Rwanda Pete

Sometimes you come across a gem of a guy, and Pete Andrews (the one with the hat) is one of those.

Pete came to Kigali in 1982, from a background in Social work and caring for children in care. He was made redundant when care homes were closed and he went into motor mechanics. Answering an advert that year, he and his wife came out with Tearfund to Kigali.

After 28 years of total dedication they and their staff manage the care of 400 street children+. Rather than keeping them in orphanages, they ensure that the children are cared for in families. He has a team of 5 social workers and one administrator, in a highly efficient service run from the headquarters in Kigali. Read more at http://www.rwandaorphans.com/

But thats not all. he has set up a brilliant skills training college for 70 young adults on the side of a hill (see photo), teaching them electrics, carpentry, IT, sewing, culinery skills and many other key skills that allows them to get into jobs. 6 of their students have managed to get into University as well.

But that is not all either. He works with 70 (or was it 170) churches across the country http://inkurunziza.com and helps with the building up of their buildings. Then there is the bible and book translation business, making sure that Rwandans have access to decent scriptural books for study and learning more about God.

And the effect of this commitment to the Rwandan people whom he obviously loves, is that they a church service in Kigali, just down from the Kigali National Bank, at which 1000 people come each Sunday. Oh and a very useful table tennis team that I hope to get a game against.

I asked Pete if he had considered writing a book about everything he had done, but he says he is too busy. He himself would want this blog to say that it is the love of God in his being that drives him on, and that he would want people reading this not to reflect on Pete's efforts, but on a God who demands that we love those in need, and in poverty, and take real action to meet that need.

More of Pete later, because I think on Sunday he is going to take us to a church service up country. Pete - God bless you.