Annonciata's story:
I am a very old woman. I have no children. I was born in 1934. I got married in 1959 when I was in Uganda. I had 8 children from this marriage but they all died. I care for grandchildren who lost their parents. It is a boy and a girl, respectively 18 years and 17. Nevertheless, I do not have the ability of looking after them. The boy goes to school but the girl could not. Instead, she cares for me.

Later I came to know about Solace Ministries. They help me in various ways because I am like a handicapped person. They visit me and comfort me through our community in Jari which has become my family. I take this opportunity to appreciate the work of Solace Ministries and the leadership of the Solace community of Jari. They are so close to me, I was in darkness but they comforted me and I do not feel lonely anymore.

Catherine's testimony:
All began in 1990 when the war started in October. We were harassed because of being Tutsi. Very often stones were thrown to me saying that I was not joining their political parties. It went on up to 1992, and this took another dimension, where by the soldiers of the former government started to rape women. I left and went to seek for refugee, when it was the 7th April 1994, I went back home, the interahamwe came and took me out took all our things, I left into the forests I was 7 months pregnant. I had also 6 children. 2 were killed with their father and we went to Kabgayi. It was on 9^th April 1994 . We stayed there eight days. It was not an easy thing. On the 28^th April I was thrown into a pit latrine. There were many dead bodies. Fortunately, I was not dead and managed to come out. On the 2/6/1994 , Inkotanyi (RPF soldiers) reached Kabgayi and they were so hurt to see us in that condition. We then moved out to Burundi, and then later I went back to our home and found that my husband had been killed, I survived with orphans, and now we all altogether 10 people living together. Life is very hard but Solace is always close to us. I came to Solace and they listened to me.

Veneranda's testimony:
I am a widow because of the genocide.
I had one son and who was 12 years and 2 daughters. My son was killed with his father. I live now with my two daughters and one boy who is an orphan who survived . This boy suffered a lot from during the genocide. His genitals (testicles) were smashed and taken off. His head was hit hard with a lot of damages. He is so traumatized that he refused to go to school.
I stayed with him when he was two years but now he is 19 years, Things that happened to me in 1994 were so horrible. A soldier raped me for 2 days. After he threw me outside and gave me to interahamwe who were killing people. I was beaten and fell down but I was not dead. Other bodies piled up on me. After the killers left I tried to move out. I realize that my arm was broken and I can’t really use it.
After the genocide when we were coming back from the refugee camps, I realized that I was pregnant from the rape. Temptation to go for abortion was there but finally I abandoned. Later, after I came to the Lord, I brought the issue to the Lord. I found out that I was not infected and then I gave birth to a baby girl. I did not like her, but these days I love her because Solace received me and comforted me, I live with my daughter but I have no house and when this girl gets traumatized she chases me out, she asks me about her father and I feel so bad, and I tend to think that a dead person is better. I thank Solace for the great work they did for me to get back to normal.

Following the successful completion of Pelagia and Colette's houses in October 2011, we have now decided to support the above 3 women and either build or, in the case of Catherine, repair her 4 bedroomed house. We are hoping to start the build as soon as possible. The total cost is expected to be in the region of £14,500.

Why not help us continue to raise money when you do your shopping on line. Register your details at the following link and Rock Community Church in Rwanda will receive a percentage of your total spend! Remember that 'a little can change a life'. http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/register/?char=32133

Future trips to Rwanda:
We have agreed that all of our efforts in 2012 will be to raise finances towards the building of the new houses. In view of this, we are hoping to have a trip to Rwanda in mid to late 2013. If you are interested please contact Billy McClung on billypaddler@blueyonder.co.uk .