December

(Daniel and Veterine)

Merry Christmas from Hope For Life:
A Year In Review

Eight months ago, eight children sat in a prison dejected, alone, starving, and sick with malaria. In the midst of this, eleven other children slept in sewer gutters, begged during the day and took hits of drugs at night to keep warm, ease their hunger, and suppress the emotional pain of being abandoned. Today, each one of these beautiful 19 children is fed, warm, healthy, and most importantly, filled with hope. What began as rescuing 11 boys from prison has grown to be a flourishing home for 16 former street boys and a weekly ministry to 40 other street boys. Each unique child is flourishing and growing in a different way because you cared enough to do something about it.

The past 8 months have also brought success in other realms. Since April 2009, Hope For Life has seen our 4 Rwandan staff grow and flourish immensely. When we started, we observed their hesitancy to make decisions, and suggest their own ideas. Today, they are implementing their own ideas to better HFL and their dreams of taking care of the vulnerable children in their own community are coming true.

One of the last ways we have been encouraged by success has been through you. Since sharing about the plight of street children, you have responded with eagerness, faith, and generosity. You have replied not only by giving of your resources, but also of your hearts. One of the most encouraging things has been the response from this generation of teenagers and young adults. Students have heard about the daily life of kids their age in Rwanda, and have organized car washes to raise money, given up luxuries in an effort to live simply, and become committed monthly sponsors of HFL themselves. It has been beautiful to see the skills and resources of young and old in our community intersect with the needs of our world. Together, we believe we can continue to bring change.

As the end of the year draws near, we ask you to consider giving a one-time gift or becoming a monthly sponsor to Hope For Life. In addition to our regular monthly expenses, the children will begin attending public school in January and each will require a uniform and school supplies. We also hope to make Christmas a special time of celebration. The kids are thrilled at the idea of being able to eat in a restaurant for a first time, and we would like to give them this opportunity for Christmas.

Since sharing about the plight of street children with you 8 months ago, you have responded by giving of your resources and of your hearts. THANK YOU for your past generosity and in advance for doing the same this Christmas season. Following is a list of our needs this Christmas season:

(Hilliary, Veterine, and his sister Rachel)

Hope For Life’s
List of needs

School expenses
per child for 1 year:
School fees $36
Uniform $52
Backpack $7
Paper & pencils $10
School books $15

Christmas Presents:
Dinner $250
TV $200

Self-Sustainability investments:
Chicken $12
Goat $49

Future Goals for 2010
Plot of land $14,000

Recent Highlights:

*Megan arrived safely in Kigali, Rwanda on December 2nd!
*We have accepted 3 more children into the HFL home – Veterine, his brother Daniel, and their friend John. These boys stole our hearts on our first trip to Rwanda and when Megan arrived, she immediately began looking for them. Veterine, who was crippled from birth, and his brother lived in severe poverty with a family friend. Everyday Veterine would drag himself through the dirt begging for money. The money he earned went to pay for his sister’s schooling. On our first trip we desperately wanted to help Veterine and give him the opportunity to receive an education so that he would not be forced to beg the rest of his life. However, his mother would not let us pay for his schooling because she needed the money he earned from begging. After talking with Veterine’s mother, she has now agreed to let him live at HFL in exchange for HFL paying for his sister’s schooling.
“We are hoping Veterine never spends another day sitting in the dirt begging. He has been so happy since being at HFL! Today, the boys at HFL were literally yelling at each other, fighting over who was going to care for Veterine. It was a beautiful fight :) Their transformation is absolutely remarkable. I think it’s the more amazing thing I have ever seen and I am so deeply encouraged. I wish that everyone who has been a part of HFL could see it!” – Megan Swanson
*The most recent and complete update on Hope For Life can be read on Megan’s blog. I would encourage you to do so, it is absolutely amazing the work that God is doing in these boy’s lives. http://www.megstersblogs.blogspot.com/

(Hilliary, Veterine, Daniel, Megan, Rachel, and another sister)

Thank you for helping to make this a memorable Christmas for the children in Hope For Life. The staff and children wish the same to you and your families this holiday season.

