I have completed more than half my time here in Rwanda, and I wanted to send a brief update on how things have gone so far.
Art Curriculum: I am in 14 art classes in an average week, and together with the art teachers at KCS, have made significant progress in enhancing the curriculum. We are constantly learning as we go, recording it for future use, and thinking of ways to make it sustainable when I leave.Extra Curricular Activities: This is an ongoing learning experience of balancing my desire for smooth running, organized program with the inherent chaos of 500+ kids running around on a Friday afternoon! Though every week there are new challenges and sometimes it feels a bit like trial and error, the kids are having fun and the discipleship students are gaining valuable experience in leadership.
Sponsorship Program: I did almost 200 interviews with children (some with a translator, some without!) and took over 500 photos! It was a lot of fun to get to know more about the children - a LOT of work, but totally worth it as these children wouldn't be able to attend KCS without the program.
GVYFC Trips: I've been working hard to help plan the GVYFC trip this July - camp training with the discipleship students here, helping with budget information, and planning trips to various places in Rwanda.
Bible Study: Crystal and I have started a weekly Bible Study at our home with some of the teachers and staff. It's been three weeks and it's been a wonderful opportunity to go a little deeper in the Bible and to spend time with our friends and colleagues.
Blessed Ones: I've also had the opportunity to reconnect with some of the ladies I got to know on other trips. These are a group of ladies - called the Blessed Ones by RYFC - who worked on the YFC property and went through a counselling and job skills training program. Some of them have been able to start up small businesses and others are working towards that.Most of the activities I've been involved in are still works in progress, but much of my last months here will be spent trying to make sure that I finish well and that the things I've been involved in are sustainable after I leave. Please continue to pray for me as I work towards that end.
Check out the new photos of my time in Rwanda in the photo link on the top left!
Giving Praise to Someone
The child in the photo to the left is Kabahaya Elvis and he is 7 years old. His father is a day labourer and his mother is unemployed. Without the sponsorship program, Elvis' parents would not be able to afford school fees.Elvis is delayed in some areas, and has some behavioural problems - he runs around jabbering in Kinyarwanda at an incredible rate, and scribbling on pretty much any paper he can get his hands on. Fortunately, through the sponsorship program, Elvis is able to receive a good education at KCS. The classes here are kept small so his teacher is able to give him more of the attention he needs, and he is able to eat at least one nutritious meal a day at school.
It's kids like Elvis that make my job so worthwhile - I get to see children like him grow and learn throughout the year. Elvis still has his behavioural issues, and he might always be a bit behind, but even in the short time I've been here I've seen his behaviour improve immensely.
Elvis' Kinyarwanda name, Kabahaya, means, "giving praise to someone," and when I think about how different Elvis' life is because of RYFC, I can't help but give praise and thank God, because He is the "someone" that makes all of it possible.
Financial Update
A lot has happened since January and it has been incredibly worthwhile - and it has all been made possible with your financial support and prayer. Thank you so much for all you've contributed to this work! However, I still need to raise approximately $6000 for the remainder of my time to cover my expenses and project costs. Alongside that, I would also like to raise funding to contribute to the sustainability of ongoing programs. Please would you consider making a donation to help with this? Whether it's $50, $100, $500 or $5000, every donation enables more work here in Rwanda. Alternatively, you can make a monthly donation that will help in the long term.
Making a donation is easy. You can go to http://www.youthunlimited.com/donate and either print and send the form provided to GVYFC or give online. Just follow the directions and write Laura Solberg- Rwanda project in the comments box. Thanks!
Prayer Points
- God's leading in the sustainability of the activities I've been involved in
- The remaining funding needed for my time in Rwanda
- The planning that is going into the GVYFC visit in July
- For more sponsors for the children who can't afford their tuition at KCS
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If you want to financially support my work in Rwanda, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
