Hi everyone. It is a miracle that I am writing to you right now. If you knew the trouble we are going through… man!
We have had an amazing amount of “problems”. Some of them include, but are not limited to:
- O’Hare didn’t show our reservation to Kigali and it took an hour and a half to check in.
- Kim Kopeski (flying in from DC) could not get a boarding pass printed out at O’Hare because of a computer glitch.
- Our flight ran 1 ½ hours late into Belgium and our connecting flight was boarding when we landed in Brussels!
- In Kigali, we waited for our luggage…. THIS IS THE KICKER! And guess what? Not a single piece came! That is right… 8 bags were loaded at O’Hare and not one came through.
- We had to go into town at midnight last night and shop for some clothing to wear to church. And then the electricity went out!!! So we had to shop by candlelight.
I am literally writing to you in an internet café (because our internet is not working at the house). And of course, I am borrowing clothes from the smarter person who packed a few things in a carry on (ANGELA)! So! Needless to say, I am limited in what I can share with you because I am limited.
We had a great day today. We visited a church in Nybasiga. It was a great first time experience for our team and there were over 10 sponsored families in attendance. We were able to interview many of them. They are doing so well and they are so grateful for the help provided from the U.S. donors.
The Rwandan people are so welcoming. “Caribu” is the word for welcome and I have heard it more than 10 times just today. The people are so beautiful and they try so hard to please you. They give their very best.
Today we were at the church and asked to have an opportunity to meet with the families. The pastor opened his home to us and we used it as the meeting place. But before we got there, the family had prepared an entire meal for us. They had a brown hard boiled egg, two bread buns (that I saw had blue spots of mold) and two bananas each. They also served tea. Before we came in they poured warm water on our hands so that we could wash. It was a kindness that few American’s have experienced first hand. I am glad that our team had the opportunity.
The highlight of my day was listening to the stories of our families. Where there was starvation, there is fullness; where there was torn rags, there are colorful church clothes; and where there was discouragement, there is hope.
It is a huge difference from last year. So many smiles and hugs. There was one old woman dressed in red and white who stopped us as we walked into the crowded church. She stepped up in front of me, despite the whole pomp and circumstance and pulled me close with tears in her eyes. “Marakuze” which is thank you. “Thank you from Rwanda and thanks be to God for bringing you to us”.
We had a chance to speak at church. Ben, Jake and I. It was short but sweet. However, Ndugu our director had a chance to share the gospel and 7 people accepted Jesus as Savior. God has been so good to let us enjoy this despite our oppositions!
And with that I close. The adventure has just begun. Pray for us. We are hoping that all of the bags are found in Brussels perhaps. We have so many things for the families that are now lost. I cried deeply over that when we arrived. But I know that God is in control. Pray with us because many of you know how important it is to bring the life saving medicines, technology, family gifts, etc. that are now somewhere in the world other than here!
Much love,
No comments:
Post a Comment