A New Sister In Burundi

Yesterday, Fred and I learned about Sister Connection, an organization dedicated to helping war widows and orphans in Burundi, Africa. At Timberlake, we tell stories of God at work on Sunday mornings. Yesterday, I had the privilege of interviewing Denise Patch, president of Sister Connection.

In Burundi, a little country of about 8 million people, 1 million were killed in the genocide. Thousands of war widows struggle to survive, feed their children and find shelter.

I asked Denise, "What made you passionate about helping these widows?" Her answer: "I grew up in Burundi as a child of missionaries. When they started killing people, they were killing my friends. I had to do something." Wow.

Now Sister Connection provides a link between the privileged of the world with some of the poorest of this world--the widows and orphans in Burundi. This organization provides four methods to assist these poor women and children: sponsorship, home building, funding critical needs, and prayer.

I'm proud to say that we now sponsor Melanie. She's a year younger than I am, has five kids and is a widow. Her husband was killed in the war. It's been difficult for her to find the means to feed her kids, let alone educating them because of the cost of uniforms and supplies. She believes in Jesus and lives a life of prayer.

$30 a month...the cost of 10 Americanos (my coffee drink of choice.) 100% of the $30 goes to the widows--they receive every dollar of the sponsorship.

Comments

[Judy Santos]

Having worked in a mission organization, I admit that I am not easily impressed with the usual patter. Some do not do what they say they do and some are top heavy, paying upper management extreme salaries without conscience to the cause. Many missionaries and their organizations struggle to survive with people who are burned out and lack necessary resources.

But there is something very refreshing and honest about The Sister Connection. I like the way it is structured. 100% of sponsorship goes to the widow and they have a separate foundational gifts for those wishing to keep the organization running. I can't wait to give $500 to provide a house.

I was also impressed that the widows were praying for us at Timberlake.

But most of all, I was impressed with Denise. Unassuming. Credible. Comfortable in her own skin.

After a well done Power Point presentation, Henriet asked Denise, "So what moved you to help these widows?" Denise could have used that to make a big pitch, but she didn't. She simply responded, "These are my friends. How could I not?"

God bless her and her team.

[Henriet]

Well said. Denise is the real deal. She mentioned that this blog was the first to mention Sister Connection.
"Denise, we're glad to help you friends."