🌍✨Rising from the Ruins: Supporting Father Valens' Mission of Love 🇷🇼❤️

I remember vividly the day I first heard Father Valens testimony.  A close friend has recently returned from Rwanda and invited Father Valens to join our daily rosary group where he shared his story.  He is a man whose life story is as profound as it is heart-wrenching. Living thousands of miles away in the US, my initial shock was only magnified by his incredible resilience and unwavering faith. At four years old, he survived one of the darkest chapters in human history—the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Found strapped to his deceased mother’s back among lifeless bodies, this young boy’s life had already started as a testament to survival against all odds.

Fast forward two decades, and you find Father Valens not just surviving but thriving in the face of adversity. At seven years old, he was taken under the wing of his uncle, Father Ubald—a man who also bore scars from his past yet managed to preach forgiveness and compassion with every breath. It’s this message that resonates so deeply within me as I share Father Valens' story with you today.  

But let me be clear: This isn’t just another feel-good tale about resilience in the face of tragedy—it’s a call for action, particularly at a time when faith and hope are needed more than ever. Father Valens is currently pursuing his master’s degree in practical theology while leading the ministry for the sick, serving as a school chaplain and organizing pilgrimages and retreats for young adults.

And now comes our part in this inspiring journey: We’re raising funds to support Father Valens as he continues his mission of spreading God's word and love throughout Rwanda. Every dollar counts; they help pay for books, accommodation when leading retreats, and other expenses essential for leading retreats and pilgrimages for young adults.  Additionally, we are raising money to purchase a car for Father Valens to use instead of taking a motorbike taxi to visit the sick and home bound and to travel to school (one hour away) on underdeveloped roads in Rwanda.

This campaign is managed completely by volunteers: myself, (Marjorie Richter), Livia Legg and Barbara M Little.  I feel so strongly that Father Valens story needs to be told to let our youth know that despite difficulties you may encounter in life, with God you can rise above and make a difference in the world.  To date, we have worked to raise money to sponsor retreats for Father.  This young man has claimed us as his family - I am his Auntie and Livia is now his mom.  I realized that we need to spread his story further and sought out givesendgo to help do so.  

🌟Will you join us in this important and meaningful venture? Your donation can be a lifeline to Father Valens as he works tirelessly to make a difference—one soul at a time. Let’s come together, not just for him, but also for the youth of Rwanda who desperately need guidance and hope right now.

Please help to support Father Valens, whose life story and revival ministry inspires us all with its unwavering message of forgiveness, love, and resilience. 🌍✨

Every contribution counts—no matter how big or small. Let’s uplift Father Valens together! ❤️🙏 #RisingfromtheRuins