This holiday school break has been a very special time for the boys at HFLM. After being apart for three-and-a-half years, the children were reunited with co-founder Megan Chao and her husband, Yao! It was a very joyous reunion full of basketball, games, and making new memories together.

The highlight for most children, however, was traveling to Rwanda’s national safari park to view wildlife for the first time. Squeals of delight and surprise filled the bus as zebras, giraffes, monkeys, and warthogs sprinted around us. With an enormous grin shining from his face, 16-year-old Olivier exclaimed, “This is my favorite trip of my whole life!” It was truly a special day that will always be remembered. Click here to view a glimpse of the safari.

Megan and Yao visiting HFLM and taking the boys on their first Safari!

Yao playing with Benjamin and Claude.

The boys’ vacations have also been enriched by a remarkable young woman, Amanda Good. Amanda is a volunteer from Colorado who has committed to living and serving in Rwanda for the next two years. She brings deep passion and talent to our team and has been busy assisting our Directors, developing sustainability projects, and leading weekly Bible studies for our children and staff, among many other responsibilities. She recently made prayer journals for each of the boys that have been an immensely powerful resource for them to record their prayers, thoughts, and emotions, while also developing their personal relationships with Jesus. One boy wrote, “I remember when You picked me from the street. I didn’t realize that I could stop that life but You showed me that You are able as God. You didn’t stop there. You helped my family. It is not easy for us as humans, but for You, it is simple. Thank You so much for that. I need You to put me among your servants forever and ever.”

Amanda spending time with Claude, who goes by his nickname “Littleman.”

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We are delighted to announce that Hope For Life Ministry accepted two new boys into our program last month. We are honored to introduce our new friends to you!

Irakiza outside his new home at HFLM

Five-year-old Irakizi is the youngest member of our HFLM family. He has a huge personality and brings great creativity and energy to the home. He can often be found exploring our property, creating games, and making others smile with his contagious laughter. When asked why he likes HFLM, Irakiza responded, “I like Hope For Life because they give me food and meat and French fries and potatoes and bread!” Irakiza, however, hasn’t always been so happy. He spent his young life on Rwanda’s streets, finding meals in the garbage dump and was the victim of regular physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. When another children’s center called us saying they found a boy too young for their program, we excitedly welcomed Irakiza into our family.

Valence after being accepted into HFLM’s home

17-year old Valence is a quiet and humble young man who had been living on the streets in HFLM’s neighborhood for the past four years. Valence grew up living with his grandmother. When she passed away, the sons of his grandmother told him to go to his father’s family, because they were worried he might inherit their land. Valence sought out his father and found him living in such severe poverty that he couldn’t even afford to buy food, let alone pay for school fees. Valence decided that life on the streets would be better than starving at home. Two years ago, we met Valence when he began coming to HFLM’s outreach program, where he would wash his clothes, eat a nutritious meal, receive counseling, and pray with our staff. After showing significant growth and a motivation to live a changed life, we brought him to live at our HFLM home. He is enjoying his new family, and we are all thrilled to have him with us!

Visit www.hopeforlifeministry.org/gifts

“I’m deeply moved by the healing and hope that HFLM brings to children and I feel honored to have been a part of it. God is so present here. The word transformative gets thrown around often but this work truly IS transformative.” –Torey de Rozario

This month, the boys and staff of HFLM said goodbye to Torey de Rozario after over two years of service. Torey’s hard work has powerfully shaped HFLM and her impact will continue as she continues to serve the ministry stateside. Under Torey’s leadership, HFLM has transitioned all of our children over to private English school, developed a robust family empowerment program, trained and transitioned leadership over to Chantal and Marie Clarice, and raised over $65,000! Torey brought unity and life to our children and staff as she so naturally emits love to those around her. We have become our best with Torey around us and we could not be more grateful for her outpouring of skills, time, and heart into HFLM. 

Torey and Benjamin, before she headed back to the USA on November 4th.

One of Torey’s most life changing experiences was rescuing and naming two five-year old twins. These twins had only been called “boy” and “girl” and endured heart-breaking abuse while fending for themselves on the streets. Through HFLM, Benjamin and Grace are now learning their identity through their heavenly father and know they are deeply loved.

One year later, Benjamin and Grace have just completed their first year of school! They have been given a whole new world of opportunities through education, counseling, and the love of their new families. After only one year in school, Benjamin is already one of HFLM’s strongest English speakers and often translates for the other boys. Benjamin’s confidence, discipline and deep joy are touching to witness. He frequently goes out of his way to help others, and the biggest smile appears on his face every time he is told what a good boy he is. HFLM remains closely connected with Grace as well, who lives in a nearby home for girls and regularly visits to receive counseling and play with her brother. To watch Benjamin and Grace’s full story on youtube, click here.

