Ten Talents International Blog

Do you know the story of David & Benjamin?  They are two of the newest boys to come into the Home of Innocence.   Benjamin was very ill when he first was brought from the government’s center for street children (considered a prison by many) to the Home of Innocence.  His health has gone up and down since that time last fall but many times he has been sick and weak.  Ngoga (our Rwanda National Director) has taken him to multiple medical clinics at different times.  Finally, recently he was seen at the main hospital in Kigali.

This was Benjamin the day he was found in the street children's holding center.

The doctor who examined him at the hospital found that Benjamin has a serious heart condition and it requires surgery immediately.  Literally, his life is in danger. The surgery is a heart valve replacement and is not available in Rwanda.  We are looking at other countries for surgery, possibly India or the US, or even Sudan since we may be able to get him there sooner.  We have added an option to our giving page if you would like to give towards Benjamin’s heart surgery.  It is providential that Mike is in Rwanda right now because he is able to work on details like getting Benjamin a passport, as well as checking on what treatments they are giving to sustain him in the meantime.

This is Benjamin in March of this year. You can see he is happy and his inner glow shines through.

Please be praying with us for God to provide for Benjamin’s heart surgery, transportation, recuperation, and other needs (can you help?).  We expect this to cost around $15,000.  Please also pray for God to sustain him so that he can make it until the surgery can be arranged.

Benjamin is in the hospital right now.

Thank you & God bless you.

Lisa

This morning Mike left for a 3 week trip to Rwanda, along with one of our TTI volunteers.  We would appreciate your prayers first of all for their travels: for them to make all their connections, for their luggage to all make it there safely, and for general traveling mercies.  You could also be praying for their time in Rwanda to be effective and for them to accomplish all they have set out to do.  Mike will be spending time checking on the children in the sponsorship program, as well as the boys in our in-home program, the Home of Innocence.

Adrian- one of the boys in the Home of Innocence

The Home of Innocence and our office had to move to a new place (the previous landlord was trying to raise the rent unreasonably).  The blessing in this is the new home is larger, so we may be able to bring in more boys who have no place else but the streets.  Mike will be talking to government officials about possibly getting some boys who are being held in a detention center (just for being on the streets).  He will also be finding out how we can move forward with the TTI registration (we have agreements from the local governments but are still encountering other delays).  Please pray for him to be given favor with those he speaks with, and for all obstacles to be removed.

I do find it ironic that he is leaving today- which just happens to be exactly 12 months after our family was last in Rwanda.  Do you know about our plans for this fall?  We are praying & believing for God to provide the support needed for our family to be in Rwanda for 9 months & be able to really move the ministry forward there.  Will you agree in prayer with us?

Thank you!

God Bless You,

Lisa

My heart this morning is drawn to pray for the country of Rwanda. I am praying for President Paul Kagame & those in leadership to be led in the decisions they make. That they would do what is right and just. I am praying for the continued healing of a nation that has been through the devastation of the 1994 genocide. That those who are spiritual leaders in Rwanda would “stand in the gap” for their nation (Ezekiel 22:30a “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land.”) I am praying for the people of Rwanda: for them to find the peace, healing, and wholeness that comes from the abundance of a life lived in Christ. I also pray for the blessing of prosperity, not poverty, for their nation and people. I pray Rwanda would rise up and be a beacon of righteousness amongst the countries of Africa.

I pray 1 Corinthians 1 for them: “26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Would you take some time to pray for Rwanda this week too?

God Bless You,

Lisa