Tent Makers of Rwanda

     Three years ago, Rich and Robin Smyth, founders of Tent Makers of Rwanda (TMoR), opened their home to women caught in extreme poverty.  They offered these women hope from the Word of God and an opportunity to learn a skill to support themselves and their families.  A year and a half ago this good work outgrew their home and they moved to a rented facility in the city of Kigali, Rwanda.  At this Women’s Training Center, former slave prostitutes, widows, orphans, and homeless women are offered trauma counseling and classes in sexual purity, HIV awareness, English language, parenting, financial planning and team building, all in addition to the central Gospel message.  Early each morning, a dozen women prepare the bagel dough for African Bagel Company (ABC) and as it rises, they spend time learning life changing truths from Scripture with a local missionary.  ABC, a direct outgrowth of the Women’s Training Center, has experienced exponential growth in the last six months and is now almost self-supporting! TMoR is not offering a hand out, but a hand up. 

     The Smyths are aware that many more Rwandan women need a hand up.  They are seeking to expand the job skills offered at the Women’s Training Center to include a housekeeping/hospitality program where women would receive a certificate of competency to take to future employers.  Space to provide after school tutoring for the children of these single women would be a real blessing!  While TMoR is not an adoption agency, contact with adoptive couples visiting Rwanda is not uncommon.  An expanded facility would allow TMoR to provide temporary housing to these couples while they familiarize themselves with the culture and work through various stages of the adoption process.      

       Many churches want to help those in need, but feel they are not in a position to take on the monthly support of a new missionary.  Here is an opportunity that may be a little different…    Would you consider giving up coffee or tea for one week this summer?  Collect any money you would have spent in a coffee cup designated for TMoR.  Then donate to TMoR by Labor Day using any of the methods listed below.  Individuals can choose any week between Memorial Day and Labor Day to complete the Cups of Cold Coffee Challenge or the whole church body can choose a specific week during that period. 

 
     Here’s what happened to me:

     Before I left for a short-term mission trip to Rwanda, I was ordering my regular hazelnut coffee when I realized that at $1.89 each, with the change tossed into the tip jar, I’m out $2 a day for 5 days every week for my favorite coffee.  I knew that if I gave the ten dollars away, it wouldn’t break my budget or my coffee habit.  I further considered that if five people did the same simple thing and we pooled our money, there would be potentially $50, ten people means $100, etc.  So I offered this Cups of Coffee Challenge to my own church and nearly $3,000 came in over the course of one month!  I am amazed at how blessed we are here in America!

     Would you consider joining with others to offer more women in Rwanda, Africa, a hand up?   Our goal (a dream with steps) is to raise $30,000 to purchase a larger facility in a suitable location for an expanded Women’s Training Center.     

      On behalf of Tent Makers of Rwanda,

  John Savioli

 
*Donations by mail to:  TMoR, P.O. Box 204, Tilton, NH 03276 or by Paypal (see below)

All donations designated for the Cups of Cold Coffee Challenge will go directly to the purchase of a new facility for the Women’s Training Center.