July 2011 Update

We are delighted to announce that the boys of HFLM are officially living in their new home! The day of our move several of the boys stood up praising God for all that He has given us. Djuhudi reflected that if HFLM staff had not found him, he would not be alive today. God has taken Djuhudi from living in a hospital bed to thriving in a beautiful new home.

(Moving Day)

A week after moving into our new house, HFLM threw a party celebrating God’s thorough provision. The boys invited their friends and neighbors. During the celebration, HFLM staff slipped out of the main room and surprised the boys as they rode into the house on brand new bikes generously donated by Northlake Christian Church. The children immediately jumped out of their seats screaming with absolute joy and delight!

(Gakuru Driving the Younger Boys)

A Moody Bible Institute student, Jonathan Villanueva, is completing an internship in Rwanda. He has been teaching our boys English in his spare time. Throughout the week, Hilliary regularly feels a slight tug on her shirt and an eager voice asking, “When is teacher Jonny coming next to teach us English!?”

In the last few months, many challenges and important changes occurred, including: moving into our new home, accepting two more boys into our program, and seeing shifts in HFLM’s leadership. Please continue to join us in prayer during this transition. If you are interested in becoming a monthly financial sponsor, or would like to give a one time donation for a specific cause (such as furniture needs), please contact Hilliary at andersonhfl@gmail.com. We are so grateful for all your support in transforming the lives of our beloved boys! From the bottom of our excited hearts, we all shout thank you!

Sincerely,

HFLM Staff

April 2011 Update

It is hard to believe that our boys have completed another academic quarter. Once again, two of our children received the highest test scores in their class. Congratulations to Paul and Berco! Some of the boys were discouraged with their test scores, but we continue to encourage them in their progress. They now have two weeks of vacation before their next quarter begins and HFLM will happily welcome home David, Claude, and Bosco from boarding school. During this time, the boys will participate in a nationwide memorial of the 1994 genocide, which claimed an estimated 800,000 lives.

(Yves playing soccer)

We want to thank all of you who have been praying for Veterne. His leg surgery was successful, and we praise the Lord that there were no major complications. Please keep him in your prayers as he is still in a lot of pain and we expect that his recovery will take several months. Veterne is eagerly looking forward to his initial recovery and beginning rehabilitation to learn how to walk! He has also been encouraged by the support offered by his family through this process.

Due to unfortunate delays, the new house is still undergoing modifications. We are now scheduled to move in at the end of this month. The boys have been patient in waiting for their home to be finished but are very anxious to move - especially when they thought the empty sewer tank was a swimming pool! Join us in prayer that the construction will be completed soon.

(The new HFLM home)

The new house is a 45 minute walk from the boys’ current school. This was a great disappointment because they have grown to love their teachers. Since learning of this obstacle, they have fervently been praying for bikes which would enable them to attend their current school. This last month members from Northlake Christian Church donated enough money to buy all of the bikes needed to travel to school! But shhhh, it’s a surprise! We are waiting until the boys move into the new house to share with them their answered prayer. HFLM staff cannot wait to see them screaming and dancing for joy when they hear the good news. Thanks again for making this possible and continually supporting HFLM.

March 2011 Update

HFLM was privileged to welcome Eric and Sharon Hovde and Jeff Boyd of the Hovde Foundation to Rwanda last month. During their visit, we held the Opening Ceremony for our new home, the Swanson-Hovde House. We hosted many friends, supporters, government officials, neighbors, teachers, and pastors who have helped to make HFLM possible over the last 2 years. Although we wish all of you could have participated in the celebration with us, you can still catch a glimpse of the ceremony and the new house on the video posted below.

This exciting event has made us even more eager to move into our new home next month. One child enthusiastically wrote to his pen pal, “We got a surprise this year. Guess what! God has provided a very big and beautiful house for us!”

During the Hovde’s stay, we were able to visit the First Lady of Rwanda. She was extremely pleased with HFLM’s service amongst vulnerable Children in Rwanda and decided to award us with a cow!

To the great enthusiasm of the boys, HFLM has decided to increase its security by taking in and training a guard dog. As of now, HFLM’s guard dog, Winnie, is an adorable puppy that has been providing entertainment, companionship, and the opportunity for the children to learn gentleness and responsibility.

Please be praying for our beloved Veterne, who has been crippled since he was a baby, as he will be receiving corrective surgery for his legs on March 24th. Pray for his safety, a successful surgery, and a full recovery.

