June 27th. We (Gerrit and Celeste) left this morning with 3 workers from Rwanda Prison Fellowship for Kageyo Village near Kibungo, on the way to the Tanzania border. Gerrit first visited this Reconciliation Village in April (where genocide victims and perpetrators work and live side by side) and was told that the purchase and use of sewing machines could change the lives of these people who have nothing.
The 3.5 hour trip to the village was an adventure in itself: competing for space on the narrow, winding roads, with goats, children alongside the road, taxis in various forms, bicycles loaded to a capacity that boggles the mind and twice with the speeding presidential motorcade.
The hope and vision is that the 5 sewing machines, purchased with money donated in the USA, along with training, will enable the people who literally have nothing to start a cooperative where they will sew school uniforms and bags and generate funds for their community. They have been promised much in the past, but the delivery of the machines assured them that God has not forgotten them.
The delivery was a humbling experience as the entire village from young to old welcomed the delivery with song and dance and great jubilation. We trust that more machines will be added and that the vision for a wood workshop will come to fruition in the very near future.
Wohoo! Gerrit you have NO shame dancing. . .well done! This is SO great.
That is awesome!
This is so inspiring…not to mention humbling. May the Lord bless you as you continue in this mimistry.
Love you guys!
Patti
It is amazing what the Lord is doing through you in Rwanda. You continue to be in our prayers. We love you both.