Reaching the Children of Rwanda

Dear Friends and Family,

I apologize for not posting any blogs in the last couple weeks. And now I have so much to write about! I will try to keep this post short and sweet.

A week ago tomorrow, I finished up an incredible 3 weeks at Hope Haven and said goodbye (for now) to some people I absolutely adore. I cannot thank the people at Hope Haven enough for allowing to be apart of their ministry. It really is an amazing thing they are doing in Murindi.

That said, the past week (has it really only been a week?) with Benjamin at Reach the Children of Rwanda has been incredible! Here I travel to a school in a place called Gahanga almost every day with my sweet translator and friend, Phiona. We write profiles for children in RCRI’s sponsorship program and conduct home visits to see what these children really live like and experience on a daily basis. I have only been doing this for a few days and I already feel like I have seen enough poverty, sickness, and hardship to last me a life time. 

For example: meet Petronile. 

She is a sweet young girl. Everyone says she is never happy. She never smiles. She never has fun. Here’s why: Petronile has no mother. Her father is God only knows where. She shares a one room house with 8 other people in the middle of the African bush. They struggle finding something to eat on a daily basis. She walks for an hour up hills and through the bush so that she can go to school. She is only 14 years old. She has had enough hardships in her 14 years than most people have had by the time they reach the ripe old age of 90. After everything she has gone through she dreams of one day becoming a doctor so that SHE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE SICK. Can you believe that?! People should be tripping all over each other for the chance to take care of this young woman and SHE wants to help OTHERS? Oh that we would all think like Petronile. No matter our situation, our backgrounds, our lives, we should always be thinking of others. People always say “think like Jesus. Act like Jesus would.” Well this 14 year old has it down and she probably doesn’t even realize it. Our God works in amazing ways doesn’t He? I came to Rwanda to help and to minister but look at this: people, CHILDREN, are ministering to me.

A small part of Gahanga

A little boy in Gahanga. I couldn't resist sharing his adorable face with you all:)

This weekend I went with Benjamin and my sweet new friend Godance to a place called Nyabihu in the western province of Rwanda. You have never seen beauty until you have seen this place. It was incredible. RCRI is building a beautiful little school in this little village. I can already see the community that is going to come out of creating a singular place of education for the children of Nyabihu. I got to play soccer with a bunch of young boys (and some cows), listened to a precious children’s choir, and helped paint the inside of the school with its teachers. I also learned a clapping game/song in kinyarwanda. I was very proud of myself after this accomplishment:) These children are some of the dirtiest and smelliest children I have ever met. And it is hard being shoulder to shoulder, face to face with them. It really is. And yet Jesus never told us to only love the clean and the well off, did He? That is when you can look past the dirt, the boogers, the coughs, and spit, and say “look how beautiful you are. Look how smart you are. Do you know that I love you? Do you know that Jesus loves you even more?” Oh that is contentment. That is when you can just imagine Jesus sitting right next to you guiding your words, your actions, and reminding you that these little ones are His. And they are precious in His sight. 

The school in Nyabihu.

Me and my Mama for the weekend, Godance.

My soccer pals.

Today Benjamin and my good friend Phiona and I drove an hour outside of Kigali to boarding school where three young boys live. These boys lived on the streets before Benjamin, out of the kindness of his heart, took them in gave them food from his own table and a place to stay. Today these boys are healthy and strong. They are going to school. They are learning and growing in the best environment, among great teachers. Talk about God using a man to work in the lives of His children. Benjamin trusted God and now three former street boys are receiving an education, daily meals, and their own beds. 

Amahoro (sp), Eric, and Eric

I want to share one other experience with you all. Benjamin and I stopped in a small village on the top of hill very close to where his house is. He had to talk to some people about business things. After that was done we walked down this dirt path back to the truck where we stood conversing with one woman. While we were standing there a group of about 3 women come walking up to us and started speaking to Benjamin in Kinyarwanda. Before I know it he is hurrying to the car saying “This woman is in labor!” Um sorry what? This lady is in labor? Where is the moaning and the groaning? Where’s the lady doubling over in pain? This woman is in labor and I have already decided that she is my hero. She just sat in the back seat of the truck taking deep breaths, not saying a word. Oh I wanted to do something to help! I was panicking more than she was! Benjamin told me at that time that she was also bleeding. Thankfully I had half a bottle of water that I could give her but it was all I could do! I was so aggravated. Benjamin ended up paying for a moto to take her to the hospital because it was faster but honestly if it was possible I would’ve hopped on the moto with her just so I could make sure she got to the hospital safely and that there would be no problem being admitted. But instead I sent her with my urgent and almost tearful prayers. I know God is with her and her baby. I will have to leave it at that. 

Well, there is so much more I could write about RCRI, Benjamin and Josephine and there adorable new baby girl, Phiona, Godance, the families I have met but that would be a novel and I know this is already getting too long for a blog. So I love you all. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to meet children and their families and get used to taking a bath with out running water (it’s quite the experience by the way. I think there’s an art to it.:) Pray that I would be a willing servant and that as the days go by I would continue to be healthy and useful to RCRI’s ministry here in Rwanda. 

Love,

Heidi