Our story

Imuhira Heza exists because of Relationships and Faith.

Even as an orphan, BONEKO Bonaventure had faith that he had a Father in Heaven who loved him, so when he felt God promise to give him an earthly father, he believed. Boneko also had faith in God’s promise that He would use him to care for widows and orphans, even though it seemed totally impossible because he was an orphan himself, begging for survival with his widowed mom. Another promise that Boneko held on to was that God would provide a “bridge” for him to connect him with others who would join him.

Meanwhile, God was preparing Rick, just a regular guy far away in Canada (which uniquely shares a birthday with Burundi), to be Boneko’s “special father.” At a young age, God had already planted in Rick’s heart a fascination of world cultures which led him to live and work as a teacher in places such as Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Cambodia. While there, Rick’s heart was moved to compassion for those he saw in desperate need, and so naturally he wanted to fix everything for them. But through listening to them and learning from other resources (such as: Forest in the Seed, Helping Without Hurting, Poverty Cure, and Missions Dilemma) he discovered that God is not calling people to “fix the poor,” but simply be with them in genuinely close relationships, and invest in them by serving them as they are led by God, who alone is their Saviour.

When Rick met Boneko online in 2020 while researching the Burundi refugee situation, he was struck by his humility and generosity, as he was so eager to help, never asking for anything in return. This young Burundian used what little he had to help others around him; his faith was obvious. But so was his creative resourcefulness, transparent honesty, entrepreneurial imagination, his visionary leadership, and especially his prayerful and humble obedience to Jesus. He had already bought a tiny plot of land with his own funds on which he planned to build a home for widows and orphans. But when Boneko suggested that Rick might be the father God had promised him, the deflating response was, “No, I’m sorry, you have the wrong guy. I’m just an art teacher, I know nothing about orphans and widows. I can’t be that person.”

But the Holy Spirit did not let Rick’s heart rest. He pointed out to him how often people had spoken prophetically of his “father’s heart” and He reminded him of when he had felt the notion that he was “supposed to be a bridge.” Rick let go of his fears, and the two began to meet regularly online to simply share life together – encouraging each other, getting to know each other’s families, celebrating weddings and childbirths, comforting each other during trials, and especially praying for each other. They discussed ideas of how God’s Kingdom can grow through the lives of widows and orphans, and it was during one of these times of praying together, they felt God give them the name – Imuhira Heza – Kirundi for “Home of Majesty.” It seemed right that the home should be more than just a place where a few widows and orphans are housed and fed. Imuhira Heza should be a light shining out truth in the dark that in God’s Kingdom, everyone is raised up in dignity to full life.

Then one day, while Rick was sharing with his wife and four sons about Boneko, one of them said, “I want to give my tithe to help him.” This was different, a new depth in the relationship for Rick. Boneko had never asked for a single cent, but what would he do with all that money? Will this create dependency? Will this help him or hurt him? These were honest questions. Questions the Holy Spirit was quick to answer with more questions: Do you see anything good in such naïve faith? Are you willing to risk being foolish to help another? Can you let go of control? Will you trust Me? And so the funds were sent abroad.

The next day, Rick received a photo showing the cash Boneko had picked up, and a few days later more photos of a trench being dug, bags of cement on bicycles, truck loads of bricks. Within the week a foundation was being laid. While the world had seemingly come to a standstill due to Covid, this young man began building a home for widows and orphans in one of the poorest nations on earth. This had to be God… It is God.

The foundation sat for a few months, and as Rick and Boneko prayed for God to raise up more supporters, Boneko planted a garden in which he grew vegetables to bring to others who had little or no food. Gradually others gave and construction continued. In 2021, the Great Commission Foundation agreed to partner with Imuhira Heza so that donations could be tax-deductible, and more funds were raised allowing construction to finally be completed. Finally, on June 20, 2022, two widows and thirteen orphans moved into Imuhira Heza to become a family of two moms and thirteen children.

Sadly, Burundi’s history of civil strife has made it difficult for people to trust each other and work together to move beyond survival and thrive as united communities, so Boneko’s life of sacrificially serving the poor stands out as an enigma. But trust and support for the home is growing gradually as the Light of Love shines. The government has also watched Imuhira Heza develop, and they are supportive, even ensuring the home remain a place of purity and integrity. So, they have told Boneko that the boys and girls must live in separate homes since they are not siblings by birth. And so in 2023, enough funds were raised to purchase of a new plot of land and begin building the two new homes, and the family was able to move in March of 2024.

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Boneko’s own family has also grown. In 2021, he met Sarah Theresa NISHIMWE and they were married on April 20, 2022. On Jan 27, 2023, their first child was born – Prince Darin BONEKO, named after Rick’s youngest son in honour of the relationship between the two families, and Eva Sheilagh BONEKO was born on June 25, 2024. It is this family togetherness that allows God to build His Kingdom according to His Design while at the same time revealing what it is all about – being together in love while trusting Him to be our Father, giving us what we need for fullness.