It was our last day with the children at the schoolhouse on the hilltop.  I was making my way to the min-bus when I was confronted by a young man with a neatly folded piece of paper.

In very good English he asked if I could please take the letter from him.

I explained to him that I couldn’t take the letter, as our team had agreed that all written forms of communication between us and the children would go through Mama Naomi or her staff.

This process was set in place for two reasons, the first of which was to make sure that the story we received was not fabricated in an attempt to take advantage of those willing to help.
Secondly, the help that is offered in this area is meant to be distributed for the good of the community, not just a select few people.

My red taped answer was met with another question, “Please sir, please take my letter and when do you think I’ll get a response?”

Of course I took the letter.
I explained to him, especially not having read the letter, I didn’t know when I could give him a response.

As we drove away, I read…
“How are you sir?  I think you are well.  But me I am not OK because of different problems I meet in my life.  As shown above my name is Valens.  I am 17 years old more over I am in senior two.  I am an orphan my father passed away and left my Mother in bad house which is covered by grasses that is to say when it rains we don’t get the way of protecting it from us and I am clever in class I use to be the first in class.
but I meet with a problem of attending the school late because of lacking school fees.  It is not easy for my mother to get it because she is very poor and she has no one to help her.
My objective to write to you this letter is to request help from you.  If you have will of helping me also our Father in Heaven will bless you in all of your activities.
I tried to look for a sponsor but I lost–but I hope that now I have got him.
Let me stop from here but I am waiting for your answer.
He was Nahimana Valens”

Driving down the hill away from the children I couldn’t help but cry.
I found myself asking God, “Why do live in a house with running water, with so much food, why do I have access to so much help?  Why did I go to school for free? Why was I born in the United States?”

An immediate answer came to me, so simple I could never have thought of it myself:
“So you can help.”

I found myself asking God a second question, “Okay, then why is it that Valens, or any of these children for that matter, why do they live here?  Why do they wear filthy torn clothes?  Why do they drink water the color of mud? Why do they live with so little?

Again the answer came as simplistically and immediate as the first:
“So they can help you.”

And they have helped.
I’ve seen joy erupt from a child who has nothing.  I’ve seen the excitement on a small boys face as he rushes for the porridge line.  I’ve seen how blessed I am.
I’ve seen that I can stop worrying about what I don’t have and concentrate on what I do have.  I’ve seen that I can help.

Okay, so the reoccurring theme?
Education.  School fees.
People like Valens understand that education is their ticket away from the cycle of poverty.

How will I respond to him you ask?  I don’t know yet… You tell me ; )

Imagine your a school teacher in a developing nation. 
Your job is to teach 700+ students ranging from elementary to high school age.  You have one classroom, two chalkboards and no budget for teaching material.
You teach only two days a week because a salary of five days a week can not yet be provided. 
Seem impossible?

Meet William, A truly inspiring man who teaches a poverty stricken area in a Eastern Rwanda.
During a video interview, which I hope to share soon, William expressed his concerns and hope for the children, many of which are orphans or very poor.

On this particular day William is beaming. 
Needing a “model” to demonstrate his lesson on body parts in which the children also get a lesson in English, William looked to nature rather than an empty budget to provide his teaching material.
Using sticks, banana leaves and some clothes he found laying around, William birthed Mr. Bob.

William doesn’t always get paid on time, but he recognizes the importance of education for the children.
Did you know that for $500 a month you could employ three teachers to work with the children five days a week?

Thank you William for your inspiration and thank you Mama Naomi for surrounding yourself with people who care more for the children than themselves. 

William and Mr. Bob…

During the rainy season, children are forced to go back home because they can’t all fit into the one room schoolhouse during downpours.  Still, the classroom stands and serves as needed shade during the warmer months.  My hope is that it stands for things to come…

One of the two chalkboards owned by the school was used for Kevin Kubota’s presentation to a group who are aspiring to be better leaders.  They certainly were hearing from the right person.

Mama Naomi received a few sewing machines from World Relief and began teaching women how to sew.  Now, those women are instructors, teaching women not only to sew but how to profit in business.

This mode of sustainability is one we’re hoping to follow in our effort to lend a hand in Africa. 
We’re not interested in claiming we know the solutions to the problems faced in Africa and we certainly don’t want to be viewed as the answer ourselves…

A good friend of mine, a business owner, uses the word “empower” to describe what his product does for those who choose to use it.  That’s exactly what we hope to do in Africa.  Empower the people, come along side them and give them that little extra lift they need to be the solution to their own problems.  Isn’t that what it’s about, community and relationship?

Does he know the power he’s wielding??

The locals were kind enough to demonstrate the best way to “calm” the cattle…

After returning from a trip of this nature, one of the more difficult tasks is answering the question, “so, how was your trip?”  People mean well, and certainly deserve an answer.  The trouble is finding the words to describe the pain, poverty, love, and joy that you experience. 
There is no “one” word that fills the void and I often find myself replying, “good…really good.”

Our trip to Rwanda centered around a visit to Mama Naomi, mother to 3000+ children who are orphaned either by one or both parents, or those who are just desperately poor.
We were blessed to travel with Kevin Kubota and his wife Clare, three of their employees, Amber, Eryn and Lindsay, as well as Canadian rockstar photographer Tracey Harper.

In the coming weeks I hope to share more of the experiences as they flood my memory, as well as some specific ways you can get involved to help Mama.  In the meantime, let me share some images…
Imana Iguae Umigisha…

Inside the Genocide memorial.  We weren’t “really” supposed to photograph inside, but I wanted one capture.  These images and stories pay respect to children who were murdered during the 1994 plot to exterminate an entire tribe of people.

Arnold, 27, looks on as he deals with the emotions of visiting the Genocide memorial for the first time.  Arnold, our good friend and translator on the trip has been told that his Mother is buried in one of the mass graves located on site.

Rising through a dense fog on our first morning, the African sun makes its appearance.

A collection of beautiful people…

The long line for food…

A paragraph without words…

Clare’s wonderful suggestion of teaching the children some games lead to an electric round of “Zebra, Zebra, Lion.” (duck duck goose)

We visited a national park, and although it was very dry, we managed to see some locals…

More people are killed by Hippos in Africa than any other animal…  Although they don’t like to come out of the water during the day, I still felt as though I was walking a fine line…  The earth nearly shakes when they grunt…

One of the biggest hearts I know, Kevin sees something worth shooting…

The modern day Mother Teresa, Mama Naomi…

Arnold catches some air with Clare on the swings…

This African Dragonfly is going down…

Water is one of they keys…  It’s not uncommon for cattle and people to share the same drinking source…

Pieces of Rwandan time, frozen…

Standing between thirsty longhorns and a water source is not encouraged… Unless you have the opportunity to grab a shot…