The Mind of Matayo

Global Capacity News, February 2012

2012-02-01T11:07:00.001-05:00

February 1 is National Heroes’ Day in Rwanda!

National Heroes’ Day was created for the opportunity to reflect about and pay tribute to the past and present heroes of the nation. We believe that our students will one day be heroes themselves because of the community development they will foster as a result of their education. In honor of the holiday we asked some of our students who their heroes are and why:

Esther: "My hero is my grandmother, she brought me up and gives me good care and advice."

Eric: "My hero is my father who brings me up in a good way."

Pacifique: "My hero is Global Capacity because it pays for my school fees and all school requirements."

Jean Claude: "My hero is my brother and sister who look after me daily."

Manasseh: "My hero is God who provided me donors. Without them I would be in a bad situation."

We are launching an effort for you to deliver a video message to our students about your heroes:

Go to our Facebook page and upload a video answering the two questions: “Who is your hero and why?”
Videos should be no longer than one minute in length
Videos need to be uploaded by February 14 at Midnight ET
The videos will be entered in a drawing to win a $100 VISA gift card

Important Changes to Right2School Program

2012 brings some exciting changes to the Right2School Program! At this time we have added nine more students to the program, enabling 37 children the opportunity to get an education and be better equipped for community development. We expect to add three more students soon. Our scholars attend a total of 17 different schools across the country.

15 students are in grades Secondary 1-3 and attend our after school program of lunch and tutoring
22 students are in grades Secondary 4-6 and attend boarding school

We have also added the option of vocational (trade) school for students who so desire. Vocational school lasts between nine months and three years and allows the students to specialize in a concentration, enabling some to get jobs quicker.

It is our hope to provide everything our students need while in school, which is why we offer holistic scholarships. This year we are giving them even more, to ensure they don't have anything else to worry about but their studies. Visit our website to learn more!

Thank you to our recent volunteers!

2011-10-07T15:43:00.011-04:00

Phew! We have had a busy few weeks! Global Capacity wishes to thank the following volunteers for their hard work and assistance over the past few weeks. They have served in many ways in the following areas: redesigning our website, creating our Gift Brochure, preparing for or helping at our Open House, running our Silent Auction, preparing for and serving at our African Marketplace, revising our scholarship applications, designing activity booklets for elementary school, or speaking to 3rd and 4th graders about us. We could not have done this without you! THANK YOU!

Lois Abdelmalek

Kristen Arnold

Sarah Bailey

Emily Burns

Corrie Clark

Lucas Corish

Mandy Cruz

Allison Dower

Sonia Felker

Kendra Gettig

Matt Gross

Theresa Heinz

Ben Henderson

Jonathan Hetler

Curt Himmelberger

Sara Hoy

Hannah Ingram

Laurie Kellermeyer

Joe Knight

Todd Lawton

Enette Louw

Andrew Marker

Sara Marker

Joe Mayo

Matt McKinney

Mugisha Niyibizi

Thierry Nzigiye

Denny Rhule

Gloria Rhule

Barb Roan

Mary Steel

Lisa Thompson-Hess

Matt Yates

Why is the crazy white person sitting next to me crying?

2011-08-23T14:22:00.002-04:00

I was sitting on the public bus this morning, going from Kigali to Gitarama and started sobbing and could not stop. This was a very familiar setting for me, as I have taken this bus route many times in the past. I began reflecting on the past three years, when I moved to Rwanda in 2008 for five months to establish Global Capacity’s work in the country.

All of the emotion of accomplishment as well as disappointment hit me at once and all I could do is continue sobbing. There are times in which feelings overwhelm and rather than keep them in, as I wish, they manifest in the form of tears I cannot stop. Some of the emotion is pity for the little children I see walking from miles away to gather up water in their plastic cans. And at other times it is the stark truth that I cannot help everyone, as the needs seem insurmountable. At other times it is the gratitude I feel in being able to be part of something that is greater than myself.

I began thinking about how far Global Capacity has come since 2008. At that time we had no concrete vision of our work or mission or how we would proceed. We saw the needs but did not know how to answer them. And then slowly God began to reveal the answers and our work began to take form. We began to get connected with wonderful people to help us and assist us. And we saw how Global Capacity would be a much-needed organization in Rwanda.

There have been many bumps along the road. There have been struggles and hurts and pain. Ideas didn’t work and people in America did not grab on to our vision as much as we felt it in our hearts. We saw the need but they didn’t. And we were also hurt by the very people we were serving in Rwanda. Providing aid is messy and sometimes I have wanted to walk away.

Yet, something has kept me in it. And I am so thankful to be able to be involved in the work that we are doing. The need for providing scholarships for secondary and vocational school became absolutely clear on this trip. I cannot tell you how incredible it is so look into the eyes of a mama or a papa and reassure them that their child will be able to attend secondary school. It’s that look, of gratitude and satisfaction, which keeps me doing what we are doing. There truly are not many more exhilarating things for me than to be able to change someone’s life with the means of education.

One room, five people

2011-08-17T13:36:00.002-04:00

Today we visited six of our students' homes for the purpose of learning more about them and meeting their families. It's one thing to see a photo of these kids sent in an email. Up until this past week that had been my reality with most of the students. I had not met them yet. I read about them - their grade in school, what they want to be when they grow up, their hobbies. There is nothing quite like meeting them in person, seeing them in flesh and blood, and celebrating in the big smile on their face because of what you have done for them. It's a much more profound experience.

Going into their homes today was my favorite part of the trip so far...as well as the most challenging. It put my knowledge of the students way past what I had known about them. Sure, it was extremely difficult to see the living conditions and gave me a greater understanding and respect for what we are doing. For example, in the first home we visited lived two of our students, grateful that we had the time to stop by. The two boys live with their widowed mother and two younger brothers. And all five of them live in a one-room house. We sat on their mattresses since there was no other furniture. They had their clothes hanging from the ceiling, with no place to put a dresser or closet. The mother was not ashamed about the conditions we had walked into, but rather thankful to have us there and to be putting her sons through secondary school.

At another house we talked with a father about how he was retired and using his pension to pay for his son's schooling. The pension ran out and he had no other source for payment. His wife had to move far away to live with relatives with a plot of land for gardening. She sends the little money she makes on occasion. Yet, this wasn't enough. I had tears in my eyes as he described the joy he has that his son is once again getting an education.

It was story after story from one home to the next. The living conditions were much worse than I could imagine. There were mattresses on dirt floors, piles of clothes hanging from doors, and holes in the tin roof that would leak during a rain. These folks are the poorest of the poor in the village. They have hopes and dreams for their children, just like any other parent does. They want to see them succeed in school, so they can get jobs and make fulfilling lives for themselves.

Our scholarships enable the children to go to school and begin to stop the cycle of poverty in their life. Hopefully one day our students will live in a house that has more than one room, or a bedroom with a bedframe and concrete floors, or a roof that doesn't leak.

The next time you are sitting in a room in your house or work, think about five people living in it. It will bring the situation of our students' families into a new light and help you understand the need for our Right2School scholarships.

Go to www.right2school.org to find out how you can support our students.

Our education scholarships are healing to the body

2011-05-12T14:35:00.000-04:00

Angela [her name has been changed], who is one of our students, has been suffering really bad back pain while in secondary school. This happened close to exam time at the end of the first trimester. Thankfully, one of the components of her Right2School scholarship is health insurance. She was able to get medicine for shots in her back, which helped. Her pain occurred in the second trimester as well. This time she was able to get pills and only one shot.

This is why we are providing more than just school fees to our students, but rather holistic scholarships. Angela most likely would not have had the opportunity to receive medical care without her education scholarship. Her family was probably too poor to have access to health care or medication. We desire for our students to have every need of their covered while in school, so they can concentrate on their studies and excelling in their education.

I know Angela appreciates this and doesn't know what she would have performed in school with her terrible back pain.

Read more about our holistic scholarships.

So much to do - Manasseh's goals after school

2011-03-03T09:57:00.006-05:00

I recently read over Manasseh's Right2School application. He is a 15 year-old boy in S-2 (which is equivalent to 8th grade) and was quite impressed with what he wants to do after he graduates from school:

I will work for the government, I will help orphans, I'll care for vulnerable families, I'll found my own company, I'll be a businessman, I'll found an orphanage center, I will care for handicap people, I will care for all sick people, I'll be head of state, I'll care for old boys like me at home, I'll develop the education, I'll be a doctor and care for sick people, I'll fight violence, I'll be an Ambassador, I'll build houses for those who don't have a place to live, I'll pay school fees for the children, I'll develop professionals, I'll protect the environment, I'll be a teacher, I'll be a minister, I'll be a member of parliament.

Keep in mind that he is just 15 years-old. Most likely he will not be able to accomplish every single one of these dreams, but with an education chances are high that he will live to fulfill some of them.

I love working with young people in Rwanda because they see so many needs in their community and country. If you would ask a 15 year-old in the U.S. what his goals are after he graduates from school, do you think he would list as many?

Manasseh does not currently have a sponsor. Do you want to learn more about him and stand beside him and his high hopes? If so, send an email to matthewh@globalcapacity.org.

How children become our students: Marie's story

2011-02-15T11:13:00.008-05:00

Yvonne Parr, our partner in Rwanda, recently shared the story of how Marie [her name has been changed] came to live at one of the homes that she and her husband began. It's a sobering reminder of what our students have lived through and why we have chosen to be their advocates for their education:

We have worked with Marie since 2007 in counseling her and went through her healing process in her genocide memories. She has an amazing testimony. She was in such pain when she first came to us for counseling that she could not even speak. She brought her very dear and closest friend with her Ann, who spoke for her. The next counseling session was one of the most difficult I have ever encountered. The atmosphere was all pain. She could barely speak. I held her in my arms for over 45 minutes as she wailed and wailed. Then she would stop. Then it would begin again. My shirt was literally soaked with her tears. She gave testimony afterwards that she was on a road and each time she was wailing she thought of a point of pain in her life. Then as she stopped she was kicking it out of the way and continuing on the road until the next point of pain and so on. We were amazed.

She was a genocide survivor and her mother was killed in the genocide. She thought her father had been killed as well but found out in 2002 that he was alive and in prison for genocide crimes. She went to see him but could not bear it and never saw him again. As we counseled her we began to find out she was daddy's little girl when young. To make a long story short with our counsel she went to visit him after all those years and was reconciled with him. The account is like a prodigal son kind of thing. During our time of counseling with her, she lived with Ann's family. But then Ann's father was going to put her out because he did not want the burden of school fees. So we started sponsoring her then but she always lived with this family and her and Ann were very, very close. Ann stood by her in many ways.

But then in 2008 Ann's family moved and Marie had no place to stay. She came to us for help and though we were in America at that time we allowed her to stay at our girls' house.

-Yvonne Parr, A Voice For Rwanda

Marie recently left the girls' house and the Right2School program to live and care for Ann during and after Ann's pregnancy. Fortunately, Ann is paying for Marie's education so she can continue to be in school and make a better life for herself.

Do you want to impact a student's life like Marie's? To find out more go to www.globalcapacity.org.

What is in Marie Claire's bookbag? A squeegie.

2011-02-11T15:17:00.001-05:00

What is in Marie Claire's bookbag? I recently received a list of items that we bought for the 14 year-old Right2School student, to begin her year at secondary school:

2 school uniforms
1 sweater
1 pair of sports shoes
1 igitenge (cloth to wear while cleaning)
1 mosquito net
1 mattress
1 pillow
2 sets of bed sheets
20 200-page notebooks
10 pens
1 math set
1 calculator
1 set of passport photos
1 lucrette (like a squeegie to clean floors)
1 plate
1 cup
1 set of utensils

As I read through the list I thought about how different the items are than the ones my mom and dad used to buy me for school. Typically that list contained things like: a couple new sets of clothes, a pair of shoes, tablets of paper, folders, a lunch box, lead pencils, pencil bag, erasers, and so on. They were tools that they would purchase for me year after year because I would lose them or break them or mistreat them. I had the luxury of returning to Wal-mart each year because we had the money to do so. I learned to take school supplies for granted and not value them.

Then consider Marie Claire, who will not take any item on this list for granted. She might never have had the opportunity to own some of these supplies before. I can guarantee that at the end of the school year, some of these items will be in mint condition because she treasured and valued them.

It brings joy to my heart to know that students like Marie Claire will be improving the lives of her future children by going to school, and one day will be buying school supplies for them.

National Heroes Day: A Reflection

2011-02-03T09:52:00.013-05:00

It was Heroes Day in Rwanda this past Tuesday, a national holiday designated to reflect on the past and present heroes of the nation. We asked three of our students who their heroes are:

"In this world there are people who make the right choice for their countries. Those heroes accept even to lose their life for the nations which is an incredible example for us. My heroes are Fred Gisa RWIGEMA, KING MUTARA III RUDAHIGWA, Students of NYANGE School, UWILINGIYIMANA Agathe and all others who sacrificed their life to save the people and plant the good culture of loving the country. In different ways they all fought against ethnicity and bad politics. As youth we have to learn from them and be the engine to keep peace and build better community."
-Jean Claude

"Fred Gisa RWIGEMA is my hero, He refused to stand and see Rwanda continue to lose the dignity, he started a war to stop the violence and liberate our country. He and all other heroes are unforgettable."
-Alphonse

"As we remember our heroes every 2nd February. It’s time to realize their exemplary activity they did for saving our country. And it’s a good time for everyone to think about how he/she must do better to restore the country and build a stable economy. God bless all those heroes."
-Thierry

Read more about these important figures in Rwanda's history and find out why our students see them as heroes who helped shape the nation into what it is today.

Wealthy donors: needy persons or buildings?

2011-02-02T12:39:00.010-05:00

According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, only a few of the largest donations given in 2010 went to organizations that help the poor. In fact, only one out of the ten largest gifts were made to directly impact the poor. The other nine were given to institutions for expansion projects or endowments.

This is disturbing to me since it is estimated that 1 billion people live in extreme poverty, or on $1.25/day. Although the World Bank has announced that these numbers are dropping, extreme poverty is a reality of one-sixth of the world's population.

Why isn't more money given to organizations that help eradicate poverty?

Do you think giving by wealthy donors for projects like building expansion or art collections is warranted? Why do you give to the causes that you give to?

