The Big Reveal(for those who have not heard!)

Sandra Uwiringiy'imana (or Uwiringiyimana as the media misspelled) is speaking at the Women in the World conference in New York City this Thursday.  She is part of a three person panel which includes Madeleine Albright and Angelina Jolie.  They are discussing the topic of "Women and War."  The moderator is Charlie Rose, who is known for his interviews on the Charlie Rose Show on PBS and "CBS This Morning."  Her panel kicks off the 3rd annual event, which includes women from around the globe sharing stories and ideas to empower women, support women, and learn from other women, many who are living in violent and impoverished areas of the world.  Sandra was invited to speak about her experiences in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gatumba.  When I was talking with her the other day, she was very excited at the chance to meet Leymah Gbowee, a Nobel Laureate and founder of Gbowee Peace Foundation.  She has also been invited to a full, taped interview with Charlie Rose on Monday after the conference.  We are so proud of you Sandra and pray that you will have the right words to say that touch the attenders of this conference and move them into action.

The Latest Buzz

Things are happening!  Foundation of Hope has begun the latest round of tuition payments to Rwanda.  So far at least 40 children are set for the school year and Felix is working very hard to take care of around a dozen more payments.  Felix is our dedicated and wonderful liaison in Rwanda.  All of this is possible due to his hard work verifying the children's information and delivering tuition money.  We are very blessed to have him on our team. 

On Feb 25-26, FOH is travelling to Russell, PA to participate in a Women's Conference and then perform a full concert on Saturday night.  We will also sing in the church services on Sunday morning.  It is a great opportunity get out there and minister to people in our region, while also sharing our commitment and burden for these young people in Rwanda.

Sandra and Alex are up and coming artists!  They collaborated on a photography exhibit that is being shown through March titled, "The Aesthetics of Atrocity."  This exhibit showcases many survivors of the Gatumba massacre.  The portraits were taken by Sandra and Alex.  There is also 4-5 listening stations to hear testimony of survivors.  It is a touching exhibit.  I am so proud of them both. 

Cliff Hanger Alert:  Sandra is going to be part of something AWESOME in March!  Just think BIG, EXCITING, and beyond any one's imagination!  Once she gives me the OK to share, I will post! 

Keep the  children in Rwanda in your prayers, along with the FOH choir here and in Africa.  Also, please pray for funds to begin building a secondary school in Rwanda that will provide ongoing care for many refugee children in Rwanda.  We want to help many more children in need.

Newsletter From Felix

October 2011

Foundation of Hope in Rwanda participated in International Day of Peace on Sept 21, 2011.  The Kigali community came together to celebrate and spread peace building messages through songs, poems, drama, etc.  The goal was to encourage participants and community members to continue to strengthen and sustain peace building values within individuals, households, and the nation.

Child Updates:  Many of the children are doing well in school.

Uwababyeyi, Joseline lives with her Grandfather.  She likes to play jump rope and English is her favorite subject.  She earned 81% for second term and wants to be a Doctor.

Uwase, Makobwa lives with her Grandmother and is in Primary 4.  She likes to play football and wished to become a police officer in child protection.  She got 54% in second term.  She is a very happy and hopeful girl.  She shared, "Thanks a lot for making my life better and stay blessed."

Igiraneza, Yvonne lives with her Aunt.  She is in Primary 4 and got First Position in her class with a score of 83% in second term.  She enjoys playing ball games and loves science.  She would like to be a Doctor after her studies and help children in need.  Her message:  "Thank you so much for your great contribution towards my success for a better future."

Umutoni, Pamela is in Primary 4.  She got 64% in second term.  She is working hard to perform well in third term.  She participated in International Peace Day.  She likes playing jump rope.  She would like to become a Minister in the Government when she completes her studies.  She says, "God bless Foundation of Hope for social and economic support to build our hope for the better future."

Rwandan FOH Choir Activities:

"We thank God for His unfailing love and enabling us to do His work after different troubles we faced.  Thank you so much dear brothers and sisters in Rochester, NY"

The choir has been singing and evangelizing in local Rwandan churches.  They have also attended and participated in conferences held in Rwanda, such as the International Day of Peace.

The choir members are visiting hospitals and the families of the children supported by FOH.

The choir has been writing original songs.  They now have 15!  One day, they hope to record a CD.

We are called as Hope builders in hopeless places, but with God we will reach our promised land.

For Foundation of Hope in Rwanda,

Bizumuremyi, Felix.





Living Free

Most of us have never experienced not being free.  We have experienced laws and rules that shape our freedom of choice, but we have always been free to live where we want, go to school where we want, and work where we want.  What a valuable gift!  It is shameful we don't recognize on a daily or moment by moment basis how precious this gift of freedom really is.

