RWANDA | Kanombe
Our main minstry this month has been working with Pastor Ettienne’s church Deliverance Temple in Kanombe. Like I said before two of us preach everynight and then four speak on Sunday. Pastor has also been taking us around to see schools, other churches, hospitals, and even talk on the radio. But amongst the craziness of all of this we still managed to pick up another ministry on our own involving the kids on the streets. It was never something that we decided to do it kinda came to us. Starting with our very first morning out, two young girls came to greet us. After that first day, every time we walk by their alley they would run out to give us huge hugs. At first it was just them, and then it became their siblings too, and then almost all the kids that live on that tiny street. Sometimes they would sit with us at church and sometimes they would run back to keep playing, but they were always there. It was impossible to have a bad day after they ran as fast as they could slamming their bodies into yours screaming “Muzungu” (white person). Wearing the same thing they wore the last 5 times you saw them, but grinning from ear to ear all the same. It is hard to even say at times if they were ministering to us or us them.
They had become our little possey for the month and I quite enjoyed having them to hug and hold. But their was no one I adored more than a little boy named Syete (sy-et-ee). We met him one of our first night, he ran into the church with his best lil girl friend Pascalini. Wearing brown shorts and shirts that were intended to be white, He walked in with boldness and character as if he owned the place. After that first week we were able to see him at different points. One of the days, Pastor was with us so were able to speak through him translating. We knew that our predictions of him being a character were right when we asked him how old he was and he said 18, then he said 10, and then finally the correct answer of 5.
Syete, was always able to make me laugh. Whether with his crazy dance moves that he whipped out with any kinda music, or the facial expressions that he was able to immitate. His perfectly white smile amidst his dirty face, clothes, and fingers made me melt.
But, he was not only cute and funny but so kind and loving for his age. No matter which friend he was with he would always prefer them. There was one such occasion when tiny three-year old Pascalini was trying to move one the plastic chairs over to the group and because of her size couldn’t seem to pick it up. So Syete got off his chair and picked up one side as she picked up the other so they could together move it over. Every time we were able to get him so food he would eat some and then run as fast as he could to give the rest to his mom, who we finally discovered was a prostitute.
We realized this, when were able to ask through translator, if he could take us to his home (thinking that he lived on the street seeing that he wore the same thing every day) he excitedly grabbed our hands and said “Let me guide you home.”
It was then that we met his mother and the community of moms and children that he lived with. His house was made of dirt bricks and cement. The entry way covered by a bed sheet. When we went to visit later on, the mom happily guided us in and said proudly “Welcome to my home.” We walked in to see to the left, a small table and benches and to the right another bed sheet sectioning off where Syete slept. Another door led to her room and a kitchen. All approximately the size on my living room at home.
It is hard for me to describe this little boy. I could tell you of the huge sore that is on the top of his head because the candle that they use for light caught his bed sheets on fire while his mom was in the kitchen, or I could tell how every night at church I pray and pray that God would take away the HIV that more likely than not is in his blood stream. I could tell you how he laughs/giggles and doesn’t like taking baths, or how he spits out the toothpaste because it is too spicy. But, I think if I told you everything I might be here all day and I still don’t think you would fully understand why I love this little boy so much.
I just wanted to give you a glimpse of the little boy that stole my heart so that he may steal your heart too!