We have been so encouraged by the continual transformation of the boys’ lives. When Djuhudi first came to HFLM two months ago, his body was frail from lack of nutrition and his heart was hardened towards God. He initially had a difficult time fitting into HFLM and refused to take part in going to church and praying. Now he absolutely loves going to church, praying, and listening to gospel music. He is so grateful for how his life has changed and wants to thank you all for your support. “Hello! My name is Djuhudi and I am 13 years old. I have been at HFLM for two months. I gained weight and I go to school now and my studies are going well. The boys at HFLM, we love each other and we eat together everyday. My best friend here is Daniel and he is 12 years old. We sleep together. I am friends with everyone here now. I want to say thank you!”

Thanks again for all of your support and prayers.

Sincerely,

HFLM Staff

Rwandan News Report of HFLM Opening Ceremony

February Update 2011

The finishing touches are being done on the new Hope For Life house and the boys will move in next month! The Hovde Foundation will be joining us to celebrate the opening of the “Swanson-Hovde House,” along with many Rwandans from our community. When the boys went to visit their new house, Yves asked in disbelief, “This house isn’t just for us, right? Other children must be living here too, because this house is so big!” It took him at least 10 minutes to accept that the new house was being built just for them.

The boys were privileged to welcome Amy Carnell from the Seattle Sounders who put on a soccer camp last month. The boys were delighted to practice their skills and receive jerseys and balls from the Sounders. To see an entertaining video of the boys trying to learn the Seattle Sounders cheer, visit http://sharing.theflip.com/session/443e4da60faf45a202e70e3494b05a46/video/60835391

We were thrilled to receive the boys’ test scores from their school. Our oldest boy, David, earned the highest test scores in his school and has the opportunity to attend an esteemed boarding school for his secondary studies. David is very excited, and although we will miss him, we are immensely proud of him and eager to visit him at his new school.

Veterne, who has been crippled since birth, has the tremendous opportunity to walk! He has been accepted into a pediatric orthopedic center for children with physical handicaps. He will remain there for one year, undergoing surgery on his legs, receiving physical therapy, continuing his studies, and learning how to walk. We already miss him, but his new house mom tells us that he is doing well in school and making new friends.

The boys have discovered a new favorite activity of dressing up and modeling. After their afternoon nap, they can be seen putting silly clothes on and creating a make-shift “runway” to show off their outfits and “model walks.” It is absolutely hilarious and never fails to become an afternoon of laughs.

Please join us in prayer for the safety of our staff as there was another grenade attack in Kigali. We greatly appreciate all of your prayers and support.

Seattle Sounders Cheer Video

To view the boys singing the Sounders' cheer, click the link below:

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/443e4da60faf45a202e70e3494b05a46/video/60835391

January 2011

Hope For Life Update January 2010

www.HopeForLifeMinistry.org

Singing filled the Hope For Life home on Christmas day as the children’s choir joined our Christmas celebration. Everyone eagerly took part in eating a large roast and drinking soda pop, which was a special treat for everyone. The night was topped off by the announcement of the Christmas presents: a ping pong table, soccer goals, and cleats. The boys were thrilled to receive these gifts and were grateful to the individuals and groups whose extra donations made this possible.

Hope For Life welcomed a surprised visitor this past month, DJ Walkers, who is a filmmaker from Washington DC. He is composing a short film about HFLM, which will shortly be viewable on Facebook. The film is sure to be full of creative dance moves from our goofy boys who couldn’t stop dancing and singing in front of the camera! Most children in Rwanda are very shy about their photo being taken, but not our boys.

Additionally, a Rwandan sports ministry called Play For Hope (www.playforhope.org) put on a soccer camp for youth in Rwanda, which integrated Christian values as they taught soccer skills. Our boys were privileged to attend and they enthusiastically learned how to set goals, be self controlled, and of course, snazzy soccer moves.

After a great vacation from school, and a happily celebrated Christmas, the children are eager to start another year of school in a few weeks and are patiently waiting ill March when we will move into our new house being constructed by the Hovde Foundation. Looking back on how God has provided for and blessed this ministry, we remain keenly aware that none of the work amongst the children of Rwanda would be possible without each of your support. As our newest member, 13 year old Djuhudi stated, “When I came to HFLM I thought I was going to die. But this is a place of hope. I have it now.” Thank you for helping to bring hope into the lives of Rwandan children. We look forward to another year of partnering with you.