Vision of Daycare/Preschool

Life inside a walled compound with very little playing space was very difficult for the 7 little boys and 6 of John's children God had brought to Urukundo and placed in our care. Little boys are built close to the ground and are always scraping their knees and elbows. Boys like to play football (soccer) and basketball and run and hide and play marbles. These games put them even closer to the ground. This would be doable except that inside that same compound lived 40 chickens - two big, mean roosters and 38 hens. Chickens are good for eggs and meat but not for playing on the same grounds as little boys. Playing in chicken poop is smelly and falling in it is totally disgusting.

A decision had to be made. Do we keep the chickens or the boys? Now that really was not a hard decision to make as I would rather clean up after little boys than chickens I intend to eat some day.  No contest. The boys got the vote. Thinking it over we came to the conclusion that we also needed the chickens. There was a lot of talk and a lot of prayer. What to do? We tried putting up a fence. It kept the boys away from the chicken's side but did not stop the chickens from invading the boys' side of the fence. Well, that did not work.

Now the boys added a dog to the mix. They named him Box. Strange name for a dog if you are an American but if you do not have a translation for Box it does have a nice ring. The compound became more crowded every day.

Life moves on; Urukundo starts a search to get the pesky, mean roosters and hens away from our boys.

It had to be possible to buy a piece of land big enough to move the chickens away from the boys - I was sure of that. Along with that vision came the idea we could get land enough to have a play area for the kids getting them out of the tiny compound in the town. Overcoming one obstacle presents another. Money of course was the issue. We didnʼt have any extra having just taken on the boys and John's family. We did not have sponsors helping care for our kids yet. God in charge became even more important. Stepping out in faith and ignorance we looked for land near to Gitarama town but outside the village. It was brought to our attention that the Church owned land to build a church but had since acquired other land more suitable for their building plan. This piece of land was for sale and at a price we could afford; it sat in the middle of a beautiful mountain. Negotiations started, an agreement was reached and the community leaders and owners of the surrounding land came together. On that one day we bought 5 pieces of land. Praise an awesome God.

I was later to discover that it usually takes weeks to buy land and complete the transactions in Rwanda but in that one day a miracle happened. The land was available, all signers were present, the sector was open and copies were made and delivered to each place necessary, taxes paid and the money to pay for for the land appeared.

During the signing of the papers giving us ownership of our first five pieces of land in Cyeza Sector we mentioned that we hoped one day to build a Daycare and a Preschool for the community. We wanted to be part of the community not separate from it. Those words reached the ears of an interested mother. After the papers were signed that mother who happened to be the cell leader came to me asking, ”Can I bring my little girl to your daycare?” I couldnʼt help but smile. Still just part of the vision it would be some time in the future. I was impressed in her complete faith in my word. It was gratifying but also much to soon. Daycare was an important part of the vision. I explained this to her and hoped she understood.

How quickly reality set in. Just two weeks after this conversation Urukundo was called on by this same mother to take her little girl to the hospital. She had been physically abused and raped by her care giver. The little girl was 2 years old. How could this happen to such a beautiful child? Now there is the fear of HIV - no child, boy or girl, should be so used and abused. In my heart I knew the daycare had to become a reality. Babies need a safe place while their mother or father work to get bread.

How often does this happen and no one is aware? I wonder. The hope for a safe place for babies was born in my heart in 2007 and I still struggle with this part of the vision.

Making this Hope Real is now the project I am asking help for in this year 2011. Another piece of land has been found, paid for and is waiting for work to start. The day care must become a reality. Help is needed. Prayers are necessary.