Auto Mechanic Dreams Come True

2011-02-01T12:56:00.000-05:00

One of our Right2School students is having the time of his life in secondary school. Not only is he able to go to school, but he is also fulfilling two of his long-awaited dreams at the same time: he is becoming an auto mechanic and getting his drivers license. John Paul states "You have given me a miracle to go to such a good school. I never imagined to be able to go to such a school and to receive my drivers license. It is indeed a miracle."

John Paul is in the auto mechanic section of secondary school. Most schools do not provide an opportunity for students to get their drivers license. In Rwanda it is so important as a mechanic to have your auto license. Usually to do this on your own takes a lot of money and time and there is no guarantee you will pass. At his school the teachers will work with them to pass to obtain their license before they finish the school year.

It brings such happiness to know that even three months ago Jean Paul could not have imagined himself getting the opportunity to become a mechanic or get his drivers license. Through his education he is getting the chance to obtain a profitable job for himself and his future family.

The auto repair business is becoming a popular occupation as the nation continues to develop and increase its economic stability. Jean Paul's future is looking pretty bright.

Are you interested in sponsoring all or a portion of Jean Paul's road to becoming an auto mechanic? Do you have a knack for cars? Are you an auto mechanic? We can get you personally invested in his life.

For more information send an email to matthewh@globalcapacity.org.

How Socially Responsible is Your Organization?

2011-01-25T12:42:00.001-05:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

CSR Branding Survey 2010

View more presentations from Burson-Marsteller.

A student and her mattress

2011-01-19T22:44:00.004-05:00

When is the last time you were ecstatic about something? Not just happy, but truly and joyously excited? Was it your baby being born or your wedding day or a new job? Maybe it was the first time you realized you loved your girlfriend or when you got your first car.

For Devotha, who is one of our Right2School scholarship recipients, it was about getting her very own mattress. You see, she had never owned one before. Somehow throughout the close to twenty years of her life she never had the luxury of sleeping on her very own mattress. At school she even slept with another female student. That's three inches of foam measuring about three feet wide by 6 feet long. And yes, for two young adults. A mattress is one of the belongings that she will take with her to secondary school, where she will live, sleep, and study for the next few years. I remember the vision of students off on their way to school on the public taxis. Many were carrying rolled up mattresses with their suitcases, ready for a new year and to study hard. It is such a sight to see...young adults, waiting to make a difference in their developing country, on the way to what a large majority of children will never get a chance to see, a classroom.

Devotha wants to be a physics professor in University. She said last year she had many worries about not having school fees. Many times she had to leave around exam time which made it difficult to score well. She said "This year I will do very well, I have no worries". Like many of our scholarship recipients, Devotha comes from an orphan led family. Her older sister is taking care of all the brothers and sisters. Her older sister also became a widow in 2004 losing her husband as a soldier in the Sudan.

For Devotha this year is a year of hope and promise as she will begin school and work hard to change the cycle of poverty in her life. It's a dream come true for her, and now she will dream even easier, with her very own mattress.

5 Reasons Why We are Working in Akindege, Rwanda

2011-01-18T15:10:00.005-05:00

Why are we providing scholarships in Akindege, Rwanda?

1. Akindege is an extremely poor village, with 50% of the population being jobless. We hope to help the community develop and create more opportunities as a result of educating the young.

2. There are all types of family structures in Akindege, including households with both parents, one-parent, and orphan-headed households.

3. We have partnered with an organization called A Voice For Rwanda, to assist us with our Right2School program. Les and Yvonne Parr live and work in Akindege for the purpose of providing social service programs to the poor families of the village. Partnering with A Voice For Rwanda enables us to keep our sponsorship program very personal and get regular updates from the students.

4. Akindege's children have a burning desire to attend school but many cannot due to the cost and will do anything, regardless of their age, to get there. For example, one of the students we are sponsoring is a 23 year-old starting 11th grade this year. There is also a 21 year-old beginning 10th grade. The children of Akindege are not embarrassed over their age, whereas children in developed countries would probably not attend secondary school at an age of 23.

5. We have the blessing, permission, and cooperation of the government of Akindege to work there. They have necessary insight into the people of their village and assist us when needed.

Trip Summary!

2010-06-03T15:24:00.007-04:00

I think it's about time for a summary of my trip. I left Rwanda just five days ago feeling so good with what I had accomplished. The NGO application is still being worked on there, but it is getting done! I experienced lots of challenging moments on the trip, but also so many rewarding ones. I have such a peace about what Global Capacity is doing in Rwanda and have a much better idea of our program. One thing is evident, the Right2School program is so necessary. So many children want to go to school but cannot afford it. I have a presentation I made of my trip at my company a few days ago, which will help explain where Global Capacity stands today...

Why are we involved in education?

More than 50% of the population is under 18 years-old

It aligns with the Rwandan government’s strategic plans for economic and community development

One of the main goals is for human resource development and to build a knowledge-based economy

On a national level, only 10% of children ages 13-18 are enrolled in secondary school

Education changes the cycle of extreme poverty in an individual’s life

Helping the people help themselves

What is our Right2School Program?

Secondary school = Grades 7-12 (but called Secondary 1-6)

School expenses cost an average $550/year. Rwandans make an average $625/year.

A one-year scholarship program for secondary school students including school fees and materials, uniform, health card, and transportation

Our hope is to continue the scholarship throughout the tenure of secondary school, provided the students meets our standards

We have also teamed with members of Penn State University's Department of Educational Policy Studies to create curriculum for American public school students. The material is based on social responsibility and equity and is currently being taught to 5^th, 8^th, and 10^th grade classrooms in Pennsylvania. We look forward to educating our nation’s students about giving to those less fortunate than themselves and teaching how to be globally-minded.

One of our partners, A Voice For Rwanda

Founded by an American couple who have have lived in Rwanda for 4 1/2 years

Working in a village called Akindege, which is roughly 30 minutes from Kigali

Implementing the Help Program, which provides various programs for the entire family

Working with the ten poorest families in the village, as identified by the chief

Global Capacity is supplying the secondary school fees for the families (eight of the ten have children in secondary school)

Umudugudu Wa'kindege

Translated as 'the village of Akindege', where we are working

Population is 2,163 people

Extremely poor, rural village located about 30 minutes from the capital city of Kigali

50% of the people are unemployed

Located near a military base, which has ramifications for the girls

There are various family structures; families with both parents, one mother, and child-headed households

“I Can Change My Village”

Education empowers children and gives them the opportunity to change and improve their villages

With an education the children have the opportunity to start businesses and create jobs in Akindege or elsewhere

Charity in Africa is very community-minded. People give money to family and friends, so kids with an education get jobs and sow into their village.

Some of the kids we hope to sponsor

Benjamin, 19 years-old, going into S-4, has one parent

“...I would like to be a chemist and teacher so that I can share my knowledge. Hopefully the school will change my life and I will be able to help my family. I will also try to help my neighbors. That will be a key of changing the community and helping my village to develop...”

Aimable, 20 years-old orphan and head of household, going into S-4

“...The school is going to change my life. Hopefully after I finish my studies I’ll be able to help my family and others. That will benefit the whole village, the parents will see how school can change life and send their children to school...”

Oliva, 12 year-old orphan and sister of Aimable, going into S-1

“...I’m trying to study hard for a better future of my family. Hopefully my studies will change my life and I will be able to help the others who have problems...”

Mentoring Program with another partner, Orphans of Rwanda

With Orphans of Rwanda, an NGO that provides scholarships to university students

The university students will be mentoring our secondary school students

Encourage students to study hard and teach them the value of education and also the opportunity for a scholarship

Teach and guide about life skills

How You Can Get Involved

We have a $30,000 fundraising goal, which will raise 30 scholarships for the children of the eight poorest families in Akindege

Become a donor

Tell others about us

Have us speak

Spread awareness

I would be more than happy to share more about this trip as well as our vision and mission. Feel free to let me know if you want to speak more about this! More details to come regarding fundraising and the fruits of our work there!

The Leadership Summit

2010-05-21T03:27:00.002-04:00

For those of you who know Willowcreek Community Church in IL, you might know that they do an annual leadership telecast. They bring in top-notch leaders to speak on leadership in the various spheres they are in. I brought the DVDs of the telecast with to watch with Ndash (and see for the first time). They are fantastic. I would strongly recommend watching them. Two talks have resonated with me so far and have really spoken to my current situation:

Jessica Jackley. She is the co-founder of KIVA, an online microfinance organization. This year they will exceed $100 million in loans over their history. They have supported over 100,000 entrepreneurs from around the world. Ms. Jackley spoke all about the history of KIVA and why she started it. The bit of advice that really resonated with me is to start small and be patient. This helped encourage and guide me as I have been wondering whether or not to continue applying the the NGO status or wait until we have more plans figured out. Patience is a difficult thing to come by when you are so excited about something and want to get moving on it! Part of me wants to move forward and go, go, go but I know things will go smoother and more efficient later on if I take time to breathe and plan.

Chip Heath and Dan Heath. These are brothers who speak on ideas and innovation. They are consultants to some big name companies. They spoke about a recent book they had written called Switch. What I gained from this talk was that failure is ok because it means you are working to accomplish something. They spoke about a U shaped curve.

At the top of the left-hand side is 'hope'. You have an idea and you hope it will succeed. In my case I had hope that I would submit the NGO application because I thought I needed that to be successful on this trip. The dip in the middle is called 'the valley of insight'. This is where failure happens, when things don't go your way, when you learn through the experience. This is when failure is important because you learn how to do something better and how you need to improve. The top of the left-hand side is 'confidence'. In this there is success of the idea or task. There is resolution. But you couldn't have gotten at this point without the valley of insight. I am at this point now with the NGO application. After hearing from our Board Officers about this, I feel at peace not to submit it now but to wait. I think things will go smoother in the future if we do so.

Getting over myself and my plans

2010-05-20T11:10:00.004-04:00

I haven't written a post since Monday because I have been working quite busily on the NGO (non-governmental organization) application. This trip has been very different from my past trips since I have been stuck mostly on my computer each day, typing up documents to present to the government about why Global Capacity fits into the visions and strategic plans of the government. It meant a lot of reading and understanding the five and ten year plans and what benefit we could do for the country. It seemed like a no-brainer right...many children cannot afford school fees in Rwanda so we are going to provide them. Period. Why would the government not give us the NGO status, and thus give us the freedom to advertise and promote our services here? As I found out today, it is not so easy.

One of my main purposes for coming here was to submit the NGO status. Although it can be a six month long process, I at least wanted to submit it and introduce myself. And especially after having spent the past three days working on it, I especially wanted to turn it in. I saw my plans change today. What I thought was a carefully planned and written document (about 40 pages total) turned to be need many changes. Turns out that working with the government of Rwanda can take a long time, just like with any government. And in turns out that it is very particular and detailed with how it wants things done. I found today that we might not be as prepared on the Rwanda side of things as I thought. I also learned that we can continue to support students and distribute money without the NGO status, which I hadn't known.

I am currently in the process of praying through and deciding if I want to continue with submitting the application or if I want to wait until Global Capacity is further solidified and we understand our work here better. It is still fairly new.

After we left the Ministry of Immigration we went to umududgu Wa'kindege (village of Akindege) to meet with A Voice For Rwanda. I was so frustrated and needed to talk it out with other Americans who have dealt with the NGO process successfully. It was an amazing meeting! We talked all about the village and the people and the students. We talked about what Global Capacity's work would look like without the NGO status and with.

After that we visited one of the students we are sponsoring at his secondary school. He looked very happy and thankful to be there, and he is doing very well in his classes. It was a sweet reminder of why we are putting in the work and efforts here. Education changes lives and improves communities. No matter how much hassle it may be or money it may cost, one thing is certain...the work we are doing here makes a difference. And I am willing to put in the discomfort and the uncertainty for that to occur.

All this to say that earlier today I had to get over myself and my plans. So what if I don't submit the NGO application now, and instead wait for developments to happen. So what if I change my purpose of this trip and spend most of the remainder of it with the village we will be sponsoring students from? Sometimes God has something different in store, and I am learning to be obedient to that and work with Him instead of fight Him for it.

Partnering with A Voice For Rwanda

2010-05-17T11:31:00.003-04:00

Today was an incredibly productive day! I arrived in Rwanda feeling like I was unprepared for one of the main reasons for coming on my trip, which was to submit the application for Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. The status allows Global Capacity to act as an organization and distribute money. Without the status we cannot promote our services publicly. There is a pretty detailed application process, which I had hoped to complete weeks leading to my trip but the busyness of life didn't allow me to do so.

This morning we traveled to Kanombe to meet with A Voice For Rwanda at its office. It felt like coming home. A Voice For Rwanda is an organization started by Les and Yvonne Parr, two Americans. I had met them two years ago in Rwanda. They have a burden and calling to bring God's love to villages in Rwanda, by working with whole families. Global Capacity is partnering with them and providing scholarships to children of the village they are currently working in (called Akindege). It was such a blessing to see them in their element, at the office they are renting. They are a wonderful couple and are doing real work here in Rwanda. They shared with Ndash and me about Akindege and specifically about the children who need sponsored. There are a bit more than I was originally told about, around 50. They also offered for their staff member Martin to help with the NGO registration, so Martin will be coming with us to the Immigration Office to help us file the documents. I am so blessed to have this partnership with them!

Being back in Rwanda is overwhelming because there is such need. Speaking with Yvonne I am reminded of the desperation that extreme poverty causes. She would tell me story after story of the situations people in the village are in. I know I can play a very small part, and it feels very minute.

Part of the NGO application process is writing about how Global Capacity coincides with Rwanda's strategic development plans. It lists goals the government want to reach by 2020, as well as statistics about the population. Today I learned a lot by reading through these plans, such as that only 10% of children ages 13-18 are enrolled in secondary school. And of the students who are enrolled, five times as many of them are from wealthy families than from poor families. The cost of secondary education is a problem and hopefully Global Capacity can help increase the stats of the latter.

Les and Yvonne gave us a private office to work at. Ndash and I spent about three hours working on the application forms.

We are about to meet our good friend Gatera for dinner.

Life is good in Rwanda! Despite the two grenades that were thrown on Saturday night and the slight differences of life in America, I am so happy to be here! It's gonna be a great two weeks.

I am here!

