HFLM Update December 2013

“There’s an emergency, come quick!” exclaimed Yassipi, one of the boys at HFLM. Staff rushed into the home and saw orange flames emerging from one of the bedrooms. Only moments earlier, Yassipi heard a “pop” in the bedroom and entered to find a wooden chair caught on fire by a faulty voltage regulator and a sparking outlet. He rushed to tell staff and by the time they arrived the room was ablaze.

Isiaka and Baby grieving over their destroyed room and lost belongings

Immediately staff evacuated the children from the building. They started filling buckets of water and throwing it on the fire, but soon discovered the fire was growing much quicker than the dribbling water pressure could combat.  For a brief moment, everyone despaired, believing that the whole home would burn down. In the midst of prayers, neighbors came rushing over and yelled, “Dirt! Throw dirt on the fire!” The neighbors, staff, and children worked in unison, filling buckets and any accessible container with dirt. After 15 minutes of throwing dirt on the fire, the flames began to die down. Staff was able to re-enter the smoldering house and continued to pile soil on the burning furniture until all of the flames were extinguished.

The neighbors, kids, and staff all joined each other outside and began praising the Lord for saving the house from burning down, and most importantly, that no one was hurt. We are so grateful for our neighbors, without whom all would surely have been lost. There were only two things that made it out of the fiery room unscathed; one was an integrated mathematics book, and the other was the Bible.  When the Bible was discovered, a few of the boys began singing “there is power in the name of Jesus!”  It was a powerful moment that will not soon be forgotten.

Baby holding his Kinyarwanda bible that survived the fire

Although we are extremely grateful there were not greater losses, the fire has been a setback to HFLM and has shaken the boys. After taking inventory of all that was destroyed by the fire, we’ve estimated it will cost $1,450 to rebuild the three rooms scathed by the fire, and $350 for lost materials. We will be starting the rebuilding process soon and hope to have the boys back in their bedrooms by Christmas. It took a whole community to put the flames out and it will take help from our HFLM community to rebuild.

One of the rooms damaged by the fire

In light of the losses we experienced, we would love to make this Christmas special for the boys. Here’s how you can help:

• Rebuilding HFLM: Give towards the $1,450 we need to rebuild and repair our home.
  
• Replacing Materials:  Give towards purchasing $350 worth of items lost in the fire: $100 for clothing, $90 for mattresses and bedding, $40 for school materials, and $120 for furniture and curtains.
  
• Christmas: Help us host a Christmas celebration that will cost $100 and will include a special meal for all children and staff.
  
• Education: We’d like to send all of our boys to a private school where they will receive a higher quality education. With a lower teacher to student ratio, the children will receive more specialized instruction and attention that will have a lasting impact on their future. The first trimester begins in January and we need to raise $3,500 to cover their first trimester of tuition.

To make donations towards these needs, visit HFLM's website.

In other news, thank you for your prayers regarding our Executive Director, Torey, and her plight in obtaining a visa. Immigration has allowed her to remain in Rwanda while she is in the appeal process, as previously they were threatening to force her immediate departure. Please continue to pray for God’s providence in this situation as we wait for immigration’s final decision. Thank you for playing your part in HFLM. We couldn’t succeed without such a generous, faithful, and loving community to support us!

To see the complete story of the fire, visit Ryan Dalbey’s blog here.

November Update 2013



 “My name is Grace!” five year old Grace proclaimed excitedly.  It is a rare sight seeing someone so proud to declare their name, but up until this last month, 5 year old Grace had no name to share.

Grace holding her new doll. She immediately named her Cynthia.

 

Last update we introduced Benjamin and his twin sister Grace who we found living in a marketplace.  When we brought the twins to HFLM, we were shocked to discover they believed their names to be “boy” and “girl”. During the 2 weeks Grace was at HFLM, Torey sat her down and explained that although she is a girl, that is not who she is. “You have a special identity to your Heavenly Father. We want to tell people who you are by giving you a unique name.” The name Grace came easily as we saw her Heavenly Father’s evident love for her, caring for her and giving her a brand new start in life. Torey shared with Grace that her name will continue to grow meaning as her story unfolds and as she understands her redemption. 

Because HFLM is a center for boys, Grace only stayed with us temporarily. She is currently at a loving home and looks forward to HFLM’s weekly visits bringing Benjamin to see her. In January, the twins will both move to a new center called Africa New Life allowing them to be reunited and also attend one of the best schools offered in Rwanda. 

