First and foremost, our partner Lazare is still imprisoned (since June, as a political prisoner with no charges leveled against him), but Lazare has been moved to a different prison which at least gives him some access to those who are trying to help him gain his freedom.
In October, I was with Aimable heading to teach the Bible to a group of primary and secondary students. We began to cross paths with a man, so I greeted him with “Mwaramutse.” The man replied with “Mwaramutse” and then he asked, “Do you remember me?” Ugg… I get asked this question a lot in Minembwe, but this guy didn’t wait for me to answer, but instead he said, “You gave me goats two years ago.” Now, honestly, I didn’t specifically remember this guy, but I did remember giving goats to eight men, so I had Aimable tell him that I remembered the event (read more on that blog post). The man said, “I’m Rwigenza, I was one of those men.” Rwigenza then proceeded to tell me that he now has eight goats, which he said is enough to begin to breed and sell, and that he is also building a home.
Meeting Rwigenza again.
Our first meeting two years ago.
With some of the other men two years ago; Rwigenza is front and center.
Rwigenza’s goats, with his new house in the background.
With his family; most of his kids are at school. I’m sure to remember Rwigenza now, as Aimable and I pass his house each Saturday on our way to teach the students.
Two weeks later…
… Aimable and I had another man approach us. “Do you remember me?” he said. “Miles helped me send my sick child on the airplane.” Ah, yes I thought, I remembered this man and this situation, in fact, he has stopped me in public a couple of times before to say “Hi” and “Thanks.”
In May 2021, this man‘s son was born with a head deformity due to severe swelling pressuring his brain. The boy needed off the mountain quickly, so LaOlam helped pay for the mother and the boy to get down to a hospital. This family was poor beyond poor, so we also paid for the medical costs and the return flight. From that point forward, all went well for the boy and his family, and we’ve seen the boy since then.
My family and I get to be a part of life changing stories like these BECAUSE of all of you! Little do these families know the teamwork it takes from across the world to bring about stories like these and those below.
How Cool Is This? Orphans Going to University!
In September, Joyeuse (left), the eldest of the orphans, graduated from a university in Bukavu, DRC, with a degree in Community Development. After graduation, Joyeuse completed a computer literacy course, and now she’s enrolled in an advanced English course, after which she will begin an internship with an aid organization. Beatrice (right) just began her second year in Bukavu studying Anesthesiology.
I was able to spend a few hours over lunch catching up with these young ladies as I was spending the night in Bukavu before flying up to Minembwe the next day; the “next day” turned into a three-day flight delay—that’s Congo!
In January, Sami will begin his third year at a university in Bujumbura, Burundi, studying Business Administration.
We started the Next Step House (read more: third story down in that blog) to get the older boys out of the orphans’ housing and into a living environment where they can be further discipled, mentored, and trained toward manhood and independence. Lawi and Andre (L-R), two of the young men from the Next Step home, began university in Bukavu at the end of November. Lawi is studying Agricultural Science and Andre is studying Agriculture Distribution.
Back in May, these three boys, Mahuno, Ndayahoze, and Johnny moved over from the orphans’ housing and into the Next Step home. Fortunately, Andre and Lawi didn’t leave for university until November 2, so Mahuno, Ndayahoze, and Johnny benefitted from six months of living in the same house as Andre and Lawi while watching how Andre and Lawi interacted with Aimable and his family.
So, one of the orphans has graduated from university, and four more are attending university… and another 34 of their younger “brothers and sisters” are dreaming of the possibilities for their future. Above is an unstaged photo of some of the girls who were studying at the orphans’ home when I showed up for a visit back in November.
Random Cool Stuff
It’s just burstin’! Click image for a video tour of our garden.
Our first crop of avocados; sadly, they didn’t ripen in time before I left to head back for Demerey and Jamison’s wedding. Oh, the wedding?
Jamison and Demerey Dobbs
An inside job. Fixing the faucet.
Thankfully, the rain let up minutes before I was to teach because it’s crazy loud when it’s raining. Click image for video.
