May 2018

What a wonderful month!

May 2018 Newsletter:
Part 1 of 2
 
 

Hi Friend!
This has been such an awesome month. Thank you, Jesus, for this new season of blessing!  In order to contain it all, this month's update is going to be split up into two parts: this is Part 1 and Part 2 will be emailed out in a couple of days.

We had a unique opportunity earlier - Sr. Pastor Alfred Gatabazi, from our partner church, Bethammi Christian Fellowship Church in Rwanda, was here!! In Midland!  He had been brought in to St. Lewis for a pastor's conference and some other events and we stole him for a couple days to tour Texas and Kansas with us!  We thought it would be years before we saw him on US soil, but the opportunity came and we jumped on it.  Was a wonderful surprise!

After taking a picture with a pump jack and visiting our local HEB (a Texas-based grocery store that's amazing), we hosted an LTU  'Meet & Greet' with Sponsors, Donors, and Friends at Higher Grounds Coffee Shop in Midland, TX.  Over 40 of us shared coffee and fellowship, while spending time with Pastor Alfred and learning more about what LTU is doing in partnership with BCFC.  And to prove it's a small world, we actually met a new friend in Midland, who's FROM Rwanda- how cool is that?

If you were able to join us, thank you so much for coming out!  It was such a blessing visiting with everyone and 1 new child even got sponsored!  And if you were not there, check out these lovely pictures!  Additional photos will be posted to our Facebook page soon.
 

Bibles and Vitamins

Stonegate Fellowship Women's morning 'Hosea' and 'Armor of God' Bible Study groups have been collecting Children's Bibles and Gummy Vitamins for us to take to Rwanda this summer for our kiddos!  Together they collected:

  • 47 Bottles of Gummy Vitamins
  • 32 Brightly-Colored Bibles
 
They also blessed our Rwandan Artisan Craftswomen by purchasing beautiful jewelry from our Pop-Up Boutique and sponsored a few of our kiddos; both actions literally change lives and transform entire communities, offering hope and a future, in a country once overtaken by the darkness of genocide.

So a HUGE 'Thank You' to all of the SGW ladies!  These gifts will be such a blessing.  I can't wait to deliver them.  The vitamins will be administered at each meal served through our Nutrition Program at the BCFC in Nyaraguru, Rwanda!  In that congregation alone, there are over 600 malnourished children, many of whom are orphans.  Our nutritionist, Isaac, has said that these children need to eat for 3 months straight in order to be strong enough for school.  These vitamins are a HUGE help in getting these kids healthy.

The beautiful picture Bibles will be a wonderful compliment to the sponsored children's full Bibles in their native language of KinyaRwanda.  They are learning English in school, so these Bibles will help them with their school studies, as well.

But because so many more children got sponsored this month (hallelujah!!!), we're still in need of an additional 14 Bibles!  If you would like to purchase one on Amazon, click the link below and have them shipped to our office by June 10th.  Our address is: 
1107 Buffalo Ct., Midland, TX 79705
 
 
Pastor Alfred goes to Kansas!  Re-united with Rod Staats at Ron's Tractor and Truck Service in Cimarron, KS.  The last time these 2 saw each other, it was on Rwandan soil!
Stay tuned!  In a couple days, we'll share about our journey to Kansas and all of the awesome people that we met with there!  But in closing, I want to thank you again for all of your love and support.  This is an amazing journey that the Lord has us on and it's such a blessing to be able to share it with you!

Also, I want to wish a 'Happy 14th Wedding Anniversary' to my awesome husband, Reuben Willard!  He's on a plane to Kansas, as I write, to celebrate with me here.  This last year has been one of stretching, growing, freedom, and learning to walk in our callings- it's been an adventure, for sure!  And they'll be many more to come!
Stay in touch!  Make sure to 'like' and 'follow' us on Facebook, if you don't already.  Lots of great pictures, videos, and quick updates get posted there- a little something every week.

God bless you for your kindness!

Sincerely,

Kendra Willard
Founder/Director
Lift Them Up Int.