I clearly remember the discussion. Several of our US team members gathered in Colorado for a planning session. We knew that we needed to find a more effective way to provide long-term for the Rwandan children and families that we had grown to love.
The number of students was growing.
The individual needs in our community were not diminishing.
The corporate need was greater than any of us could bear individually.
But we also knew we could not abandon them. We know them, we love them, they are part of our family. Before long, the Kugaba Initiative was birthed. Now, people could choose to become Hope Angels and to connect with a specific student. We decided to call it a ‘’relational investment” program, because that is our heart and our belief. Becoming a Hope Angel is both an opportunity and a commitment. Relationships need commitment. And they bear fruit in varying degrees based on the level of that commitment. Relational Joy blossoms when the bridge of trust is stable between the two parties in the relationship.
Many of our families have experienced the joy of deep relationships like this. Not too many years after his parents were killed in Africa, Kimberly and I met with our “son” Nankpak for the first time and he continues to change our lives. At 26 years of age now, we have watched him mature into a solid man of God. There is an indescribable joy that wells up in my heart as I hear him and his “mum,” Kimberly, sharing encouraging Scriptures with each other. It just doesn’t get better than that. As Scripture says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4).
The joy that bubbles up when we share life with another is rich. When we sacrificially serve each other in healthy relationship, we reap eternal benefits, but we also get a foretaste now. And it is so sweet.
The food-insecure families we serve are struggling more than ever now. Last week, we were able to complete another emergency aid distribution, and, as Liz says, the families in our community couldn’t stop talking. She said that the
mothers, especially, prayed to ask for God’s continued blessing on Hope Haven as we “shine brightly on the hill.”
By God’s grace, we gave food to 177 families last week. Think about that. 177 families who were wondering how God would provide, now know that they can survive a bit longer. And that is only possible because of many of you who have chosen to sacrifice a bit here to help brothers and sisters there. Such a beautiful, joy-filled relationship.
God has led one of His generous givers to provide a match for every new Hope Angel before July 1st. We are almost to the match goal of 50.
Today, June 30, is the last day for the match. Is God calling you help us cross the finish line?
This isn’t an “ask” in the traditional sense. It is an invitation to be part of what God is doing in a beautifully developing community in a beautiful part of God’s creation! Visit: hopehavenrwanda.org/sponsor-a-child and ask God if He is calling you to help change the trajectory of a family’s life forever. Then wait for the joy to flow!