Visiting the ABC Kids - August 2017
Back in the land of a thousand hills. First stop, Ryandinzi. The beautiful mountain village is located in the Northern Province, near the Virunga Mountains (best known for the endangered mountain gorillas researched by Dian Fossy). Here in Ryandinzi, life is simple yet difficult. Most families farm to survive, but farming is often a challenge on the terraced slopes of these lakeside hills. And fishing is not a free for all. Only a privileged few are allowed to fish and fish are too expensive for most locals to buy.
On top of one of the hills, just above a shoreline that would be highly sought after property anywhere else, sits the humble building of Christ Gospel Fellowship Ryandinzi. The kids eagerly awaited our arrival as Pastor Innocent excitedly greeted us. A few more of the ABC Kids were still on their way from nearby villages, although nearby literally means a long, bumpy taxi ride, a walk through a banana tree forest, followed by a boat ride across the lake for the kids coming from Gatonde. And then a long, long, walk along the curvy, dusty mountain roads and a thrilling (or frightful) ride on back of a motorbike taxi for the two ABC Kids coming from Rusenge. These two, Oda and Claudine, arrived from Rusenge, unaccompanied, a thought that might horrify parents in the US. But the journey they took without supervision is normal for them.
The visit to Ryandinzi was filled with joy and excitement as the sponsored kids received gifts from their sponsors and the non-sponsored kids received small gifts from the program. Even the curious local kids were happy to receive candy and have their pictures taken. The kids were also given a big meal and had a time of singing and dancing and celebrating.
Pastor Innocent shared that when a lot of kids lost their sponsors during the change in administration in the US in 2015, that discouragement spread across the kids and attendance in Sunday School declined. But as God brought more sponsors back to the program, a revival was felt in the church, and attendance doubled as the sponsored kids would invite other kids in the village to come to church and see what God was doing. This was a wonderful, and much needed reminder of why this program is important. Such a simple sacrifice from a sponsor makes a life changing impact on these kids. Many shared heartfelt stories of life with and without the support from a sponsor. Those individual stories will be shared soon. But for now, please enjoy the pictures below of the kids in Ryandizi, and a huge thank you to all those who help make this possible.
On top of one of the hills, just above a shoreline that would be highly sought after property anywhere else, sits the humble building of Christ Gospel Fellowship Ryandinzi. The kids eagerly awaited our arrival as Pastor Innocent excitedly greeted us. A few more of the ABC Kids were still on their way from nearby villages, although nearby literally means a long, bumpy taxi ride, a walk through a banana tree forest, followed by a boat ride across the lake for the kids coming from Gatonde. And then a long, long, walk along the curvy, dusty mountain roads and a thrilling (or frightful) ride on back of a motorbike taxi for the two ABC Kids coming from Rusenge. These two, Oda and Claudine, arrived from Rusenge, unaccompanied, a thought that might horrify parents in the US. But the journey they took without supervision is normal for them.
The visit to Ryandinzi was filled with joy and excitement as the sponsored kids received gifts from their sponsors and the non-sponsored kids received small gifts from the program. Even the curious local kids were happy to receive candy and have their pictures taken. The kids were also given a big meal and had a time of singing and dancing and celebrating.
Pastor Innocent shared that when a lot of kids lost their sponsors during the change in administration in the US in 2015, that discouragement spread across the kids and attendance in Sunday School declined. But as God brought more sponsors back to the program, a revival was felt in the church, and attendance doubled as the sponsored kids would invite other kids in the village to come to church and see what God was doing. This was a wonderful, and much needed reminder of why this program is important. Such a simple sacrifice from a sponsor makes a life changing impact on these kids. Many shared heartfelt stories of life with and without the support from a sponsor. Those individual stories will be shared soon. But for now, please enjoy the pictures below of the kids in Ryandizi, and a huge thank you to all those who help make this possible.
Pictures from Ryandinzi
Visiting the ABC Kids in the Central Province
We gathered with the ABC Kids in Kimironko (Central Province) to distribute gifts from the sponsors to their sponsored kids and to give small gifts to those kids still waiting to be sponsored.
The day was filled with a message on the love of God taught by Mary, signing and dancing, the kids showing off their gifts to each other, enjoying snacks (amandazi, submusa, and soda), and receiving their hygiene products and school materials for the new term starting the following week. It was a long, tiresome day (mostly because although the kids were told to arrive at 8am, the majority didn't show up until after 10am, or in other words "African time" as they like to say). The kids were so happy to receive their gifts and to hear how much their sponsors love them. Below are a few pictures from this day.
The day was filled with a message on the love of God taught by Mary, signing and dancing, the kids showing off their gifts to each other, enjoying snacks (amandazi, submusa, and soda), and receiving their hygiene products and school materials for the new term starting the following week. It was a long, tiresome day (mostly because although the kids were told to arrive at 8am, the majority didn't show up until after 10am, or in other words "African time" as they like to say). The kids were so happy to receive their gifts and to hear how much their sponsors love them. Below are a few pictures from this day.
