It is hard to believe that our boys have completed another academic quarter. Once again, two of our children received the highest test scores in their class. Congratulations to Paul and Berco! Some of the boys were discouraged with their test scores, but we continue to encourage them in their progress. They now have two weeks of vacation before their next quarter begins and HFLM will happily welcome home David, Claude, and Bosco from boarding school. During this time, the boys will participate in a nationwide memorial of the 1994 genocide, which claimed an estimated 800,000 lives.

We want to thank all of you who have been praying for Veterne. His leg surgery was successful, and we praise the Lord that there were no major complications. Please keep him in your prayers as he is still in a lot of pain and we expect that his recovery will take several months. Veterne is eagerly looking forward to his initial recovery and beginning rehabilitation to learn how to walk! He has also been encouraged by the support offered by his family through this process.

Due to unfortunate delays, the new house is still undergoing modifications. We are now scheduled to move in at the end of this month. The boys have been patient in waiting for their home to be finished but are very anxious to move – especially when they thought the empty sewer tank was a swimming pool! Join us in prayer that the construction will be completed soon.

(The new HFLM home)

The new house is a 45 minute walk from the boys’ current school. This was a great disappointment because they have grown to love their teachers. Since learning of this obstacle, they have fervently been praying for bikes which would enable them to attend their current school. This last month members from Northlake Christian Church donated enough money to buy all of the bikes needed to travel to school! But shhhh, it’s a surprise! We are waiting until the boys move into the new house to share with them their answered prayer. HFLM staff cannot wait to see them screaming and dancing for joy when they hear the good news. Thanks again for making this possible and continually supporting HFLM.

The boys were privileged to welcome Amy Carnell from the Seattle Sounders who put on a soccer camp last month. The boys were delighted to practice their skills and receive jerseys and balls from the Sounders. To see an entertaining video of the boys trying to learn the Seattle Sounders cheer, visit http://sharing.theflip.com/session/443e4da60faf45a202e70e3494b05a46/video/60835391

We were thrilled to receive the boys’ test scores from their school. Our oldest boy, David, earned the highest test scores in his school and has the opportunity to attend an esteemed boarding school for his secondary studies. David is very excited, and although we will miss him, we are immensely proud of him and eager to visit him at his new school.

Veterne, who has been crippled since birth, has the tremendous opportunity to walk! He has been accepted into a pediatric orthopedic center for children with physical handicaps. He will remain there for one year, undergoing surgery on his legs, receiving physical therapy, continuing his studies, and learning how to walk. We already miss him, but his new house mom tells us that he is doing well in school and making new friends.

The boys have discovered a new favorite activity of dressing up and modeling. After their afternoon nap, they can be seen putting silly clothes on and creating a make-shift “runway” to show off their outfits and “model walks.” It is absolutely hilarious and never fails to become an afternoon of laughs.

Please join us in prayer for the safety of our staff as there was another grenade attack in Kigali. We greatly appreciate all of your prayers and support.

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/443e4da60faf45a202e70e3494b05a46/video/60835391

Hope For Life Update January 2010

www.HopeForLifeMinistry.org

Singing filled the Hope For Life home on Christmas day as the children’s choir joined our Christmas celebration. Everyone eagerly took part in eating a large roast and drinking soda pop, which was a special treat for everyone. The night was topped off by the announcement of the Christmas presents: a ping pong table, soccer goals, and cleats. The boys were thrilled to receive these gifts and were grateful to the individuals and groups whose extra donations made this possible.

Hope For Life welcomed a surprised visitor this past month, DJ Walkers, who is a filmmaker from Washington DC. He is composing a short film about HFLM, which will shortly be viewable on Facebook. The film is sure to be full of creative dance moves from our goofy boys who couldn’t stop dancing and singing in front of the camera! Most children in Rwanda are very shy about their photo being taken, but not our boys.

