My team and I are currently located in a small village outside of Nyagatare, Rwanda where we are doing ministry with a local church and hospital. On our first full day in Rwanda, my friend Shania and I decided to take a little walk around the village and get to know the place. As we were walking, many people stopped and stared, obviously taken back by the two white girls sauntering through there village, but that didn’t stop anyone from greeting us with a nice warm “hello”. As we walked, we found a well where people from the village come every morning to fill up huge yellow jugs of water. Kids as young as the age of three carry these huge jugs up the steep hills to ensure their families have water. As Shania and I watched, we decided to give some of these kids the break they deserved. We found two little boys and asked if we could help. They happily agreed, and our adventure began.
As we walked up the dirt road, arms aching from the weight of the yellow jugs, the little boys pointed us in the direction of their home. This village is made up of rolling hills as far as the eye can see, which made carrying these hugs jugs a little challenging. We saw herds of long horns being shepherded by boys about 5 years old and huge corn fields along the way. When we pulled up to their house four children bolted outside to give us enormous hugs. To our surprise, the children spoke excellent english and quickly invited us into their home. Teta, the little girl, is 12 years old and was sporting a pair of Toms shoes (nice to know that the company actually gives back like it advertises). She pulled out her English folder and showed all the words that she had been learning in school. We came to an agreement that for every English word we helped them with they would teach us a word in there native language. I now know about four words in Kinyerwandan and use them any chance I have. After we studied for a bit the children wanted to show us around their home. Their home is made up of three hens, a bunch of baby chicks, one dog, three cows, and four children: Teta, Mutesi, Manzi, and Coran. While sitting and talking we heard a voice come from the distance- “My white people… Welcome!”. We later learned that it was their oldest brother Coran coming in for the day with his three cows. He insisted that we come and pet his cows. He also insisted that we take one of the cows for his hand in marriage, which was an offer we politely declined. After petting the cows for a bit we went back over to there house to sit. The house is a traditional village home made of dirt bricks, dirt floors, and a few rooms. It was small, but undeniably cozy. The children were so sweet and had smiles plastered across their faces for the duration of our visit. As it came time for Shania and I to leave, the children insisted that we take a gift. That gift was a live chicken. Shania and I agreed that we had to take the hen as evidence of the amazing encounter we had just had. So the two white girls carried a chicken across the village back to our home where it has been living for the past week and a half. Our ministry host was so excited about the hen, and has been taking great care of it.
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Although it was a funny story, I actually learned a lot through our encounter with the village kids, the cows, and a hen. First of all, my hand in marriage is worth a whole lot more than one cow. More importantly, giving is so much more fulfilling than receiving. These children barely had anything but found it so important that we take the chicken. As much as we tried to leave it with them they would not take no for an answer. This is the type of life I want to live. I still love presents, but there is something about giving, no matter how little, that makes you feel a better inside. Even when I feel like I have nothing to offer, I need to give and not take no for an answer. Give until it hurts, and then give some more because that’s the life that God wants us to live. It was such an important lesson for me to learn, especially during the holiday season.
We’ve visited their home every day that we can since then. Every time, we learn something new and build stronger relationships with the children. I can’t wait to see what the future holds with them.
Thank you so much for reading my blog! If you’re feeling called to donate you can do so through this website! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers over the rest of this crazy adventure. HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM AFRICA!!!
Funny things that have happened
1.We packed 20 people into a 12 passenger van.
2. If you ask someone how they’re doing here there response is always ALWAYS “ I am fine.”
3. A child peed on one of my teammates.
4. We were attacked by all these huge bugs the other night. Fortunately they don’t sting or bite.
5. Instead of saying that we’re well dressed or look pretty the locals say “you look smart.”
