A Long Overdue Update

It’s been quite a while since we started this blog, but we’ve only actually updated it twice. I suppose that is part of a budding non-profit. If only we had more hours in the day. So much has changed over the last few months. I am back in the US after spending the last year and a half in Rwanda. Suffice it to say, it’s been quite the culture shock. I’m counting down the days until I return home to Rwanda; back to the land that I love.

However, this trip to the US has been monumental, both for Sisters of Rwanda and for me personally. I have learned so much over the last three months. It’s been humbling, stressful, empowering, rejuvenating and fruitful, all together. I have been challenged in every way and I am truly grateful for it. We’ve gone through a tremendous refining period. We’ve changed our literature, our website, and just about every other way we relay our vision to the world.

For the first time, we have press kits, pledge cards, business cards, and we’ve reworked our website, our MySpace site, our Facebook site, and now the blog. Our 501c3 (non-profit) papers have been filed, we have a new bank account, a board of directors, a board of advisors, and a whole flock of new volunteers. We are finally becoming a “real” organization. We have been a legal organization in Rwanda for over a year, but it is still a big step for us to be legit in the US. We no longer have to work under an umbrella organization and we are now eligible for grants and many other opportunities.

During my time in the US I have spoken at many churches, Vanderbilt and Belmont Universities, many gatherings for SOR, and to many individuals. I spent time in Hilton Head, Ohio and New York City and will be back in NYC in mid December. I have meetings and interviews lined up for just about every minute that I’m there (thanks to our amazing NYC crew).

I am continually amazed at the favor and support we are receiving in the US and in Rwanda. So many people are coming along side of us. We are so very grateful for everyone that is giving of their time, resources, prayers and finances. We are truly blessed and our dream of freeing women from prostitution is no longer just a dream; it is happening every day. With almost no money, and in a short amount of time, we have already gotten 103 women and 243 children out of prostitution and on their way to mental, physical, spiritual, and financial health.

I hope to be updating this blog weekly from this point forward and I’ve have asked that our other staff members do the same. My hope is that we will be able to keep you informed regularly about all that is going on, both in the US and in Rwanda. Thank you to all of you giving so much and selflessly serving the Sisters. We appreciate you, and so do they.

Sincerely,
Jared