Memento from Angelique’s house

There is a piece of bark that I carried back from Rwanda sitting on my desk.  It is full of holes and cuts that I made into it.   Sometimes holes and cuts made into something can actually make it look more interesting, richer in meaning. At least, it gives one something to think about.  

This piece of bark was stripped from a tree branch that was used to build a house, for a single mother with seven children.  In May 2015, were asked by our community partner, African Evangelical Enterprise Rwanda, to install solar panels, wiring, and lighting for the house, that Angelique’s brother was building for her and her seven children.  At the time, she was just abandoned by her husband. She was evidently quite sad.  

Half a year later, when we visited her again in January 2016, she was in a much better mood.  The house was finished. She has electricity and lighting in the house.  With a small donation that we gave her, she bought a cow and some goats.  She and her children were in much better shape.  

You may wish to read the following post for more details:

https://stephencfchan.blogspot.com/2016/01/mother-with-seven-children.html

We have not been able to visit again since then.  I wonder how she is doing.  At least I have this memento to remind me of her and her children, and so many other families like hers.