YWAM in Kavumu 1

Upon arrival in this little village in the Kavumu sector, I noticed a stable looking contruction. While some man were vigurously cutting branches and place it as a roof on this construction, I asked in my best Kinyarwandan if this was a houe for a cow. As you see in the photo's, my thoughts were wrong. But it was wonderful for the patients and doctors to have some privacy and to be protected from the hot burning sun while in their make shift clinic.

The doctors, Dan and Rosanne with their patients and translators. (By the way, Cyprien could be a village doctor by now with all his medical knowledge and skill!)

Others helped the families with the start of the seed bed. The land worked on will be used for a seedbed and pig farm, all to the benefit of the GFR families and the community. Big branches had to be cut and land leveled. Many of the villagers looked with approval on those hacking the trees with machette's. A tough job!

This beautiful toothless 11 month old baby stole my heart. She had the best smiles (believe me she did!) and her mom was just as beautiful and sweet.

YWAM in Kavumu 2

The team spent much time ministering to people, leading some to salvation and being an encouragement to others.

PLEASE HELP!

This young woman came with her 3 year old daughter and one year old son to the clinic she is on the list to get sponsored. As you can see, the baby on her lap is very mal nourished. The poor boy cried and cried without stopping. If you want to do something effective,, please consider sponsoring this woman and her family through GFR. All she eats is sweet potatoes. Her baby is sick and mal nourished. The 3 year old child looks much younger than she is. These people are in great need! Please help them.
I looked at this baby and remembered when we first picked up our daughter Yaida at the orphanage. It was a hard call for me to sit with this woman while her baby is crying and remember my own baby...

Want to change a life? This is your opportunity!

We prayed for the woman and the baby. Believing God for a miracle! Are you the next miracle?

Love and Compassion

This week the YWAM team from Kona Hawaii joined us for another house building time. Leveling the side of the mountain for the start of the foundation of the house. The team has been blessed with Dan and Rosanne, who are a doctor and Nurse. They brought a big suitcase and backpack filled with medication and set up clinic in the "yard" of the neighbor.
While some were digging and leveling Dan and Rosanne helped many people in the open air clinic, where many came for stomach problems and skin deseases. After practising medicine the team took the time to pray with people, leading at least 5 people to Jesus! It was such a beautiful time. Let the photo's speak for themselfs, as you see love and compassion oozing out!

Love and Compassion continued

At the end of the day when many were tired of the hard physical work we sat down with the owners of the home we held clinic and helped harvesting the beans, What started with a small group quickly multiplied, leaving the family blessed with many harvested beans.

Kibuye town of horror

After our meeting with the mayor of Kibuye we drove around checking out land for our orphan project. As we drove we saw her; this beautiful church partially hiding behind old trees, yet standing tall on the mountain. How could we not stop. We had read the testimonies of survivors, heard about the horror. People ran into this church thinking to be save, only to be brutaly murdered. Women, men, children alike, no-one was to be spared, yet few survived hiding under their dead friends and families bodies.As soon as I stepped foot on the compound a heaviness fell on me. I felt as in a daze. I wonder if I noticibly stumbled or looked drunk while walking, I had a hard time keeping balance and thinking straight. I stared at the paintings on the walls, the same paintings many stard at while in fear for their live. Wondering how so many could have been killed in this church my immagination took over seeing bodies piled on top on eachother. My stomach turned, I felt like crying. I turned to Travis hoping he would somehow wake me out of these visions, his expression showed what I was feeling. We left the church in a deep silence, stumbeling our way to the car.

So many murders back then, so many wounds now. The impact of such an event in the community, in the life of precious people. Kibuye was hit the hardest during genocide and is known today for it's highest ranking orphan population in Rwanda.
Today has been an eyeopener to me as to why God chose Kibuye for SoZo Ministries Africa. Wow, I am appaled, overwhelmed. Sadened yet delighted. Fearful yet trusting God. Kibuye will one day be my hometown, I hope it to be soon. From trauma to freedom... God did it for me, He will do it for the people in Kibuye.

Gift Giving Day

About 250 sponsored GFR families gathered on Tuesday to be encouraged for the new year. They were enouraged to see 15 extra volunteers come from Kigali representing Canada, Japan, Thailand and the United States, helping with the distribution of the gifts sponsors had bought for their Rwandan families. The local and provincial government came out to be with us all so did a reporter.
I Encouraged the families with the story Jesus told, of the talents. The talents being opportunities, if used wisely they bring great benefit and reward, if waisted hope goes also. It is so much fun to use Jesus' illustrations, they were just made for the villagers! They all got the message and I was pleased to hear the local government represented reinforce Jesus' story.
I used this presious little girl as an example for a story. She must have been nurvous, I could feel her heart beat rapidly under my hand. Cyprien, my brother, yes we do look alike... (don't we Cyp!) is translating for me.
The YWAM team from the DTS inKona Hawaii joined us, helping us a great deal, we could not have done this day without their help. Many of them just hang out with the kids, singing songs and playing games. Just precious. They made many little friends that day! Thanks guys for your loving heart to these precious people!

Dan; cowboy at heart spend the day catching and holding goats. Thanks Dan, you sure made the goat collecting station go fast and flexible!
The Mattress distribution post, this post definately showed that it is a bessing to give...
Everybody left that station with a smile!
Some received mosquito nets, with Malaria still being one of the main causes of death, this gift was received with joy by all!
Many people, many gifts,; 18 cows, 5 houses, 22 mattresses, 50+ pigs and goats, 53 mosquito nets and many miscalaneous gifts. Just awesome! So much joy!

Cow girls in training.

And some received a pig.

Pascal, Trav, Cyprien and Bosco. People who have become more then staff, they are our brothers.
We had just a fabulous day, thanking all sponsors for their generous donations. And special thanks to Aubrey and the YWAM Kona DTS team for their hard work and joy! Thanks guys!