November Update

Highlights

• One of our staff is attending a 20 day training put on by Youth With A Mission. We are excited she has been given this opportunity to improve her skills with kids, as it has been her dream since she was a young girl to work with vulnerable children. Topics include child advocacy, child rights, development, and motivation for working with children.
• We now have 35 rabbits! Possessing these animals has allowed us to cut our food costs, and generate income by selling them at the market. The boys have eagerly taken on an increased responsibility in caring for the rabbits. They excitedly tell staff every time a rabbit is pregnant, and love to help in delivering the bunnies.
• The 5 newest boys at HFL have been doing very well in their new environment. One of the youngest boys, Simeon, has been very shy and timid but was found teaching a large group of boys a gospel song at the weekly outreach service for street youth.

Update on Megan’s trip to Rwanda:
It’s hard to believe that after over a year of waiting to return to Rwanda, I am leaving in 3 short weeks. While there, I will be living with HFL Staff Member Josiane and her family to help in the many daily tasks at HFL. These duties include assisting with the daily care of the boys, securing local resources and connections to benefit HFL, training staff on basic counseling and behavioral management principles, and coordinating the weekly outreach service to local street children. Please be praying for this trip and for the HFL staff who have been faithfully serving the people of Rwanda.

* We have updated our website with information on the new boys. Check it out! www.hopeforlifeministry.org.

October Update

(The 6 HFL boys who passed their district exams!)

It has been a busy month and we have much to report!

• We have accepted 5 new boys who are all orphans into HFL, bringing the total number of kids in our care to 15. Since being in the home, they have become part of the church choir and staff report they are “very happy to be living a different life.”
  
• As a result of the outreach program HFL recently began, 20 young men have stopped taking drugs and alcohol and have accepted Christ. Additionally, staff have started teaching reading, writing and English classes to the young men who come to the outreach each week.
  
• 6 of the eldest boys (pictured above) recently took a district level exam on reading, writing, math and biology and all the boys passed! We are so proud of their hard work.

(The five new boys who have joined Hope For Life.)

Please Pray!

• Please continue to join us in prayer. One boy has decided to leave HFL. The vast majority of children’s homes and orphanages report having similar problems with the children in their care. Pray that he decides to come back, that God protects him, and that he wouldn’t have power in convincing any of the other boys to join him in returning to the streets.
  
• Also, Megan is leaving for a 4-8 month trip to Rwanda on November 21st and could use your prayers for wisdom, preparation and the Lord’s constant guidance.

(Street boys bathing at HFL's weekly outreach program.)

We continue to move forward in our work knowing that God sustains the work He starts in each of us (Hebrews 12:2). Thank you for continued support to bring smiles, life and hope to the faces of countless boys in Rwanda.

September Update

Together, we’ve done so much!

This month we celebrate 6 months of work amongst street children in Rwanda! Each week, we continue to receive positive reports from Rwanda documenting the healing, growth, and holistic transformation of these 11 boys. Since March, you have helped to rescue formerly homeless children from jail, provide them with basic necessities, equip and train 4 Rwandan leaders, and offer education, Christian mentorship and a second chance at life.
As we celebrate all that has been done, we remain keenly aware that this work has been made possible because of your compassion and generosity. We hope that you are encouraged with what you have heard and seen, and that your faith is being strengthened by what God is doing in and through us.