Benjamin and Grace’s radical transformation from an identity and life on the streets gives us a glimpse into God’s deep love and justice for his children. They are such a strong testament to the freedom and healing He is bringing and we are so honored to be doing this work with you!

Thank you to each of you who participated in our recent fundraisers in Edmonds, Washington and Vail, Colorado! Together, we raised nearly $24,000 to continue our transformative work with vulnerable children. We are so grateful!

Edmonds, WA Benefit Dinner from left to right: Co-Founders Chantal, Hilliary, Megan, pianist Jason Coult, HFLM Board President Christophe.

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Our strategic vision has always been to equip indigenous Rwandan leaders to care for their own community themselves. Over the last year, we have been training and preparing Co-Founder and Program Director Chantal Umutesi, and Administrative Director Marie Clarice Nyachio, to run the operations of HFLM in Rwanda. We are excited to announce that at the beginning of this month, these ladies will begin co-directing HFLM. Over the past five years, God has used each of our American Directors’ unique talents to build a strong foundation for HFLM, to develop our programs, and to progress HFLM’s sustainability through developing Rwandan leadership. We are incredibly grateful for Torey de Rozario, who served as Executive Director for the past year and headed up the leadership transition. Torey will be completing her last month serving in Rwanda, and we would like to congratulate her on her hard work and for accomplishing our long standing goal!

Marie Clarice and Benjamin

Torey and Chantal

Chantal reeceiving kisses from Benjamin and Claude

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• A water catchment system was designed and built, which provides clean water and reduces water costs
• New farming techniques were developed that improve our ability to grow food and reduce our food costs
• Construction of a chicken coup and development of a plan to allow the boys to eat one of our goats each month which increases the boys’ protein intake
• A new sponsorship program was created
• An innovative and interactive communication workshop was held for our staff
• A new basketball court was funded and built

Charlie visits Baby and Pacifique at boarding school

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Over the past three years, we have been able to transition 11 boys from our center into their families’ homes. Although the work of reconciliation is difficult and requires extensive time and energy from all parties involved, seeing a child who was once living alone on the streets now smiling with his family, makes it all worth it. It has been amazing seeing God work in the families of our boys, and we want share Eric’s and Simeon’s stories with you.

Eric’s Story

Watch Eric’s testimony here!

8-year-old Eric came to HFLM covered with scabies with his life in danger. HFLM’s Children’s Director, Chantal, says, “The boys who lived with Eric on the streets were so violent. They used to beat him and give him drugs… it took him 3 weeks to recover upon coming to HFLM.” Over the past two years, HFLM has helped Eric’s mom, Yvette, leave an abusive relationship and relocate to a neighborhood near HFLM. She now sees Eric almost every day and is even employed tending our small vegetable farm. We are hopeful that as Yvette grows in stability, Eric will soon be able to return home. To “meet” Eric and his mom, watch his testimony on youtube by clicking here.

Simeon’s Story6-year-old Simeon arrived at HFLM in 2009 as an extremely malnourished, shy, and sick child. His parents love him deeply but were unable to provide for his physical needs with their extremely small income of $18 per month.

Left: Simeon when we took him into HFLM; Right: Simeon now

Over the next three and a half years, HFLM staff worked extensively with his parents to develop their ability to generate enough income to meet their family’s needs. This journey began by connecting them with a local savings group where they participated in devotionals and learned basic business skills. Shortly after, HFLM helped them develop a business plan and granted them a loan to start a small shop. Each quarter, Simeon’s father would walk three hours to make his loan payment and never missed a single one. Through his new business, he has doubled his monthly income and Simeon was able to return to live with his parents and nine siblings in 2012.

HFLM staff visits Simeon (center in) and his family at their home.

Due to their demonstrated character, the success of their business and their commitment to honesty, we have recently granted their family a second loan of $240. By next year, Simeon’s family will have raised their monthly income to $50, enabling them to increase their provisions to their children.

To read more highlights of our work, view our 2013 annual report. Thank you for your participation in building God’s kingdom in Rwanda. We are deeply grateful for each one of you!

For the past several years, HFLM has been pursuing ideas related to our self-sufficiency as an organization. One such idea has been a water distribution project to supply water for our home and farming operations. Last fall, HFLM was connected with Santa Clara University and two seniors, Colin and Scott, chose HFLM as their project for their Senior Engineering Design Course. During this course, they designed a rain catcher water system for HFLM that would meet 100% of our water demand during the rainy season and up to 50% of our needs during the dry season. Over the course of the school year, they spent hours studying Rwanda’s rainfall, HFLM’s water usage and our housing architecture.

Colin and Scott with the boys and staff at HFLM

Ja’ Rule and Baby using the power drill to install the rain catcher pipes.

Left: The boys rolling the new water tank to the top of the hill. Right: The low maintenance sand filter that purifies the rain water.

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From left to right: Jon Porter of Karisimbi Business Partners, David, D’Amour, Paul, Baby, Jack & Pacifique

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