A Year-long Journey

What is going on in my life? Well...I am soon to embark on a year-long African adventure! Not until mid-August, though, so I will have some time at home before I depart after graduation (in less than a week!!). 

Why am I blogging? I want you to be able to hear some of my stories and keep in touch while I am many miles away. Thanks to the Internet, this is possible. In the mean time, I will give you an overview of WHAT is going on and how YOU can be involved (if you want!). Note: The following is my support letter that many of you have/will be receiving a hard copy of.

          For many years, teaching has been a passion of mine. My journey at Messiah College has helped me develop my dream of teaching through several unique opportunities, including co-leading a math and literacy summer enrichment program last summer in Burkina Faso (West Africa). As many of you already know, I graduate this month with a degree in math education and French, and will leave in August to spend a year in Kigali, Rwanda, through the SALT program with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

           My primary task there will be teaching English to secondary students at Mwana Nshuti, a Global Family center for street children and other vulnerable children begun by the Evangelical Friends Church of Rwanda. All the students are sponsored by MCC donors, so they have an opportunity for education and/or vocational training they wouldn’t otherwise have had.

            I am excited to go to Rwanda and take part in this wonderful ministry of equipping youth educationally, spiritually and vocationally, so they can become contributing members of their society. English is currently in high demand, as it recently became a second official language in Rwanda and increases opportunities for education and work.

            As a SALTer, I will be living with a host family and integrating myself into the community at Mwana Nshuti and the surrounding area. I have a passion for living in other places and cannot wait to learn some phrases in Kinyarwanda, experience Rwandan culture, and use my knowledge of French and education to be of service at Mwana Nshuti.

            As someone who has encouraged me and played an important role in my life up to this point, I would like to ask for your support in this endeavor. I especially ask for prayers for energy, wisdom and open eyes so I can see how God is working and how I can best take part in His work there. If you would be willing to commit to praying for me, that would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to financially support my work in Rwanda, you can contribute toward the $4600 MCC has asked each SALTer to raise. (See support letter for details.)

If you want to hear more, I would love to talk with you before I leave. I will also do my best to check my email and blog, both over the summer and while I am there. Thank you so much for considering these ways of walking with me and the children of Mwana Nshuti!

La paix de Dieu,

-Bethany