Laura's Letter, Rwanda, Issue 2, November 2009

Here and There

A (poorly) pieced together panaramic shot of a river (I think Kagera) outside of Kigali. Despite the current fore-casted rain, hopefully I will see many sunshiny days like this while I am in Rwanda!

I am sitting here, on a blustery Vancouver afternoon, comparing the five-day forecasts for here and Kigali. Both predict rain for the next week, but Kigali's temperature is consistently hovering around 25°C compared to Vancouver's predicted high of 10°C. For someone who is persistently cold, that Kigali forecast looks mighty appealing - one more reason for my growing excitment as I head into the fall/winter season that usually means chilled bones for at least the next six months: This year, I will be thawing early as I head to Rwanda on January 13th!
With only a little over two months to go, the details are falling in to place. The flight is booked, travel insurance is being sorted, passport is being renewed, university courses arranged, fund raisers planned and packing lists written. Yet with every detail that I nail down it seems one or two more pop up in its place! "Where will I store my things? Do I need to get more shots? I should probably visit the dentist. WHO'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAT?!?" This is a common stream of thought for me as I countdown the time before I leave. Lots to think about, but despite the stress, I continue to get more and more excited.

FUNDING UPDATE
I am quite happy to say that over half of my funds have already come in, and I would like to say a big THANK YOU to those of you who have already given - what an encouragement! Despite this, the amount that remains is still quite significant. I have two fund raising events that have been planned by friends here in Vancouver, and I am hoping to do one in Alberta before I leave as well. Please be thinking of me as I continue to pursue my fund raising target.
If you are interested in partnering with me financially, please visit youthunlimited.com for online giving, or contact me for more information.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE

On Love
My friend Kellie, involved in the Rwanda-Vancouver partnership from the beginning, travelled to Rwanda this August. Here is what she wrote when she returned.
"On my recent trip to Rwanda, I was deeply moved by a simple conversation with one of the young teachers at the school. She was teasing me about how often I use the word love. She said, 'You westerners are always talking about how you love a type of food, or book, or some object and it sounds so strange.' She explained that in her culture, the word love is reserved only to express how you feel towards your family, friends or God. This statement broke my heart. We as a culture have overused the word love and the true meaning is lost.
This year I want to study, pray and practice God’s intent for love in all areas of my life. I want to find out what it means to receive fully the love God offers us, and take seriously His call to love here, and across the globe. This love is not just warm thoughts or feelings about others, but a love that transforms through the messiness of life."

Grace
Earlier this year, Brad and Kiki Burnfield (YFC missionaries in Rwanda) heard about little baby Grace. Grace was born May 17th (or 16th) near Cyangugu (about 5 hrs drive SW of Kigali). She was found at 4:30 pm on the 17th by a shepherd who took her to the police who in turn took her to a local health clinic. She was covered with insect bites, had a dangerously low body temperature, was at a strong risk of infection from the umbilical cord, and presumably hadn't eaten yet. She was then transferred to a big nearby hospital for further care. After being in the hospital for approximately two weeks, she was released into the care of a Rwandese midwife and British missionary that work at the hospital. The missionary tried to find a family for the baby so that she wouldn't have to go to an orphanage, but was unsuccessful on several attempts.
So... after much deliberation, prayer, and back and forth with authorities Brad and Kiki took Grace in. It has been an up and down process for the Burnfields as they have tried to discern what the best course of action is for Grace. After taking care of her for over three months, she has become a lovely addition to their family, and they are pursuing a formal adoption with the governments of Rwanda and the United States.
What an unexpected and exciting development for these friends of mine - I look forward to meeting the newest Burnfield!