2010-05-17T02:17:00.000-04:00

As you have guessed it I am here in Rwanda! I arrived yesterday around 2 pm Rwanda time (8 am your time). It was a very long journey and I was so wiped. Ndash met me at the airport and we went right to our motel. It's a really super place, with a supermarket on the premises and sinks in the rooms. The public restroom has really hot showers, which is quite nice. Ndash and I didn't do much last nite other than eat dinner and watch a movie. Today we will start our busy schedule of meetings and such.

There were two bombings here Saturday nite and one person died. With the elections coming up in August, people who dislike the current president (who will most likely win another term) are protesting. There is still a safe feeling here and I am not worried. I will certainly practice discretion in where I go.

Flexibility has got to be the name of the game.

2010-05-14T12:24:00.005-04:00

I stayed at a hotel near the Dulles airport last night due to a morning flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I had the perfect itinerary, putting me in Addis for a mere two hours tomorrow morning, and then I would board a flight to Kigali via a very short stop in Uganda. That would put me in Kigali at 1 pm on Saturday, just in time for some yummy sambousas and orange Fantas for lunch with my good friend and staff member Ndash. Well, anyone who travels should know that flexibility has got to be the name of the game. My perfect itinerary was blasted away by a 4-hour plane delay in Dulles. I am there now, waiting for the incoming plane to arrive so we can quickly depart.

I will miss my connecting flight to Kigali and will have to wait the day and night away in Addis, and fly out the next day. This means one less day in Rwanda, and I will arrive there on Sunday. But again, flexibility is the name of the game. I am already tired and a little annoyed from this trip, and we haven't even left Dulles yet!

I did get the opportunity to meet a cool American couple who are on my flight. They are flying to Addis to adopt three children from an orphanage, two siblings and a cousin. How cool is that?!? They already have five children at home and feel the calling to bring home three more.

What adventures will Addis bring me? I am wishing I had a travel buddy to roam around the city with, but I will have to make due by myself. Could be interesting...

Upcoming trip - May 14-30, 2010

2010-05-08T08:07:00.001-04:00

Hello. As most of you know I will be in Rwanda May 14-30 for continued work for Global Capacity. The mission of GC is to provide financial assistance to secondary school students in Rwanda who cannot afford to go to school. The main purposes of my trip are:

To check up on the four students that we currently sponsor
To further relationship with a nonprofit called A Voice For Rwanda
To check up with our current staff member Jeremie
To apply for Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status
To meet new students to sponsor

Most of my time will be spent in and near the capital city, Kigali. This is different for me, as on my recent trips I have lived in Gitarama and visited the Umuryango Boys' Home a lot. As you can see I have other purposes for the trip, but I plan to visit Umuryango a couple of times. My staff member Jeremie and I will be staying at a motel in a convenient part of Kigali, which is where I stayed when I went to Rwanda on my first trip in 2007. It's a historic place where thousands of Tutsis sought refuge during the genocide in 1994.

With the help of A Voice For Rwanda we will be working primarily with students in a very small and extremely poor village. There are about 25 children who need scholarships for secondary school there. Many of these kids are either orphans and live in child-headed households or they only have one parent. We would like to focus on improving this village and the lives of its people!

When I return from Rwanda we hope to begin a fundraising campaign to raise the money for the secondary school scholarships.

Prayer Requests:

Efficiency in my time there. It's gonna be a busy time and I want to be purposeful in what I do but also enjoy my trip.
Connection with the students I meet with, both old and new.
Connection with the Umuryango Boys' Home.
Safety. Presidential elections are this year and although it's pretty much a guarantee for the current Pres to be re-elected there is unrest.
Peace that my responsibilities at home are being taken care of.
Continued guidance for the strategic plans for Global Capacity.

Thank you very much in advance for your prayers! To God be the glory!

Trip Update

2009-08-11T05:56:00.022-04:00

I have been wanting to write a trip update for the past few days but have found it difficult to do so. My re-adjusting back to my life in America has been more challenging than I anticipated. This was my third trip to Rwanda, and one of my shortest. I didn't think that being away in Rwanda for just two weeks would have had such am impact on me again, but it has.

I think the main reason for the struggle in me is how life-changing a lot of my activities on my trip were. And I want more of that now. Life changing not for me, but for others. I had the opportunity to help bring life, future, and hope to people. There aren't many things better than that. When you see a disadvantaged person change their attitude, demeanor, perspective, outlook, paradigm, all because you are able to offer them something that they need, and by all means, deserve, you do not want to stop it.

Purpose of the trip.
The main purpose of the trip was to continue introductory work on Global Capacity's secondary school scholarship program called Right 2 School. After having spent five months in Rwanda last year, it became clear to me that education is central and essential in creating a better future for Rwanda, and it is also an area that I can get involved in.

Education.
The education system in Rwanda is much like that in the U.S.; there are twelve grades before university, and they are called 'forms'. Forms 1 - 6 are the Primary School forms. Forms 7 - 12 are the Secondary School Forms (but the numbers start with 1, so 7th grade would be S-1, 8th grade is S-2), etc.

In P-6, all students take the National Entrance Examination in to Secondary School. If they pass, the government assigns them to a particular school, sometimes very far away from home. There is boarding at the school, and they go home a few times each year The student will remain at this school for S-1,2,3.

During S-3, the student takes another Entrance Examination which will determine where he will spend his last three years of secondary school. The examination focuses on particular 'options', or fields of study, such as nursing, electricity, accounting. Depending on how the student scores on the particular options, he is assigned another school to attend. This is where he will be for S-4,5, 6.

Secondary School in Rwanda is not free. The average cost of school per year is $300. In a country where the average annual income of a Rwandan is $700, school fees can be near to impossible to raise. I was told time and time again during my trip how important and necessary a secondary school scholarship program in Rwanda would be.

In a push to better promote and educate the children in Rwanda, the government recently stated that the school fees for S-1,2,3 will be waived. This is an extraordinary move on the part of the government and will enable many students to attend those forms who wouldn't have had the chance before. Still, it means that many students will not have an education above S-3.

Students.
In hopes of starting and promoting the Right 2 School program soon, I went to Rwanda to find students to begin sponsoring. My goal was to find three or four students that wouldn't be able to afford secondary school next year, meet them, interview them, and use them as the inaugural students of the scholarship program. This turned out to be my favorite aspect of the trip. With the help of a secondary school headmaster as well as some other contacts I had in Rwanda, we identified four young men, all 19 year-olds with no birth parents. It was such an incredible joy to tell them that they will be able to attend secondary school next year, an opportunity that most children desire but most cannot have it.

The four boys are:

Egide.
Jean Claude.
John.
Thierry.

Ndash.
Last year I had met a 23 year-old guy named Ndashimye Jeremie (nicknamed Ndash), who worked in the internet cafe. He has a big heart for those in need and we became good friends quickly. We stayed in contact throughout the year and it became apparent to me that he would be a great resource and help for Global Capacity in Rwanda. After talking Right 2 School over with him and where the organization is headed in the future, he has decided to help us. He was a tremendous help to me during my trip, and even lived with me to aid in translation and anything else I needed to accomplish. He will be starting university later this year in hopes of getting a degree in computer science (his university education is largely being funded by a private donor of Global Capacity's). We could not do the work we hope to do without Ndash's help. He worked very hard during my trip, from translating for me, to interviewing the students, to helping us get bank accounts established, to taking pictures.

Good communication is necessary when working on business matters, especially between different continents. Ndash and I are able to email and chat on instant messenger every day due to his internet cafe connections. It is a very good arrangement we have with him.

Umuryango.
It was a delight to visit with the boys and staff at the Umuryango Boys' Home in Bukomero. A ten-person team from Calvary Baptist Church arrived at the home before I got there, and I had the opportunity to overlap with the team for two days. It was inspiring to see the close connection the team members had made with the boys. Many of the members plan on returning to Rwanda in the near future due to the strong impact the people had on them.

What is to come?
Due to the extremely important role that education plays in Rwanda, I am highly motivated and passionate about helping to provide more opportunities for children to attend school. Right 2 School is a scholarship program that will enable students to attend secondary school who would not normally have the opportunity to go. In order to start this program there is a lot for me to do, such as apply for 501c3 tax-deductible status and create a web site and promotional materials and such. These are all essential when promoting a fundraising program. Although there is a lot to do I am very certain it will be accomplished and help many people in Rwanda.

Off we go! Stay tuned for more...

Pray for my time in Rwanda

2009-07-24T08:51:00.000-04:00

Dear friends and family,

I am writing to inform you about my upcoming trip to Rwanda. I leave tomorrow (Saturday) and will be gone for two weeks. As I have been preparing for this trip I have been encouraged about the good fruit that my five month stint last year bore. Connections and plans are falling into place for my current trip, and I am so thankful that planning has been relatively easy.

I wrote a short post on my blog a couple of days ago about the purpose of this trip:

My next trip to Rwanda is coming up in five short days! I leave the United States on Saturday, July 25 and return on Sunday, August 9. The purpose of my trip is to begin the next phase of Global Capacity, which is promotion of the secondary school sponsorship program, called 'Right 2 School'.

Although we are working on the fundamentals of this program, there are two main purposes:
1. To provide secondary school students in Rwanda with the right to go to secondary school. We hope to accomplish this by giving children who cannot afford school (approximately $300/year) a scholarship that is funded by a class or group of students in the United States.
2. To give students in the United States an opportunity to gain a wider perspective of global stewardship and world culture, as well as the chance to start an ongoing relationship with a Rwandan child.

The specific goal of this trip is to meet a few children who were not able to start secondary school in the recent past due to lack of finances. We hope for the sponsorship of these students to be the start of a successful scholarship program, starting at the local level (State College, PA) and eventually spreading nationally.

I will be staying at the Umuryango Boys' Home and hanging out with the wonderful boys who have captured my heart. I will also be visiting other friends I made during my stint last year.

My two-week trip will be very full, and I am really excited to continue the work that we started in Rwanda last year. Stay tuned for more posts!

If you would like to pray for me, here are some requests:

Safety and ease on the flights over there. My flight itinerary:

Leave State College at 10:20 am on Saturday, fly to Washington - Dulles
Leave Dulles at 8:30 pm, fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Stay overnite in Addis Ababa and arrive in Kigali at 12 pm on Monday

I struggle with the concept of giving false hope to people who are in need. One of my biggest hesitations with working in a developing country is the high level of need and the ugly truth that I w0n't be able to help everybody. I can tend to lead much more with my heart rather than with my head, which can be good, but can also get me in trouble when it comes down to logistics and business. Pray that I would have discernment and wisdom to make good decisions.
I will have the opportunity to meet with two sets of students (one in a rural village setting and one in more of an urban setting). These students will be candidates for secondary school sponsorship. Pray for discernment and wisdom for me as I make difficult decisions on who to sponsor.
I will be meeting with a lawyer to discuss the process for Global Capacity becoming a recognized non-governmental organization (NGO) in Rwanda, and therefore able to disburse the scholarships. Pray for my understanding and for my application in the subsequent months.
I look forward to reconnecting with friends I made when I was there last year. I am so excited to play and hangout with the Umuryango boys again!
When I travel I can tend to worry about the work I am leaving behind at Good Steward. Pray that I would have peace that my job responsibilities are being taken care of while I am away and that I would not feel the need to check my email a lot.

Thank you very much for your interest and prayer! See you shortly after I return on August 9!

Right 2 School Program

2009-07-20T13:51:00.004-04:00

Goodbye Letter to Umuryango.

2008-11-25T23:03:00.002-05:00

I leave Rwanda tomorrow and I am heartbroken and cannot stop crying. It is so ridiculous. I woke up at 545 am this morning and began thinking about my departure and began weeping. And cannot stop. I need to get a grip and hope I am not this way the entire day. We are having a goodbye party at Umuryango today and am totally dreading it. I hate goodbyes, so having to say bye to the boys who have touched my heart in so many ways over the past 5 months is going to be torture. I think it will be the hardest for me to say goodbye to the younger boys - Hassan, Pacifique, Olivier, Daniel, Emmanuel, and Siliac. They are the most recent additions to the home, and I was able to be part of the process, to see them as streetkids and then at the home. To give you a better idea of how I feel towards them, I thought I would show you the letter I wrote to them, which will be translated in to Kinyarwanda and read to them...

Boys,

As I sit and think about saying goodbye to you all I am very saddened. The past five months have meant so much to me and I have enjoyed every single moment of my time with you. You are all so special and I love you all very much. You have made my stay here in Rwanda feel like home, and I will never forget any of you. Remember the day last month before some of you went home for holiday, and I was crying so much? I know, I know, crazy muzungu who can’t stop crying! Well, I am sure I will be crying a lot more over the next few days too. I was crying for different reasons.

First of all, I was crying because I am going to miss you all so much. You have all become very near and dear to my heart. I have thoroughly enjoyed the fun times we have had together – studying English, playing football, watching movies, taking pictures, playing Uno and Sequence, going swimming, walking to get my haircut, sitting outside, seeing you at school and walking home with you. You have each become a good friend to me, and I will always treasure my relationship with each one of you.

I was also crying so much because I am very proud of you. My tears are tears of joy because I was thinking about the progress that you have made in your lives. Most of you have worked very hard in school and also in the transition from street life to the home. You have become very well behaved and obedient and I am very impressed with how well you get along with each other and how you listen to Jean Paul, Gatera, Muja, Francine, and Joseph. Each of you is an inspiration to me because of the good choices you have made.

I want to thank each of you for making me feel so welcomed in your home. It can be an adjustment to let a visitor in to your home for a 5-month long period. But, you all sacrificed your time and your space for me and I really appreciate it!

I will continue to pray for you, as I have been. I will pray that you understand how much God loves you! It is more love than you can possibly know and understand, which is so awesome! God will never leave you and you can always talk to Him. I will also pray that you continue to do well in school because education will help you to have a very good life. I also hope that you develop good habits of prayer. Because God will never leave you, you can always pray to Him. He wants to know how you are feeling, what you are thinking, and will make your life better. You are loved by many people, and we will continue loving and praying for you.

This is not really a goodbye, but a see-you-soon. I hope to be back in Byimana early next year, hopefully in March or April. It won’t be for another five or six months, but we will have some amazing times together again!

Love,
Matayo.

This is the scripture that I have been praying for you since I arrived:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”
Colossians 1:9-12

Current State of Global Capacity.

