Jean Update

A long and arduous journey is coming to anend. Jean, our friend, Rwandan peacebuilder and now Canadian resident, left his beloved home ofRwanda in May 2018.  In 2017 and 2018, he experiencedthreatening situations due to his pro-peace and anti-corruption initiatives. He was afraid for his life and that of those heloved.  Canada and our community provided a safe haven for him butunfortunately, his family could not come at the same time.  They reachedsafety in another part of Africa.  They maintained contact daily and keptthe family connection alive throughout these past 4.5 years.

Now they will be reunited.  Grace and his 3beautiful boys will be arriving in Canada in October. Sincethe family considers Arnprior as their Canadian home community, the family willcome to Arnprior right after landing.They will spend 2 + weeks in Arnprior to orient and meet all of you who have providedlove and support. After that, they will return to WaterlooRegion where Jean has been working for organizations thatsupport refugee resettlement and community-based research.  The familywill reside in Ayr Ontario and begin their Canadian lives there.

The family now resides in London Ontario.  The boys are doing well with Shema nowattendeding Waterloo University.  Jeanand Grace are both employed but are still looking for permanet jobs in theirarea of expertise.  Last year Jean’smother died while she was in London for a visit.  When Odette visited Arnprior she said howmuch she appreciated the care Arnprior provided for her son.  She was afraid they would be destitute.  She knew early on by Jean’s messages thatthere was a community helping them and that soothed her worried heart.

Arnprior Cares, is aninitiative organized by Arnprior community members and backed by 4 churchcommunities, Emmanuel Anglican Church, Gateway Church, Grace St. Andrew’sUnited Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church and community Businesses andOrganizations such as the Northern Credit Union and Rotary Club.

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