Additionally, a Rwandan sports ministry called Play For Hope (www.playforhope.org) put on a soccer camp for youth in Rwanda, which integrated Christian values as they taught soccer skills. Our boys were privileged to attend and they enthusiastically learned how to set goals, be self controlled, and of course, snazzy soccer moves.

After a great vacation from school, and a happily celebrated Christmas, the children are eager to start another year of school in a few weeks and are patiently waiting ill March when we will move into our new house being constructed by the Hovde Foundation. Looking back on how God has provided for and blessed this ministry, we remain keenly aware that none of the work amongst the children of Rwanda would be possible without each of your support. As our newest member, 13 year old Djuhudi stated, “When I came to HFLM I thought I was going to die. But this is a place of hope. I have it now.” Thank you for helping to bring hope into the lives of Rwandan children. We look forward to another year of partnering with you.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” – Ephesians 3:20

In the last month we have seen God powerfully provide for and act on behalf of HFLM. As many of you know, the boys were taken out of our custody for two months and were dealt a hand of trials. The severity of their circumstanced reached the point that they decided living on the streets was more bearable. Thankfully the boys were returned to us last month, before they executed their plans of returning to the streets. When the children were allowed back into our program, we saw that many of their hopes of future prospects had diminished. HFLM’s Children Director, Chantal, explained the truth about what had happened and was able to clear up many of the boy’s misconceptions. Their hope for their futures quickly returned, and we have continued to try our best to ease their confusion.

We have since seen improvements in the daily operations of the home, along with growth in the boys. This progress can largely be credited to our two new staff members, Faustin and Jacky, who have demonstrated a diligent work ethic that has overflowing positive effects on the home. Even the boys have noted that they see a difference in HFLM since Faustin and Jacky joined the team. They have been an encouragement to the boys, and the children in response have greatly taken to them.

Not only has God safely returned the boys to HFLM, He has exponentially blessed us this last month through fundraisers. Both of the art exhibitions in Seattle and D.C. were more successful than we could have ever expected. We are so grateful to everyone that participated and supported the events.

Thank you again for all of your support and for standing by us as we underwent trials. May God get all the glory!

Hilliary Anderson & Megan Swanson

We write to you today with much joy and thanksgiving! Last week we received encouraging and amazing news that Josiane decided to return all of our old boys, our previous possessions, and our former house to HFLM’s care! A contract between she and HFLM has been signed, and as of August 30th, the boys are once again in our protection and care! We will promptly be moving back into our formerly rented house with the addition of two new boys who eagerly joined HFLM last month. Please continue to join us in prayer for the boys’ healing and restoration. We were distraught to discover their physical, emotional, and spiritual condition due to the trials they have undergone. However, we hold onto the scriptures which tell us that suffering is not without reason or purpose, but that our loving God uses it to refine and mature His people. Thank you for standing by us in prayer and support through these trials. We praise God for opening doors for the boys to be returned to our care and are grateful to have such wonderful, loyal, and encouraging people like yourself around us!

In other news, we have begun construction on our new land and hope to have the house finished by January 2011. Upon its completion, HFLM will be accepting a few more boys into the program and will be adding another staff member to our team. Due to our upcoming expansion, we will have increased financial needs. To help compensate for these anticipated needs we are holding an art exhibition, Creative Change: A Benefit Art Exhibition for Rwandan Street Children. The event will occur on September 18, 2010 at Hallway Gallery in Bellevue, WA. The exhibition will feature pieces from Rwandan artists who grew up in orphanages themselves. Fifty percent of the proceeds will directly benefit HFLM while the remaining fifty percent will support the artists themselves. We look forward to joining you for a meaningful evening filled with beautiful art and wine for the betterment and care of Rwandan children!

Creative Change: A Benefit Art Exhibition for Rwandan Street Children
September 18, 2010
Five to Eight O’clock PM
Bellevue Hallway Gallery
800 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WA 98004

Thank you again for your steadfast partnership during the trials of the last few months. We hope
your faith is encouraged by seeing the Lord’s hand move in HFLM.