JC Nshimiyimana

Okay, sorry, one more post....

If you want to know more about my friend JC and how to get money to him, i have more information!

The check you write will be going to my friend Marie Denton's family (I worked with her in Rwanda) in Portland to hold for him until he can get there. You can write the check out to Nshimiyimana Jean Claude, and in the memo, you can write 'for PCC' or 'college'.

This is JC's story he wrote to his supporters,

My name is Nshimiyimana Jean Clauden (JC). I was born and raised in Rwanda. I was born at the Gahini hospital, in the Eastern province of Rwanda. It was in 1991 when I was born, and I looked to be the last born in my family. I am from a family of nine children: six girls and three boys. Of those ones who are still alive, there are two boys and two girls plus our mom. There are also five grand children; both girls are married. 


In 1959, war happened in Rwanda due to discrimination and tribalism and that was when my grandparents ran away to look for refuge. They found themselves in our neigbouring country, Uganda, and they lived there a long time in the refugee camps. I was told life was very hard there. Both my parents were born in the refugee camps and raised there, and that’s why just two of us -- me and my sister -- we were the ones who were born in Rwanda and the rest were born in Uganda in the refugee camps.

Then later on, my father joined the FPR (Rwandan Patriotic Front), the army that fought for liberation in Rwanda, then led by our current president, Paul Kagame. It was then that he came up with the idea of taking his family back to their home land and their property. But it wasn’t very easy. It was in 1989 when my family crossed the border and they landed safely. As they were starting to restore and put together everything which was been destroyed, just three years after my birth, that’s when a devil spoiled the whole country with tragic moments of killing people (the genocide of 1994). 


My family was among the people who were supposed to be killed and my father tried all the ways he could to hide us and to protect us, but sadly while we were running, we got separated. My father went with my older bother, and the rest went with my mother and continued the journey of surviving. It was not easy to get something to eat and by then it was the rainy season. Even those who would escape from the enemy would be killed by the life in the bush and forests and mountains, or tropical disease like malaria, or die of hunger. 
By the grace of God, my mother continued to take care of those of us who went with her and we spent almost a month running in the bush. Later on, the FPR found us and they took us to a safe place to meet others in the refugee camps. When we got there, we came to know that my father was killed, along with my brother and other relatives. After the war had ended, about three months, no one could believe that the killing was over. Most of the people were traumatized. Many children were orphans and many women's husbands were killed during the genocide. Most of the properties were destroyed. In other words, the hope for life was dead and it was very hard to start a fresh life. But my mother, she survived, and she took us to our land and we started to build up our home again and putting everything together.

Three years after the genocide was over, that’s when my mom wanted me and my sister to go back to school. This wasn’t easy because money was required for school and we did not have any. My mother had no job that could provide some money, so some of us had drop out from school and wait until God opens for them. After some time -- we had almost forgotten about school -- my sister had a small job in the town and she heard about the organization that was Africa New Life Ministries. They were helping orphans and those who couldn’t afford to go back to school. My sister took me there and asked for help. They accepted me and they took my picture and information then later on, in a year's time, they called my sister telling her that now I have got a sponsor, that I can go back to school. Then I started my education.

I finished my primary level at New Life Junior Academy and I got the first grade in the nation exams. I was then admitted to a good school in the capital city, Kigali, called Kigali International Academy. In my second year of high school, God continued to help me and I was selected to join Hindurwa band. I was so excited; it was like a dream to me to go to U.S.A. and in 2008, my dream came true. I spent six months there doing helping Africa New Life Ministries raise sponsors through our music and testimonies. Many lives of Rwandan kids were transformed.

And I would finish by saying that my life will never be the same because God has showed Himself to me. I am now a blessed young man and I am very different from whom I was before. Through God I am who I am, now and forever.

And I want give thanks to my wonderful family in America, Matt and Kristen Schlottmann for everything, for being there for me. I love you all so much and I always will.
And special thanks to Pastor Charles Mugisha, the director of ANLM and the enrire ANLM staff.

With God everything is possible! 

God bless.  Amen...



This is the letter JC is writing to his supporters:

Dear Friends,

I am so honored to have this opportunity to write you this letter asking for your support in pursuing in my dreams as I work towards my goals of attending university in the US for 2012.

I would like you to stand with me to change my world so that I can also help others to change their world too. My life has been a series of significant events as God has brought me this far.

I graduated high school last year 2011; I want to major in Economics and finance at PCC.

