2008 Activity Summary
A couple of months ago, Pastor Knet Frens (On Right) of Hope Reformed Church in Kalamazoo Township, Michigan, announced in the K-Gazette that he was visiting Rwanda on a mission trip with Compassion International. I called him up and we had a cordial discussion. By the end of our meeting, the Pastor was so gracious that he agreed to visit the rural community of Sheli where our charity distributes cows to destitute families.
After spending over a week in Rwanda, Pastor Frens came back to Kalamazoo and brought many pictures and stories of how Life Lifting Hands, Inc. has impacted the people of Sheli. Thank you to everyone who has generously contributed to our program in Rwanda. We are now seeing the fruits of earlier donations.
Two years ago we bought and distributed cows in Rwanda. Now, the cows have calves of their own. The peasants are getting milk to supplement their nutrition, and manure to improve depleted fields for crop production. They also receive a small income from the sale of some of the milk. For destitute families in Rwanda, which constitute the vast majority of the population, there is no better way to combat extreme poverty.
One of the many interesting stories that Pastor Kent Frens shared with us is that of an old lady who, after her cow had it's first calf and started producing milk, adopted an orphan. "Now I have something to feed the baby with", said this tender-hearted lady. Needless to say, I was deeply moved with gratitude.
Unfortunately, not all of the stories coming from Rwanda are positive. The following story appeared in the newspaper. A 16 year old orphan who was only two years old at the time of the genocide exclaimed, "I have been told that my parents died during the genocide. Life is hard..." This is a story shared by more than 1 million vulnerable children in Rwanda whose parents were victims of the genocide or of the present HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is estimated that 100,000 households are currently headed by children. "We are seeing a street children phenomenon", said a local UNICEF official recently.
In light of all of this news about Rwanda, thank you so much for your support and prayers. You have made and continue to make a big difference in the lives of hundreds in Sheli.
Accomplishments in 2008
Thanks to your generoius donations this year, we have accomplished the following:
· Provided funds for health care (similar to health insurance in the United States) for 760 people in Rugarika, Rwanda.
· We have sponsored 15 needy, yet worthy students for three years now. Two of them have given their lives to Jesus and were baptized this year.
· Opened an office in Rwanda with office space donated by the local government authorities for our local coorinator who supervises our program in Rwanda.
During the fall of 2008, we:
· Plan to buy and distribute about 30 cows in the rural community of Sheli, Kamonyi District
· Intend to purchase and distribute goats for those who have no means to care for the cows.
Once again, thank you to all who have donated to Life Lifting Hands, Inc. We are currently raising funds for our next cow dispursement in January, 2009. Feel free to Donate now. All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Amiel Gahima