POWER OF NURTURING LOVE ... HEARTS OF HOPE UPDATE The team of Canadian women has just returned home from their mission trip to love on our new students. This is the third year that these women have come to serve the newest additions to the Hopethiopia/Rwanda family and the impact of “simple love” never ceases to amaze us. As we met the students in their homes, we learned of the context of their lives, prayed with them and encouraged them in the next step of their journey, joining our vocational school of hairdressing. Through tremendous trials and tribulations, most of these young women have been left orphaned, and yet they are so resilient and have such a desire to break the pattern of poverty that has plagued their families for generations. Clearly, they have been shaped by the circumstances of their lives and we know the importance of honoring their journey to date. A significant part of our mission is to facilitate such honor by helping them express their stories in the format of a beautiful scrapbook … for them … not for us. It is their story and it is up to them to decide with whom to share it. (Please note: Others have stolen stories for their personal benefit, furthering the sense of violation that most of the ladies already feel. We hope to help those wounds heal.) The initiation of the ladies culminated with an R & R day at Lake Muhazi with games, picnic, boat rides and an opportunity for the girls to be girls (something that circumstances have made impossible for too long). It was within that context that these lovely ladies shared their experiences. I would like to share some of their reflections that you might get an inkling of the transformation that “simple loving” can make! May you be truly blessed, as you have all been a part of this mission! Your support is vital! Thank you for helping us foster empowerment and hope! SAMPLE COMMENTS FROM OUR NEW STUDENTS: “I couldn’t believe you would come to my home! You showed me so much love; I was bubbling up with joy!” “When I was little I saw muzungus come and go and all I ever wanted was to be hugged by a muzungu! And a whole team hugged me!” “We will hold onto the words you spoke to us!” “The love that the team embraced me with gave me the ability to lean in and receive love. I now see myself proud and loved! I thank God for what He did, what He is doing and what He is going to do. Before, when I looked into the future I couldn’t see it but now I can. I have hope for tomorrow!”
Posted on: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:58:07 +0000
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