Friday, July 27, 2007

Yaida has hair!!

Yaida has hair now!!
It took about four hours to get all the brades in her hair. In the picture Isabelle (our househelp) is holding Yaida while Herriet does the brades. Yaida did great considering the amount of time!
Yaya loved her hair and keeps telling us how pretty she is, as if we did not know yet! In just a week she will be 18 months old. Wow time goes fast. She is such a cutie and soooo funny.
I just had to show her off to you all. I pray soon it will be face to face!


Sunday, July 22, 2007

Rwaza Orphanage 1

Two cars filled with boxes and a total of 9 people, representing 4 continents, drove off the main road heading for a hidden orphanage known by very few. The surroundings were gorgeous, close by the volcano's in the northern province. The facility looked nice, until we looked inside the rooms... piles of dirty cloths, little puddles of urine, garbage and wasps were everywhere. Children with bloated bellies, running noses and open wounds.
Even the cows were a lot skinnier then they should be. It was a sad sight. Yet the children were so excited to see us all. Hand clap games, soccer matches (with the new balls), coloring (on the new paper and crayons) and just receiving a hug were the steady scene during our day long visit with these children.
The amazing skill of children; making friends...
Nani and Grace were instant friends. Nani made it her mission to paint every child's finger and toe nails. They just loved it! And so did Nani, my little missionary. The location of her beauty salon? A pile of urine smelling mattresses...
Judging by the photos you might think that the children have what they need. And yes to some extend I would agree. The buildings are great, they have nice beds, even mattresses, they even have some cloths. I was confused by what I saw. Tineke and I went to the convent and asked some questions. Church politics is the best way to describe the root of the problem. Funds are not given to the orphanage... It is a very sensitive issue... we were told. When asked if it was right that the children had to go without food and live in filthy circumstances the answer was not one of resolution of the problem.
The compound has land for cultivation, there are cows and pigs for manure and reproduction(an income generating activity) there are even chicken coupes, just no chickens.
To hire two people to cultivate and take care of the animals, feed them and have proper tools it would cost about $50 per month. The result would be fresh foods, milk and eggs, income generating possibilities and just a healthy diet for the children. The guarantee that they do not go to bed with an empty stomach.
For only $75 per month additional foods, supplementing what cannot be home grown, can be bought and would cover basic medical attention needs. For $150 per month all of these children can all have the chance to a healthy and basic needs covering life. SoZo Ministries has fallen in love with the children and deeply touched by the need of the Rwaza orphanage. We are desiring to help any way we can. You will definitely see more photos of these sweet children in the future.

Rwaza Orphanage 2

While Tineke and I brought some children to the nearby clinic, others scrubbed the halls with bleach. Some of the bigger children even helped! The sleepig hall was very stinky. After it was scrubbed, the mattresses aired and the sheets washed to room smelled clean to great delight of one of the sisters assisting, who came running to us when we arrived telling us to come and see the sleeping hall!
Some of us put our money together to buy basins, buckets, cleaning supplies, soap, laundry soap and food for the orphanage. There was not even a broom to be found on the compound... The children werechecking out the big buckets.
Dirty laundry. We gathered about 4 big piles from the childrens sleeping hall. We paid some people from the community to do the laundry. The orphange cannot afford laundry soap, nor the people to do the laundry, so it just does not happen... It would only cost $25 per month to hire one person to do laundry and to have sufficient laundry soap. It would prefend serious deseases among the children and gives a job opportunity to someone in the community.
Almost all the children and all of us who came to serve and help. It was surprise time. Soda's and new cloths, shoes, toys and a real meal!

Rwaza Orphanage 3

Nani's middlename is Grace. Here she poses with her new friend Grace. They told every listening ear they were sisters.
The more time I spent with people from all tribes and nations, rich and poor, respected and disowned, they are really all the same. I know we all know this, but ... do we really? Why do we treat the poor in our society different from the leaders we serve under? Can we be like the children? Do you dare to take the time to sit and listen to the troubles of a homeless person in your area as you would listen and take time for the fellow student, your collegue or aquantance from your area of social connection with whom you have "a connection" though you don't know him/her? Really, why do we do this? Nani played on a pile of stinky, urine smelling mattresses, waving my disapproval her sitting on them away with a: "But mom, I will take a shower when we get home..." In other words, come on, who cares! Do you care?
Shining medals gave the children a victory feeling. They have been disowned by many, but are accepted and loved by their creator. They are true winners! I was able to bring a new outfit for every child, including new shoes!
It was not easy for Nani to give away the dress she used to love so much. Yet to see the smile and love in her eyes when she gives it away... I know she will receive blessings from the Lord as she gives away with so much joy! It blessed my mother heart to see my daughter truly understanding the joy of giving. Nani I pray you will never lack anything as you continue to bless so many out of the blessings you have received.

This little girl is very sick. Her poor nose was bleeding from all the snot and crust. Her caugh was concerning. She had a dirty little dress on. When I had given her new cloths and shoes she wore them proudly. Thank you to all of who who keep sending nice cloths and shoes! The children were so excited!!
Before and After

We will be back many more times ensuring church politics will be set aside for the sake of these wonderful children, their future and their relationship with their Creator!
This orphanage does not receive any financial help. The children are only eating sweet potatoes. There is no money for docter check ups, other foods not even for laundry soap. If you want to donate funds specifically for the children of the Rwaza orphange you can click on this link www.SoZoMinistriesAfrica.org and go to "make a donation". Specify it is for Rwaza Orphanage and we will make sure your money gets there.

Monday, July 02, 2007

You are qualified

Have you even wondered how in the world you could impact people with your skill? Do you find your heart drawn to foreign countries and maybe even mission but you feel you have asolutely nothing to offer?

Meet my friend Debbie.
Nani, Debbie & Zoey
Debbie is a professional hairstylist from the Netherlands with 9 years of experience in her profession. She works in a modern saloon and trains others in the latest hair styles. Last year we met as we organized some outreaches for the short team missions team Debbie was in. She had fallen in love with Rwanda. When I learned of her profession I mentioned how there is no-one in RWanda who knows how to succesfuly cut the hair of white people. Why wouldn't she come and open a saloon here. It could be a mission field on it's own.


Not realizing the impact these words had made, Debbie emailed and asked if she could come and cut hair for "a good cause". While helping her set it all up she mentioned the proceeds would be for SoZo Ministries Africa!
Here we are 50+ haircuts and about 15 trainings hours later...


Some of the responses of people:
Dear Astrid, Please thank Debbie again for such a good haircut. I do think it makes me look a lot younger and at my age that's great. :)
Thanks again to Debbie for her great act of service to those of us here in Rwanda! Every morning when I look at my hair in the mirror I think about how grateful I am to have a decent haircut again! Doesn’t she want to come back about every 8 weeks?
Some remarked how they felt spiritually empowered as they broke the cycle of self-neglect by receiving a haircut. Other said how they just do not sit still and enjoy something, but now they did. Others felt beautiful again and younger, others has husband ask them to go out for the night, something they had not done for a long time.


If you ever wonder what you can do with your skill in the mission field or in a foreign nation... think about Debbie. She could not have foreseen that her hands would bless so many. That her education would be so practical in the heart of Africa. Do not limit yourself, do not think you have nothing to offer. It is not necessary to have a Phd in one thing or the other. The impact you can make in the lives of others requires of you to be yourself. You are qualified!

Relief and joy of a nice look.

Zoey went short!