Rwanda? Why are you going to Rwanda?
What if you are only sixteen, with no parents, and you have siblings to take care of?
What would you do? How would you survive?
I was first introduced to the Zoe Empowers program at my hometown church, around 20 years ago. (Admitting that, sure makes me feel old) It touched my heart then, and it still touches my heart today. I have watched the videos, heard the remarkable stories, and made the donations, but now I get to go witness it all in Rwanda. Which means my heart is full thinking about all the people I can share the Zoe Empowers story with. The girl I was 20 years ago would never believe that future me gets to see it all in action.
Think about what your life looked like three years ago compared to your life today.
Did you change? Did you grow? Did you hit a rough patch and wish to change?
Now think of that twelve year old with no parents and siblings to provide for. How vulnerable are they? How do they have the necessary skills to survive? This is where Zoe Empowers steps in, but not to provide relief, but instead to offer a guiding hand to empower that twelve-year-old to become “secure, healthy, and a connected community member”. This is a three-year program that changes that individual's life in an immense way.
How is it that I am able to visit this program in just a few short weeks and see it for myself? I randomly clicked on an email from my hometown church and happened to see they are going. I don’t live in that city, I don’t attend that church, but for some reason, I felt the need to send an email to see if it was possible for me to attend. I probably second-guessed myself at least a hand-full of times before I actually sent the email. I honestly, didn't think it was really a possibility for me, so why even ask. But, for some reason (GOD) I felt the need to just send that email.
Like, what am I thinking? How can I afford this?
How can I be gone for such a long time (10 days).
God must have had his own plan for me, because he made it possible. Not only that, but when I was supposed to attend the information meeting, my neck had this terrible crick in it. So, my husband offered to drive me. The church is about 45 minutes from our house, with lots of highway driving and lane changing, so I was grateful. He attended that meeting and felt the call to attend as well.
I am immensely grateful to be able to share the experience with him, and at first, I had double the worry about us both being gone, with all the kids and all the things. He was supposed to be the one here to make sure everything ran smoothly while I was away. But, there is this thing called trust. You have to trust in God’s plan, let God handle it all. I no longer feel that worry, I do feel the pressure of making sure everyone knows what to do with all the kiddos while we are gone. But, I am not feeling worried about going, or guilty for being gone for so long. If you know me, you know that is all God.
If you would like to know more about Zoe Empowers, please reach out to me, or check out their website. I would love to share all the good they are doing and to talk to you about how an empowerment program is so good for those that need one. We want to change generations of lives by empowering them, one day at a time, to take control of their destiny instead of relying on others.
zoeempowers.org
All Images from ZoeEmpowers.org