Former Portland Trail Blazers and current Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Blake and his wife, Kristen, recently went to Rwanda to meet with a young girl that they had sponsored through their church. Kristen Blake chronicled the trip in a piece for NBA.com. ------------------------------- Many years ago Pastor Charles Buregeya, founder of Africa New Life Ministries, came to speak at our church in Portland, where we live in the offseason. Pastor Buregeya is a native of Rwanda and his ministry aids in the rebuilding of a country devastated by genocide. He brought bios of children from Rwanda waiting for sponsors, and Steve and I signed up to sponsor a little girl named Divine. For years our family wrote and received letters, sent gifts, watched short videos of our sponsored child, and faithfully sent our money, each time hoping it made a difference. Last year we were asked if we might like to go with the next team to Africa and meet our child. Steve and I began to contemplate the idea. There were so many questions and concerns ranging from adding more travel to Steve's already packed schedule, to leaving our children for so long since I have never left them for more than a few days. At first we dismissed the idea, but it wouldn't go away and ultimately, we knew we needed to go. We traveled with a team of 30 wonderful people from our church and other local churches, and after several days of airports, planes and baggage, we finally arrived at our new home away from home, the Africa New Life guesthouse. ------------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter