Last year I started sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry (FH.) My sponsored child's name is Ndayishimiye Celestine, he is seven years old and lives in Ngoma, Rwanda.
While in the country last month I was able to arrange a visit with Celestine. I was a little nervious on the two hour drive to the South-West part of the country.
I am a scruffy young man without a job… what does he expect me to be.
I knew that he wouldn't mind who I was, but two hours is a good amount of time for thoughts to go though my head.
As we pulled up to his school, students started pouring out of the classrooms. Over 500 students lined up and sang us a welcome song in English, French and Kinyarwandan (the local language.) It was amazing to realize that they were all there to welcome and greet us.
As they brought Celestine forward, he was so shy he wouldn't make any eye contact with me, we then had the chance to meet his teachers and his ten year old sister.
We then drove them home to meet with his family. Celestine lives with his mother, grandmother, and two sisters. We were able to meet with the family for a couple of hours sharing stories and telling each other about our lives. It was very humbling as Celestine's grandmother kept making comments like "Today is history in the making, having you visit us."
Before leaving I gave the family a photo of me and well as a cross necklace to Celestine, and his mother gave me a photo of their family.
I asked the FH staff how many sponsors had visited this area and they told me that they get up to 20 sponsors visit a year, but I was the first to visit this community.
It was truly a blessing to be able to meet Celestine and his family, please pray for them as they grow and live in Rwanda.
