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