Progress Spotlight: Pascal

“When we started the house, Pascal was the worst behaved boy among all the others. He couldn’t listen, he fought with the others, and told other boys to escape and go take drugs. When the kids began school, he couldn’t listen to the teacher, and he didn’t know the alphabet. 6 months later, Pascal has passed 1st and 2nd grade and is even able to follow along in English class! His behaviors have completely changed. He is obedient, kind, and helpful and he has surrendered his life to God. When you ask him if he could go back and take drugs, he responds, “ No way!” --HFL Staff Member, Josiane Uwamaliya

HFL Boys initiate weekly outreach to street

“Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.” 2 Corinthians 8: 3-4

Staff in Rwanda have started an evangelistic outreach to other street children in the Kigali area. Each week, 40-50 street youth have been coming to a church service at the HFL home, which includes prayer, preaching, worship and basic social work services. Several of the kids have been saved, numerous have vowed to stop using drugs, and others are deciding to return to their homes and try to reconcile with their parents. Additionally, local community members are beginning to get more involved in helping to mentor the kids. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of this outreach is that the idea originated from the 11 boys in HFL’s home. As they began dedicating their lives to Christ and praying for other street kids in Rwanda, they expressed the desire to reach out and proposed to begin this outreach. At the church service, they help bathe the street kids and wash their clothes. We have been deeply encouraged that generosity and compassion is being rooted in these children as a result of the hope and joy you have given to them.

Praise & Prayers

• Staff are looking for Claude, a street boy who was previously enrolled in a different street youth program. He is back on the streets or in jail. Pray that HFL staff find him soon.
  
• The kid’s teachers continue to give positive reports on how quickly the boys are progressing academically, especially in their English lessons.
  
• The rabbits HFL purchased have had another round of bunnies, which will soon be ready to sell at the market.

August Update

As we look back on the past 5 months, we are in awe at all that we have been given and all the ways that God has blessed our efforts. We hope the news below encourages you.

Highlights:

• Each child has gained at least 10 pounds due to receiving consistent food at HFL.
  
• The boys recently told staff that they wanted to be baptized! Their holistic growth is evident by the physical, psychological, relational and spiritual transformations they are experiencing. This kind of holistic change is exactly what we’ve been praying for.
  
• We continue to receive positive reports from HFL’S partnering organizations regarding staff leadership, each boy’s development, and the overall infrastructure of HFL.
  
  

Prayer Requests:

• Claude: A boy we worked with last summer, Claude, was formerly in a children’s program called AEE, but is now back on the streets. HFL staff is considering accepting him into the home.
  
• Grants: We have an opportunity through Moody Bible Institute to receive $15-20,000. These funds would be allocated for self-sufficiency promotion, reserve funds, and infrastructure

July Happenings

We praise God for His faithfulness in providing each month for the HFL home! It has been a busy but encouraging month.

Here are a few of the highlights:

• The HFL home moved to a new location. The new house is even better as it has 4 bedrooms, a dining room, living room and 2 indoor bathrooms.
  


• The boys and staff have designated every Wednesday as a prayer day at the home They spend their evenings praying and hearing guest ministers from their community. They invite all HFL supporters to join them in prayer and fasting on Wednesdays.
  


• Play For Hope, a Rwandan sports ministry, worked with our kids last month. They had a great time forming relationships with other kids and the Play For Hope staff while improving their soccer skills—an activity they rarely got to enjoy living on the streets.
  The boys continue to study and are now excitedly learning English in remedial school!

Prayer Requests:

• We continue to be short on monthly financial commitments. Please join us in lifting up this request to God.
  


• Yves, the boy featured below, is having difficulty in school. Pray for him to be able to follow along in class and to not give up in his studies.

May and June Update

Recent News

• The boys were all tested for HIV, and all results were negative! We are immensely proud of the children for their bravery in getting tested, as they were very frightened.


• The children continue to LOVE and cherish the opportunity to go to school. After attending class all day, staff report that the boys come home wanting to learn more. Thus, the boys receive additional lessons from staff in the evenings! Because the boys are learning to write in school, they often bring home notes for staff decorated with hearts and drawings of the HFL home.


• Play For Hope, a sports ministry organization, is running a soccer camp at HFL for our boys next month! We are hoping this will be a great outlet for them to interact with other community members, and to receive love and encouragement from positive role models.


• Megan is graduating from college this month and has decided to go back to Rwanda in October to work alongside HFL staff! She will stay for at least a few months and would appreciate your prayers, even now. More information will come later…