Support Emily Fales

I'm going to Kigali, Rwanda! This June, I’ll be joining my friend and coworker, Cami Goble (pictured to the right), on a Discovery Team trip she is leading to visit the Word Made Flesh Rwanda community. Cami is leading this trip to grow relationships that will support the advocacy of the work Word Made Flesh is doing to support women, children, and families in Rwanda. Cami has been serving with Word Made Flesh for 22 years and has a wealth of experience discovering the heart of God from her time serving and living in Freetown, Sierra Leone. While her formal title is Regional Coordinator for Europe and Africa, she is also a teacher, caregiver, reconciler, and "auntie" to all.

Rwanda has been slowly rebuilding since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, but many people in this beautiful country still live in poverty. Since 2015, Word Made Flesh Rwanda has been serving women who have been experiencing the brokenness and vulnerability that comes with living in poverty in one of Kigali’s poorest neighborhoods. WMF Rwanda seeks to restore hope while equipping women with the tools and resources they need to thrive. Word Made Flesh Rwanda fosters wellbeing and holistic transformation in women and children living in vulnerable communities through friendship, discipleship, and economic empowerment opportunities. They support Artisan trainings, economic empowerment groups for vulnerable women, educational programming for children, and discipleship groups for all ages.

During my time, I will have the opportunity to use my videography and photography skills to serve this community by capturing the stories of staff, volunteers, families, and residents that have been a part of the impact of this work. Last year, I had the privilege of visiting our communities in Romania and Moldova to capture photo and video stories like Lavinia's story, the Discovery Team, and the Impact of the Belonging, which have supported advocacy and fundraising efforts. I strive to bring a thoughtful and empathetic lens to the stories I tell, especially when sharing from communities that are not my own, recognizing the care and sensitivity that storytelling across cultures requires. Rwanda is a place that I have been looking forward to visiting since the start of my work with Word Made Flesh, and Cami is the perfect guide to learn alongside. I hope to deepen my friendships with the local WMF Rwanda staff, grow new friendships, capture stories that celebrate the beauty and love in Kigali, and gain a deeper understanding of poverty issues.

I’m hoping to raise $1,500 to help cover the cost of this journey. If you feel moved or inspired to support me and the work of Word Made Flesh Rwanda, I would be honored to have you partner with me. Just a small donation will go a long way to helping me meet my goal. Thank you so much for being a part of this. Please pray for me as I prepare my heart for this experience.

With love, Emily