Future Planting

We met with the woman from the Cyangugu orphanage yesterday (fri) and planned an orchard for her. She has 6 orphanages we had been told she had 4. She wants us to visit when we come to Cyangugu. Today (sat) we met with Emmanuel's wife Hope, she works with some widows in Bugesera district in the east. Many of them have hiv and Jerry Hamlin in Tulsa helped them to buy some land so they could plant things to sell and eat. They have pineapple and beans etc. We planned some trees for them, maybe 100 if God provides.Idoul will be coming from Sudan the 1st of next week and then we will go to Cyangugu, Banda, and the Island in lake Kivu to plan orchards. Pastor Kahulu from Congo will meet us there. Pastor Willy from Kigali will also go. He has a ministry for orphans and widows called Comfort my people, we are planning an orchard for that as well.

Arrived in Kilgali

We have arrived safely. My daughter Marlee is with me this time (this is her first time here). We are very tired from our travel but it is great to be here. We will be updating the the blog routinely.

Safely Back Home

Arrived back home yesterday afternoon. Thank you all and God Bless for all your prayers. It is a wonderful blessing for all.

Sharon

Planting is Completed in Banda

We have completed planting. It only took 4 hours, since we had about 15 help us and the land had been prepared the 2 days before we arrived. I have many stories about the women God has chosen to use for this. They were great and sooooo joyful of this project! The land is right next to a stream, so water has been provided by God!

Sharon

Leaving to Plant in Banda

March 4, 2009

The trees are here and we are leaving tomorrow morning, Thursday, which is your Wed night.
You won't hear from me for a few days as there is not power at all in Banda.

Sharon

Sewing Ministry

March 4, 2009

We haven't had power for the last 12 hours or so, read the book in the dark with a flash light last night. I went to the ministry Amani aya juu, it's the one that helps widows get training to sew. The picture is of one of the women there holding a beautiful quilt that they have made. I am bringing several back with me. I am going to try to make them available on the website, along with other things they make. We are taking Eric's mom to another ministry like it today called Esther's aid. It is also for widows, there are so many in this country from the genocide and aids. I went yesterday to look at some land here in Kigali to plant trees that would help a ministry that is already here called Comfort My People. They help widows and orphans and have been doing many things to help in many ways. Willy is a pastor and the one working on this ministry, I meet him last year. He is a good godly man who has a huge heart for what he does.

Sharon

God's Grace

I doing well however having problems with email due to technical problems. The first hundred trees are here and next hundred will arrive next Tuesday. The first hundred were delivered to a business in Kigali but were supposed to stay at the airport for pickup, nevertheless, we tracked them down and have them now. No matter what barriers Satan throws in the way God always prevails. It is raining consistently here, everyday about an hour, but that is actually a good thing for we need the water and soft ground to plant the trees. There are windows of opportunity everyday to plant. Though in April and May it rains most days all day. Above is a pic of a rain/storm here in Kigali. After I recieve the next hundred trees we will be off to Banda to plant. The land is secure and transportation is set.

I have met a teacher that teaches about 100 at risk children and he wants me to go with him to teach and meet the children saturday. I will problably go unless I am to teach at Alexander's church then.

By God's grace Tuesday we will be in traveling to Banda to plant. Continue to pray that God will remove any barriers and give us safety.

Sharon

Update

I heard from the Executive of the island and he says he isn't sure what an orchard is but that if I think it's good for them, he is sure it will be good. I will go talk to him in person and explain everything so that we can plant in the future there. I also will go talk to the lady that has the 4 orphanages about trees there. I know now why the seeds (vegetable) were donated to the project, this is how we will pay the widows for their labor to take care of the trees until God provides an income for them. I love it when God shows me what He has in mind!!!

Sharon

Arrival

I wanted to let you know that I am here! Pray for details to be worked out still. We have to have an NGO to recieve the trees or we are charged an import fee, we are working on that. Fidele has secured the land in Banda!!!!

Sharon

Apples For Africa--Rwanda

Sharon leaves for Rwanda February 19, 2009 and return March 11, 2009. Her focus is to plant 200 apple trees during this time.

Shawn