A trip to Rwanda 15 years ago changed Brian Thomson’s life.
When the Red Deer man visited the African country on a mission trip, he saw children who were without the basic necessities for life.
“I found out back then that Rwanda had the highest rate of orphans in the world and the highest rate of children raising children, as a result of the genocide and HIV/AIDS,” said Thomson.
“You always see on TV malnourished children with flies on their face. … But when I saw these children with my own eyes, it just changed my life.”
Upon returning home, Thomson started a rescue initiative and charity called Home of Hope, which is under the umbrella of Home Church Red Deer.
Thomson, a travelling pastor at Home Church, recently released the book Meant 4 More, which details how this rescue initiative transformed the lives of thousands of children, as well as his own.
When he was in Rwanda he recalled a time he was speaking in a church. He asked the pastor if there were any kids desperately in need of help.
“We walked down this cow path out in a rural area, we walked into a mud hut and we saw these four children,” said Thomson.
“The dad had just died of HIV and the mother was in Stage 4 and ready to die. These four kids were just huddled so we started helping those four.”
Those four children are the “4” in Meant 4 More, said Thomson, who has lived in both Red Deer and Red Deer County with his wife Connie for nearly 40 years.
During the two-week trip, Thomson took pictures of 16 other children as well that he hoped he could one day help.
“I thought I could get a couple of friends that might be interested (in helping these children),” he said. A lot of people showed interest upon his return and support for Home of Hope has continued to grow ever since.
Home of Hope has now helped thousands of children in Rwanda, Kenya, Congo, Malawi and India.
“In Nairobi, Kenya, there are babies thrown away alive in the garbage dump in the slums,” he said, adding this happens so much the rescue initiative launched a dream centre.
“Presently we have 67 rescued babies in this dream centre plus hundreds of other children who we’ve helped. We’ve put up signs in the city dump saying, ‘Don’t throw away your baby,’ and give them a number to call.”
People can provide monthly sponsorships to support these children. This is just one way Home of Hope supports families.
“We also help kids by helping their mother with microloans. For mothers who can work, we train them and give them micro-loans so they can make their own money to raise their kids,” he said.
Meant 4 More is available on eBook and as an audiobook on Audible/Amazon. For more information, visit www.HomeofHope.ca/Meant4More. People can also request an autographed paper book copy by calling 403-314-1214.
All book sales will go towards the Home of Help children and projects.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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