2008-11-07T00:51:00.002-05:00

Since my trip to Rwanda is almost over, I want to update you on its current state and what I am thinking in regards to the future. Over the past month I have been reflecting a lot about the future of Global Capacity and what makes sense at this time. I know 110% that this is my calling and I am so excited to continue my work in Rwanda! With this in mind, I have also been considering the poor economic state of our country. Financial giving to non-profit organizations is low, which I need to take into account as we fundraise for Global Cap. I have decided not to pursue a full-time job exclusively with Global Cap, as I feel it would be unwise because of the possibility of the difficulty in fundraising. I arrived at this decision largely because Good Steward Software will be funding Global Cap exclusively in the beginning, until we raise funds for it to be self-sustainable. This is a big burden for Good Steward to carry, as it would be funding my salary as well as monies for Global Cap's programs. I feel like I would be taking a lot of resources away from Good Steward, without contributing much to its revenue.

I have taken a full-time job at Good Steward, wherein Global Capacity will be one of my job responsibilities. I think this will greatly benefit Global Capacity because most funds raised for Global Capacity can go exclusively to its programs because there wouldn't be many overhead costs (my salary, etc). That means more secondary school students can get scholarships, more educational materials can be purchased for schools, and more English teachers can be hired! My father and I have been discussing my new job position roughly, and I will let you know more later.

Thank you all for praying for me over the past 5 months, as I have been in Rwanda doing the initial development work for Global Capacity. I could not have done this without you. I have accomplished more than I thought I would, which is a reason I am coming home early; a very successful trip!

Coming Home Early.

2008-11-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

Hi folks! I hope you are doing well. I want to let you know that after much thought and prayer, I am coming home from Rwanda three weeks early. I think it is in the best interest of Good Steward Software as well as with Global Capacity, for me to do so, since I have almost finished what I came here to do. I came to Rwanda to investigate and research work that Global Capacity could get involved in, and God has blessed my work and has given me vision for it. Check out the Global Capacity web site if you haven't yet.

The next step is fundraising for the non-profit, and will include a detailed marketing campaign, which I can't do until I get home. So, I am going home early so I can start this process. This seems to be the best use of my time. I am anticipating the transition back to State College to be hard on me, so I want to be wise and allow time to process my experience as well. Leaving early is going to be difficult on me because I have had an amazing experience here! Rwanda is filled with so many wonderful people and it will continue to hold a special place in my heart.

I am flying out on Thanksgiving Day, November 27 and arrive at Washington-Dulles on November 28. I would appreciate your prayer that I would leave Rwanda well. I have a few more projects to get done in the next three weeks and I want to enjoy the remaining time. I want to say goodbye well too, and I don't want my Rwandan friends to think I am abandoning them. Saying goodbye is going to be very difficult and I want to be able to verbalize what each person means to me. My greatest concern is that the Umuryango boys won't understand why I am leaving early. Please pray for their understanding.

Thank you very much :)

I Am Heartbroken, Again.

2008-11-04T09:02:00.003-05:00

I wrote a post back in June about my being heartbroken about leaving the USA and moving to Africa. Today I am heartbroken about the opposite; leaving Africa and moving back to the USA. Don't worry, I am not aimlessly crying about leaving; I still have 6 weeks left here! You see, during this week I am saying "goodbye" to most of the boys at Umuryango, since they are going home to visit family. These boys have meant so much to me, especially over the past 4 months, as I have had the privilege of pouring in to their lives, and letting them pour in to mine. School is out and it is a holiday for them. They will not be returning until Dec 20 or so, which is after I leave to go home. So, I said bye to two of them on Saturday, three yesterday, ten today, and there will be more as the week progresses. Today I sat and watched as they got ready to leave.

Before I left the house this morning I told Theresa that I was going to purposefully "turn off my emotions today." I didn't want to deal with the sadness. I got to Umuryango and was good for some time, not thinking about saying goodbye. The boys were so excited; they washed their clothes and sneakers, packed their bags, and collected their taxi money. But then I began thinking of the ones specifically leaving today, and the rivers flowed! I bawled and bawled and bawled. I couldn't stop and no one could say anything to console me. Sure, I was sad that I wouldn't see these boys until I return to Rwanda next year; I was crying for deeper reasons.

I am so deeply proud of how far these boys have come. They have risen above the odds for Rwandan streetkids. For example, look at Rutaganda. He came from the streets of Gitarama last year. Now he is first place in his class and is an extremely bright and creative boy. Jean Pierre - he is in his first year of secondary school and was chosen to be chief of his dorm. Siliac - he was once a wild and very badly behaved young boy, but has turned in to an incredibly sweet and obedient one. They all have stories of victory and positive change like these.

I was also crying because I realized how important it has been for me developmentally to be part of Umuryango. When I came to Rwanda last year and met these boys, well, 13 of them, I was in a very broken place. My marriage of nine years had just ended shortly before and I was having an identity crisis. Getting involved with Umuryango gave me purpose and passion and drive, which I desperately had needed at that time.

As I said before these boys are leaving to visit their families. Yes, they have families. They have mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers. Yet, they had chosen to leave their homes to start a life on the street. They each have their reasons; valid, real, understandable reasons. The fact that they had left their families does not mean they don't love them. That became very clear as I watched their excitement as they prepared to see them. They miss them very much. I could not stop wondering what each of their experiences will be at their homes. Will there be enough food for them to eat, will they get abused like they had been before, will they choose to stay with their families or the streets and not return to Umuryango? These are all valid possibilities and I shutter to think what hardships they will be enduring.

As I sat in the back courtyard and cried, the boys tried to make me feel better. It was so sweet. A bunch of them came over and sat next to me, telling me "no problem", "it's OK". Emmanuel just plain out insisted "stop". Lamazani, who is not very touchy-feely at all, came and sat on my lap and we cuddled. I enjoyed seeing this side of them, which isn't often because I am not usually a crying train wreck in front of them.

My tears today were largely out of thankfulness and gratitude to God, who has worked wonders in my life and in the lives of these 27 boys. It is my hope and prayer that they will all understand how deep the Father's love for them is and walk towards it. The boys all hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to the day I get to see them when I return.

Thanks for Praying for the Congo situation.

2008-11-01T11:18:00.001-04:00

Hi folks. I want to say how much I appreciate your prayers and support here in Rwanda. It looks like there is progress being made with peace talks and the cease-fire agreement. I feel so badly for the Congolese civilians who have been forced to leave their homes. I read in an article today that 1 million people have left due to the violence.

I want to assure you that I feel very safe here. Rwanda has many soldiers on the border, and has a much bigger army than most other African countries. Although on a map it looks like Goma is close to Gitarama, it still is a 6 hour drive. There are reports of refugees fleeing to the Rwandan town of Gisenyi and some of you have been concerned about that. Let me assure you that it is safe. Hadidja our housekeeper is from Gisenyi, and she went there this weekend to get her identity card issued (like a driver's license, a formality here). She felt safe enough to go.

Living here has given me a different perspective. War is reality for many Africans. I have been talking with different African friends - Yohani, Gatera, Jean Paul, Dash - and they all just speak of war as part of life. "This is what life in Africa is like..." I am sure from an American perspective things seem really scary and a lot of of you feel helpless, like there is not much you can do, besides pray. Just be so thankful for the peace we have in America.

To stay updated, go to the BBC and Time websites. They seem to have more articles than CNN. I have also been putting relevent articles on my Facebook page, so you can check those out.

Prayer requests:

Pray for the safety of the civilians. I can imagine it is just chaos and mayhem with those many people roaming around with no food, water, and disease.

Pray for General Nkunda, that he would want to end this rebellion.

Pray for the countrys' leaders, that they would get divine direction about how best to handle this.

Pray that the tensions between tribes (Tutsi and Hutu) would end and that all parties would see that all Africans are united and one people. This is a spiritual attack and demonic mindset.

Pray for wisdom if we would need to act quickly if this war would worsen. I honestly am so torn about what to do, it breaks my heart.

Pray for peace in Africa. I love so many people here and hate to see this violence and fear in their own homeland!

Thank you very much!

Birthday in Rwanda.

2008-10-21T11:15:00.003-04:00

My birthday was yesterday, and it was absolutely wonderful. I felt very loved (and missed) by my family and friends back home, and received lots of Facebook posts and emails, as well as some phonecalls. It was somewhat difficult being away from home, especially from my family and my twin brother Chris, but I made the best of it here. Today is Theresa's birthday, my good friend who is living here too, so we had a joint birthday party last night. I went to Kigali and got a really tasty cake, which I brought back on the hour-long journey back on the public bus. We had a party at Le Grand Restaurant in Gitarama, which is Theresa's and my favorite place to eat in town. We were joined by some of our closest Rwandan friends - Jean Paul, Hadidja, Gatera, Jeremie, Gilbert, and Isaac, as well as our American friend Hadley. We had wonderful food - soup, beef and fish brouchette, chef salad, chapiatti, and bread. The conversation was flowing and we all had a fantastic time together.

Our birthday cake was quite large and we were able to put candles on the top of it. My mom had included birthday candles in the care packages she sent a couple of weeks ago. The restaurant became pretty crowded by the time we brought the cake out, and lots of patrons were interested in what we were doing. We made a bigger spectacle of ourselves when the lights were turned out for the cake lighting. After the cake we opened the presents that some of our guests had brought.

I was so thankful that having my birthday in Rwanda felt like I was celebrating it at home. The people I have come to love in Rwanda were there to make this happen, and I am so grateful that I have reached this point in my stay here.

Thank you to everyone, both in America and in Rwanda, who made me feel so loved.

Teaching English.

2008-10-18T02:35:00.003-04:00

I have finished teaching English at the Primary School. The students have examinations for two weeks, then they take the national Secondary School Entrance Examination, and then the semester is over until January. Jean Claude, one of the boys at Umuryango, will be taking the exam. I am praying that he and many others do very well and get in to Secondary School.

Although I am done teaching English in this venue, I have started up with two other groups of people. When I was in Dubai I bought a book that is an English Dictionary for Beginners. I have been going through the book with the youngest boys at Umuryango, who are not in school yet. I pronounce each word to them and they repeat back. Some of the words are not very applicable, such as firecracker, ice skate, and snow. It is a joy to see how some of them are quite far along in their English speaking, which will advance them in school when they begin in January.

I have also been meeting with a friend of mine from Gitarama, who works at the internet cafe. His name is Jeremie and he is 23 years-old. Gilbert, another friend who also works at the cafe
hopes to start joining us as well. These are good guys, and it has been a pleasure getting to know them. To practice his English, Jeremie and I have been reading the book of John. I dictate and he writes down the words. He knows most of the words, but occasionally there is a word that he hasn't heard before. We discuss what it means and I have him write out three sentences using the word. Yesterday I was reminded that boys are boys, and they laugh at certain body parts, no matter the culture. We came across the word bosom, which he had never heard before. I sheepishly explained what it meant and he started giggling for a long time. When are finished with a section of John I have him explain to me what he has written down on his paper. I love that I can use the Bible to help him practice his English. It is such an educational tool to use because it helps us discuss our shared faith as well as Biblical history.

Legacy.

2008-10-10T08:06:00.002-04:00

I spent the afternoon yesterday in the internet cafe. The power in town was out, so the cafe was empty since it was temporarily shut down. This afforded me the chance to hang out for almost two hours with Jeremie and Gilbert, who work at the cafe. It was one of my favorite times over the past few weeks, as we talked about a lot of things, from their backgrounds, to Global Capacity, to Umuryango. I showed them the Global Capacity website and they recognized pictures of some of the streetboys who came from Gitarama. When they spotted Siliac's picture in particular they began talking about his parents. (I already had known the deal with his parents, as Umuryango finds out about the child's family before he comes to the home.) Siliac's father had been killed by police while he was robbing a store and his mother is a prostitute in Gitarama. It really caught me off guard and surprised me that Jeremie and Gilbert knew this. I wondered how many more stories they knew about our boys and what type of legacy these boys' parents have built for them.

It made me think of how small a town Gitarama can seem, even though it is the second largest city in Rwanda. A person's name and character is so important in Rwanda, and everybody seems to know everyone's business. I noticed this when our house had been broken in to. Everyone seemed to know about it. In town people would ask us if our house really had been broken in to, and if we were OK. And even more odd is that everyone seems to know where we live. When we take scooters to our house, the drivers know where to go. So, I can imagine how quickly word spreads here, and unfortunately the negative can often travel quicker and farther than the positive. So, I am sure the tragic and unfortunate pasts of the boys and their families are well known throughout town. Siliac's parents for example, have left a miserable and undesirable legacy for him. What little boy wants his parents to be known for being a thief and a prostitute? I can't imagine the torment he would endured in years to come had he stayed on the streets of Gitarama.

This is why I am so thankful for homes like Umuryango, who rescue children from potential miseries like a rotten legacy, and give them a chance to redeem those miseries. Siliac has progressed so much since he has come to Umuryango just 5 months ago. If you could meet him you would not believe that he had come from such a terrible family. He is well-disciplined and natured and has a huge heart. The other boys share similar stories like Siliac's, where they had been seemingly destined to continue with a bad legacy in their lineage, but thankfully their destinies are being redeemed and rewritten.

It is such a pleasure to sit back and watch a boy be further transformed into the glory of God.

Hurricane.

2008-10-09T11:38:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't posted anything in awhile, and it's for a good reason. Ever since I returned from Dubai I have been really overwhelmed and have probably had the toughest two weeks since I have been in Rwanda. There were a variety of things that combined to create the challenges, but the largest hardship was coming back to the poverty and the needs here. As I said in my previous post, Dubai is a very wealthy city with lavish architecture, expensive cars, and booming economic development. There weren't any people begging, no kids living on the streets, no obvious disease. It was one of the cleanest and prosperous cities I have ever been to. So to go from this mecca to Rwanda was a shock to say the least.

The day after I returned some of the streetkids came to our house to get some food and medical care. And I stood inside and just watched them and wept. I wept because I honestly do not see a solution to this problem of streetkids. There are so many of them. Sure, we brought five of them from Gitarama to live at Umuryango. But then some more showed up in town, ones whom we hadn't seen when the other five were on the streets. Sure, we can give them food and bandages today, but what about tomorrow? The same needs will be here - hunger, hurt, illness. Resources will eventually run out. We can only do so much.