Prayer Points

• Grace, the Burnfield's newly adopted daughter
• The Rwanda YFC staff who have been hit hard by the financial crisis, often working without pay
  
• Continue to pray for Marina, the Rwanda YFC's Executive Director's wife, who is receiving cancer treatments
  
• The remainder of my fund raising goal
  

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If you want to help send me to Rwanda,
PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Laura's Letter, Rwanda, Issue 1, July 2009

One Year Later
Well, it's been a year since I left for Rwanda last summer, and almost a year since my last letter. For those of you who kept up with my previous adventures with YFC/Youth Unlimited, you may remember that in my last letter I mentioned the possibility of returning. That possibility has become a reality and I am planning on heading back to Rwanda in January of 2010 to spend 8 months there. While in Rwanda I will be working at Kigali Christian School (KCS) to assist in their art curriculum development, setting up after school clubs (maybe one similar to Art: After School!) and doing general liaison work between YFC in Vancouver and YFC in Rwanda.
I don't know that there are words to accurately describe just how excited I am about this opportunity. Very few days go by that I don't wake up and try and imagine what it will be like to wake up in Rwanda. When my mind wanders, it is usually to the different ideas I have for ways to work with the teachers and staff at KCS and Rwanda YFC. I look at photos from my two previous trips at least weekly, often daily. In short, I am homesick for the country that has come to take up so much space in my heart and mind, and I am anxious to return!
With all the excitement that comes along with an opportunity like this, there are also many challenges to be had. As usual, the challenge of fund raising is one of the largest looming in front of me right now. At over $22 000, this is the single biggest fund raising goal I have ever had to meet. Many might think that Rwanda would be a cheap place to live and work, but actually the cost of housing is only marginally cheaper than here (I've budgeted about $500/month for shared accommodation) and almost all of the food has to be shipped in, adding to its cost. The $22 000 also includes travel expenses, insurance, and program expenses. To say that number is a bit intimidating would be a major understatement, but I firmly believe that when God calls you some place, He finds a way to get you there!
I would like to ask you to consider helping me meet this fund raising goal by partnering with me in this exciting opportunity. There are many ways that you can get involved.
First and foremost, if you are the praying kind - START PRAYING!!! Pray for me as I fund raise and plan for the trip. Pray for those who would support me financially. Pray for the kids and staff at Rwanda YFC. Pray. Pray. Pray. When it comes to a challenge such as this, one can never have too much prayer support!
Second, consider partnering with me financially. One time gifts and monthly support are both tax receiptable through Vancouver YFC/Youth Unlimited, and whether you can give a little or a lot, every bit helps.
Or you could be an advocate for me. Maybe you are a whiz fund raiser, or just want to help out in some other creative way — including anything from planning fund raising events, to telling all your friends and family about what I am doing— I will gladly supply you with information on my work and donation slips so that all gifts can be receipted.
I am so excited to build on this opportunity, and I'd like to thank you in advance for your role in helping send me to Rwanda!
Click Here to Donate Online

Vancouver + Rwanda = Rwanderful!
Rwanda YFC and Vancouver YFC have been partnering together for over two years now. Here in Vancouver we've recruited many student sponsorships, allowing children from poor families in Kigali the opportunity for a good education; we've raised money to help with KCS's lunch program; we've assisted in program development for Umatima, a program that works with disadvantaged women; and we coordinated the trip last summer together with Rwanda YFC.
In Rwanda they have been working hard on the ground giving kids an exceptional education, assisting the women who work in the Umatima program, and touching numerous lives with the love of God. They have also shown all of us Canadians who've had the opportunity to work with them what it means to search for true joy. I have traveled to Rwanda twice now, and those trips, plus our regular conference calls, are so life-giving and encouraging to me.
As the Executive Director of Rwanda YFC puts it, working together is Rwanderful!

School Update
I have finished two semesters of my program at SFU and am working hard through the summer to finish a third. The transition back to being a student after a seven year break was a bit more difficult than I had anticipated, but I've managed to keep my grades high and I thoroughly enjoy learning more about conflict and development. The International Studies program at SFU is really amazing, and I love that my work with Rwanda YFC fits in so well, making my academic experience even richer.

Prayer Points

• Fund Raising
• The students and staff at KCS and Rwanda YFC
• Marina, the Rwanda YFC's Executive Director's wife, who was recently diagnosed with cancer
• My studies at SFU

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If you want to help send me to Rwanda,
please click here.