How We Got Here: the early days to mid-September

2006 - Rob and Joy begin to consider a trip to Rwanda to meet the children they sponsor through Compassion International. They are aiming to travel Summer 2008.

2007 - The dream grows through letters between Rob and Joy and their kiddos.

Early 2008 - Joy is talking to friends- she mentions her desire to visit Rwanda and her frustration that she can't find any material on learning Kinyarwanda (the language of Rwanda).

Her friends inform her that Peter and Laurel Greer - mutual friends - not only have a deep love for Rwanda and have been there several times, but also speak the language!

Dialogue begins between the Greers and Joy. Through them, Joy starts to learn more of the needs in Rwanda, and desires that her visit there includes more than meeting her sponsored children. Around this time, a change in employment for Rob means that he won't be able to travel to Rwanda for at least another year. They decide together that Joy should still follow through on the trip, if possible.

Trip is pushed to Fall 2008 for planning purposes.

May 2008: Laurel encourages Joy to find someone else to travel with her, to share the experience together, and also for safety. Joy asks Nancy to accompany her. They meet several times to brainstorm and talk through vision, roles, and details.

June 2008: Joy and Nancy meet with Peter and Laurel and find that their vision matches up with Hope International. Nancy decides to travel with Joy. Nancy and Joy will go through Hope International, and will conduct interviews and get on-the-field footage for Hope while there. This trip is really going to happen! Exciting times!

Through the Greers, we are introduced to contacts in Rwanda who will provide housing accomodations and translation for our time there.

July 27, 2008: Benefit Concert at Lititz Mennonite Church - Rob and Joy and a talented band of musicians put on a show of original music and lay out the vision and details of The Rwanda Project. The audience responds generously with gifts totalling just over $2100 (the cost of one round-trip ticket, and one third of the total amount needed)!

July - September 2008: Lots of little details in between busy life schedules! We work on finalizing travel details, putting support letters together, creating a blogspot, making arrangements with contacts in Rwanda, figuring out logistics with Hope International and Compassion International... We pray! For unity in purpose between the two of us, for humble obedience to God's leading for this trip; for the people we'll meet in Rwanda, for you who support us with your interest, prayers, and financial support.

September 11, 2008: Here we are - the present! Stay tuned as we keep you up to date on our planning and our thoughts as we go from here!