It is now more than 3 months since I (Iain) returned from Rwanda. It was my second trip to Kigali with the Comfort Babies team, having enjoyed a meaningful and emotional first trip last year, at the time of the 30th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide, and in the 25th anniversary year for Comfort International. Our 2025 trip was another very special time. These thoughts can only capture a small glimpse of the transformative projects, a brief mention of the heroic people, and a mere hint of the inner challenge we all felt. From the first moment, walking out of Kigali Airport Terminal, we experienced the heart of the Comfort Babies project. We were all greeted by delighted smiles, big hugs and, for the women, red roses. The generosity and love was palpable to all, but it was especially emotional to be greeted by faces recognised by me, by people who were glad to see me again.
Having become more involved with the Comfort Babies project, over the past year, I knew (in my head), how important the values of relationship, family, care and trust were in underpinning the amazing success of the project. Stories of lives being transformed are evidence of this, and the fact that we are trusted to hear about and share in these stories more evidence of the truth of this. It is quite another thing to experience these values personally, as we were greeted, welcomed, fed and included in times of togetherness, sharing and worship.
The Comfort Babies Centre and Home & Office are oases of hope in a city that is clearly on a path of rapid development. The Comfort Babies Team is increasingly trusted, by local officials, police and social services, to rescue and rehabilitate those precious people who, for a variety of reasons, are left, discarded, isolated, hungry and hopeless, on the edges of society.
It was such a privilege to meet with people who clearly needed urgent help. Some of those were at a local malnutrition clinic, and my “special moment” was meeting baby K and her big sister J. We had bought sacks of food and brought suitcases of clothes, and these were distributed to the Mums (20 at this particular clinic session). There was no sign of baby K’s Mum, however, and staff made enquiries. It turned out that Mum was so poor and desperate that she could not spare any time to bring her starving baby to the clinic. She was begging for food on the streets!
J and K were sent away with help in the form of all the food J could carry. But she tugged at my sleeve when leaving, and Chantal helped translate: “what happens when the food runs out?” The Comfort Babies team had already made notes to contact their Mum and to offer the chance of sponsorship, so I was able to explain this to J. It was so good to see the light of hope spring into her eyes, when she heard this news! And, later that week, we met up again, with the children’s Mum. We explained that my brother would sponsor K, and I would sponsor J myself. To see the smile spread across Mum’s face was a very special memory.
Another highlight, for me, was meeting my original sponsor child and her Mum again, one year after meeting them for the first time during my visit last year. This was a lovely thing to do, and I could see how much Mum (G) appreciated it. It was a wonderful practical way to experience the heart of the project, and the amazing trust and teamwork that had developed quickly during the trip. The Scottish team joined me on the home visit, carrying food and gifts. Chantal translated, for conversation and prayers. It was such a special time, and the strength and unity of the team was emphasised when, unexpectedly, G’s boyfriend arrived in a drunken state.
This was quite a shock, but we realised that the complexities of life do not go away just because a person is sponsored. The men in the team assisted with security and some stern words with the partner and his friend, and prayers were surrounding us. I was so grateful for every person in the team, that day.
We also spent time with the Comfort Babies Nursery School, and two of the Street Kids projects. In different ways these activities were also extremely special. To see the kids in the nursery, receiving a start to their elementary education, and clearly enjoying it, was so colourful and encouraging. And the stories we heard from some of the young men, found living on a rubbish heap several years ago, and now studying at university and sponsoring their own street kids, was nothing short of amazing!
Rwanda is a country which has suffered so much, but it is a country which has rediscovered what it means to be human and to show true humanity to others. I have come back home, thinking about the people I met, who demonstrate true humanity, in their daily lives, despite having comparatively little. I saw goodness, generosity and kindness wherever I looked. This land is filled with a people who have “greatness of heart” – UBUMUNTU. And, in a mysterious way, their openness to the God who created mankind in His own image surely goes a long way to explain this.