Grace wearing Charlie's glasses (When she first came to HFLM, all she owned was this onesie and torn skirt).

 

A huge gift that continually blesses our organization is the wonderful volunteers that come serve in Rwanda. This month we are excited to introduce you to our Sustainability Coordinator, Charlie Gladtisch: 

Hello friends of HFLM! My name is Charlie. I arrived at the end of September and will stay for one year. My role as the Sustainability Coordinator includes implementing income-generating projects, working to reintegrate boys into their families, and networking with other organizations to help meet our needs. I have loved getting to know the boys, especially watching them grow into men of God in our semi-weekly bible studies.



Eric showing another one of his creative ideas

A few weeks ago, the little boys and I read about treating our neighbors as we would like to be treated. I began to close the lesson when 11 year old Eric interrupted with a stern look on his face, “Why can’t we give our leftover food to the boys still on the streets?” My thoughts skirted from security risks to difficult implementation, but I realized that God can easily brush those barriers aside. Even if it’s just an extra bowl of rice, we do have more to give. It’s beautiful to see the boys challenge us to follow Christ more closely. After a long pause, I told Eric he’s absolutely right, and we’d look into it.

October Update 2013

We are experimenting with HFLM’s update style and would love to hear your feedback. Recently we were quite touched by God’s hand at work and we share with you this unfolding story. Hope For Life’s Children’s Director, Chantal, recently heard about two young children who were living in a nearby market. Shortly after, Chantal and I (Torey) began a search to find the children. Chantal, known as Mama Muto (small mama) throughout is a master at weaving through the busy market.

We found ourselves in an area of the market most would avoid, as it is dirty and filled with a thick smell of urine. In the midst of hardened faces and swarming flies, there stood a pair of five-year-old twins  who lit up as we arrived. The boy having heard of HFLM already had an idea of why we were there. However, as our ministry is only a home for boys, we stared in bewilderment at his sister wondering how we might also care for her. The instantaneous decision was to bring her to HFLM and provide a shower, meal and love, even if only for the day. 





Benjamin holding hands with his sister

 

While in transit to HFLM, we posed question after question to better understand the background of these adorable twins. We soon realized these children believed their names to be “Mahungu” and “Makobwa”, which directly translates to boy and girl in Kinyarwanda. Having grown up on the streets and in the market, their innocence was robbed and experiencing cruelty and abuse became normal. With their father in and out of the hospital due to epilepsy and an absent mother, they were left to find their own way and care for each other.

 

As we approached HFLM, the twins were wide eyed taking in their new surroundings while tightly holding onto our hands. It was so painfully obviously how starved for affection these little ones were. Tears began streaming down their cheeks every time we would put them down or let go of their hands. However, when moments of bravery sparked, the boy would go play soccer with Olivier, a 14 year old residing at HFLM.

Top: Benjamin with a volunteer. Bottom: Benjamin's sister wearing a spare shirt as we washed her clothes.

 

After the first week of living at our home, the staff named our new boy Benjamin after Jacob’s youngest child in the Bible.  Benjamin was Jacob’s youngest son, just like our Benjamin is HFLM’s little one. Having a little one at the home has shifted roles at HFLM and it has been fun watching the boys nurture and care for him.  Our HFLM boys recently came up with personal goals and Olivier lovingly shared, “I want to show Benjamin how to do things. I want to be a big brother for him here.” Olivier has fully taken on this role and is often hand in hand with him helping with his chores or washing their clothes together.

Benjamin has become an integral part of our family and is no longer defined by the market. He has a new name, a new home, and a new spirit. His kindness, affection and infectious smile make our days brighter. We continue to search for a stable home for his sister.  Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we look for the best placement for her and also for Benjamin as he transitions into his new home at HFLM. Thank you for your support and being part of this life transforming work.  

 

September 2013

September brings an end to summer, as well as the dry season in Rwanda. The dust is starting to settle as Hilliary adjusts to life back in Seattle and Torey makes Rwanda home. All of our boys have headed back to their final trimester of school for the year. We at Hope For Life have also said goodbye to two wonderful volunteers: Elizabeth Primus and Caroline Barker.

 

Caroline spending time with the boys

The selfless service and devotion of our volunteers to various projects at HFLM continually evolves our programs and keeps the organization growing. Along with aiding in various administrative tasks, Caroline invested in our staff, teaching and providing tools to strengthen our teamwork mentality and keep our family strong. We continue to be grateful for her help, as she will further invest into developing our staff while she is back in the States.    

