NEWSLETTERABAJABAKRISTO

The orphanage INEZA was closed in November 18th, 2016, with an official ceremony. In addition to invited guests, many children and their relatives participated in the celebration. It was for the children a good opportunity to meet again. Each child received a souvenir of the day: a backpack, a pen with the inscription “Abaja ba Kristo-Village Ineza 1995-2016, and a picture with a quote from Psalm 62:1: “My soul, put all your faith in God; for from him comes my salvation”.

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A special moment was when Esperance, the representative of the children, handed a certificate to Sister Dorien and to the adoptive parents in thanks for all that has been happened. Everyone, including the children, sang the song “Read the Bible. Pray every day.” was sung in French.

Further care for the childrenThe closing down of the Institution does not mean the end of care for the children. Contact is important and will continue through home visits. Sr. Dorien and Sr. Janny visited several children in their new places of residence.

For example, Alice, who now lives close to Kigali, stays with her four brothers and sisters in their own house, a gift from a donor in the Netherlands to the Sisters. After the death of Alice’s parents, the children had been separated and lived in different institutions. What a blessing for the children to be united and able to stay together in their own house.

Vocational training

A further aid for young people is the opportunity to undergo a training as a seamstress or hairdresser. The end of the training is not the end of the support. We are involved in finding a work place and provide support in getting initial equipment such as a sewing machine or hairdressing equipment. Sometimes the young people get jobs in a cooperative. These permanent contacts are most important for the young people.

Situation Sister Evodie

Sister Dorien and Sr Janny were happy to visit Sr. Evodie regularly. The condition of her health was adequate. In fact, she was able to take part in the closing celebration of “INEZA”. In addition, she was able to attend the year-end closing in 2016. Her condition is still of concern so these moments are very precious, and we thank God for them.

New project – Kindergarten „Indatwa School“

In cooperation with the Presbyterian Church in Rubengera a kindergarten was started on January 23, 2017. The school is for 60 students: 40 students from the middleclass families and 20 students from poor families. The middleclass parents pay school fees, but the children from poor families get school supplies and are exempted from school fees as long as they have no income.

Besides providing a good education for the children, the Sisters are eager to teach the parents to improve the environment. In self-help groups, parents meet to learn how to overcome poverty. Ten families who live closed to each other are involved in the project. The group members come together regularly and pay a cash sum into a community bank account. If anyone from the group applies for a credit, the members decide whether the loan will be given or refused. The model is attractive as the interest rate for a loan is cheaper than a loan from a bank. The loan plus interest has to be paid back in a certain time. Members of the groups meet to talk about business, exchange their concerns and needs, read the Bible, and pray for each other. At first the groups are coached, but the goal is independence and a way out of poverty. This project includes the whole family. Sister Emerthe, manager of the School, was trained in Tanzania as nursery school teacher.

Donations for our new project are most welcome. The donations will provide the very poorest children with school supplies, uniforms, and meals. Bankkonto NL 07 RABO O155769707 Name: Stichting Vrienden von ABK Family Center Indatwa.

Meeting the new Sisters

I would like to tell you about our being together with the new members of the community. Sister Dorien and I spend a day with the five new sisters and their mentor Sister Emilienne. Each sister told her own vocational story; all of them were most impressive.

This is a short summary of Sister Josephine´s vocation. On her way to the school of Presbyterian Church she passed a monastery and met nuns and priests. She got interested in their religious life, and at the age of 15 years, she asked her parents for permission to take part in the Mass. In contacts with the nuns, she was advised to finish secondary school first. When the nuns heard that she was a member of the Presbyterian Church, they told her about the Sisterhood in Rubengera.

One nun knew Sister Berthe and prepared the way for Sister Josephine towards Abaja ba Kristo. Sister Josephine is one of the five new members of the community and is continuing her education.

The young sisters live together in a small house of the former orphanage. They share community life, attend theological lessons, and work in all sections/units of the community.

Stiftung Freunde von Abaja ba Kristo,

Ihre Janny Oorebeek

www.abaja-ba-kristo.nl

info@abaja-ba-kristo.nl

tel. +31 (0)343 723780

Circle of Friends “Abaja ba Kristo” , January 2017

yours Janny Oorebeek

www.abaja-ba-kristo.nl

info@abaja-ba-kristo.nl

tel. +31 (0)343 723780