Out of class, in my life I do play piano and sing at the church that is my main field. I have been playing piano since my primary six up to this date. It has been almost seven years. My church is New Life Bible Church.

I have heard of this dream it has been nearly four years. This come into my heart on my first trip I had which I traveled in the US in different states raising funds and looking for sponsorship for Africa New Life Ministries, I was with a singing group of young men called HINDURWA we spent almost six months on this trip in brief we had a successful trip this was in 2008.

Since then I started praying for my dream to come true, in the process of researching all the information regarding scholarships for international students, I have done two standardized tests that is TOELF and SAT and the scores have been sent to me.

More so, I have had a chance to apply at Portland Community College (PCC). I have a good contact with the school admission officers. I have been helped to defray my application fees; I have sent my application with transcripts and all the necessary documents. Thereafter I received a message from the admission office saying that my applications has been approved and accepted that I have to send the final document which is a financial document (Bank statement) with a support letter from a parent or sponsor if I have one.

Meanwhile, I did this project as an act of faith which I had up on my future. In this journey I have got a family in Portland which offered me a place to live in, food and transport if I make it to PCC. This family is called DENTON’S FAMILY, they stay in Portland.

I was supposed to give out the financial documents in April 15. But unfortunately at that time I didn’t have them yet. Though I formed the school before the dates, and I also asked someone to call the school on my behalf to let them know the cause of my delaying. The school said that it’s fine that my application will go on file and pending and be valid for 3 years and when I have secured a sponsor I will instantly contact them.

I am kindly requesting of your support to further my education in one of American colleges. My life is at crossroad now; Africa New life Ministries cannot pay for me to come to the US to attend the school. They don’t have this program. It is my heart’s desire to receive a college degree in the US. And after my studies are done I will return to Rwanda and help people in different phase of life.

I can only achieve this goal through your financial support. I have to raise $6000 for two terms; each term will cost me $3000. After two terms are done I will be working and be able to cover my expenses for the rest of the years of my studies.

If 20 of my friends, if each one of them donates $300 or $25 monthly my dreams would come true. I have been delighted to have your name marked among the 20 people. I have been praying up on this and I was convinced in my heart for this 20 people. And I have kept praying for each one of them that God may work through their lives in a special way. 

I would like to start in the fall of this year 2012 my first year.

I look forward to your awesome generosity and love that you have for me.

May God bless you so richly!

Sincerely,

Jean Claude NSHIMIYIMANA

Thanks Rwanda, For The Adventure

Well, my semester abroad in Rwanda has come to an end. One of my friends recently told me that i should write one last blog to have some sense of closure, so here it is. 

 

Rwanda is one amazing country; with a special story of conflict, hatred, reconciliation, healing, peace.. the list could go on about the things i have learned. My brother in law, Brian, asked me in a note to explain to him the personality of Rwanda as a country "places have such strange personalities" he wrote. 

So, for Brian, this is my interpretation of the 'personality' of Rwanda that i have experienced over the last four months:

The character of Rwanda is a beautiful and quiet old woman with an overly hospitable spirit and kind eyes. She is shy, yet colored brightly with rich tradition and literally with vivid fabric clothes. As you peel back the layers, you find a history full of deep suffering and pain; however, paired with a beautiful heart and a bright future. 

I could talk forever about the things i have learned, experienced, loved, and even hated about Rwanda. But for now, i will just share with you some of my favorite memories:

• Sitting on top of land cruisers, overlooking Lake Kivu, driving through mountains and savannas, watching graceful, amazing animals in their natural habitat and the vastness of God's beautiful creation on the continent of Africa
• Azizi Life adventures, sitting packed on the ground of a one-room, mud and thatched roofed house weaving, singing, snuggling, and loving with Rwandan women and their families
• The long rides over and around mountains, 'the land of a thousand hills' - discovering Rwanda's unique beauty - who really lives in those completely secluded, one-room houses on the side of the cliff anyway? 
• Sitting and laughing in the back with our house staff eating popcorn and speaking kinyarwanda (or trying)
• Everything about my street boys; sitting in the bed of the trucks with them on house visits and hearing them scream my name when they saw me after my internship ended; chasing, tickling, and cheering with them at the VT boys soccer game; and hugging them at church
• "Big Man Aerobics" and the aftermath: Our found kittens Tybo, and Matoke Rolls in honor of getting fat and working out
• Easter at the GoED House 
• Dish Duty with Ali and the house staff, dancing and singing 
• Watching Lost marathons, playing Fish Bowl, laughing, eating, loving, and just hanging out with the family 

Thanks Rwanda, for the adventures; the love i've experienced, the family i have acquired, the reassurance of my passions, the things i have learned, the people i have met, the heros i now have, and the things i won't forget. 

