Associations of Orphan Survivors: how orphans are joined into new family units from Morgan in Africa

Morgan in Africa is a blog (and a person!) that I follow. She's a normal woman from Washington D.C. doing work in Rwanda. If you have not checked it out before, it is extraordinary. Here is a fascinating excerpt from Morgan's explanation of what was accomplished in a International Symposium on the Genocide Against Tutsi 2009 (Day 3) council April 09 (last month) regarding the rebuilding society post genocide.

Reconstitution of Human Resources and Social Fabric as an essential component of the base of sustainable development
Young people grow up in associations of orphan survivors. Artificial families are very valuable to people; provide familial protection and comfort. Youth have created these families through associations. The youth then find their own solutions to problems. One such association is the GAIG. They refuse to be restrained by their handicap—they continue to live with dignity. They also have an artificial family surname. They have a mother, a father, uncles, aunts, children. The family names they take show compassion, solidarity, and strength. The different people play the different roles; the “parents” give away their “children” in marriage, for example. This combats negationism. Members value the group they belong to. They try to be strong, but they are still psychologically weak. “ Fathers” can have the same age as “children.” They participate in parent-teacher conferences. They sign report cards. The family splits the responsibilities evenly. They are enterprising. The families develop an identity and a non-violent and pro-justice ethnic. Before being killed, the real parents of these children were humiliated, and other adults, particularly killers, have been bad models of behavior. The survivors want to help lead the reconstruction of their country through better behavior and active participation. When real kids are born, they participate in the artificial family. This auto-affirmation shows a desire to live and survive and thrive.

Back to me, here: can you fathom this? This is what must happen for the future of these children to be positive, and it is happening. I'm amazed. Would love to know your thoughts on this.

sacred life

Do you know anyone who is pregnant?
Everything about her is fresh, hopeful, radiant. Every detail of the precious new life inside her is deliriously fascinating. A heartbeat heard at the doctor's office, an ultrasound sent in an email to distant relatives (like me, thanks Rick and Maira!) Life is so insanely sweet, and new life - life that seems to have come from nothing -is one of the most marvelous mysterious incidents we ever get to witness. My nephew and his bride are pregnant and it makes the whole famly just so thrilled to celebrate every little thing about the one whose face we will see before Christmas.

But life is also fragile. If you know someone with cancer, depression, or plain old worn out body parts, who is jobless, or if this is your reality today, then you know what I mean. The frailty we share is a constant reminder of why loving and giving ourselves to each other every day is so essential. Love shows up with boots on, or a casserole or a note or a check.

"If you give even a CUP of COLD WATER (how hard is that?) to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." -Jesus Christ, Matthew 10:42

Have you had a cup of cold water today? Have you hugged hard and long? Have you said I love you? Go ahead. Be ridiculously loving to someone - feel like a total idiot and get over it. Someone near you is thirsty.

Rwanda Update: THANK YOU, YOU AMAZING DONORS! I'll be sending out the first two knit market bags and bracelets to my first three families to contribute to getting me to Rwanda. You are my hug from God and boy did I need it yesterday. I'm trying to get a little cold water to some people who really need it in Rwanda, and YOU are supplying the CUP. Thank you.

check this!

(click on the words "check this" and see what happens...)

risk-taker

Yesterday, a friend of Julia's said, "Mrs. Lorentsen is going to Africa. She's a risk-taker."

I had to laugh hysterically (and so did you ) because that's a first. Never at any time has anyone used those words to describe me. I am a safety-freak. Seat belt, sunscreen, 5 lipsticks (ok, 10) on hand so I always match, extra sweater in case I get cold.

I guess it's pretty wild, going to Rwanda. I am collecting the face-to-face responses I'm getting and finding them so fascinating. Some of you think that I'm nuts - I can tell because you say zero. Oh, she's crazy, now THAT's been said before :) Other people challenge me with questions that I should know the answers to. It makes me dive into my books, as well I should. Is AIDS any worse in Rwanda, or is it worse in other parts of Africa? What do they eat? Where is Rwanda on my globe? What language do they speak? Are you scared?

Honestly? I'm not scared because my friends have been there before me, and although what we'll get to do will be a step beyond what they did (picking up where someone left off), I am just walking the path that led me here. This is the next thing for me, and I'm certain - how rare is that? To pass up the chance to do this while I am strong and well, to get to do something that matters for people who are world class forgivers, would be a greater risk. I expect to get a lot more than I'm giving.

Risk-shmisk.

That's the weather, now for...the NEWS

We met for the second time as a whole team to learn more about what the P.E.A.C.E. teams will be doing when I get to Rwanda in exactly 3 months. The news is very cool:

• We'll be going to Kibuye which is a city in the west and it is on beautiful Lake Kivu, which is kind of like Winnepesauke - ginormous :)


• Some of our teams will be shadowing the folks from Saddleback Church which is in California. Heard of Rick Warren? Who prayed at the Inauguration for our new Pres? He's the pastor at Saddleback. In fact, their church began the movement that led to the work we get to join in on now. This is especially cool because they do this community relief work right. I will learn so much.


• The airfare is (good) less than I expected and (bad) due JUNE 6th, yikes. I have it on good authority that God is able (in his own words) to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or think. Should be pretty cool to watch! (kind of rabbit-out-of-hat but nothing he can't handle)


• I know now exactly what to wear - which of course really matters :) Long skirts, short sleeve shirts, no shorts and no tanks! Pierre, a Rwandan friend that our trip leader met in Feb, was with us Sunday night and gave us the skinny. If you ladies show a lot of skin, do you think they'll hear a word you say? Oh, right. Also, leave the diamonds home. Nothing should get in the way of the relationships we'll make.


• Bring family pictures! Here in the states, the first thing someone wants to know when they meet you is ,"What do you do?" In many other nations, the first question is, "Where are you from?" But in Rwanda, they ask, "Who is your family?" Love that :) I like them already.