Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna LaCore.
Hi Anna, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
During the spring of 2014, I made the decision to quit my pursuit of an early childhood education degree at UMD without a clear picture of where my life was heading next. Prior to this, I had worked in the area of children’s ministry at my local church for 5 years. I had a deep passion to see children given opportunities to develop into the healthy, flourishing human beings they were created for. That summer of 2014, I made my first trip to the continent of Africa. While in Uganda, I met two men from Uganda’s southern neighbor, Rwanda. As I listened to tiny pieces of their own stories and the story of Rwanda, as a whole, I felt a strong call to be in Rwanda. I didn’t know why, but couldn’t deny the call was there. Upon my return to Duluth, I read every book I could get my hands on covering the topic of Rwanda and continued to pray about when and why I might visit. In the summer of 2016, I officially planned to step foot in the country. The lead up to that trip was terrifying. I had never traveled internationally alone and was a person who tended to be overcome with fear. Additionally, I have battled an auto-immune disease since I was young. I wondered how I was going to manage being alone in a foreign country if something happened to my health. This and many many other worst case scenarios plagued my mind. However, the invitation from God to go was stronger than the fears. Prior to my departure I made a couple connections with individuals I could possibly learn from while there. These were local people who were doing ministry with children. One of those people was Antoine, the pastor of The Vineyard Church of Rwanda. My intent on that first trip was to learn the culture, develop relationships, and explore where God might be leading me. On a planned month long trip, I didn’t expect to have a clear picture of that leading within the first few days. Yet, three days in Antoine invited me into an adventure I never imagined would one day lead to Rooted Oaks International. He showed me around his community, expressing the need for children to have an opportunity to gain an education. So many children were roaming the streets when they should have been in school. Their families couldn’t afford the school requirements, therefore, they went without. This broke Antoine’s heart and he invited me to partner with him, The Vineyard Church of Rwanda, and The Vineyard Nursery School to bring some release of this pressure parent’s faced to get their children in school. That first trip, in 2016, we started Bana Munsange Ministries which changed names to Rooted Oaks International in 2022. We started with the goal of seeing 10 children in school through the matching with advocates in the USA and Canada willing to invest in their education with a monthly donation. Today, we have 130 children in school through the investment by these advocates. In 2022, we also expanded to offer adult education which includes literacy classes and vocational training in the area of sewing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It most certainly has not been smooth. The first obstacle being connecting with and learning a culture completely different from my own. I passionately believe that to go into any new culture you must go with a learner’s attitude. This presented numerous challenges. That first trip I was uncomfortable 99.9% of the time which assaults one’s insecurities. Being able to learn from the people and culture around me not only about their lives, but to also have to address my own insecurities and weaknesses has been a continuous challenge. I wouldn’t trade any of it though. Over these almost 9 years I continue to learn more of the beauty within the culture of Rwanda and at the same time am learning to grow where I am weak and strong, to let go of my insecurities and step deeper into the person God made me to be. Our vision at Rooted Oaks International is to empower lives of splendor. We desire to see every person who comes in contact with our ministry, whether in Rwanda or abroad, to be empowered to step deeper into living that life of beauty and splendor they were made for. This has included my own journey of living into that person I was made for. That takes learning, failing and getting back up and moving forward, over and over again.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the co-founder and USA Director of Rooted Oaks International. I oversee all of the functions of the non-profit here in the US. I am most proud of (and thankful for) the people who have volunteered their time, giftings, and resources to grow this ministry. While I co-founded this ministry in 2016 with Antoine, the pastor of The Vineyard Church of Rwanda, we have had numerous people who have truly made it develop into what it is. People here in the USA, Canada, and Rwanda. I think a value of ours that we truly live into is the importance of healthy relationships. Our main goal is not just to grow to more and more children and families impacted. The need is great and we want to impact more families, but quantity is not our main aim. We are much more passionate about quality. We want to develop healthy relationships and support systems with the families in our community. To be there for them through the challenges poverty throws at them. Additionally, we desire to grow the relationships between advocate and family. It is so much more than a monthly financial investment. We desire to see those relationships grow with a love and respect for each other’s lives and cultures. We do this through letter writing and occasional options to travel to Rwanda.
My own community, here in Duluth, has played a monumental role in this organization growing into what it is today. Their support and investment has been the thing I am most proud and grateful for.
How do you think about happiness?
Being with the children and families in Rwanda. Since I oversee the USA functions I am based in the USA. I try to get to Rwanda at least once a year and those weeks fill my cup with so much joy. To get to see the children learning in school, laughing with their friends, teaching me a little bit more of their local language, dancing, and being healthy children. That makes me beyond happy. One of my favorite activities I do while I am in Rwanda is home visits. This is an opportunity to meet (or reconnect with) the families of the children within our ministry. It is a time to learn a little bit more about their the challenges and joys that fill their lives. While in Rwanda I also get to strengthen my relationships with my friends within and without of Rooted Oaks International. There is no better way to learn about a culture than to be immersed in it. Each trip I learn a little bit more about Rwanda. I love this!
While I am here in Duluth, it is spending time with my nieces and nephews. Additionally, it is being in the beautiful nature surrounding us. I enjoy hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail or any of the other incredible trails we have.
Pricing:
- $40 is the monthly donation of child advocates
- $80 is the monthly breakdown per student for our sewing school
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rootedoaksint.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedoaksint/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rootedoaksint/
