“I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence” (Psalm 140:12-13).
God calls us to serve those who are poor, to share our resources with them, to encourage them and to help them have a brighter tomorrow. And, we learn a lot as we journey down the path of service alongside those who are physically poor.
When families are able to work together to pursue their God-given purpose through education, savings programs, vocational training, spiritual discipleship and earning opportunities, they are able to break the cycle of poverty and deliver a transformational message to their children—and to generate a lot of hope!
Part of that path of transformation was paved this year by Red Rocks Church as they sent a team of 38 volunteers to Hope Haven Rwanda. This team served our students, visited the community and attempted to launch Rwanda’s first lacrosse team! We are still working on the lacrosse skills, but it was clear that the Red Rocks team loved our Rwandan families. They left a lasting impression!
Another special project for the Red Rocks Church team was rebuilding the home of one of our faithful employees. Solange has worked at Hope Haven Rwanda for six years. She has two students at the school, along with an infant at home, and she works hard to provide for her family. There have been several times when I have found her hard at work, with an infant strapped to her back.
After heavy rains recently destroyed her mud home, water would literally stream through their living area whenever it rained. This created a potentially hazardous situation, with the threat of the home collapsing, along with unsanitary living conditions for Solange’s family. When our staff became aware of the problem, they asked if she could be added to our list of potential community projects. By God’s grace, and because of the generosity of partners like Red Rocks Church, we were able to work together to repair Solange’s home while she served alongside us each step of the way.
Henriette, our Assistant Family Director, and Sylvester, one of our facilities workers, also served with distinction by managing the entire project from start to finish. They assessed the need, hired local skilled labor and trained our volunteers to rebuild this dear family’s home. At the end of the project, Solange and her family not only had new walls, they were gifted with a new toilet area and a private washing area—a huge upgrade for this needy family!
Teams like these remind us all that God is at work to “secure justice for the poor and uphold the cause of the needy” and we are honored when we are able to be His hands and feet. Is there a need, or an injustice, that you are aware of that God can use you to help resolve this week?