Steven Turikunkiko is the faithful father to many adopted children, the compassionate founder of a “New Community” for people who were orphaned or widowed by genocide and HIV/AIDS, and the inspired pastor of a church in Kigali.

In an email conversation, I asked him what his hopes and dreams are for 2009.  Steven said that he, his family, and everyone in the Widows and Orphans Project ask God to provide them with their many needs, and to give them joy and peace in the midst of difficult and worrying circumstances in the coming year.
 
I was moved by the fact that when asked about hopes and dreams, Steven spoke of asking God. Steven teaches me to remember from whence help comes.
   
Steven listed several of the specific things for which they all have been praying for many years:

•    First off, the large Turikunkiko family, including Steven's adopted children, pay high rent each month for a few small rooms. A permanent home that they could own would provide them with a safe and secure haven. It is such a simple request: a family so passionate about serving others should not have to worry about whether or not they will have a place to live.
•    Second, they have dreamed of a permanent building to use as a center for the New Community of 240 residents. The building could be used for many things to aid in financial sustainability, for example, a nursery for the young children while their mothers tailor.
•    Third, the Community and family would find a small mini-bus extremely useful, for business, medical needs, etc. In our land of multiple-car families and SUVs, this seems to me a humble wish.
•    Fourth, the widowed women in the Community would like to sustain themselves economically, and could certainly use equipment like sewing machines, and other basic materials.
•    Last, right now school fees for a basic education for Steven's  21 adopted children and  the 80 orphaned children in the Community are out of reach.  Steven prays that God would give them all the capacity to stand on their own feet financially, to afford education, medicine, food, shelter, etc.
   
His biggest concern for the Community right now is that they might lose their hope. Steven believes that hope in God sustains our lives – without hope, we may wish to give up living. This would be the greatest tragedy, and Steven works tirelessly to help others have a life-giving hope in God. The Community struggles with so many problems and needs  that they get discouraged by the lack of financial ability, especially to treat those infected with HIV/AIDS and to pay for the education of all of the children.

I was struck by Steven's prayer for financial ability – money is not an end, but the means to be able to do so many necessary things.

When I asked what encourages Steven to have hope, he said that he always likes to read the book of Psalms in the Bible because it encourages him so much. The chapters that he keeps on re-reading are Psalms 90, 119, 125, and 146. He said that another thing that greatly encourages him is to hear from friends around the world, who say that they are thinking about them and praying for them and the Community.

Let's be sure to encourage Steven with our messages! We could also read his favorite Psalms as we pray for him and his ministry. You can write to Steven at rwanda.steven@gmail.com You can become a fan of Steven and his work on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Steven/34129074460 You can find out more and how you can help at www.friendsofsteven.org