I have been listening to a song by Jimmy Needham called Hurricane and it has hit me like a ton of bricks. I know that God does not want me to be comfortable. He wants to stretch me so I need to rely on Him for everything I do. Moving to Africa has definitely been one of the most challenging periods in my life.

Hurricane
I have built a city here / Half with pride and half with fear
Just wanted a safer place to hide / I don’t want to be safe tonight

CHORUS
I need You like a hurricane / Thunder crashing, wind and rain / To tear my walls down /
I’m only Yours now / I need you like a burning flame / A wild fire untamed /
To burn these walls down / I’m only Yours now / I’m only Yours now

I am Yours and You are mine / You know far better than I / And if destruction’s what I need /
Then I’ll receive it Lord from Thee / Yes, I’ll receive it Lord from Thee

(Chorus)

And it’s Your eye in the storm / Watching over me / And it’s Your eye in the storm /
Wanting only good for me / And if You are the war / Let me be the casualty /
‘Til I’m Yours alone / I am only Yours / I am Yours alone, Lord

(Chorus)

Come be my hurricane

Am I in America?

2008-09-21T06:58:00.004-04:00

I got to Dubai yesterday morning. After a very uneventful journey, which I appreciated, I arrived at 3 am. Getting my Visa, my luggage, and money exchanged were probably the easiest tasks I have ever done overseas. The airport is beautiful and very traveler-friendly, with free wireless internet and lots of places to sit and relax. I sat around for two hours and then decided to make my way to the condo. Even though I couldn't technically check-in for another seven hours, I decided to try to get in early. I grabbed a taxi, another effortless task, and sat in wonder as we made our way to the Palm Jumeirah.

This looked incredibly like America. With the exception of the Arabic writing on all of the storefronts and billboards, I felt as if I had journeyed to a vacation destination in Florida. I was amazed at the real estate developments and the economic prosperity. There were countless American restaurants that we passed, which is bittersweet to me. On the one hand I felt comfort knowing that I can visit these restaurants that I have missed eating at for the past 2 1/2 months. Restaurants like Chili's, Applebee's, Subway, McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut. On the other hand, I don't like them being here because it shows how much Dubai (and other parts of the world) has become like America and lost its individuality and uniqueness.

As I noted in my previous blog, I wondered how I would feel coming to Dubai, after coming from Rwanda, one of the poorest countries in the world. I feel a sadness and a motivation. If only Rwanda (well, Africa) could have the same development success as the UAE has had. I realize the economic success in UAE is largely geographic, as it has the oil and so many wealthy folks, which help to create the interest from other parts of the world. Yet, what if there was also the same interest in Africa? What if this high rate of development started there too and there wasn't such a stark delineation of the rich and the poor?

Even though I have not yet been here for two full days, I can say that I miss life in Africa. Sure, it has been so nice to get away and relax here in Dubai. I have been able to go to a coffee shop and sip on a large soy mocha and read the newspaper and listen to my iPod. I have a beautiful, air-conditioned three bedroom condo with three large, flat-screen TVs and cable. And I have free, high-speed wireless internet. I have taken three baths so far, a luxury I haven't had since I left America. I have a refrigerator, a freezer, a toaster, a dishwasher, and a washing machine, all appliances that I don't have in Rwanda. Still, in spite of all these things, which are relatively commonplace and everyday in America, I have realized that I can survive without them. After all, most of the world does. Having lived without them for almost three months, I know what human beings need in order to survive. And none of these things is on that list. Sure, they come in handy and provide ease and comfort and when I get back to America I will use them again. I just hope that when I return I don't take them for granted and live like I need them. I know that I don't and can do life without them. So, although it is probably cliche, being on the trip so far has taught me this.

In the days to come I will be seeing much more of Dubai. My good friend Mayo flies in tonight, and we will be exploring more. I will keep you posted.

Getting Ready for Dubai.

2008-09-16T12:00:00.003-04:00

I am going on vacation to Dubai for a week this coming Friday and will be gone until next Saturday (Sept 19 - 27). Well, it is not entirely a vacation, as I plan on doing a lot of Global Capacity work. One of my best friends, John Mayo Anderson, is joining me. We plan on putting the new Global Cap web site up and hope to work on a promotional video. I also am very excited for the high speed internet so I can update my public pictures and do other web stuff that I normally don't have the patience to do with the slow internet we have in Gitarama. That will mean the ability to Skype or iChat (wink wink) so let me know if you want to.

Mayo and I are staying at The Palm Jumeirah, which sounds quite like a slice of heaven. There are so many amenities and luxuries, and Dubai is one of the richest cities in the world. It makes me wonder how I will feel going there, after having spent the past 2 1/2 months in one of the poorest countries in the world. One thing is for sure, and that is I am going to miss the wonderful people I have come to love in Gitarama and Bukomero. The boys at Umuryango, the village children, the streetboys in Gitarama, the schoolchildren. The people that have made my stay in Africa so worthwhile and privileged. It is these people that compensate for any difficulty I have with living here. They make it easier and give me the motivation and the will to be here.

What if He wants to stretch me and empty out of me all that is me, so that He can me fill me up with all that is Him?

2008-09-12T00:56:00.005-04:00

I woke up this morning and laid in my bed for over an hour, pondering and praying. Pondering about a lot of different things, mostly related to my work with Global Capacity. The level of need here is so great, and I get discouraged and a bit cynical at times. Not that we can't accomplish much here, but the world is such a big place. And it is filled with lots of places with need. It is easy to feel inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. The purpose of Global Capacity is to provide aid in various developing countries, not just in Rwanda. So, one day we will be focusing on a different country, with its own set of problems and needs. My heart has been ripped apart so much here already and it can feel unbearable at times to think that I will be exposed to so much more suffering throughout the years to come.

I am also wondering if leaving home to be in a different country for months at a time is for me. I am someone who thrives on routine and stability, so being gone for six months is a stretch for me. And since I hope to have a family some day (actually I am thinking through the issue of remarriage too), I wonder how this will work. Do I want to be away from my parents and brothers and their families too? And how about the amazing community of friends and church that I love so dearly? I cannot believe that I am questioning all of this. I never thought I would be at this point. Is it selfish of me to doubt that I can do this? If I choose a different path will I always look back and wonder what could have happened? So, this is a matter of God working in me to change me in to the person He wants me to be. Maybe He doesn't want me to rely on routine and predictability as I prefer to. What if He wants to stretch me and empty out of me all that is me, so that He can me fill me up with all that is Him?

I honestly don't know the answer and am not resolved about this, so I will continue to seek after Him.

Overwhelmed.

2008-09-03T08:08:00.002-04:00

I have been pretty overwhelmed with life here lately. Overwhelmed in a negative sense at times, but also in a positive sense too. But mostly in a negative sense.

The extreme poverty is really getting to me. At times there is such a stark contrast of the very poor and the very rich. At the taxi station, there are many people begging for money, as always. Some people are missing limbs. Sundays bother me the most. A lot of people on the taxis are very well dressed for church, which is understandable. They have the standard, Rwandan-style attire on, with fancy jewelry and shoes and head coverings. And they should be dressed well for church. Yet, it is very difficult to see this in the midst of the beggars, with their sad eyes and hungry stomachs. It makes me wonder what a proper godly response should be. If these people are going to church, should they also be reacting in a positive way to these beggars. Should I be acting in a different way too, other than looking away.

Today on the way to Umuryango Theresa and I passed two of the village kids, a brother and his little sister. These kids are some of the poorest, malnourished, and sickly children in the village. We brought them back with us to bathe them and give them medical treatment. After we had bathed them, Gatera (Jean Paul's nephew who lives at the home) inspected their hands and noticed some white marks. They were worms. The boy had three worms in his hands and the little girl had six. Gatera pulled out two of the worms as I watched with great sadness. Chances are that these adorable children will be getting more worms because their home is very dirty and unsanitary. And who knows what else these children have - worms are fairly detectable.

One of the other boys from the village came in and was standing next to me, watching. This little boy has HIV and is on anti-viral medication. I found out this tragic fact shortly after I returned from my trip to Rwanda last year. I do not know his exact age, but I would guess he is around 14 years-old or so. Thankfully his body is responding well to the medication and we can hope that the progress continues.

I am currently in the internet cafe and secondary school just let out. Some schoolboys have just arrived and they hopped on the computers next to me. And they are watching porn. These boys are maybe 15 years-old, if that. It is very sad.

On the contrary, I have seen very, very good things. I started teaching 6th grade English yesterday and am thoroughly enjoying it! I love getting involved in the learning process of these kids. Although it is a very small amount - one hour per day - and it is just a review class, I am proud to be part of it. Education is so very important in Rwanda and can help to change a student's and his family's life forever. After the English class period the students walk home to eat lunch. I love walking amongst 1600 primary school students, each with his school uniform on.

It has also been a joy to see the newest streetboys doing very well in the home. Olivier, Hasani, and Emmanuel came to the home within the past two weeks and have transitioned very naturally so far. They are very happy to be there and continually ask to study. They will be starting school in January, but Theresa has been supplying them with worksheets to do until that time. They also helped wash the two children today, voluntarily.

It is inevitable for there to be both good and bad here. To be honest, the bad is really taking a toll on my heart. At times the pain seems so unbearable and I wonder how I am going to make it here another 3 1/2 months. The needs are so very great and as I think and plan and create programs for life improvement I often feel so inconsequential and small. But then I am reminded that I don't see things from God's point of view most of the time. And what may seem like a dauntless task in the eyes of a human being could be very plausible and possible in the eyes of an all-powerful and all-loving God. I am so thankful I am not doing this alone :)

Teaching 6th Grade English.

2008-08-25T08:36:00.004-04:00

I will be teaching sixth grade English at Bukomero Primary School for an hour/day, starting on Thursday. Valerie has been teaching this class, but she is leaving on Friday to live in Kigali for two months with her missionary friends' children. So, I am taking over for her. Today I sat in Theresa's classroom as she taught and it was really fun. We talked about what the kids did on their holiday and reviewed what they did in class before holiday. I led us in a few games of Heads Up Seven Up, when lots of kiddos cheated and looked to see who was tagging them. They also wanted to sing a song, so I led them in Jesus Loves the Little Children. Turns out that repulsion to tone-deafness bridges the cultural divide, as I caught some kiddos grimacing in the back in response to my singing.

I am excited to teach at the school so I can become acquainted with the students and faculty. Global Capacity is using Bukomero Primary School as the pilot school to implement its programs at first, so it will be good to become familiar with it and to gain rapport there. African children are also so darn cute, and it is such a sight to behold 1600 students, each in his uniform, prancing about.

The students take the national exam for entrance to secondary school in November of 6th grade, so I will be helping them to prepare for the English part of it. They are in their last trimester of the year, which ends in the middle of October. So, my daily weekday schedule until then will look like this:
7:30 - 10 Work at house
10 - 11 Take taxi to Byimana
11 - 12 Teach at Bukomero Primary School
12 - 1:30 Walk back to Umuryango and eat lunch
1:30 - 2:30 Take a taxi back to Gitarama
2:30 - 5 Work at house

Since I am quite a good friend to Consistency and Routine, I think I am going to like this schedule.

Olivier and Emmanuel are at home :)

2008-08-23T09:29:00.002-04:00

Well, I am so elated to say that two of the streetboys are now at Umuryango Boys' Home! It has been an incredible experience to be part of. In the morning Theresa, Jean Paul, Jean Pierre, and I went to breakfast at a restaurant. Jean Pierre was home from secondary school because he had to get some more money. So, to celebrate his being home we took him out for breakfast. When we were eating, we saw Olivier sitting outside. Theresa and I asked Jean Paul if we could bring him home and he said "yes." So, we invited Olivier in and ordered him some food and we chatted with him. Jean Paul asked him questions about his life before he came to the streets and about life on the streets. Through the years of bringing in streetboys, Jean Paul has learned to make sure each boy would fit in well at the home. There are twenty other boys at the home and the last thing we want to do is disturb the family environment that has been built there. Olivier is a very bright twelve year-old boy who is very well-behaved and obedient. He would fit in very well at Umuryango, so we invited him to live there. I will never forget his smile; it went from ear to ear.

As we were finishing up eating we saw Emmanuel, another boy we have gotten to know. We invited him in to eat as well. Jean Paul asked him the same sort of questions, and he also seemed like an ideal resident for the family. So, we invited him too, and he was very happy as well. Emmanuel is a bit younger in age, 8. After breakfast we said goodbye to Jean Pierre. Having him at breakfast was very interesting, as he had once been in the shoes of Olivier and Emmanuel as a streetboy. To contrast that life with his life now - a secondary school student with good grades. He has also been appointed the chief of his dormitory by the officials at the school, which means he is like a Resident Director to 115 boys. We are very proud of Jean Pierre for coming such a long and difficult way.

Jean Paul took Olivier and Emmanuel to Umuryango while Theresa and I shopped at the market for new clothes and shoes. Unfortunately Theresa was not feeling well, so I went out alone to the Boys' Home to meet the new boys in their new family. And they fit right in. It didn't take long for them to play well with the boys. Some of their old friends from the streets of Gitarama are there - Siliac, Jackson, and Lamazani. And soon we hope to bring in some of their other friends from the streets.

It's days like today that I am so thankful to be doing what I am doing; to be part of taking boys from the streets, boys who worry about how they are going to eat and where they are going to sleep, boys who have been given a rotten lot in life, boys who have so much potential in them that it is bursting from their veins. I am so thankful for the sponsors of the boys at Umuryango for providing the means to continue to bring more and more boys in.

IM me!

2008-08-20T02:12:00.002-04:00

I have been able to get on Instant Messenger quite frequently. The internet connection is too slow for video chat and the sound quality is lousy on Skype, so it looks like IM is the way to go. When I am at my computer working away, I try to have IM signed on. So, if you want to chat, make sure I am added to your list (GSSMatthew, AIM) and send me a message. I am on Gmail chat some times, but lately it has been very spotty and goes in and out. So, IM is the best way. Ok, I will be chatting with you :)

Education and Global Capacity.

2008-08-16T13:22:00.008-04:00

So, I am really, really excited about the recent developments in the life of Global Capacity. Most of you know that development work for Global Capacity is the main reason I am in Rwanda. My company started this non-profit a few months ago and I am here researching different opportunities we can get involved in, in the area of community development and betterment. Having been here for 6 weeks, I am starting to understand that education is one of the most important and critical avenues in Rwanda. It often guarantees a successful and happy life. Education has a cost to it and many children cannot afford it, in spite of being very intelligent and passing the national secondary school entrance examination. Helping to provide financial assistance to students may be in the works! More to come later, but I wanted to share the exciting news!!! We will see what develops...

