I saw a little piece of the world these past few weeks, and the sight has made my heart sing out in joy and gratitude.

I went on a mission to a village in Rwanda on the great African continent. I visited the headquarters, warehouses, seed labs, and nurseries of One Acre Fund, an agricultural (NGO) non-governmental organization.

I was introduced to One Acre Fund fifteen years ago, two years after its founding. I empathized with the cause - to stop the cycle of extreme poverty and hunger. I was intrigued by the concept - to make micro-loans of seed, fertilizer, and training for some of the world's poorest people who, ironically, were farmers who didn't have enough to eat.

I was impressed with the instant success - 98% of those enrolled in the program became self-sufficient within one growing season, re-paying their loan, and, for the first time, having extra food on their table and money in their pockets.

The extra money was almost always spent wisely and mostly on their children. Mothers and fathers were able to send their children to good schools, they could afford health care, and they would buy a goat or a cow for fresh milk.

For fifteen years, I supported One Acre Fund by raising money that would be used as working capital to grow the reach of their highly successful programs. I read the annual reports - facts and figures, first-hand accounts by the farmers, and impact statements attesting to the growth and well-being of all those involved.

I knew the numbers. This little organization that began as an experiment in 2006, now employs approx. nine thousand people in rural areas and serves almost five million farmers. For every $1 raised, it comes back to the organization more than two-fold at $2.70 return on investment, creating over 250 million dollars of farm profits.

But, what I didn't know was how the work of One Acre Fund really touched the people we serve. And, that's what I felt, when I traveled the countryside of the "Mother Continent," the oldest inhabited continent on Earth.

I'm sharing some pictures from my travels. I hope you find them interesting and inspiring. Thank you for your patience in my absence. Thank you to all of you who wished me well. I used to scoff at people who would say, "Life is a journey." Now, I understand.

Journey on, as you face your challenges, as you reach out to help others find their path and their way. Know, that God put you on Earth to make friends, to love family, and to grow in your service to humankind. SEE ALL PIX!

Susan Diamond