Every year, my posts have become quite similar to each other. Read back, and there is a blog before the run, one following recapping the run. Now and again, when something big happens, we post about it. But, I have failed to share with people, for awhile, about some of the individual kids (now adults) that we have had over the years. these are just a few of the reasons why we run, and why we continue to support such a special place like Ubaka U Rwanda. If you read this and feel compelled, please consider going to our donate page to help support. Thank you so much.
Side note: please do enjoy laughing at my aging process as you see early photos and new ones!
Not all street kids are orphans. Some even having loving mothers. As loving as Die Donne’s mother was, she was not able to take care of Die Donne and his brother. Die Donne took to the street to ease her burden and to help support her when possible. I’ll give you an example of how his mother loved him so. She came to the home one day with new shoes for Die Donne. Evode explained to her that she did not have to do such things as she was on and off the street herself those days. His mother would not hear it. She explained that she was still Die Donne’s mother and that he needs to know she loves him and wants to support him. Evode could not argue with that.
It’s that kinds of love that makes Die Donne stand out in different ways from some. Growing up as he did, he was tough. However, he was completely confident to cry if the feeling struck him, which was not a thing most kids did at the home. He also has no problem expressing himself. Die Donne was the silliest and sweetest kid, and I loved seeing him every year. In 2013, I was in charge while Evode and Becky visited the UK. It was then that his mother passed away sadly. Feeling useless as a non Rwandan, I watched Die Donne handle all of the details. More important than that, He scoured the street for days until he found his little brother David. That day, David stayed home with us, and he is now flourishing as an adult too. Die Donne asked me if his schoolmates could come over to show respect for his mother. Of course. And a lot of them came, and their show of love to Die Donne only proved to me the kind of kid he was to everyone he met.
These days, he works in construction management. He was always crafty and resourceful. He came home for a celebration last year and I got to meet his wife and daughter. He came in holding his daughter on his chest like mostly women do in Rwanda. Die Donne will be among the ones to flip that script just as he did with showing his emotions at the home when needed. I’ve run a hundreds of miles for Die Donne and I will run hundreds more for every kid like him.
Enjoy the picture below of Evode getting to meet his daughter for the first time as well.
