Hello friends!
My team and I have now been in Rwanda for a little over a week and a half. In that time, we have built relationships with the street children who run up to greet us everyday, preached to the church, named a newborn baby, and ministered to HIV-positive hospital patients, single moms, genocide survivors, and village kids. It’s been so, so, so good.
Rwanda is a beautiful country, full of friendly people who have welcomed us in with open arms. We can’t walk down the street without being greeted by strangers and having a million kids run up to hug us and ask us “how are you?” My hands are a valuable commodity, and I once had two little girls get in a fist fight over who would get to hold them. My hair is another topic of fascination, and the kids love to braid it, play with it, and pull at it. Rwandan church is the happiest place I’ve ever set foot in, with lots of singing, dancing, and shouts of “hallelujah!” After service, every single person in the building comes up to greet us and give us a hug. (Also, the kids are way better dancers than I could ever dream of being. It’s totally unfair.)
Our weeks are full, and more than I could have ever asked for. During the week, we get to deliver sermons, spend time with single moms and widows, visit and preach to hospital patients, pray for the people and country of Rwanda, and do a whole lot of kid’s ministry. The joy of the Lord is so evident everywhere you go here, and I see the way His hope and truth and love is spreading among a people who are so open to receive it.
Last Friday, we visited the hospital for the first time. The first room we stepped into had two newborn babies and their moms. One of the moms told us she was a born-again Christian, and asked us if we would like to name her baby. My team leader Abi named him Samuel, after the son of Hannah in the bible. We prayed over her, and her baby. Afterwards, she invited us to her church. I walked away from them feeling so thankful for the God who, despite unlikely circumstances, brought us together for a divine encounter in that hospital room. Afterwards, our ministry host informed us that we would be preaching to a group of HIV-positive patients. My teammate Janie talked about the joy that comes through faith, no matter what circumstances you may be facing. After her talk, eight people came up to us to ask for prayer, and to tell us that they had met and accepted Jesus for the first time that day.
God is good, and He is at work here in Rwanda. I am so blessed to get to take part in it, and to be His instrument here. I have seen Him at work in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and now in this country. I believe that He has so much more that He wants to show me, and so much more that He wants to do through me in Nepal and the Philippines. In order to continue on the World Race, I need to raise about $3,500 by the end of December. If you feel called to donate to my race, you can do that right here through this blog. Thank you for all the love and support thus far… Through you guys, my team is bringing people into the Kingdom. Thank you thank you thank you.
For the Kingdom,
Ellen
