The FH Day: Meeting Marie Rose

When I started at FH, I knew that I would start to sponsor a child through our CDP program... but I also knew that my church was leaning towards starting a C2C- so I wanted to wait until we selected a community so that I could potentially visit my child on a trip with my mom. So when we selected Takwe, Rwanda... I still dragged my feet. After a couple weeks of learning about how our church was going to do Global Outreach and hearing about the benefits of child sponsorship, I finally wandered over to the table covered with packets. I looked around at the packets like I was shopping for a sweater at TJ Maxx or something, when all of the sudden I laid eyes on the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen - Marie Rose. I immediately felt tears come to my eyes... which was a strange reaction for me, because I don't even like kids.

As we watched the incredible presentations put on by the kids, I was searching the crowd for Marie Rose. FH was incredible, they brought us to the 29 children that our church currently sponsors so we could give them all gift bags from our congregation. We brought special gifts for our own kids and mosquito nets for all of them to take home.

In the room they brought us all into, we waited anxiously as they read names off of a list. Marie Rose was the last name to be called, and when she shyly stepped forward, I knew it was her. Through a translator, I tried to explain some of the gifts I had brought... but my Swahili isn't that great and she didn't know any English.

My mom and I shared a translator for the house visits, and we went to her child's, Francoise, home first... it was amazing to watch. Marie Rose and I sat on a bench in Francoise's house nervously waiting for us to go onto her house to meet her parents. We shared some nervous smiles, but she never let go of my hand and never let me help her carry her presents... even though they were almost bigger than she is!

When we went to go meet her family... it felt like I was a very honored guest. I was amazed. I met Marie Rose's mom, her two girlfriends, and her younger siblings. Her mom's best friends seemed like aunties, and after meeting me they told 'Rosa' (as they called her) that she needed to do well in school and learn English so that she could grow up to be as beautiful, intelligent, and capable as me. Break my heart.

Rosa's mother brought out a faded photo of her wedding day, and instantly I felt like I was being welcomed into the family. I sat on a matted rug and explained the gifts I had brought to Rosa... including a photo album with only 3 pictures, as I explained that when I sent more letters I could send photos and Rosa could put them into the album so that she had a place to keep them.

As we started to walk back up the hill for me to leave, Rosa and I silently held hands before taking some pictures and then hugging our goodbyes. I feel an incredible connection with this special little girl... even though I've been a pretty crappy pen pal.

The most incredible thing about this trip to Takwe was to see the amazing good that FH was doing in this tiny community that has been plagued with HIV/AIDS. You could see the difference in children that were benefiting from the Child Development Program here and those that hadn't... it makes me just want to encourage everyone I know to sponsor a child in this community. It makes a MASSIVE difference. I hate that this may sound like a commercial, but if you can, I absolutely plead you to consider sponsoring a child. It makes just a large of an impact on your life as it does theirs... but for them and their community it means a future is possible.

I am so blessed by Marie Rose, it's overwhelming. I promised to come back and see her again, and I can't wait to fulfill that commitment.