When we decided that we wanted to go on a trip this August, we tried to join our sweet friends, Wynne and Stephen, on a trip to Uganda and Ethiopia. Although we pulled every string we could, their trip was full. But, we were told that there was another trip to Rwanda and Ethiopia. At the time I wondered what it was that God had for us in Rwanda. Why did He have other plans? I know now that it was for this place, Noel, for these children. Of all the orphanages that we visited, my heart was drawn to these children the most. I wouldn’t have it any other way. That God guy, He knows what He is doing, doesn’t He?
Noel Orphanage is the oldest and largest orphanage in Rwanda. It’s home to almost 700 children and young people aged between a few days and 25 years old. It is located in the north of Rwanda, close to the city of Gisenyi. Noel is home to over 100 children under 2 years old! It is an amazing place, overwhelming and wonderful all at the same time. From the moment we stepped off our bus, each of our team members had two (or three or four) children attached to us. One of my most vivid memories from the trip was when our group was walking through Noel, each of us holding on to as many children as we possibly could. My two sweet girls, started singing, “My mother and my father and they never forget their own…” then something about “My mother has a car, a nice, nice car…” Listening to these beautiful girls sing about family broke my heart.
Say what you will about adoption, complications, red tape, set-backs, wait-times, expenses, politics, attachment disorders, whatever, you will never convince me that each of these children doesn’t deserve a family. Children need more than food and shelter. They need love. They need forever. I squeezed each child that approached me…hugged and loved them as much as possible in two days. It helps. It matters. But there is so much more to do.
Here are my images from our first day at Noel. More to come…
Don’t forget, these sweet ones need a place to rest their heads at night, to donate to our bed campaign, go to: www.sweetsleep.org/donate Enter the code VORW11 in the comments section. Thank you!!
-Jenn
Jill with some of the older boys. Many of the older children are in university.
by Jenn
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