 

Elizabeth holding up the picture Pacifique drew for her family

 

Elizabeth returned to HFLM this summer to teach about the importance of clean water, aid in sustainability projects, and invest into the education of the boys. She loved working with the boys in her free time and created a math craze around the house. She would use charcoal to line the property with endless square roots, multiplication and geometry problems. The boys were so eager to answer them and made it a competition to quickly finish them. Because of this, the math problems became known as, “quicklies”, and once Elizabeth was home you could hear the boys rushing to ask for more. We already miss her presence at the home and are praying for her as she contemplates returning to take a position teaching at a nearby vocational school.

Djuhudi getting ready for his baptism celebration. What a stud!

 

This past Sunday we celebrated a very exciting baptism. Djuhudi comes from a Muslim background and is the first of his family to know Jesus. As Djuhudi now sings in the choir at his church, they all came to HFL to celebrate. Chantal shared her excitement: “I can’t believe where Djuhudi is today. When he first came to HFL, he was critically ill and no one expected him to survive. We thank God for who is he is today. His skin has healed, his hair is back and it makes me cry when I look at him.”

Pacifique, David, church member, and Baby, singing up front

 

It was such a joy to watch three of our staff, and four of our boys sing together with the choir at the celebration. Our home was packed with people from the community and on the last song, the whole house joined in dancing and singing, smiling alongside their brother. It was a beauty to behold.

 

We are so grateful for the ongoing support Hope For Life has had in this season of transition. With incredible volunteers and the wonderful community surrounding Hope For Life, blessings have been overflowing. Please continue to keep our home in your prayers as we bring new boys in this next month.

August 2013

 

Veterne, Hilliary, Daniel, Idrissa, and Pascal

For founder Hilliary Anderson, it is a time of transition. She has returned this month to the States and Torey de Rozario has taken the Executive Director position in Rwanda. Tears were shed as Hilliary told the boys goodbye, uncertain of when she will return to Rwanda again. “It is incredibly hard to leave. I have been with these boys for the last 5 years. It broke my heart as they shared how I am their mother and how hard it will be to not have mom with them. Thankfully, we had the closure we need and trust that it is God’s will that I return to the US.” Hilliary will continue working for their interests in the US, as she fundraises, offers administrative support and advocates for Hope for Life.

 
 


Hilliary, staff, and 18 boys on their field trip to Pacific Rim



 

For a special treat before leaving, Hilliary took all 14 boys residing at the HFLM center and 4 reintegrated boys who live near HFLM, to downtown Kigali to watch the movie Pacific Rim in 3D. It was a perfect “dude flick”, packed with action and aliens. This was the first time any of the boys had ever seen a movie in a theater, and the 3D movie provided even more surprise. The boys gasped as characters popped out of the screen. Breaking movie etiquette, they gleefully chatted amongst themselves about how cool the movie was. Throughout the movie the boys could be seen putting out their hands trying to touch the images that were developing before their faces, and lifting up their 3D glasses to make sure there were no aliens in the room. It was especially a thriller for 9 year old Puppy, who cuddled up to and squeezed onto volunteer Caroline’s hand throughout most of the movie.


 



Idrissa enjoying his new life at HFLM



 

This last month we brought two more boys to HFLM: 12 year old Pascal and 13 year old Idrissa. Pascal and Idrissa were retrieved from the transit center (essentially a juvenile detention center for street children until they are placed into an organization). They shared with us how harsh the transition center conditions were; they only had one meal a day and upon arriving at HFLM, they suffered from malnutrition. After facing many hardships in their lives, they are excited to be at HFLM and about the prospect of attending school. Idrissa shared his dream of becoming an automotive engineer and Pascal his desire to become a community leader.

 

Only a few days after praying with Pascal, we were happy
to see he was feeling well enough to play soccer

We thank all of you who have prayed for Pascal. He had developed severe malaria and the treatment he was prescribed was ineffective. We were worried that he might die because of the severity of the malaria. One night his fever was so high that he lay in his bed nearly unconscious. Hilliary gathered HFLM staff and prayed over him, and also encouraged Pascal to pray with them (this was the first time he had prayed in his life). We were relieved the next day to see a dramatic improvement in his health, and a few days later he was well enough to go with the rest of the boys to the movie. We ask for your continued prayer for his complete healing.

 

It has been amazing watching God continue to move in HFLM. We had the opportunity to share the gospel with both Pascal and Idrissa, who informed us they had never accepted Christ into their hearts. After sharing what God did for them, they were eager to commit their lives to Jesus. Thank you for all of your support that has made this work possible.