I was meeting with Heritage this past month, and I asked him about life in the Congo.  He told me brief stories of life in a region where discriminatory boundaries were the norm.  Those known as Congolese Tutsi were persecuted and injured, many killed - life for them was not free.  He mentioned being forced to be a child soldier - he was not free.

Now, after living in America for a few years, it must at times be overwhelming to witness those who unknowingly take their freedom for granted.  I think if it was me, I would want to shout, "Wake up America, see what you have.  Cherish it, embrace it, realize that what you have is what others only dream and pray for!"

Please, don't let life carry on without understanding the power and price of freedom.  Use your freedom to help those in bondage.  Thank someone, perhaps a military person or someone who participated in the civil rights movement, or even local activists who strive to free those in modern day slavery. 

"Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being.  With freedom comes responsibility."~ Eleanor Roosevelt

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. ~ Nelson Mandela

Rwanda? But That's A Dangerous Place

Whenever I talk to random Americans about Foundation of Hope and I say we are working in Rwanda, the response is generally the same - the face scrunches up and something like, "Oh, that's a dangerous place," is the next thing I hear!

I then proceed to explain that Rwanda is more stable than most of its neighbors, the economy is improving, etc.  But, given the surrounding warring nations, and a history of violence due to "tribal" division, I do wonder could events that occurred in 1994 be possible again?

One of the values of FOH is to become a grassroots organization in Rwanda that promotes unity amongst all Rwandans; to no longer worry if you are Tutsi or Hutu, or whatever.

Just as Martin Luther King, Jr worked for equality here in a divided America, we want to teach the next generation to put down their weapons and love their neighbor.  We should celebrate our unique differences, not fight about it.  As each generation passes, this message blurs the lines that divide us and allow people to come together, either as Americans, or Rwandans.

In just 50 years, our nation has seen a huge shift from segregation to a more integrated society (don't get me wrong, there is still division and more work to be done, but it is way better than it used to be).  My daughter will learn of the history of slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement.  She may even think that the civil rights movement happened in the dark ages!  It will seem like so long ago to her!  The reality is that it was just a few decades ago, her grandparents were living and restricted by segregation laws in the South.  Now, opportunities abound for her because a dedicated, anointed group of people followed their calling to fight for equality.

Now, it is Foundation of Hope's turn to continue to build the bridges of peace, here and in the far reaches of the world.  "All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ready for Fall

Summer has flown by.  Where does the time go?  The leaves are trying to change color (too early I might add), and school starts tomorrow for some and the rest next week! 

Foundation of Hope had a wonderful time ministering with the African Heritage Network in July.  The speaker spent time praying for the leaders who were present, which included Bishop Samuels from Rwanda, Pastor Mike, and Heritage.  It was a beautiful time of worship and confirmation of the good work that God wants us to pursue. 

It was exciting to sing and present and the WMI luncheon at General Conference...it was the total multimedia experience with the jumbo screens and huge stage!  Resettled African children from New Hope and another church in PA sang before one of the evening services and at a luncheon the next day...they ROCKED!  What an experience for them, to sing before 1,000 people on Wednesday night!

I heart is being challenged in the last few days.  I am learning as much as I can about the war torn regions of Africa, specifically Uganda and the Sudan.  I am so troubled by the stories and the lack of response by the rest of the world.  As I continue to work with FOH, I pray that we will be a force that God uses to help these people...all those displaced by violence and war.  I wish that there was an easy way to fix their problems, but since there isn't, we need to work hard, harder than ever to meet the needs of people all over the world who are suffering.

I recommend the following documentaries (for those who are not faint of heart).  There is graphic content regarding genocide and violence, so please do not watch with children around.  I recommend "War Dance" which is a story of 3 children in a refugee camp in Northern Uganda and their school choir who qualify for a national music competition.  Their stories include a young girl whose aunt forces her to work like a slave since she is orphaned, a young boy who wants to be the best xylophone player in Uganda who was abducted and forced to be a child soldier, and a girl who loves to sing and dance and is still mourning the murder of her father.  I also recommend "The Devil Came on Horseback", but this is very graphic.  It is a shameful example of how the world just stands by while horrors occur in Sudan.  "God Grew Tired of Us"  follows several resettled Lost Boys of Sudan as they move to the US.  It gives a wonderful glimpse into their struggles and offers insight into how, as Americans, we could do more to help and nurture those who arrive to a whole new world.

God bless all those who read our blog.  I pray that we can work together to fulfill our mission of helping those in need.