Dear Family and Friends,  

On January 17, the two of us will be heading to Rwanda to assist Pastor Francis and his church in strengthening the Abana Bumwami Foundation. For seven months we will be working with our Rwandan friends, developing the foundation into a ministry that will continue to bless the children, sponsors, and all those involved.

 This journey began in August 2005, when a team of us from Calvary Chapel La Habra (CCLH) traveled to Uganda and Rwanda in obedience to the Lord’s command to “go into all the world and preach the gospel…” The Lord led us to Christ Gospel Fellowship Church of Rwanda (CGFCR), where Pastor Francis Mutabazi was Senior Pastor. After meeting Pastor Francis, his family, friends, congregation and community, it was evident that the Lord was opening up relationships of great depths. 

The people and the children are so rich with joy and hope amongst a poverty-stricken world that is daily haunted by the recent genocide and the rampant spread of AIDS. The needs in this humble community just outside of Kigali bring an overwhelming sense of defeat to the average sympathizer. But to see a child’s somber face transform into a beautiful, joyful smile brings such hope and such longing to want to make that smile stay that we knew God had something great in mind.

As we left that small community at the end of the trip, the Lord showed us how we were to become united with the children in Rwanda. In 2003, Pastor Francis had formed the Abana Bumwami Foundation to help assist children with their school fees. After two years though, it was evident that the need was greater than what the church could provide. In His faithfulness, the Lord is always ahead of us. During this time He was already preparing hearts in La Habra to come along side Pastor Francis to assist in the continuance and expansion of the foundation.

 After much prayer, we introduced the needs of these precious children to the congregation of CCLH, and what started with 40 children has now grown to 159 children in less than one year. As the foundation has grown, so has the need for developing the program to keep up with the expansion.

 We ask for your continued prayers and support as we nurture the relationships between CCLH and CGFCR and develop the foundation into a stronger ministry. We will communicate regularly on the development of Abana Bumwami and send frequent updates of the children sponsored under the program. If you want to be on our personal email lists or would like more information on opportunities to get involved, please email us directly. We also invite you to visit the website for information about the foundation—and be sure to check back often over the next few months to catch a glimpse of all that God will be doing in the lives of these children we have come to love so deeply.

“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you

not only the Gospel of God but our lives as well,

because you had become so dear to us.”

 1 Thessalonians 2:8

In the precious name of Jesus,

Karalyn & Melissa

kmeeh@verizon.net

mminnix@dusd.net