In the rush to escape after the 1994 genocide, tens of thousands of Rwandan children became separated from their families. Some of them were barely old enough to remember their names, let alone the place their parents fled from. Although the country is mostly at peace, life for many Rwandan children remains a struggle. Six out of ten people live in poverty, on less than US$1 a day. Four out of ten children are stunted due to malnutrition and one out ten dies before their fifth birthday. Life expectancy is just 46 years.

The facts are chilling aren’t they? Can you imagine every child in the United States only having a small chance to make it past their 5^th birthday? Every time I think of a child living on the streets hungry and alone my heart breaks and it brings me to my knees in gratitude for all I have been blessed with.

I guess now would be a great time to introduce myself! Hi, my name is Jessica, mom to an amazing little boy, wife to the best man I know and host of Kitchen Belleicious and Belleicious Kids. Welcome to Shelter a Child, a charity I doing in affiliation with ICM to build an orphanage for the children in the Girhorwe community of Rwanda. I have always prayed that the Lord would show me a way to serve Him by helping those in need. Recently I felt led by Him to build an orphanage. Although I didn’t know where, when, or how-what I did know was that if this is what I was called to do, then He would provide me a way to do it. After searching days and weeks on the internet trying to find an organization/charity who could point me in the right direction, I had the opportunity through a family friend to speak with the Southwest Director of ICM, International Cooperating Ministries. ICM builds churches and church orphanages all over the world and our conversation was so amazing that I got off the phone exhilarated. You see, I found out that ICM has wanted to build a church orphanage in a certain location in Rwanda for almost 6 years but they needed someone to commit to raising the money to do it! How awesome is that- At the exact time I felt led to build an orphanage there was already the idea of one that needed to be built but didn’t have the funds to do it. Right then and there on the spot I signed up with ICM to raise $30,000 to build this orphanage! My initial goal for the next few months will be $10,000 fas ICM will be able to begin construction once I have raised at least that amount. After the $10,000 I will continue to push my way to raising the total $30,000.  I can’t tell you how excited I am to be a part of something that will change these children’s lives forever.

I have partnered with ICM, International Cooperating Ministries, to build an orphanage in the Girhorwe community that will house 50 children on the second floor of the building and a church on the first floor. This is not just a home but a refuge, a haven and more importantly a shelter of love for children who would otherwise live as prey on the streets. The children will not only be taken care of physically but spiritually as well and receive food, education and medical care.

As my friend Kristin put it (who traveled to Rwanda recently and supplied the pictures you see in this blog)- “Although they live in a place filled with memories of war, poverty and death, these children have found happiness in life’s simple joys. They don’t need video games, or television, or toys to be content. They have gained a sense of peace, contentment and joy that is hard for us to even relate.”

No child should live without love and care. No child should go hungry or sleep out in the cold. No child should feel alone. The cost to build an orphanage is $30,000. Join me along the way as I work toward this goal and see the lives of these children changed as only the power of God can do.