#GodMove

     This baby is called Moses.  He has been at Kimisagara since late July.  Look at the gaze that the adults that live in the orphanage are giving him.  Attentive and loving.  This baby makes eye contact, is on track developmentally, and clearly attached to Papa Antoine.  When asked where the baby slept, Antoine, gently rubbing Moses' back, replied "With me."  Just what this orphan baby needs.  Touch and nurture and love.
     Although Moses' his happy, he isn't healthy.  His belly is round and big, distended from malnutrition.  He waddles along near the derailed hallway, a 20 foot drop just a stumble away.  There are bug bites on his face and yeast in his mouth.  A good bath, some regular meals and diapers would make his life a little healthier.
     He is one of five new kids that have moved into Kimisagara since July.  The other four are preschool aged.  A set of twins and another set of siblings.  There are at least 98 children and young adults that need a sponsor now.  God is moving; a lot has been done to make a path.  Yet the needs are so great.
     Ryan and Kara Higgins spent the last week in Rwanda, touring schools, meeting with other advocates for vulnerable children and hiring a staff person.  The trip was a whirlwind of blessings.  Stones laid.
     Meet James Odongo.  He is officially our in country staffer.  We are beyond excited to have him advocating for all the widows and orphans of Kimisagara.  His story is one of pain, loss, redemption and hope.  "My purpose in life is to make disciples.  My second love is to serve widows and orphans," was his response to our proposal.  And it was obvious everywhere we went that this is indeed how he lives his life.  Touring schools, someone was always calling his name, embracing him and telling us what a difference James had made in their life.  As we introduced him to the children, some even had tears.  One boy said "James is the reason I accepted God as my Father."

     During the trip, 8 schools were visited.  Three were colleges/universities and the remaining were boarding schools for primary and/or secondary.  The boarding schools all provide a clean, safe living space, three meals a day, excellent academics and clubs/sports.  Some were private while others were associated with another ministry and were Christian.  The Imana Kids board will work this weekend to decide on which of these schools is the best "fit" for the children of Kimisagara.  We hope to have the prices and profiles within the next 10 days.
     Additionally, the de-bedbugging of the orphanage was a success.  The older boys received a lesson on bedbugs; then excitedly went to work on applying the mattress covers and the diatomaceous earth.  Each of them grinned ear to ear, chatted nonstop and even applied a little of the earth on their faces.  One of the young women said "We may sleep too late if the bugs don't bite us."  We all decided that we could get an alarm clock if needed!

     The other development that took place in country is that we met 4 women from James' church who were former prostitutes.  All of them are joyful and loving, working hard to leave behind their old lives.  We believe that they may be the perfect women to fill the role of nanny, "Auntie" for the younger children at Kimisagara.  This would employ them and provide loving care to the little ones.
     Please take some time to consider sponsorship.  We need commitments from our sponsors because we know it would be devastating for a child to be sent to school only to be sent back to the orphanage again because of finances.  Not only are you investing financially but also emotionally.  These kids are just as excited to have someone to write to and pray for, someone to call their own.
   

     Imana Kids gave their first school presentation today and it was a joy to be welcomed by hundreds of sweet children that were eager and excited to help their "new friends" in Rwanda.
     Sunrise Point Elementary in Overland Park, Kansas, invited Imana Kids to present at their pep rally and launch of a school wide reading campaign.  All the staff, students and family will  be reading Giant Steps to Change the World by actor Spike Lee and his wife, Tonya.  The story talks about a variety of leaders, from Mother Theresa to President Obama, that started little and made a big impact.

    The school is also committed to doing a fundraiser along side the reading.  They will be raising funds for our nutrition program, with the hopes of providing regular fruits and veggies to the kids of Kimisagara.  How cool is that?  Each class will be filling "shoes" with money through the month of September.  We are honored and humbled that they asked to partner with us.
     In addition to the fundraising, it is a thrill to know that hundreds of children are telling the story of the street kids of Rwanda to their parents tonight.
   

THANK YOU, THANK YOU  to our friends at Sunrise Point!