Sent to Rwanda

So, it's that time of year, every organization you've ever given to is asking for money. It's the end of the year and everyone knows we all want those tax deductions!! Or you may be thinking, I just gave you money, why do you already need more? Well, things happen. Because of financial difficulties, one monthly supporter of $50 had to discontinue their support. I understand, life happens. But that $50 impacts me in a big way here. My car is...well, almost 20 years old. So far, about once a month it goes into the mechanic's shop for something. Right now, it is in for the suspension. The roads are very hard on the cars here and even though I love my "hot rod" (as one of my teammates' kids call it); I have realized I need to get a vehicle that sits up a little higher (and maybe has air conditioning for the hot days). There are many roads I am not able to drive on. Just like on Friday when we were going to the orphanage. Usually, I ride with some friends...

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to visit 3 different village areas. The first was to meet the child that my family sponsors. You can read about that unique introduction here. The second was with one of our teammates as they were taking one of the guys who works for them to see his family. And yesterday, I went with two of the ladies from the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS project I have been working on the last 3 months. On this trip I learned a lot. One  of the women wanted to do a clothes collection and distribution for a local village. I thought we were going on Thursday just to distribute the clothes, but was I in for a surprise. As we made our way out to one of the ladies’ farm about 20 minutes outside of Kigali, we arrived and she proudly presented us with her “piggery”. She started about one year ago with 2 pigs and now has about 20. I got to see pineapples grow (I thought they grew on a tree). And then we sat under a tree. I wasn’t sure exactly ...

How many Christian concerts have you gone to where they encourage everyone to sponsor a kid somewhere a million miles away in some far off country? I have been to many and have experienced differing emotions when it gets to "that" part of the concert. I have gotten up to go to the bathroom, so I don't feel guilty for not sponsoring a child. I have said things like, "There is so much need in our own backyard, why do I need to send my money across the ocean?" Or how about this one, "How do we even know that money is actually going to get to that kid?" A couple days after I left for Rwanda, my parents went to a Christian concert where Food for the Hungry was asking for sponsors. My parents sponsored a child who was in Rwanda, an 11 year old girl named Jeanette. My whole family is involved, even my sister's children put part of their allowance aside for Jeanette. This morning, I got to meet Jeanette and her family! I know for a fact that Food for ...