and tell kids about Jesus. I love coming here!”

Daisy, also 11, has attended camp four times. She loves to read the Bible. Her favourite verse is Matthew 4:4 when Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

“It’s my favourite verse because it points us to the Bible,” she said. “I love camp. It teaches us the Word of God. That’s what I like most.” Daisy’s parents lost two children from heart defects before Daisy was born. After Daisy’s surgery, her mother gave her life to Christ. “I saw how the people with Children’s Heart Project were so kind and loving just because of Jesus,” she said. “I wanted that relationship built on faith and trust and love in Jesus Christ, too. So, I started my journey of salvation.”

Leaders in Training

Some children who have attended Heart Camp later become mentors through the camp’s Leaders in Training programme. Reagan, 17, is one of them. He underwent surgery when he was 2 years old to repair four holes in his heart. He’s attended Heart Camp eight times and became a Christian there.

“After giving my heart to Christ, confidence grew in me,” he said. At home, Reagan wasn’t even allowed to wash dishes or attend school following his operation out of fear that he would exert too much energy. “I was told that I would die early if I didn’t protect myself.”

But at Heart Camp Reagan discovered that he was fully healed and could run and play like other kids. And it’s where he learnt that God loved him. “I didn’t know anything about God. But at camp they told me that God loves me and that they love me. That’s why I keep coming back.” Now Reagan is captain of his school’s handball team and has won numerous medals competing for his school and for a Ugandan national team. He serves as a mentor, he says, to inspire other children and lead them to Christ.

“I want these kids to know Christ and follow Him,” Reagan said. “When you give your life to Christ, your life will immediately change. Our hearts are darkened, but the blood of Jesus washes them clean.”

Prayer for the Children

At the end of each day, the leaders gather to pray for the children. “We want to continually pray, day by day, for these children and invest in their lives,” said April Johnson, regional host coordinator for Children’s Heart Project. “My prayer for Heart Camp is that it continues to be a safe haven for these children where they can come together and feel loved and cared for and grow in their faith.”

Sheena agreed. “I pray that many children will continue to have surgery through Children’s Heart Project and that 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, [I pray] they will remain strong in Jesus Christ and they will take this testimony and use it for the glory of God.”

Please pray for the dozens of children who will receive heart surgery this year through Children’s Heart Project and for those who will attend Heart Camp, that they will encounter the risen Christ and make Him the Lord and Saviour of their lives.