 

July 2013

 

Hope you had a happy 4^th of July! Rwanda also shares the Independence Day of the USA. The children have enjoyed having two days off of school to celebrate Rwanda’s Independence and Liberation Day.

 

 
Since Hilliary’s arrival two weeks ago, she has enjoyed spending time with the staff and boys, as she prepares for Torey’s arrival and transition into Executive Director. She recently told the boys for the first time that Torey would be coming back for one to two years. The smiles of joy on their faces were priceless as they all began cheering and clapping exuberantly. The day continued in joy, when Hilliary brought out legos and Playdough.  Playdough is a novelty for the boys and even the oldest proudly showed off their cookie cutting skills. It is so good to see the boys just being kids, since most missed that opportunity in their childhood.

 

 

Upon arriving at HFLM, the three boys who were baptized in May were quick to share their celebration with Hilliary (the pastor and choir came to HFLM to celebrate the baptisms). In the backdrop, God was moving in Djuhudi’s heart, who after the celebration declared that he also wanted to be baptized because he believes that Jesus is Lord and died for his sins. This was a big decision for Djuhudi who comes from a Muslim family. He explained that he could be beaten for his decision to follow Christ, if discovered. It has been remarkable seeing Djuhudi continue to transform after making this decision. He has begun singing in the church choir and told Chantal that he wants to be at peace with everyone and to follow God. This change of heart is evident in his kindness towards the other boys and staff at HFLM.

 

Hilliary shared, “I never thought the day would come that I would watch a movie in 3D at a theater in Rwanda. As I sat with oversized tinted glasses, I imagined how thrilled the HFLM boys would be to experience a movie at a theater for the first time. Their eyes would literally pop out of their heads (well, maybe not literally).” It would be such an exciting adventure for the boys to see a 3D movie in town. If you would like to donate to help make it possible, let Hilliary know at andersonhfl@gmail.com. But, SHHH it’s a surprise!

Thank you all for your support and prayers! The boys continue to do well, and all but one of the boys who have been reintegrated are thriving with their families. Puppy, who was reintegrated in December, returned to the streets due to lack of care, so we have taken him back to live at HFLM. He is happy to be back at HFLM, and we hope to keep working with his mother and Aunt to see if reintegration in the future will be possible.  Continue to join us in prayer for Puppy, the boys who have been reintegrated, for those remaining at HFLM, and for Torey’s leadership transition.

June 2013 Update

This last month has truly been a time of blessings and God’s providence. The blessings began with three boys giving their hearts to the Lord and being baptized. We are excited to share how God has even further moved the hearts of Torey and other volunteers and brought the team of support we have been praying for at HFLM.

The biggest highlight for me (Hilliary) this month was getting a phone call from Torey Rozario saying she has been praying and would love to return to Rwanda and serve HFLM in the position of Executive Director. A huge burden has been lifted from me now that God has brought a team of support. Torey’s decision to serve as Executive Director enables me to take a needed rest from my responsibilities in Rwanda. This answer to our prayers for an Executive Director allows me to return to the States and oversee the all-important task of fundraising as well as other activities for HFLM. The HFLM board, staff, and I are incredibly grateful for Torey’s heart and overjoyed to have her return to Rwanda.

Family and friends after the baptism. Front, left to right: Eric and his sister Rachel. Back, left to right: Emile, Chantal, Patrick and his mother, Olivier and his mother

The joyful spirit continued as we held a large celebration at HFLM this past month for the baptism of Patrick, Emile, and Olivier. We invited neighbors and the boys’ families, and were happy to have Patrick's and Olivier's mothers attend. The Church choir came and sang and the pastor shared an encouraging message from the Word of God. The boys had a great day and declared their intention to bear good fruits. We all had to laugh when Patrick told his mother, “I am going to be obedient now and I have left all evil things in the water.” It has been remarkable watching Patrick grow since his arrival at HFLM a year ago. He came with a hardened heart and was one of the more rebellious children at the home. God’s softening of his heart has brought joy in his life, developed his character and furthered his desire to be a loving and obedient. 

The Church choir singing with the staff and children at HFLM

Please keep the boys in your prayers. Pray for God to continue the good work He has started in their lives and that they would remain encouraged in their walks with Christ. I will be returning to Rwanda this month to manage HFLM until Torey arrives. Please pray for safe travel and for continued healing for health issues I have been struggling with.

And a big thanks to those of you who have donated towards the goal of purchasing computers and software to take with me on my return to Rwanda.