Pastor Martin Johnson at Cafe Rwanda
On an unseasonably cold and rainy Friday night in Wheaton, Illinois, All Souls’ hosted a Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee – “Drink a Cup and Do Good” event at the Wheaton Grand Theater. In addition to the coffee, crafts and clothing from Amani ya Juu —a micro-enterprise program for women in Africa—were sold to the eager and highly-caffeinated crowd. Over 7 gallons of coffee had been served to the public by the end of the program. In all, forty-eight bags of coffee and over $1,400 of Amani products were sold.

Beyond the commerce, Café Rwanda was about building relationships within our church, in our community, and with our brothers and sisters in Africa. A diverse group of volunteers from All Souls’ served in many capacities, from selling and brewing the coffee to handing out flyers on the street. Many church members, including a pack of our Pioneer Girls, brought a fantastic array of baked goods as a gift to our guests.

A steady stream of people strolling through downtown Wheaton came by to enjoy the coffee and browse the unique Amani products. The Wheaton Grand Theater provided a wonderful backdrop for the event as a symbol of rehabilitation in the community.

Three Rwandan expatriates visited with us to share in the celebration, providing a constant reminder that we were there because of our connection to the people in Africa. Many of the All Souls’ volunteers were able to spend time with these men, hearing their stories and sharing our hopes and visions for the future.

Explore Rwandan Coffee

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