Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Donate items now for Rwanda!
We are collecting items to bring over to Rwanda: cloth diapers, diaper pins and cream, plastic diaper covers, kids clothing (all sizes/used is fine), bandaids, gauze, first aid tape and cream, card/board games, q-tips, toothbrushes, kid's tylenol/aspirin/vitamins/benadryl. With a team of eight going we hope to bring lots of supplies! Please bring items into the church (New Covenant) by April 20th.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Yard Sale for Rwanda
Today we had a yard sale at our church for Rwanda. We made almost $5000! The money will go to help our team of eight travel to Rwanda and help at the home for children. We are raising/giving around $600/person to Urukundo. This money will go a long way in helping with the costs of raising 46 children at Urukundo Home for Children.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Mud Slides Rwanda Style
From Mama Arlene:
It is hard to believe that in a land where lack of rain is a big problem too much of it is a bigger one. This week we were hit with a deluge and discovered how vulnerable we are and how powerful nature is. Deaths occur because the slides destroy mud brick houses.
The weather here has been exciting if you call unpredictable exciting. In the last month we have had a severe wind storm, an earthquake and now a rain storm to severe to comprehend.
Water rushing down from the top of the mountain threatened to not only move our house and septic system but move it into the house below us. No telling where the shift would stop but for sure our house would be gone. We watched in horror as the water raged and the bank started to disappear down the slope. I am sure the family below us were in a state of fright. There was nothing anyone could do. Praise God the worst did not happen. The rain stopped and quickly the water went into the ground the septic system was still sound but we received fair warning. “The next time may not end well”. We could not wait for the next time. Something had to be done and it was up to Urukundo to do it as our neighbors are very poor and could not help. We do not have streams or rivers on our mountain but mud slides are a serious problem. Especially where new development is taking place.
If you are in the way of the path the water wants to travel there is no contest. The water pouring down hill will find its own path. Move or be buried.
Our homes are built strong enough to withstand the winds and the earthquakes but not the devastating rain and mud slides. So retaining walls need to be built to protect the houses and the people. Stones and cement are very expensive but necessary to protect our homes.
We live in the middle of such a mountain. We are vulnerable from the top and from the land washing away below us.
It is hard to believe that in a land where lack of rain is a big problem too much of it is a bigger one. This week we were hit with a deluge and discovered how vulnerable we are and how powerful nature is. Deaths occur because the slides destroy mud brick houses.
The weather here has been exciting if you call unpredictable exciting. In the last month we have had a severe wind storm, an earthquake and now a rain storm to severe to comprehend.
Water rushing down from the top of the mountain threatened to not only move our house and septic system but move it into the house below us. No telling where the shift would stop but for sure our house would be gone. We watched in horror as the water raged and the bank started to disappear down the slope. I am sure the family below us were in a state of fright. There was nothing anyone could do. Praise God the worst did not happen. The rain stopped and quickly the water went into the ground the septic system was still sound but we received fair warning. “The next time may not end well”. We could not wait for the next time. Something had to be done and it was up to Urukundo to do it as our neighbors are very poor and could not help. We do not have streams or rivers on our mountain but mud slides are a serious problem. Especially where new development is taking place.
If you are in the way of the path the water wants to travel there is no contest. The water pouring down hill will find its own path. Move or be buried.
Our homes are built strong enough to withstand the winds and the earthquakes but not the devastating rain and mud slides. So retaining walls need to be built to protect the houses and the people. Stones and cement are very expensive but necessary to protect our homes.
We live in the middle of such a mountain. We are vulnerable from the top and from the land washing away below us.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
T-minus 55 days and Counting
I can't believe that it is almost time to leave for Rwanda. I, Todd, will leave April 28th and then Andria will leave May 31st. It is very interesting bit by bit everything is slowly coming together. It is also interesting how people react to the news of our moving. There have been a few who were very skeptical about us going, even saying "God isn't calling you to go to Rwanda!". These people have come full circle now. Most people are so excited about our new life adventure! As one person explained "now we know someone who is a missionary. We know that if we give money we will be able to see the impact first hand".
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