Chantal Umutesi has been with HFLM from the very beginning
and is a huge reason why Hope For Life stands so strong today. This month we
are delighted to highlight Chantal, co-founder of Hope For Life Ministry, who
has poured her heart and soul into the boys and families of our organization
for the last four years. Her faithful prayer and devotion has brought real
change to so many across Rwanda.
Chantal’s life is a true testament of our Heavenly Father’s love, faithfulness
and provision.
Chantal and "Littleman" (Claude) embracing.
Littleman was reintegrated to live with his grandmother several months earlier,
and was very excited to see Chantal
Chantal holds a deep compassion for vulnerable children. As a child herself,
she would fill her bucket and begin to bathe impoverished children in her
neighborhood. This earned her the name “Mama” at the age of 10, and it has
stuck ever since. Her dream of helping vulnerable children continued to grow
and she envisioned starting an orphanage someday. In high school, Chantal took
part in three days of fasting and praying through her church and had a powerful
vision. “I saw small poor kids on the street and a snake was coming for them.
The snake was going to bite one child. I was so upset that I ran and grabbed
the child and carried him away. And then I thought, what am I going to do? I
have no way to provide for this child, but I have to take care of him. So I
decided I was going to look for someone who could help me take care of them.”
Partnering with Hilliary and Megan brought her vision to life in 2009, when God
provided the resources to start HFLM.
God’s protective hand has been upon Chantal’s life and has
carried her through many painful trials. Growing up, money was extremely tight
as Chantal lost her Father and a brother in early childhood. Her mother was
only able to send Chantal’s older sister to school. But God knew of Chantal’s
deep desire to study and provided through the Organizations AEE
and Compassion International, which sponsored Chantal and her younger brother
all the way through high school. During high school, Chantal’s family endured
the horrific 1994 Rwandan genocide, where the death toll was estimated to be as
high as 20% of the population. By the grace of God, Chantal managed to survive.
However, she again suffered significant loss of two additional family members.
Another brother and her niece were killed in the genocide along with friends
and extended family.
Chantal regularly visits the families and children HFLM
sponsors
Chantal with her daughter Mervey
Shortly after HFLM began, UK
missions became aware of this incredible woman. As she spoke about her Heavenly
Father’s love and faithfulness for her and her daughter Mervey, they were moved
to help fulfill her dreams by sponsoring her through University for all four
years. Chantal has been a full time HFLM employee, student and mom for the last
four years and will finish her degree this December. She is a woman of
strength, character, and incredible work ethic that has a deep love for others
which radiates from within. Initially she volunteered her time without a salary
starting up HFLM, which was a difficult sacrifice: “I knew I had to put Mervey
into a nice school, but I also knew I was called to work at HFLM. Working at
HFLM has grown my spiritual life, as I have watched my amazing God providing in
ways you can’t even imagine. I love my Jesus and my faith has been increased in
knowing my God provides, answers prayers, and can change anyone’s heart.”
Chantal’s passion for spiritual development has also
impacted the local street boys and generated real change. We have seen her
faithful prayers answered and God has softened some of the hardest of hearts of
our boys who have lived painful, rough lives. She has boldly proclaimed the
gospel that has lead many local street boys to accept Christ as Lord, and she
has taught life skills such as savings. Six boys took her counsel to stop
buying cigarettes and saved enough money to rent homes for themselves so they
no longer have to sleep on the streets.
We are so grateful for this woman and her years and years of
commitment. If you wish to pray for Chantal, her requests include: the HFLM
boys, growth in her relationship with Christ, and her upcoming internship and
dissertation. It has been a blessing to know this woman and she has made
lasting impacts on our boys, the staff at HFLM and the whole community in
Kabuga.
Thank you all for your generous donations that not only
bless the children at HFLM, but also Chantal and all of our staff.
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