RWANDA GIRLS MIRACLE IS EVERY RWANDA's GIRL INSPIRATION

Whether you are from Rwanda or any other country the following miracle of time will add much joy, hope and inspiration to your life.

A few months ago, I met at a Chicago, Illinois USA drugstore a young 25 year old from Rwanda. She was trying to get asylum. She had walked 8 years, from age 8 through age 16 with her family during the Rwandan Genocide. We were both making photos, me of my recent trip with Livingstone Zambia street orphans. She was making photos of her fiance's recent trip to see her here in Chicago, Illinois. We became friends. I do not think I have to tell you of her horrors and tortures, fright and flight all those years walking and running from Rwanda, to Somalia, to Kenya and so forth. Her sister is in Texas, her brother in Canada, her parents are in Kenya and she was in Texas but now Chicago. She has been through her struggles in this country. Imagine coming here with no idea of our culture or day to day ways about us. No money, only hope and a very strong faith. She is amazing. She is now married and has a full time job. I am so proud of her. She is most proud of having a driver's license. She sometimes just takes it out of her well treasured wallet to look at her. it is her confirmation that she is a human being. Really!

Anyway, we had an appointment today to meet up. She was to give me jewelry she no longer needs to bring to my female street orphans when I return to Zambia next week. I started to drive to where I thought we were to meet. I called her to confirm the location. She said she was sorry she would be late because she had forgotten the jewelry on her bed and had to go back for it. She asked if we could meet a little later at North Street Beach. I knew what that meant. North Street Beach is a beautiful, wealthy young people's heaven on a warm sunny summer day. Filled with thousands of young people, swimming, frolicking and dancing in the sun, sun bathing, laughing and talking with no cares in the world. A piece of heaven right on earth.

I told her to go enjoy the day and call me tomorrow, Sunday and we could meet up then.

I came home. I suddenly remembered Nakinti's question to Rwandan women. Then I put two and two together as we say in America. WHAT A MIRACLE. Here was a young girl, ALBA, who 9 years ago had walked for 8 years in the mud and torture of the genocide. Today, she was carefree, did not need me or anyone to help her out of trouble or for food or clothes or safety. All she wanted to do was be in the rich sunshine in her bathing suit with her friends, frolicking and laughing and having fun.

I called her. \"Alba, you are a miracle. Do you get the two scenes of you. The past and the present. They are so different. This is such a miracle moment I just had to call to say HAVE FUN. You richly deserve this. Call me tomorrow and we will get together\".

And as I think of you reading this from Ethiopia, Rwanda or anywhere, I hope this gives you hope that there is a plan for you. Trust the plan for your soul. If Alba can do it ANYBODY CAN DO IT. YES! Work hard. Don't sit around and wait. But KNOW, your miracle is coming.

Ubuntu (I am who I am because of who we are together),

Wendy Stebbins
CEO/Director
NGO
I Am One In A Million