Here is an article from a conference about Education in Rwanda.

Pictures and videos!

2008-08-16T13:10:00.000-04:00

I am slowly adding pictures and videos to my new public photo page. I am using Mac's service because Picasa is so slow here. I will not be posting pics on Facebook much, so your best bet is to go to my photo page. I am going to also be adding captions so you know what is going on. That will happen in time. In the meantime, use your imagination! Have fun:

http://gallery.me.com/heinzmatthew

Eight boys.

2008-08-13T09:35:00.001-04:00

In the past few days I have been spending a lot of time with eight certain boys, two sets of four to be exact. One of the sets is the four Umuryango boys who are in secondary school - Jean Pierre, Ndahimana, Thierry, and Daniel. They left for school yesterday and I miss them a lot.

Getting to know them has been so pivotal for my experience here so far. They know English the best out of any of the boys, so I have had some great chats with each of them. Their stories are so inspiring because they have come from misery and tragedy. Three of them don't have parents and the other one does, but they are extremely poor. I was listening to the song "Beauty From Ashes" last nite and thinking about these four spectacular boys - well, men. Thinking about where they have come from. I didn't know them when they were living on the streets, but I see other streetboys and can only imagine these mature men in that predicament - begging for food, shivering, imagining a bleak future or not one at all. Getting to secondary school is very difficult and only about 10% of Rwandans get in. Of those 10%, not all attend because of the expense. So, for these four to get in is very remarkable.

I contrast these four men with the four streetboys whom we have had the privilege of getting to know - Fies, Hasane, Olivier, and William. They are always around in Gitarama when we are out, asking for food or water. Two days ago Fies and Hasane came to the house because they had each been sliced with a razor by one of their other friends. They wanted medical care and Theresa and Valerie were both out, so Hadija (our housekeeper) and I tended to them. Hasane had a 3 inch gash on his forehead and nose and Fies had one on his wrist. When I opened the gate to let them in, each one of them hugged me so tightly that I felt as if he was my son whom I hadn't seen in a long time. It was glorious. As Hadija and I tended to them, I couldn't help but think about the difficult life they had - to be slashed by a razor by one of their friends because he wanted the little money they had acquired by begging, to be wondering when the next meal will come from, to hope that it won't be another cold night under the open air. Hadija gave them our leftover dinner from the night before, they ate up, and I let them out.

The next morning they came back so Theresa and Valerie could have a look at their wounds. Hasane's wounds were infected, so Theresa re-treated them. I held Hasane as she put hydrogen peroxide on his open wound, and he was in so much pain. He wrapped his little arms around me and held on to me so tightly, and whimpered for a bit. As they left, I thought about how incredible it would be for them to turn out like the four secondary school boys. They will most likely be moving to Umuryango in the next month or so, and will have the opportunity to attend school. I thought about the song "Beauty For Ashes" and how I am so thankful that God acts in the lives of all of his children to make beauty out of misery, tragedy, and ugliness. Below are the words to Beauty For Ashes:

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy oer your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When what youve done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound Ive been set free
Ive been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

Goodbye Party.

2008-08-10T12:46:00.000-04:00

On Friday we had a goodbye party for the boys. Well, the team from Calvary did. I am happy to say that I didn't have to say goodbye to the boys just yet, not for a little over 4 months. We wanted to really bless the boys, so we had them over to our house in Gitarama. They arrived at 11 am or so and we hung out the entire day. We decorated the house with streamers and balloons. Most of us had African shirts or dresses made, so we wore those. Inside the house we had my iPod filled with dance music and speakers, so music was blaring the whole day. The boys absolutely love to dance, so an all day long dance party was perfect. Even the older folks got into it and shook their bon bons. For lunch we had lots and lots of food.

One of the biggest highlights was having four of the streetboys over - Hasane, Olivier, William, and Pasfik. They helped carry corn for us, and we let them stay. It was so wonderful. They played so well with everybody. They enjoyed hanging out with Siliac, who used to live on the streets with them. They played futbol in the front courtyard, drew with chalk on the driveway, threw water balloons at each other, swung on the hammock, and played the puppets. They were boys. They were able to play with toys they normally don't get to, or have ever, played with. Some of the four boys, hopefully all of them, will be moving to Umuryango when the new home is built, so it was such a relief to see them play so well with everyone. I shot some wonderful footage of them playing and also talking about themselves. After dinner I had my videocamera and David was next to me and he began to interview each one of them, voluntarily. I don't know what David asked yet, as I haven't had a chance for Jean Paul to translate yet. But, I think they each spoke of their pasts and their current lives. I can't wait to
hear what they said.

For dinner we made a treat they don't have very much at all - meat. We served beef shishkabobs, corn, rice, beans, fruit salad, and Fanta. It was such a blessing to serve them food that they covet and desire. I wondered when the next time will be that Hasane, Olivier, William, and Pasfik eat this way.

This was quite a party. There were about 45 people present! It was a gift to celebrate with some of Jean Paul's family members too. His mother attended, as well as some relatives I hadn't met. Also present were some of the relatives who help at Umuryango - Muja, Francine, Damascene, and Hadija ofcourse.

When it got near the time for all of the boys to leave, our group shared in communion together. It was so special to share in the Lord's Supper with them and see that most of them have made a commitment for Jesus Christ. Jean Paul and his family also presented the team with lovely plaques and baskets.

It was a perfect ending to the two weeks that Calvary spent here and I know that everyone - each team member, each Umuryango boy, and each streetboy will cherish it in their hearts for a long, long time.

5 Days With No Shower.

2008-08-09T12:54:00.000-04:00

I just beat my record for days without a shower here in Rwanda. The last time I took one was on Monday afternoon. It is now Saturday afternoon. So, that is TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, and SATURDAY. And each day we were walking at least 2 miles in red dirt and playing lots with the kiddos. Yum.

I have no teeth.

2008-08-07T00:21:00.003-04:00

So, yesterday we did another medical clinic in Bukomero. My duty was to give the families hygiene kits that we had assembled. The kit contained some toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and soap. I was especially excited to give them away because the dental supplies had been donated by my dentist and some others. Before I handed the kits to each family I gave a very short training on dental care. In the beginning things ran smoothly because Jean Paul was available to translate what I was saying. However, as the day continued Jean Paul got busy and he was not around for translation. I started to train just by hand motions, which actually worked well and seemed to be comprehended. At one point a very sweet old man (who said he was 125 years old) came in and sat down. I went over to him with a hygiene kit and began showing him how to brush and floss his teeth. He seemed very agreeable at first. After I was done he opened up his mouth to show me something. What did he show me, oh, an empty mouth. This man had no teeth! He was very humored by my attempt to train him in brushing the teeth he didn't have.

The Eyes of Fiece.

2008-08-03T11:43:00.001-04:00

I will not be able to get the eyes of Fiece out of my head. Ever. He is a streetkid here in Gitarama and he has the most telling, big, brown eyes. He is very close to my heart and I am hoping he will become a resident of Umuryango one day soon. Fiece belongs to a group of streetboys who have become very close to us. When we are in town they have learned to spot us from a mile away. It is amazing how quickly they appear and find us. Sure, most of the time they run to us so we can give them food or water. Some times we do.

The set of Fiece's eyes that I cannot get out of my head are not the eyes of satisfaction and pleasure, after we give him some some nourishment. His eyes that are engrained in my head are the ones of desire, of want, in all actuality, of need. They are they eyes that I see when he asks and pleads for food or water. I would like to provide him with these modes of survival as much as possible. However, I know that I cannot. I know that I can't give him these things every time he asks for them. If I did, every streetkid in Gitarama would be at my side, expecting these too. And Fiece would learn that he can get anything when he wants it. Saying "no" to him when he asks for food or water is so incredible difficult for me, but I know it is necessary. It is those with eyes like Fiece, that draw me to be here in Rwanda and to do the work that I am doing.

The past month - Part 1.

2008-08-01T00:06:00.002-04:00

So, this past Wednesday marked my one month stay here. At times it feels like I have been here for much longer, and at other times it doesn't. I have learned very valuable lessons about myself, which have been so important in understanding who I am. Things I knew about myself in the States, but have been reiterated here in Rwanda, about how I act, about who I naturally tend to be. It has been challenging at times, but have caused me to grow and say "ah ha". The following is a list of things I have learned about myself:

1. I naturally fall behind and follow when given the opportunity to lead with a natural leader.
2. I need consistency and routine in my life more than I thought I did.
3. I do not keep in contact with the States very well.
4. I can tend to rely on technology too much.
5. I think people's expectations of me are higher than they actually are.
6. I have a fear of failure.
7. I am creative, decisive, and intentional in my actions but I need time to process through the thoughts that lead to them.
8. I am not a good pioneer and initiator, but rather prefer maintaining and following through.
9. I am not as dependent on people from the States as I thought I was.
10. I have cried a lot less than I do in the States.

One of the unexpected parts of being here is that I do not love it. I was expecting to step off that plane and love every aspect of living here. Not the case. Don't get me wrong - I love some aspects. I love the boys at Umuryango and getting to know them better and watching them grow and develop in to men. I love the village of Bukomero and streams of kiddos who run up and grab my legs for a hug. I love the opportunity I have been given to help improve the life conditions here. I love the house and the community we live in. I love the four or five streetkids in Gitarama we have been able to get to know (whom we will be inviting to live at Umuryango in two weeks). I love walking in to a store and paying 60 cents for lunch. I love watching the many persons visiting us from America do life here.

As I said, I love a lot of aspects of life in Rwanda. As I sit and type this list up, I realize that I may not ever love every aspect of living here. Does anyone ever love every moment of every day of their life? I don't know why I expected it here. I didn't love my life back in the States. It was challenging, and difficult, and hard at times. But I still did it well. And I think I can do my life here in Africa well too. If life was easy and painless and dearly loved all the time, there would not be a need for a relationship with God. I know it is a cliche, but it is the difficult times in my life in which I have recognized the need for God; to cry out to Him, to rely on Him, to realize that He will never leave me.

Still here!

2008-07-30T01:23:00.002-04:00

Hey folks. I just wanted you to know that I am still here! It's been awhile since I updated my blog. The past two weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind, with Yonatani and Sam being here, as well as the 12-person team from my church. Yonatani and Sam flew out yesterday. It was such a good trip and I will tell you about it soon.

I also have been sick. A few days ago I got a nasty 24-hour flu. It kept me in bed and unable to do things with Yonatani and Sam, which was really frustrating. And then yesterday I developed a cold, which is not as bad as the flu but still sucks. I would appreciate prayer for healing and wholeness so I can be at my best and fully contribute to the team.

Thanks for the patience as I deal with the changes in my life here. I promise I will get a post up soon about the past two weeks. They have been really encouraging and life-giving. Tough at times, but still good. Connection points.

Know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge.

2008-07-22T03:50:00.000-04:00

I have been reading and praying Ephesians 3 for the boys at Umuryango, particularly verses 17-19:

"So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and that you may be rooted and established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."

I am praying that in all that we do, the boys can comprehend the love that God has for them. Some times it is difficult to explain to them why we are here, what we are doing, when we can't speak to them in description. I pray that our actions will speak to their spirits and they will be able to comprehend why we are here, why we spend time with them, why we choose to be here in Rwanda.

Siliac is back at Umuryango :)

2008-07-22T03:11:00.003-04:00

I am so thrilled to say that Siliac is now back at Umuryango! Last nite he saw Theresa and Sam on the street in Gitarama and came running up to them and said he wanted to go back to Byimana! What a tremendous blessing and an answer to prayer!!! We think he realized how much worse his life was on the streets, as it was pretty cold the two nites he was there. It seems as if he might be staying for good now. Thanks for all of the prayers for him. We were talking about how his experience reminded us of the story of the Prodigal Son. We were devastated when he chose to walk away from Umuryango. In spite of all of the blessings and love he received (from us and others) at Umuryango, he chose the path to leave. Yet, we were able to receive him back with open arms and joyful hearts.

Yonatani and Sam are here! Oh, and some challenging days have come.

2008-07-21T06:49:00.000-04:00

Yonatani (Jonathan) and Sam arrived on Friday, and it has been so good to have them with us. We have done a lot with them so far and I think they are a bit worn out, to say the least. They delivered lots of treats from our families and we are so thankful for everyone for sending their blessings and hugs our way. Yonatani and I have a full schedule when he is here, with lots of Global Capacity planning and some meetings.

The past few days have been extremely difficult also. Heartbreaking. Siliac, an eight year-old boy who lives at Umuryango, has chosen to go back to live on the streets. Siliac is the newest boy at the home, having moved in just two months ago. He is an amazing boy, adorable, sweet, and very influential. Everybody loves him. However, streetboys are extremely complicated and although moving to Umuryango seems like an amazing opportunity, some times the boys don't understand the long-term benefits. On the streets they come and go as they please and don't have any responsibility. They don't have any superior to listen to, no chores to complete, no work to do. At Umuryango they are given a daily schedule to follow, superiors to obey, and chores to do. Plainly, they are given structure. It is so hard to understand how a young boy would choose a life on the streets after they he has been given a warm bed, food, school, new clothes, and lots and lots of love. But, as any mother can attest to, boys are complicated beings and this is certainly true for streetboys too.

It was especially difficult last night because we saw Siliac on the street. Yonatani and I were walking to a restaurant and Siliac was there, with one of his friends. It broke my heart to see him, knowing that just two short days before, I was holding him at Umuryango. He asked him how he was doing and he said "well". I hope to believe that he is. And I also hope to believe that God will change his heart in such a way that he will want to return to Umuryango one day. In the mean time, I will also pray that God protects him and that he continues to understand that God has an enormous and unimaginable amount of love for him. Something he has never gotten at home but something we have tried to give him.

Cow in the street.

