Ever since Kristen Van Cleave was eight years old, she has wanted to be a missionary and dedicate her life to helping those in need.

It is a calling from God, she said, and it has taken her to the unlikely country of Rwanda, a small nation tucked away in the heart of Africa.

The country is amazing. The people are really, really friendly. Everyone is really worried because of the 94 genocide, but I felt really safe, Van Cleave said. The kids are just fun to hang out with.

Van Cleave has visited Rwanda twice on missions through Home of Hope, based in Alberta, Canada, and is already planning a third trip.

A center on the Blue Mountain Community College womens basketball team, Van Cleave was recently able to help several children in Rwanda buy new clothing after her team raised money by selling wreaths.

That was all Christy Martins idea, Van Cleave said. While I was (in Rwanda last summer), I was kind of keeping in contact with her. She was talking to me on Facebook and she was like, Oh, itd be cool if we could help out.

Van Cleaves grandmother, Nancy Pankratz, found seven orphans in Kigali, Rwanda that could benefit from new clothing and the team donated $300, which bought each child multiple outfits.

They saw a swimming pool, and the kids, I dont think they had seen a swimming pool in their lives, Van Cleave said. For, like, $29 they bought all seven of them swimming suits and they got to go swimming for the day. That was cool.

Van Cleave might never have fallen in love with Rwanda if not for the disappointment of losing out on another mission opportunity that was canceled.

I was really bummed. Then my grandparents were over (in Rwanda) for four months with Home of Hope, Van Cleave said. I was 16 so I couldnt go by myself. My brother was 18, and I was like, Hey Nathan, you should come, itll be fun.

She had never heard of Rwanda before, but her two-week stay in Dec. 2007 proved to be a life-altering experience.

I couldnt wait to go on a missions trip, Van Cleave said. God opening the door to Rwanda was really cool.

During her visit to Africa this year, Van Cleave also stopped in Kenya for a week and said she was surprised by the differences between the two countries.

It was a lot different. It was a lot darker. So Rwanda really showed how fun the people were, she said. I have a lot of friends in Rwanda. I just fell in love with it.