PS! 

If anyone is interested or has a kind heart, one of my good Rwandan friends, JC, was accepted at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon. However, he does not have the funds to attend, so he is raising support! JC volunteered with me at Africa New Life Ministries. He is one of the kindest, hardworking people i know. He asked me if i know anyone who would be willing to send the least bit of money to support him. This is what he said:

"Kimmie guess what? I'm raising up $6000 for two terms at PCC. I have written a letter and my story I am about to send it to my friend wherever they are. Please I need you to talk to your friends and find out if they can afford to support. And if there is any support you can send me a message I can give you the address in the US where you can send your funds. Thank you so much! 

For now to $6000 which I have to raise, I have got $1200 so far. I beleive I will reach my goal with your prayer and support financially! "

If you are able, you can send a check to the address below; this is the family who is collecting funds for JC until he can get to Portland. If you want to receive a letter from JC or want to know more, just contact me at my email, km1454@messiah.edu. 

2140 Nolan Lane, West Linn, OR 97068

Thanks for keeping up with my blog if you have! Some of you may know, i am planning on studying abroad again (!) next spring with GoED Mekong, in Thailand. This next program is similar to Rwanda's, yet in a very different context. I am anticipating what i will learn and what God has in store for me again. If you want to follow my Thailand blog, you can follow this blog by email, and i will post the link next winter before i leave. 

Amahoro! Ndagukunda, Rwanda. 

A Poem

Yesterday my friend Mikaela went to teach English at a street boys program called Rwandan Orphans Project - very similar to the program i taught at over practicum. While reading their blog and website, she came across this poem written by one of their graduated boys, rescued from the streets and given an education. It was originally written in Kinyarwanda and translated into English by the boy. This poem authors the experience of a street child - the children i taught and came to love so deeply through my internship. Each one of my boys can identify with the words expressed here, just to give you a taste of the sufferings each one goes through.  

I am a child, same as the others
By: Lucky Faustin

I am a child, same as the others

I am a child like other children
I was born as they were born
I was never protected as they were
I suffered from difficulty and stress
I never wanted this, the love that was lacking

I am a child, same as the others
Your love is needed

Poverty is not a sickness
No one is born rich with wealth
You have to work hard
Fight against ignorance
Help those who are alone to be adopted
Pay their school fees for them
Help them when they are sick
Try to treat them well

The solution of poverty is to work hard
To work together willingly with others
Unify together
What you don’t know, you should ask

You cannot be sorry for your life
It may cause you to wander alone
You may spend nights in the bar, smelling like beer
When you return home you hit and torture your wife
That is not a family

When you see children in the road
Take one in and find someone to take another one in
The solution to their life comes from you
Uproot the wonderful completely

Education is greater than birth
If a child can learn he can become a leader
He may have a future without problems
He can be a soldier or he can be a policeman, protecting the country
He can build houses
He can help others in the streets

ROP is an exemplary place
We have the best behavior, culture and education
We have the teachers of our future
We will never criticize our leaders
Our guardians
Our parents
They always have us first
They are committed to us

Our parents live in America
They have always given much help in our lives
They really love us very much
We appreciate Sean and Jenny so much
We always live together with them
We joke and spend time together with them
They always give us what we need all the time
May God bless them

The children suffer from hunger
They take a decision to go to the streets
Where they become street children
This is caused by a lack of peace and harmony in their home
Each day, every day

They may spend nights under a bridge
They greet others on the streets
“How is it, man?” They say
“Be strong!” They say
Wearing rags for clothing

A girl sleeps wherever she can find
Sometimes where man take advantage
She can become pregnant
By luck she may live through it
She lives together with her baby on streets

A boy on the streets consumes drugs, alcohol and poison
They beg
Their voices change
The child becomes mature
He becomes a dangerous man
Because he lacks an education
And culture from his parents

When you pass by him, having a bag
He tears it from your shoulder
If you say something
He beats you
You may ask what happened to him
He tells you to go away
Saying the only one who cares about him is himself
He is not well
He suffers
Because nobody came to help him
Maybe someday he is in danger
Or he has nothing to eat
And he dies
Because nobody came to help him

You listen to me.
That is the street child’s life.