2008-07-17T02:57:00.002-04:00

Funny sight when I was on my way to the internet cafe this morning. There was a cow running wild in the street. And there were two men running after it with ropes trying to catch it. Now, in Gitarama there is one main road, that's it. And there is lots of action on it - taxis, motorbikes, and people crossing the street. And this cow was running in to the traffic. One car had to stop and wait for it to run around it. The cow proceeded to run further up the road, with one of the men flipping off his shoes and chasing it. Unfortunately the road curved and I wasn't able to see them anymore. But, the way they were running is the way to get to Bukamero and the boys' home, so maybe later on I will see the cow there. I must admit that it was really nice for the cow to be the center of attention and to be the one stared at, and not me. Let's hope for more cows running wild on the street.

Sponsor Letters.

2008-07-15T11:57:00.002-04:00

Today started off somewhat frustating but then it got better. I tried to grab a taxi to Byimana so I could visit the boys. I asked one driver how much it would cost and he said 400 francs. This makes me angry because the drivers tend to overcharge us abazungu (white people). The boys tell us that when they take a taxi to Gitarama from Byimana they are only charged 200 francs. Usually we are charged 300, which we accept, so when a driver wants 400 I am really angry and frustrated. Frustrated because I need to get to Byimana, and the taxis are the only way (well, I could walk, but that would take about an hour. I may hop on a motorbike the next time). Anyway, I refused his 400 franc charge and walked away. I waited till that taxi left and I went up to another taxi waiting to go to Byimana. I asked him how much and he also said 400. I demanded 300, and he answered right back with a "oya, 400!" I decided to give in and take his offer. As I sat in the taxi and waited for it to be filled up with people, I seethed with anger. How dare he take advantage of me, just because of the color of my skin. I sat and thought about it, and slowly came to peace. I was getting upset over 100 francs, which is equivalent to a measly 20 cents. Then the overcharge did not seem so huge. 20 cents is such a small amount of money for me to get so upset about!

We took off and I arrived in Byimana with a better attitude and excitement for the day. I am planning a project for the Umuryango sponsors. I am going to be taking pictures, both posed and candid, of the boys as well as a short video. I think this will be a good way to update the boys' sponsors about what they have all been up to. I packed my digital camera and video camera so I can begin my work. I arrived at Umuryango and the boys were busy. There are just a handful since it is holiday. I communicated with Jean Pierre and Ndahimana that I wanted to get a haircut, so they took me. This was one of the highlights of the day. We spoke to each other the whole way to the barber, both in English and in Kinyarwanda. I was proud that I could carry on somewhat of a conversation. They asked me why I want to get my head shaved and I told them I am balding on the top and don't like to show it - "oya imisatsi (no hairs!). They thought that was quite humorous. We got to the barber and they told the man what I wanted. I have Ndahimana my camera and he took pics of my hair shaving as well as of Jean Pierre and himself. This barber is where the boys get their heads shaved, so I am going to become a regular customer. Plus, it is cheaper than the salon in Gitarama I had gone to.

When we returned back to the home, I showed them some files I had on my computer dealing with their sponsors. I had a letter from Ndahimana's sponsor, which I had just received this morning over email and I showed it to him. He was greatly blessed by it, and he and Jean Pierre each wanted to learn how to use my computer and write their sponsors a letter. So, I sat next to each of them and they typed away. The most precious part was watching each boy help the other and show him how to type and find the letters on the keyboard. Jean Pierre switched back and forth between Kinyarwanda and English and Ndahimana stuck to English. Then they asked me to proofread their work. It was such a blessing to read their letters because they are so incredibly thankful for their sponsors and their generosity. After we were all done, Ndahimana said tomorrow we will focus on writing my family a letter.

I also was able to take some nice candid photos of the boys...Siliac and Nyandwi coloring, Jean Pierre on the computer, Theophile marking his arm with a fake tatoo.

When I was ready to leave, Jean Pierre walked me to the taxi stop. I was able to get a taxi back to Gitarama for 300 francs. I would have paid 400 though. I was thankful for the wonderful day that God had given me.

Routine.

2008-07-14T10:11:00.000-04:00

For those of you whom know the DiSC Personality Test, you will appreciate this. I am finding out how much of a S type I am. I need routine and predictability. I need a stable and consistent schedule. I have now been here for almost two weeks and have had a somewhat unpredictable and inconsistent schedule. And I have not liked it. I thought I would be able to change and handle the inconsistency better, but I haven't. I am being stretched, which is great, but it also is difficult. I am trying to alternate days of staying in Gitarama and going to Bukamero.

When I stay in Gitarama for the day my ideal schedule is: eat breakfast, go to the internet cafe, buy lunch, go home, study Kinyarwanda, eat lunch, read my Bible and pray, take a nap, do Global Capacity work, study more Kinyarwanda, go back to the internet, come home, lay on the front porch, eat dinner, and go to bed. I get so tired here that I tend to go to bed around 9! When I go out to Bukamero I am usually gone from about 9 am - 7 pm or so. It is a long day and afterwards I don't feel like doing much other than eating and going to bed. Hopefully when I get internet in the home (which was supposed to be today but it didn't happen) I will be much more efficient with my time, and can talk to you all more.

Home for the Holiday.

2008-07-13T09:58:00.000-04:00

The month of July is a holiday from school for the children. So, the Umuryango boys have been off from school. Today most of them left to go visit their families for two weeks. So, there was a lot of excitement this morning as 14 boys packed their bags and gathered their taxi money. That's right, 14 of them have families to go to. This is a concept that is difficult for me to understand. If they have families to visit, then why aren't they living with them? Why had the boys chosen a life on the streets versus a life at home with their families? Possible answers are poverty or maybe abuse. No matter the reason it is very difficult to imagine the nightmares they were living before coming to Umuryango.

I was so excited for the boys who left today to go to their families. They all left the home at the same time and walked to the taxi stop. But my heart was hurting for the 6 boys who don't have families to go to. Boys who are orphaned, who don't have parents, who don't have the opportunity to go anywhere for the holiday. I sat and watched them as the boys left for the taxi stop and imagined what they were thinking. On the outside they seemed fine. They were playing marbles and the boys' leaving didn't seem to phase them. They seemed happy for them. So, hopefully that is the case and are not hurting inside.

Bukamero Laundromat.

2008-07-10T10:19:00.002-04:00

Today was wash day for the boys. That means they grab their dirty clothes, a basin, and a bar of soap, and head to the washing area. In my mind I was picturing some sort of a laundromat. You know, like a modern building with washers and dryers. I don't know why I expected this, but I did. We walked for about 20 minutes and arrived at the "laundromat". It was basically a large cement platform in the middle of a field with a square-sized hole taken out to provide access to the water below the platform. The boys wash their clothes every week, so they have the routine down well. They bring their basin to the platform and fill up with water. Then they bring it over to the grass and rub the soap on their clothes. They douse it with water and scrub and scrub and scrub. Some of the boys are so protective and particular of their clothes that they get them sparkling clean. Other boys don't care so much and get the task over relatively quickly. I helped Emmanuel, David, and Edison, whom I think preferred that I hadn't help them. After I "cleaned" their clothes they went back and re-did them.

Not only do the boys wash their clothes at this well, they also clean themselves. They wash their hair and bodies with the soap, all wearing either towels or shorts. It was actually quite endearing because they would wash each other's backs. One would bend forward and another boy would wash his back and legs and feet. Jean Pierre seems to be the master at this and would be the main washer. Theresa decided to wash her hair, so she dunked her head in the basin. I decided to humor them a bit too and have them wash me. After all, it had been a few days since I had a real shower. So, I took off my shoes, socks, and shirt and rolled my jeans up. They were very interested in my tattoo on my chest as well as my huge, rippling muscles (well, to them they are gigantic). Then Jean Pierre washed my back and Emmanuel and Jean Pierre each washed a foot. I was quite the spectacle because at this point, some other small children and mothers had gathered to watch. Emmanuel also washed my sneakers and Jean Pierre gave me his flip flops to wear on the way back. One thing is for sure...the boys love and care for us. They treat us so well. I really regretted that I hadn't brought my camera with me. It would have been a fun sight to see, but I will bring my camera the next time.

I Love Technology.

2008-07-09T09:44:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we had a wonderful day. I brought my laptop with me to the boys' home. I showed them pictures from my trip here last year. I have about 1300 pictures from the trip, so I had tons to show them. They really enjoyed seeing them and remember all of the names of the team members. I thought about what a thrill it is for them to see themselves on my computer, well, any computer. Since what streetboys and orphans fear most is not being forgotten, and this way they know they are remembered, and even documented. I also brought all of the videos that Aaron and I took on the trip last year, and am really excited to show them. We have about 60 or so hours of footage, so it will provide a lot of entertainment.

I have Toy Story in iTunes, so we played it for the kiddos. The boys actually were at school in the afternoon, so we watched it with the village kids. And it was so precious. I am pretty sure that most of them didn't know what was being said, but really enjoying watching the pictures. It was fun seeing about fifty African children staring at my white MacBook.

Today I spent the day in Gitarama. I did some work at the internet cafe, walked around the town a bit, and did two language lessons. I am happy with the pace I am making for myself with kinyarwanda. Of course I have miles and miles to go, but I am trying to stay disciplined. I can say some full sentences without cheating:

Mfite Yesu m' umutima wanjye. (I have Jesus in my heart).
Nitwa Matayo. (My name is Matthew).
Ndagenda ku internet. (I am going to the internet).
Ndagenda ku inzu nawe. (I am going to my house today).

Ok, I am going to sign off. School just let out and a bunch of abahungu (boys) are staring at me. Time for the walk back to the house.

Rwanda is one awesome place :)

So many feelings.

2008-07-07T10:16:00.002-04:00

I have been experiencing so many different feelings here. They change so often. Today they have gone from thankfulness and joy, to frustration, to being extremely overwhelmed, to loneliness, to satisfaction, to compassion, and again to thankfulness. There are three things that I have found help me when I am experiencing the inevitable, negative feelings that I do. Prayer has been the most significant, as it gets me grounded with God and He reminds me of the reality of my situation. That it is normal for me to feel the way I do, that it is just my fifth day here, that He will never leave me nor forsake me, that the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in me. This last truth is one that I cling on to because I expect for God to do anything in my life that He wants to if I will let Him. So, I can believe that He will bring me through rough times. Scripture reading has also helped, although I haven't been able to have a Bible with me as much as I would like since I lost mine on the way here. Thankfully I have Bible software on my computer that I use. Kinyarwanda study also helps me when I am frustrated. I have found that learning even five new words and then applying them builds my self-confidence up a lot. I know I have a long, long way to go until I can carry on a meaningful conversation, but I have the motivation and desire to do so.

Wherever I go everyone stares at me. At first it didn't bother me but now I am getting a bit sick of it. I would like to fit in like everyone else and not be a spectacle everywhere I go. I know that is impossible due to my muzungu appearance. But, I can do what I can, like shave my head like many Rwandans do, keep my iPod in my bagpack instead of listening to it when I am walking in Gitarama, and use kinyarwanda expressions as much as possible even when I don't want to. I have learned to monitor myself as much as possible.

Sometimes I don't even feel like leaving the house because most of the time I feel like everything on the outside is difficult. On the inside we have a beautiful housekeeper, Hadesha (sp?), who cooks and cleans for us. We also have a nightguard, Jean Claude, who watches over us and makes sure we are safe. Then there is Jean Paul, who helps us understand the language and culture and will run errands for us if we need him to. We speak English inside the house and there is no confusion, no frustration, no hard work. But then we leave the house and we are faced with confusion, frustration, and hard work. But I know the three things that help me deal with these feelings, so I remember that life here is manageable and doable, and amazing.

Fanta and connection.

2008-07-07T04:43:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was an amazing day. Amazing because we were able to treat the boys and some village kids to a Fanta. Fanta is soda and is a treat for the kids here. We all walked to a shop that sold Fanta, more of a cafe. It was quite a procession - about 25 Rwandan children and 3 wazungu (white people). We grabbed the attention of everyone we passed.

A highlight was to be able to reconnect with some of the village kids I had met last year. There were a few who had absolutely stolen my heart last year. Ones who I cry over and wonder what will happen to them. Kids who come from really poor families who do not have the many privileges that the boys at Umuryango have. They are in lots of pictures I have, and I have been so excited to see them ever since my trip became a reality. When Theresa and Val began visiting Byimana I would ask them about these kids, especially about Rom and Jean Pierre. Sadly, these two boys were nowhere to be seen. My heart broke for them because I didn't know what had happened. Had they gone to the streets, moved to another town, gotten sick, or worse? Well, yesterday my questions were answered. As we walked to the shop to get Fanta, I saw both of them. They were on the street, playing with some friends. I welcomed each of them and called them by their names, and they got huge smiles on their faces. They grabbed my hand and we walked to the shop. I do not think I will forget Rom's priceless expression as we sat next to each other and sipped the Fanta. He would stare at me, with this look of fondness and joy - large beautiful eyes and a big smile.

We spent a good chunk of time at the Fanta shop, hanging out and dancing to the television. It was one of my most favorite times here so far. Just being with the boys and village kids, and blessing them in a way that is mundane and small to me, but quite large to them.

Out and about.

2008-07-05T11:38:00.005-04:00

Today was a good day. I spent time in Gitarama instead of visiting the boys' home with Theresa and Valerie. We have been going and going since I arrived and I needed some time to chill and slow down. It was a really relaxing time. I cleaned my room and organized it, worked on some Global Capacity stuff, ate lunch and chatted with our housekeeper's son Omar, and took a nap. After that I studied some kinyawarwanda, which made me feel a bit better about the language barrier. This is the biggest problem I have right now. It frustrates me so much to not be able to carry on a conversation with people, or even to ask for things in shops. I know with time and practice this will diminish, but nevertheless I wish I knew so much more.

After that I went to the salon with Omar to get my head shaved. I did bring my own shaver with me to Africa, but surprisingly enough I broke it. Yes, shavers require the use of a power converter here, and yes, I have three with me. But, I forgot and plugged in the shaver and proceeded to shave the side of my head. A few seconds later I smelled a burning smell and noticed the shaver began to smoke. So, I learned my lesson by ruining the shaver. So, I have been walking around for two days with a chunk taken out of my hair on the side of my head. It was hot. Anyway I was the talk and stare of the salon. I don't think they often have wuzungus as clients. It was so nice though, a very gentle razor and very soft touch. He then proceeded to shave my face with the shaver, which was not so gentle. But then he put some alcohol and then powder all over my head and face, which was nice. I think I am happy that I ruined the shaver so I can support this salon and befriend them.

