Economic Opportunity!

February 27:
We were greeted with the sounds of joyful singing & clapping and invited to dance as we entered the gates of True Vineyard Ministries in Musanse to see a project called Bake the Cycle, a partnership with World Relief. The project provides ten mothers, most of them widows with incredible testimony of survival from genocide, rape and disease, with an opportunity to improve their lives and the lives by learning housing and new life skills. Begun in 2008, the project includes the building of The Bread of Life Bakery and the acquisition of land, sheep and supplies for a wool project. We were able to watch bread making in a solar oven, spinning of wool, basket weaving and rug-making. Each of the women -- Veronica, Domina, Saveline, Alphonsine, Catherine, Virginee, Alivera, Odette, Adera and Faina -- has been powerfully transformed by the friendship and opportunities provided by True Vineyard Ministries. Virginee, pictured with Ruth Martin, is now teaching several of the others widows to read and write.

Following lunch we visited clients at URWEGO Opportunity Bank (UOB). UOB is a unique institution that is helping to transform the lives of thousands of vulnerable women (90%) and men with small, medium and mid-size loans (just under commercial) to start and expand small businesses. We met with members of the "Umuzabibu W'Ukuri" Association who shared about their businesses, sucesses and hardships. A visit to see the market shops of three clients was inspiring! Pictured here is Nancy Green with UOB client, Nancy, who just received her first loan to start a tailoring business.

When ended our day with dinner and a restful sleep at Ishema Guest House to prepare for gorilla treking on Saturday!

Mobilizing for Life

Thursday, February26: Mobilizing For Life - HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care Program

World Relief is empowering the church and community leaders to address the issues of faithfulness in marriage and HIV/AIDS prevention in youth. Today we met with pastors of churches who are training couples in their congregations to reach out and mentor/instruct couples about the cornerstones of a good marriage -- fidelity, trust, respect and love. We had the privilege of meeting in homes of several trained couples who talked with us about some of the pressing issues facing married couples in Rwanda -- HIV/AIDs; family planning; infidelity and stress caused by economic uncertainly or poor planning.

Following these visits, we drove 2 hours to Ruberando (Rukira district) to visit a school where a Mobilizing Youth For Life event was held. Schools in Rwanda are using the "Choose Life" curriculum to train youth, ages 15-17, to lead healthy and productive lives by making wise decisions. Key topics include HIV/AIDS prevention, self-esteem and abstinance. Over 200 students attended the rally in which they used drama, songs and dance to demonstrate the consequences of poor choices. Liggie Perkins concluded our day by challenging the students, calling them "the pride and future of Rwanda." She encouraged them to take responsiblity for the legacy that they will leave to future generations. With the challenge of, "Can you do it?" The students reponded with a resounding, "YES!"

CARE GROUPS ARE SAVING LIVES -- Imana ishimwe! (Praise the Lord)


February 24: This morning we traveled two hours to the underserved district of Nyamagabe to visit "Kabeho Mwana" Child Survival Care Group Volunteers’ meeting. The child survival program mobilizes and trains community volunteers (care groups) to bring house to house health education focusing on prevention and treatment of malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia.

We also met with a care groups of pastors and religious leaders to learn about their role in supporting this program by promoting these key health messages to their congregations and communities. A bed net demonstration in a care group meeting is pictured here.

Some volunteer community health workers receive specialized training to help diagnose early warning signs of malaria and other fatal but preventable illnesses. Grace proudly invited us into her home where she diagnoses childhood illness and makes appropriate recommendations to local health centers or hospitals if necessary.

Grace is in purple.

Community volunteer care groups are also supporting people living with AIDS to live more productive lives. In partnership with Food for the Hungry, World Relief mobilizes, equips and trains volunteer care group leaders to lead weekly meetings where group members come together to learn to cook nutritious foods and to learn about good hygiene and sanitation. Group members form bonds of friendship and trust and no longer feel alone in coping with their illnesses.

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

The Beginning of our Journey

On February 20 we set out on a World Relief Journey to Rwanda to understand the depths of suffering, the power of forgiveness and the joy of service that our Rwandan sisters and brothers experience. Bound together by our desire to seek a deeper understanding of God’s love for the oppressed, the vulnerable and the poor, we five ladies from Connecticut, Virginia and Michigan seek also to learn about God’s desire for each of us to be an active part of His plans for change.

Highlights of our journey will include visits to see: an essential oils business run with the help of widows and orphans; grass-roots efforts by volunteers to prevent malnutrition, HIV/AIDS and death; Churches empowering their congregations to serve the most vulnerable; and children leaders who are actively sharing “Good News Life Lessons” at weekly Kid’s Clubs! Please join us on this journey and add comments of encouragement below!

We will be staying at the World Relief Guest House with WR Rwanda Country Director Phil Smith and his wife, Becca, baby Iranzi and Umosombi!

Genocide Memorial; IKIREZI; Child Development

February 22: Visit to Kigali Memorial Centre, Rwanda Genocide Memorial: Heart-wrenching reminder of the 100 days of horror that enveloped Rwanda and of agonizing pain for survivors.

February 23: Today we visited Ikirezi Natural Products, a Rwanda owned community Interest agri –business that specializes in the growing and steam-distillation of geranium plants for production of essential oil. The farmers are organized into cooperatives that foster reconciliation and unity among the group members, mostly women and orphans. Farmers receive training in agribusiness management and also HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

As the widows shuffled in from working in the field, they scrubbed the mud from their shoes and washed the days work from their hands before greeting us with smiles and hugs. The Kinyarwandan songs of praise filled the air as the ladies led us in a time of worship, prayer and bible study. Odette, the leader of the widows, shared about the deep loneliness they experienced following the genocide and the death of their husbands. Their sharing during the depth of lonelieness and grief, provided healing and a glimmer of hope as they waited for God's blessing. Thankfully, each were granted a plot of land through Ikirezi to grow and care for their geraniums from which the oil is extracted and sold to markets around the world. Today, some have even been given new homes in a place called "Village of Hope."

Ruth Martin, of our group, shared a reflection about choosing joy in times of sorrow. We were touched by their warmth and the knowledge that our visit brought joy and encouragement to them.

Next, we traveled to Masaka to see the Child Development Program that is empowering churches across Rwanda to help children become agents of change in their own communities. Community volunteers are trained to lead care groups of 20 children, ages 5 to 12, who live in rural sectors with poor access to health care, and limited educational and economic opportunities for children. Care groups meet weekly after school for singing, games, skits, and bible lessons related to health messages and health life choices. Each child chooses three friends outside the care group and takes responsibility for teaching them the same health lessons.

We enjoyed the children's fun skit that demonstrated the importance of using bed nets to prevent malaria. Bible stories about Joseph and Moses were used to encourage children to be strong and confident in their unique abilities! Our team was invited to share in games and sing with the kids. It was wonderful to see younger siblings (and babies) standing on the sidelines EAGER to be involved as well!

Parent volunteers support the child development through a parent-to-parent support network. We visited the home of Cecelia, a widow with three children, who reaches out to other parents with encouragement and friendship. Despite her own struggles, she chooses to be a servant of the Lord and a resource and example to other parents. Her church selected her home to receive a water filter that she will be able to share with other neighbors and friends. Cecelia is happy to provide waters to her neights.

We had a sweet time of prayer with Cecelia. Her depth of faith, love for the Lord and her children was inspiring. Cecelia exclaimed: "I am blessed and honored to have you come all the way from America to be a guest in my small home. May God Bless you -- we are not strangers, we are one in Christ."