This is Rwanda.
I walk 15 min up the hill, hop on a bus that drives for about 10 min , walk another 20 min up another hill (Rwanda and her endless hills) and then I’m finally within steps away from turning the corner into the gate.
My heart is racing. I’m already smiling. I know exactly what will happen next. I turn the corner, and eagerly accept the embrace of little ones, dressed in their school uniforms, button-ups and skirts, oh they look so cute. Smiles, lots of smiles and joy, endless Joy.
9am (African time of course) – the kiddos are taking porridge. They eat it like its candy.
10am – we teach the kiddos ABCs, 123s, shapes and colors. We practice writing letters, and numbers, drawing shapes, some of them are so eager to go up to the board. I love watching them write. Some of them concentrate so hard and they want to write their letters perfectly.
11am- RECESS! My favorite. The kids love chasing me around the yard. They also love playing with our hair and taking selfies are always a hit.
Just before school is over, we practice songs. They love to sing “Jesus’ love is bubbling over,” and they enjoy dancing to the “church clap.”
Around noon , we walk some of the kiddos home.
And tomorrow we will do it all over again.
These kids just may be my favorite. Some of the purest souls I’ve ever encountered. Uncontainable joy. Radiant smiles. I’ve never felt more touched by such little humans than they way these kiddos touched my heart.
Rwandan church , yall its lit!
We worship for hours.
My first Sunday , we danced for over an hour and guess what, that was just the opening because we still had the “slower” songs to sing.
Everyone is so happy to be in the presence of God.
I just know He looks down and must be tickled to death to see His people praising Him and LOVING every moment of it.
Oh Rwanda.
Your kids and your people.
How could a country that endured so much death, bloodshed and horror now be one of my favorite places yet?
The Lord’s presence is ever so displayed here.
He’s everywhere in fact.
In the beauty of the scenery painted by the green rolling hills.
In the voices singing praises under a tin roof of church, heard for miles and miles, echoing in the distance.
In our host family’s love and hospitality.
In the peace the people here want, the unhindered forgiveness to move forward and heal together from the past.
In the LOVE, that breathes in and out of this country.
In the smiles of the little humans holding on to me.
He indeed is everywhere.
God is everywhere but I think He lives in Africa, bursting inside of the hearts of the ones who will praise him for hours on end under tin roof on a hot Sunday afternoon.
And Rwanda is so special because despite the past, she still stands.
She decorates the country with her green hills and sunsets.
She lives because God is the center of her heart.
Hate, Death and not even genocide could take that away.
She clothes herself in forgiveness and love sets her free.
Once you meet her, you’ll never be the same.
You’ll leave her country forever changed.
