Boston & Houston Team Return Safely to USA

Saying goodbye at Kigali Airport.

Akegara National Park

Yesterday, we went on safari in Akegara National Park. We saw a variety of birds and monkeys, including baboons. We also saw zebras, giraffes, hippo, water buffalo and a variety of antelope like aribi, impala, topi, eland and water back.

Life in Eastern Rwanda

More arid, softer hills, drier seasons with more strain on agriculture. Home to Akagera National Park.

Today we traveled from northeastern Rwanda to Kigali. In Kigali, we spent time at the artisan's market, buying gifts. Then, we traveled to Akagera National Park in western Rwanda.

Midwives at the Kinigi Health Center

So, yesterday we visited a health center. I had thought that we were going to meet 2 or 3 midwives. Well 40 midwives from the surrounding villages showed up at the health center. I was told they had walked for miles to meet the American midwife. I can't express in words how overwhelmed and touched I was. We ended up having a training session on "how to deliver a baby." It was a blessing and one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Praise God.

- Lisa A.

Volcanoes National Park

Neal Davidson picks up a worm on the mountain trail (yes, this is not a snake, it is a worm!)

Visits with Rural Churches in NW Rwanda

Kinigi Health Center

Lake Kivu

Vision Finance

Wednesday afternoon, we visited Vision Finance in Nyaratovu. Our partner, Bay Harbor Methodist Church and Pastor John Newsome through Microseeds contributed to both Africa Hope Microcredit and Vision Finance in 2009. We were able to meet with the branch Director and learn more about their work, including partnering with small businesses in the area.

At the Vision Finance office were several Project Rwanda bicycles which are being rented to own by a farmer's cooperative.

One man who sells cooking oil stated that his capital increased from 200K to 400K Rwandan francs in one year.

Photos include Pastor John & John F. with Vision Finance borrowers.

World Vision / Nyaratovu ADP

On Wednesday, we visited a rural school established in this ADP by World Vision (WV). As part of their comprehensive development program, WV has partnered with this community on building schools, training teachers, obtaining & maintaining clean water, agricultural projects (seed selection, cultivation techniques, domestic animals for manure), HIV/AIDS education, home health aids, etc.... We enjoyed learning more about the work of WV and meeting our sponsored children.

Beautiful Rwanda / Northern Province 3

Beautiful Rwanda / Northern Province

Scenes from Wednesday.

Project Rwanda

Last night we went to visit Kimberly Coats of Project Rwanda. Kimberly is an outgoing cyclist that's left the corporate world in the USA to fulfill her passion to help the Rwandan people. Clear Creek High School (Hannah Stephens High School in League City Texas) is the first of many high schools to take on the project to better the lives of Rwandans. So far, they have raised 6,000 dollars. This means, the students have bought 60 bicycles. With the bicycles, the students provided much needed transportation for the Rwandans. With the bikes, working Rwandans can bring items, such as food, down from the rural areas to cities. When they sell their items at the market, they are then able to make a profit, which can be life changing. Clear Creek is hoping to open the eyes of other high schools across Texas, as well as the USA, to be an example of what good we can do for others. Go Wildcats! :)

Hannah Stephens
Musanze, Rwanda

Hannah Visits Kimberly Coats of Project Rwanda

Musanze

World Vision Nyarutovu ADP

All team members sponsor a child from the Nyarutovu ADP. There are 24 ADPs in Rwanda. This ADP represents 16000 people, 4441 of which are children.

After learning extensively about World Vision's comprehensive development approach, team members visited an ADP school and met their sponsored children. These children are selected by community members for being the most vulnerable due to their level of poverty or being orphaned.

Monday & Tuesday

Monday night, the team had dinner with Apostle Paul Gitwaza of the Zion Temple in Kigali. Tuesday, team members visited more borrowers in the marketplace, while others met with a local pastor or visited the Rwinwavu Hospital of Inshuti Mu Buzima (Partners in Health/Rwanda). In the evening, we traveled to the Northern Province.