Rwanda Night!!!

So I am working hard on plans for my Rwanda Night on Saturday. I am really excited about it and it is all coming together pretty well. It is not really a fundraiser but more of a night of sharing what God has done and is doing in Rwanda. I am praying that God will really move on the hearts of people, open eyes to what He is doing globally, and ignite passion to partner with Him as He is moving in the earth! It's all about HIM!!! Some of you may be attending, some of you may not be but we can all pray that God will be glorified.

Pray for this journey....!

Oh my, this is quite a journey I am on! I am currently in the process of finding a sending organization to stand with me and send me back to Rwanda. I know where God has called me...Rwanda. I know who He has callled me to work with...A Voice For Rwanda. I just don't know all the step to get me there.

So this is a call to prayer. I am realizing that I need as much prayer support now in this season as I do when I am on the field! I want to see the path and walk in it! So thank you for standing with me in prayer.

What a HUGE family!!!

So now you have met my "imediate" Rwandan family but there is more....

I have introduced you to many members of my family already but this picture is a more full picture of my Rwandan family. Les and Yvonne have begun two "group" homes and a child-led household which I want to introduce you to.

Many people have a heart to help orphans of which there are many in Rwanda but what happens to these orhpans when they grow up. Many times they are too old to continue living in an orphanage but where do they turn? The reality is that many of these will end up out on the streets or other tragic lifestyles as a form of survival. This is the "lost generation" of Rwanda.

Many of these young people have not yet finished school though they are over 18 years old. They have no jobs, no money, no food, no family, and no one to guide them in their future. Many feel they have no future and therefore, no hope.

The "Remember Me" Homes were started for these precious young people. Les and Yvonne saw the need and God gave them the tools to really make a difference! The Remember Me Boys' Home currently has 9 older boys, two house fathers, and a cook. There are two more boys who are in the process of transitioning into the home. The Remember Me Girls' home currently has 11 girls, one of which is the house mother. These are the young people that you see in this picture. I can not begin to tell you details about each one but they are all precious brothers and sisters!

I also mentioned child-led households. These homes help the oldest sibling in a family become productive "heads of households" and learn to care for their younger siblings. There are currently two child-led homes that we are supporting.

It is exciting to see how their lives have been totally transformed. They no longer have fear about what the future holds and that has given them so much hope! To God be the glory great things He has done!

My little guy

So this is my little guy, Ntwari. He is so precious and so tricky! You can tell by the look on his face in the first picture!

He was my special little buddy for the two months that I lived in Kanombe with the family. We did lots together. I will never forget washing clothes with him. Especially the day he proudly announced to me that he planned to marry me! He was so precious. When I tried to explain that it would not really work because I was much older than him he just smiled and said, "no problem, you stay the same and I will grow then I will marry you."

What a sweet little guy. He is actually the one who gave me my Kinyarwanda name, Mukunziwimana Valeria. He will always have a special place in my heart! I will never forget all the precious manories of tucking him into bed at night. The way that I would always hold him on my lap when we had to have a "chat".

Ntwari, I can not wait to hold you in my arm s again!

My Brother Olivier

This is my fourteen years old brother, Olivier. Even saying his name brings a smile to my face. He is such a fun guy to be around. Olivier always has a crazy story to tell and we spent many nights at the table laughing all the way through dinner.

But he is more than just fun to be around. He has been through quite a lot in his life and I will always admire his good attitude and strength. I am so proud of him!

He loves football (soccer), most boys in Rwanda do! He also likes to listen to music and drama on the radio, and he likes to dance too.

Olivier, I miss you precious smile and laughter. Can't wait to see you again soon!

My Precious Prisca!

This is my favorite picture of Alice and Prisca. Alice is on the left and Prisca is on the right. Are they not gorgeous?!

Prisca is another one of my sweet sisters! I am so blessed to have her in my life. I love her smile and her fun, sweet spirit. While I was in Rwanda on this past trip Prisca was going to school in a different area so I did not get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked but I look forward to going back and getting to know her better!

Another Precious Sister...Christine

Here is my precious and beautiful sister, Christine. She is gentle and sweet and she has such a hunger to know God. What a blessing it was to get to know her. She loves to sing and dance and read God's Word. I learned so much from her including traditional Rwandan dance (well at least I tried to learn!)

"Ndashaka gufusha!" It means "I want to help." This was a common phrase that Christine and I exchanged often. I said it to her one day as she was doing the dishes and she almost fell over laughing. I guess it was not what she expected me to say? Anyway we have been saying it ever since. Even now when I call to talk to the kids on the phone, it is the first thing she says to me after "I Love you and I miss you."

I will never forget the way we clung to eachother and wept as we said goodbye. She just kept repeating over and over "thank you for accepting to be my sister!" Christine, someday soon we will hug again and probably cry again but this time not with sadness!

Introducing My Sister... Alice

This is my precious sister, Alice! Oh how I miss her. She is twenty years old but way beyond that in her wisdom. I will never forget some of our long conversations while cooking. She always had something wise to tell me. Her life has been anything but easy, but God has really heard her cry and I know that He is using her in a big way!

I miss cooking with her and washing the dishes when she would let me help her. She works so hard but she would kick me if she knew that I wrote that:) She is such a strong woman and I will always admire her! I love you Alice and can not wait to see your beautiful face again!!!