When we visited Eglise Vivante in Gikondo, we met the volunteers involved in the program and our brother Jules. We joined them in their work and were touched to see this small group of people making a difference, managing to feed 150 children once a week with few resources. In speaking with these volunteers, one lady said to us “twe twararize amarira arakama, none harageze ko namwe murira mukihanagura” - “We have no more tears…our tears are dried up, now is your time to cry and wipe yours.” On our last Sunday with them, we promised them that this wasn’t the end, we would go back home and continue to make a difference. The following stories are from some of the kids that come to our feeding program on Fridays and Sundays. The stories are short but please know that none are embellished or fake, these are real people.

Varence

This is Varence , a 12 year old boy. Shortly after birth his mother, a prostitute, left him for dead when another prostitute found him and raised him best she could. Unfortunately at the age of 8 she moved to another city and again Varence was abandoned. When asked what he longs for he says “to go to school”.

Solide

15 year old Solide Jean-Claude has had no family since his mother died in 1998. His father was killed during the genocide leaving him scarred for life. You can see him sleeping in the street gutters and dreams for the day when he can be dry while he sleeps in the rain.

Jean Claude

Jean-Claude is a 14 year old boy who lost his father in the genocide and his mother to a disease in 2002. He has no family at all. He told us “it hurts so bad to live on the streets, I only live by Gods grace and I pray that he will take away the pain one day.”

Bananimana

Bananimana Jean Claude is an orphan. At the age of 1 year old his father was murdered and at 3 years old he lost his mother. Alone he moved to Kigali to try to start fresh however life did not change. He is waiting for a loving person to help him off the streets, and he longs to bless the one who will help him.

Cyuzuzo

Cyuzuzo Rwakayiro is told that he was from the Gitarama area of Rwanda but has no recollection of it. He said “I briefly knew my mother, but now she is dead. I’m 14 years old and only eat twice a week at Shelter Them. I’m ashamed to say this but it hurts so much when I see other kids calling for their parents.”

Agnes

Agnes (the lady in the middle) wants to give these children a loving home but cannot financially support even herself. This is how our new homes will work, it will help the helpless and give people like Agnes the chance to share her love as a mother in the house