(Sorry for no pictures, I will post some soon!!)
I’m leaving this month with the same feeling I started with;
nostalgia. I started this month somewhat
homesick, missing family, friends and familiarity. It’s been 7 months now, the longest I’ve ever
been away from home. As the days have
progressed though, I’ve become so in love with my brothers and sisters here in
Rwanda and I’m in a state of denial as I think about how we will be boarding a
bus for a long 50 hour ride to Kenya tomorrow morning. I’m leaving this month with the same feeling
I had boarding the plane from Chicago to Malaysia for our first month of the
Race. Time is flying by! This month has been incredible and there is a
piece of me that is going to be left here forever.
It’s bittersweet, of course.
It’s exciting because we start month eight tomorrow and make our way to Kenya,
but it’s sad because I will have to say ‘goodbye’ to people that have become my
family in a matter of 24 days, not knowing when or if I will get to come back
again or even see these people again. It’s
a hard pill to swallow, but I wouldn’t change this experience for the world.
I was super blessed this month to stay in one place, so I’ve
been able to build strong bonds with the family we have been staying with. Pastor Moses, his wife and his three children,
the women living here, Pastor Paul, as well as the others we’ve met through the
family, have been a huge blessing. The
ministry Pastor Moses leads here is absolutely astounding. We had the opportunity to be a part of the
preaching in the church, door-to-door ministry and sharing in the women’s
sewing class in the mornings, but Pastor Moses’ ministry goes far beyond these things. The way he serves others and sacrifices his
own needs for others is beyond me! His
faith and servant’s heart have inspired me to lead the same type of life he
lives for the Lord.
Pastor Moses’ church is filled with people, all with stories
that have a theme of victory in the midst of struggle and challenge. A large portion of the congregation is made
up of young people, most that consider Pastor Moses as a father figure in their
life. Some even call him and his wife ‘Mom’
and ‘Dad’! There are so many youth that
Pastor Moses and his family support financially in more than one way. I have heard stories of how he is seen as
more than just a pastor for most people and how he is so willing to provide
food and clothing for those in need. He
has blessed so many young people with the opportunity to attend school here in
Rwanda, something that is considered a commodity for some. Most families are in a tough place of needing
to provide for their family and are not given the opportunity or resources to
be able to attend school (but desperately desire to). Pastor Moses has made that dream come true
for a lot of these teens, as he’s experienced what it’s like to be a street kid
in his own life. There were moments when
he lived off of sugar cane to keep himself alive for all three meals because he
had no other option. The man has a
legendary story as to how he was saved by the Lord! Pastor Moses isn’t in this thing we call life
for his own purpose. He’s in it for
others and a Cause much greater than himself and it is obvious through his
heart stance and actions.
Tomorrow will feel close to what it felt like on September 3rd
when I gave hugs to my family and friends as I boarded the plane in Phoenix. Although I have to leave Rwanda, the bonds I’ve
built here will never end. Rwanda has
become home to me and as Pastor Paul would say, I will forever be a Rwandan
from America! I DO, however, look
forward to what is ahead – KENYA! The 50
hour bus ride though? Not so much. 🙂
We will be traveling to Uganda for a mini-debrief where we
will spend Easter together as a squad. I’ll
then head to Eldoret, Kenya with Tommy for two weeks to spend our time with two
teams, then to Nairobi for a week and then the last week remains unknown before
8 month debrief! Prayers for continued
safety with travel and our time in Kenya is more than appreciated! Love you guys!
