The Ndengera Clinic and well dedication

In about a week one of the doctors who traveled with us to Rwanda in June 2010 is headed back to that great green country.   He will be spending some time in the clinic doing ongoing training for the local doctors and nurses.  He’ll also get to attend the official medical clinic and community well dedication.   It took a year and a half and an incredible amount of red tape but now The Ndengera Clinic is officially certified with the governmemt.   The well also had more bumps and twists than we ever imagined but it too is up and running.  To celebrate they are having a ceremony.    I had the great priveledge of writing a letter to be read on behalf of our church and team.    This whole project continues to be one of my greatest joys.    Here is what I wrote.   I wish I could be there to read it myself.

Greetings from Liberty Bible Church and the medical partners in the United States.   It is an honor to be here at the dedication of the Ndengera Clinic and well.   On this happy day, we echo the words of Paul in Philippians 1: 3-5

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We honor the commitment of our brothers and sisters in Rwanda as you invest in this clinic and well.  We trust that your efforts will continue and broaden in support though out the community.

It is our hope that this clinic will provide compassionate care to the people in Gisenyi and to the children of the Ndengera Foundation.   It is our desire that the clean water from this well will support the good health of the community.

More than that though, it’s our prayer that all who come in contact with this facility will feel the love of Christ and the encouragement of being served by those who love Jesus.

We have been blessed by your friendship and thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in this great work.

I hope they take a lot of pictures.

 

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Beans, Salt and Hope

Thank you to anyone who has ever sponsored one of our kids in the feeding program. $12 a month feeds a child for a month. If you want to sponsor a child, you still can! The feeding program will be winding down as the land purchased last winter begins rolling out crops but in the mean time, there is still a need.

Today we participated in the distribution of the food. The children line up outside the door and one of the volunteers checks her book to see if they are on the list for food. Pastor Simon says there is never enough for everyone who needs help but that they start with the most vulnerable and work their way up until they run out of funds for food. The kids do know ahead of time if they will be receiving a packet for the month. Yup, the food goes out once a month so the kids have to make it stretch. Also, the kids typically have younger (or older) siblings and/or a parent so the packet stretches to help feed many.

Today, the kids got 3 kilos of corn, 3 kilos of beans, 1/2 kilo of dried fish, 1 kilo of salt and half a liter of vegetable oil which is delivered in old water bottles. We helped measure and hand out the food today.

It was overwhelming. The kids say “thank you” and I want to say “Nope, Thank you for letting us have the privilege of being here.”

Thank you for letting us take a picture, it feels almost wrong but I want to show others these scenes so that we can continue to raise support and spread the message of hope that is Ndegenera Foundation. Thank you for looking me in the eye and smiling when we say “Yesu Aragukunda” (Jesus loves you). Thank you to the little girl who said it to me. Thank you to the young man who walked in shoulders squared and shook every one of our hands. He is part of the reason I believe this program can help these kids.

The poverty of things is not the real problem. The poverty of spirit, of shame and of despair is the real problem and that kid had hope, confidence and courage. He has a hope and future. He has plans from the One who holds us all in His hands. Jeremiah 29:11