Now I am at the internet cafe on my own computer, and really feel like I fit it. Oh, and it does help that they are playing "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake and "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillet.

Yeah, I think I'm gonna like it here.

I have a cell phone.

2008-07-04T14:53:00.005-04:00

I now have a cell phone. It's pretty expensive to call to the U.S. on it, but it's cheap for the U.S. to call me with a calling card. The link to buying a good, cheap calling card is http://www.callsmadelocal.net/search.asp?Country=83&name=&connection=No+Preference&value=Any+Value.

Email me if you want to know my cell number.

I can also receive and send text messages. Remember that the time difference is 6 hours. I plan on getting a calling card too so I can call home more.

I should have internet at my house next week, so I can IM / Skype / iChat / email / Facebook with you all much more!

In Byimana.

2008-07-04T14:30:00.003-04:00

I had the privilege of spending the past two days with the boys at Umuryango. What a pleasure! Yesterday we arrived at the home before the boys came home from lunch. We were dropped off by a taxi and then walked the .6 miles to the home. What a joy. We were surrounded by beautiful village kids along the way. It was so neat to watch the kids run up to Theresa and Valerie, who teach them English for an hour/day. They adore their teachers. I recogized some of the kids from last year. When we arrived at the home we took a tour of the home and the TWO that are being built. It is so very exciting to watch the progress. I plan on putting up pics when I have faster internet in the home we are staying in.

The boys came home from lunch and it was glorious. They ran over to me with smiles and gave me big hugs and kisses. Even the newer boys, who I hadn't met yet, welcomed me with open arms. It is so great to see them all again. The boy I sponsor, David, just kept hugging and kissing me. He sat next to me on the couch for a long, long time and we tried to communicate as best as possible. We spent much of the afternoon playing the game Sequence, which is now a favorite of everyone.

Today was a very exciting day. We wanted to do something special for the boys since it is a national holiday here. So, we rented a large bus and picked them up early. We headed over to the "Muzungu Mall" and got them all ice cream. This was a special treat that most of them had never ever had. And, to our surprise, most did not like it. It was way too cold for them. After that we headed to a soccer (futbol) stadium. We had lunch on the bus and then got tickets in one of the national stadiums for two matches. We watched the two matches, which proved to be a really crazy experience. The second match packed out the stadium and there were all sorts of people climbing the back wall and then getting hit by clubs by policemen. I didnt realize what a huge sport futbol is here. This second match was the national championship match, and President Kagame showed up too! After the matches we headed to a fine dinner in Gitarama. The boys were so thankful and appreciative of the day and it was a pleasure to watch them experience their surprises.

Finally in Gitarama!

2008-07-02T13:54:00.002-04:00

Well, I arrived in Rwanda finally. JP, Theresa, and Val were all at the airport to greet me with huge hugs. It is soooo good to be here! It looks so familar, from last year. We drove past where we stayed last summer and we also visited the "Muzungu Mall" for some ice cream. We went in to Kigali and got cash exchanged for me. We then headed to Gitarama. The house we are staying in is perfect. It is lined along the road, filled with lots of activities - shops, other houses, and streetkids. This breaks my heart! We didn't spend much time on the street yet, but will starting tomorrow. The house is large and will be a great base for us to live at. We will be visiting the boys tomorrow and I am so excited! I am a bit wiped now, so I am looking for a good nite sleep. Oh, and another thing - I have my own bedroom, which is great. Lots of time for me to spend with God and processing through this amazing journey I am on. Ok, that's all the energy I have for now. Gotta head home for dinner and sleep for tomorrow :)

In Ethopia.

2008-07-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

hello folks! hope you are doing well. just wanted to give you a quick shout from addis ababa. i stayed here overnite at a motel and fly to kigali in an hour. my flights have been good so far, no delays or anything. i was majorly bummed though because i left my bible on the airplane. that will bless someone else though. (so maybe when jonathan comes he can bring me one, wink wink). i am so excited to land in kigali soon! i met an american (from ia) who is on his way to tanzania to oversee a building project of a 18-cottage orphanage. he is a structural architect who also runs a child sponsorship program at an orphanage in haiti. so, it was so great to chat with him and talk about how he does things. we were both sharing stories with each other about our experiences in our respective countries. it is so refreshing to talk with him since he has the same heart, burden, and holy discontent that i have. i love it here! all the sounds and sights. addis ababa looks very much like kigali does. ok, i must run. thanks for all of the prayers and thoughts. talk to you soon :)

God's Call is All Worth It.

2008-06-21T08:10:00.005-04:00

I just got off the phone with my good friend Theresa, who is currently living in Rwanda doing a variety of things like community health assessments, teaching English, and working and playing at the Boys' Home. It was the first time I have spoken to her since she has been there, and it was glorious. She sounded so good and absolutely loves it there. When I called her, she was having lunch with the boys at the Home. The boy that I sponsor, David, was right next to her and told her to tell me that he loves me.

Even though I didn't speak to any of the boys, I could hear the rumblings and the sounds. I could hear loud noises and voices of Rwanda, voices that are largely the cause of my holy discontent, my burden, my heart. I am moving to Rwanda because God has connected my heart to them in a way I cannot explain. I can't communicate with them very well or carry on a conversation. When I arrive there in 9 days I won't have much to say. Which is ironic because my heart feels and says so much about them. But it is not just them that makes the Spirit inside me yearn to go, it is that I am in the midst of God's calling. And there is nothing I would rather do than to follow what God is calling me to. Although it is extremely difficult to sacrifice all that this trip is asking me to give up, it is all worth it.

I Am Heartbroken

2008-06-19T21:07:00.005-04:00

I had a cry tonite about my move to Africa. I leave in 10 days. I am heartbroken. I feel as if a piece of my heart is dying. There is so much transition now and I am having a difficult time with it. Just this past week I left my position as Director of Administration, a job that I have occupied for 5 years. I am giving up my car tomorrow because the 3 year lease is up. I am in the process of packing up my house I have owned for almost 2 years. All of these things have proven to be consistent and routine for me, stability in the midst of 2 1/2 years of rockiness, pain, and uncertainty. And for someone who thrives on routine and predictibility, I am very challenged now.

One of the things that I am dreading is saying "goodbye" to those people most important to me. Now, I know that it is not really a "goodbye" but a "see you later." I have every intention of coming back from Africa in December. I will even get to see some of the people who are so near and dear to my heart when they come over to Africa during my stay there. What I am so fearful and anxious about when I do say my "goodbyes" in 10 short days is that I will not be able to convey in words and actions, what I feel in my heart. I have led a pretty remarkable and extremely blessed life over the past two years, a life that I never thought possible. And to a large extent I have my amazing family and friends to thank for this. I want to be able to tell them what they mean to me, how they have blessed my life in ways they hadn't even considered, how it breaks my heart to leave them.

Amongst the empty dresser drawers and the half-packed storage bins, from the empty shelves to the empty carport, there is an even greater emptiness and void that remains in my heart. A heart that is crying itself to sleep tonite.

New blog for Global Capacity.

2008-05-19T13:46:00.002-04:00

I have opened a new blog, to be used solely for Global Capacity. This will be the temporary site until we have a permanent one in place. Stay updated in Global Capacity here.

Reconciliation among Genocide survivor and killer.

2008-05-15T13:34:00.004-04:00

This is an amazing story about the reconciliation and forgiveness of one genocide survivor and the killer of her family:

Click here!

Donations and Discounts!

2008-05-04T07:51:00.011-04:00

Global Capacity has been offered dental supplies and discounts on outdoor gear and electronics to be used in Rwanda:

Dental supplies. Dr. Donald Marks, my local dentist, has donated 108 toothbrushes and 24 tubes of toothpaste for me to bring to Rwanda! I have also scheduled a training session with him, at his request, to learn about how to teach the Rwandese people about dental care.

Discounts on Outdoor Gear and Electronics. Two vendors, Mt Nittany Outfitters and Appalachian Outdoors, have offered me substantial discounts on gear and electronics, which I will use in Rwanda. Products include a large hiking backpack (to be used as my luggage), hydration system pack, padded backpack for my laptop, GPS System with African maps, and videocamera.

If you are interested in donating any supplies to be used in Rwanda, please email me at heinzmatthew@gmail.com.

Rwanda's Comeback!

2008-04-30T10:12:00.003-04:00

There is a great article about Rwanda's optimism after the 1994 genocide...

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0428/p09s01-coop.html

Real World Rwanda!

2008-04-30T08:28:00.022-04:00

I have a place to live when I am in Rwanda! Jean Paul found a 5 bedroom house with 2 indoor bathrooms, located in Gitarama, which is about 15 minutes from Byimana. It will also house a variety of folks in addition to myself:

Theresa Perez, a Global Capacity Stakeholder and her friend Valerie Peters, leave the U.S. tonite to work in Byimana doing community health assessments for six months
the two ten-person teams from Florida State University are coming for a month at a time to build a computer training center
the two ten-person teams from Calvary Baptist Church who are coming in July and November
Jonathan Hetler, Director of Operations for Global Capacity, is coming in July to help me set up operations

It will be a great experience and I am really looking forward to living in community with everyone. We joke about having a Confessionals room, like on the show Real World.

Microfinance Model

2008-04-27T07:50:00.005-04:00

At this time I feel that the first phase of Global Capacity might be to help finance the start-up businesses of Rwandese people, namely villagers living in moderate to extreme poverty. I have been particularly interested in the field of microfinance and the concept of lending money to the poor so they can begin businesses of their own and start to transform their lives and their communities. Kiva is a very exciting and detailed microfinance site. It allows you to choose a certain entrepreneur in a developing country and invest in their business. After the money has been raised for that business, a local bank (which closely monitors the entrepreneur) gives them the loan. Then the entrepreneur pays the loan back, and in time the investor gets their money back. I became an investor for a woman in Cameroon named Neh Bertha.

I don't know if Global Capacity would work in the same way that Kiva does, but it's a model I would like to consider. We may just help to donate start-up costs for businesses, and not expect for them to pay us back. I would also like to help teach the potential Rwandese entrepreneurs principles of business and self-sustainability.

Skype

2008-04-25T18:45:00.003-04:00

Hey folks! As a means to keep in touch when i am in Rwanda, looks like Skype is a cheap and easy option. Roaming charges on cell phones are way expensive. So, let's talk on Skype for free! You can download it here:

http://www.skype.com/intl/en/download/skype

My user name is matayo.heinz. Let me know what yours is.

Global Capacity!

2008-04-15T11:38:00.005-04:00

Most of you know about the job position change that my dad offered me in January. He would like to expand the scope of the company, Good Steward Software, and include humanitarian work. The purpose of the new position would be to help to improve the lives of those in developing nations, especially those in moderate to extreme poverty. I know this is a large mission and we are in the process of defining and refining, but basically I would head up efforts to bring new opportunities of life improvement and betterment to people in developing nations. Originally this new job position was going to be a division of Good Steward, but after thinking about it some more, we have decided to start a non-profit organization instead. Good Steward would be directly related and would financially fund the organization. Below is my dad’s original job description:

Duties:
Investigates, researches and develops methods to improve lives in developing countries.
Develops prototypes and incubators for multiplying/replicating indigenous business, agriculture, schools and social welfare establishments.
Promotes projects and develops supporters in U.S. based businesses and non-profit organizations.
Maintains part-year presence in both U.S. and developing countries.

Success metrics:
Number of lives touched/improved
Number of establishments created (businesses, farms, orphanages, schools, churches, training centers, etc)
Number of U.S. citizens that participate in a cross-cultural experience
Number of U.S. organizations that become supporters

I have not committed to this new position yet. As you know I will be spending six months in Rwanda later this year (starting in July) and I will not be making a formal decision until I am living there for a few months. The main reason for waiting to commit is because the new job would require me to live overseas for an extended period of time. I want to live overseas for a couple of months before I make a decision to see if this is something that I would be able to handle. It would be a huge transition and change for me and I want to be wise about it. (To be completely honest with you though, I am pretty sure I will take the job. It is an incredible opportunity and very much aligns with my heart and passion.)

We have started the non-profit, which we named Global Capacity. I am so very excited about it. The mission statement is to improve the quality of life in developing communities through the introduction and implementation of local self-sustainable agriculture, education, and business initiatives. I have developed a Board of Stakeholders, which is a group of individuals who are passionate about and committed to the mission and also have a specific area of expertise that is valuable to the development of the organization.

Global Capacity is in the very beginning stages and we would like your prayer as we continue to mold and shape this mission that we feel God has called us to. Thank you.

House, Car, Tate

2008-04-07T12:04:00.004-04:00

I have been amazed at the provision that God has given me recently. Three large areas of need have been met when I am gone – what to do with my house, my car, and my dog Tate:

1. I have found a renter for my house for the 5 ½ months I will be gone. The renter is a family who goes to my church. The terms of the lease work out perfectly: July – December! I feel completely safe with them.
2. I lease my car and I recently found out that the lease ends on June 20 of this year. I was under the impression that it ended June 20 of next year. So, I won’t have a monthly lease payment to make when I am in Africa!
3. My aunt has enthusiastically asked to watch my dog Tate when I am gone. She lives near Allentown and already has a dog named Henry. Tate has a week-long trial run with her this month. My aunt (Sally) already has fun plans that include putting Henry and Tate in a decorated stroller for her town’s Fourth of July parade. If things don’t work out for Aunt Sally watching Tate, the family renting my house is interested in keeping him with them. So, praise God for taking care of all these arrangements!

I am so excited to see God work in more ways as I continue preparations for this trip!

Rwanda Here I Come!

2008-04-07T09:52:00.003-04:00

Bitese? Amakuru? Meza neza. Imana aguhe umugisha. (Translation = What's up? How are you? I am fine. God bless you.)

I will be living near Kigali, Rwanda from July - December. I leave the US on June 30 and return on December 17. I will be doing research and investigation in hopes of developing processes for helping to improve the people's lives. I will also be spending time at Umuryango Boys' Home in the town of Byimana. This is the Home where some others and I spent two weeks this past summer. My heart is still there! I have decided to live in my own apartment when I am there, in a town called Gitarama, which is 4 miles from Byimana.

Check out my Photo Album if you haven't yet.

I would appreciate your thoughts and prayers (and maybe visits and emails!).

Murakoze! Thank you!