by Jeremy Reynalds
Executive Director
Christmas will arrive early this year for 70,000 children in Rwanda, Africa.
A Christian organization is gearing up to send Christmas gifts to Rwandan youngsters in the next few months.
Led by Billy Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, Samaritan’s Purse is partnering with “Hope Rwanda: 100 Days of Hope,” to send 70,000 of its Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes to Rwandan children.
Rwanda is a landlocked country in central Africa. Its neighboring countries include: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Uganda.
According to a news release, these gifts will be early Christmas presents for the thousands of children who have been affected by the genocide that killed almost one million Rwandans in 1994 (http://rwandan-genocide.search.ipupdater.com).
Between April and July, gospel singer and songwriter Darlene Zschech and her husband Mark are coordinating “Hope Rwanda: 100 Days of Hope,” a project attempting to encourage the church worldwide to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the people of Rwanda.
Hope Rwanda is supported by some of the world’s best known Christian humanitarian organizations, bands, churches and Christian leaders.
In 1994 for 100 days the streets of Rwanda were like busy slaughterhouses, flowing with rivers of blood. More than a million innocent men, women and children were slaughtered by machetes.
“We knew about the genocide, but it wasn’t until ten years on, while we were there that we understand the depth of what took place and its ongoing impact. We were challenged to the core by the plight of the Rwandan people. Join us as we work together, to serve Rwanda and its future generations with the Hope of Christ. We serve the potential of this great nation. This is our chance to rewrite history,” said the Zschechs on the Hope Rwanda website.
A statement on the Hope Rwanda web site read, “The international community may have turned its back in the past, but now we have the opportunity to make a difference. This is an unprecedented show of global compassion, covering the same 100 days as the actual genocide. One country – one mission – one time – should to shoulder – Hope Rwanda… 100 days of Hope.”
Last year more than seven million children in just over 100 countries received Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. According to a news release, for many of these children, the presents were the only Christmas gifts they have ever received.
The thousands of people who pack the boxes each year include gifts to ensure each child receives items to love and play with, something to write on and draw with, a personal hygiene item, something to eat, and some clothing.
For additional information on Hope Rwanda, visit www.hoperwanda.org. To learn more about Operation Christmas Child and Samaritans Purse go to www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC.asp?MPGID=1
Jeremy Reynalds
P O Box 27693
Alb., NM 87125-7693
www.joyjunction.org
Tel: (505) 400-7145
