“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalms 119:105).

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” (Psalms 119:9).

I received some wonderful gifts that warmed my heart when I was an ICCM sponsored child (1980-94). The most precious was a Bible and songbook. The inside label on the first pages had my sponsors’ names: Alice and Charles.

After 12 years of serving ICCM Rwanda, I decided that providing our children with a Bible and a songbook is evangelistically important. We encourage our children to read it, as the good news about our salvation through Jesus Christ, Who died for us on the cross, is described in the Bible.

It was delightful for the Free Methodist Church of Rwanda to have the ICCM Global Director Alma and her husband, the Rev. Brent Thompson, partner with us in this great event of delivering Bibles and songbooks to our children in 2023. I am thankful that each one of our children was able to meet this noble couple and sense the Lord’s love through their lovely hugs and open, blessed hands, on behalf of all our 962 sponsors who support Rwandan children.

We began the distribution in September at the close of an ICCM retreat for Mbabe teenagers who are attending boarding or day high schools. At the retreat, we focused on how God rejoices in our trustworthiness. In addition to notebooks, uniforms, shoes, Sunday clothes, tuition, shared lunch, sports activities and learning tours being regularly provided to our children, we believe the Bible and songbook are the greatest resource for our children as they grow and face various environmental influences.

I pass on love and sincere thanks to all who enable us to serve God’s children.