Nothing is Impossible With God 2026

City of Kigali

Written by: Heidi Kittredge

14 days, 8 days in Rwanda and 3 days in Uganda; 11 cooperative group visits, 258 microloans and 1 Rise Up Fund.

This trip was a blessing in many ways. AWHI welcomed a “first timer” to the mission trip team, Donna Stansell (AWHI’s Treasurer). This was Donna’s first trip to Rwanda and Uganda. It was also a solo trek from Florida to Rwanda. Her gift of teaching and encouragement was a great addition to the many talents and gifts that make up the AWHI team.

Bishop Theophile & Donna

We met with 9 new cooperative groups, 2 of which are Congolese women groups, 1 group living in Bukavu, DRC and another group in a Rwandan Refugee camp for the past 20 years. When we meet with new cooperative groups we hear stories of the challenges the women face living in poverty. This year was a bit different. We heard stories of women supporting each other, helping communities, stories of determination, courage and resilience where resources are scarce, but extraordinary trust in the Lord. Stories of hope.

For example, the Mutara women cooperative group (Northeast of Rwanda, border of Tanzania), started their cooperative group in 2019. The cooperative’s goals was to help one another. In 2019, they decided to save as a group. Each women contributed and continues to contribute $1,000 RWF ($1.00 USD) per month to a group savings. During the last 6 years, they used their monthly savings to buy every woman in the group a goat, a mattress, and funds to start a small business.

Mutara Cooperative Group

Our partner, Bishop Theophile of AHI (Africa Hope Initiatives, Rwanda) has expanded the microloan program beyond Harvest Christian Church to women of different religious denominations. As part of his pastoral teaching throughout Rwanda, he learned about a group of widows. The group started as a What’s App group of 7 women in August 2025. The motivation to form this group was to support each other mentally, spiritually and financially and not live in isolation. What started as a group of 7 women is now a group of 41 women throughout different regions in Rwanda. Each of the women contribute $2,000 RWF ($2.00 USD) per month towards a group savings. The savings is used to help with big family events, like a funeral or wedding. The savings is also used to allow the women in the group to borrow money to build their small businesses.

Abagore b’intwari (Courageous Women) Cooperative Group

These are stories of unity, resilience, strength and courage and hope for a better future. I cannot wait to hear their stories of continued success after each of them receive their microloans.

We always find ways to help outside the women ministry with our personal funds. This year’s funds will provide 55 pastoral bibles (many of the pastors have half of the Bible, either the Old Testament or the New Testament), 4 months of rent for Gilgal Harvest Christian Fellowship, Uganda. We continue to pray for funds to purchase the land. The amount needed is $40,000. Lastly, I used some of my personal funds to help Pastor Philemon of Gisneyi fulfill his 10 year dream to use his God given gift and love for soccer and share his knowledge and talent with the most vulnerable kids in Gisenyi by providing them the opportunity to learn to play soccer with a potential for a brighter future.

Every year, I am blessed to have a team that comes alongside me with love, grace and commitment to help the women of East Africa. This year is no different. We also cannot do this work without our Rwandan family (Bishop Theophile - leader & organizer and his wife Miriam, Patrice Strong and Billy Graham - translators, Alexis - our driver). Love you all!

Thank you to everyone that followed AWHI daily blogs. The team spends long days in the field and then returns to write daily blogs. Hope you enjoyed reading about what God is doing in Rwanda and in Uganda. We are beyond grateful to all our donors. We cannot do this work without your financial support.

Bishop Theophile’s 2026 theme for Harvest Christian Church is “you are the church” your heart, not the building. Your love for God and love for your neighbors. He encourages prayer, reading the Word of God daily and helping your neighbors. That is the church. AWHI’s theme this year is to be good stewards of your God-given gifts to bless others. What has God entrusted you to do? Maybe he is calling you to serve, to lead, to speak, to create, to give, to love. Maybe He is asking you to stop burying your potential under fear or doubt. Know this, you are entrusted, you are equipped and your are called.

In closing, I would like to share a John Wesley quote Stephen shared during his message to the Gilgal church in Uganda:

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.” - John Wesley