Let me begin by saying, Rwanda and its people have a piece of my heart, FOREVER.
This month has been one of restoration, rejuvenation, and relationships.
My team has been so blessed to be at HOPERwanda Ministries. There is such a sweet peace in this place, and quite frankly, after a month of trekking in Nepal, we really needed this sweet space to relax, rejuvenate, and be restored.
Our ministry here has been focused on spending time with the women who live here at Hope and those who come for class during the week. We get to join them in daily devotions and worship each morning (including dance lessons). The ladies take classes in sewing and business so they can sustain their own tailoring business after they graduate. I have even picked up a hobby in sewing now too, that I hope to continue at home.
We also got to bless the 9 women who live here with freshly decorated bedrooms, which are now surrounded in scripture and filled with prayer, praises, and paint.
And sometimes spending time with them means hearing their testimonies and singing songs of worship while they braid our hair. I LOVE when people play with my hair, so it was braided in 15-20 little braids more than once. I have been loved so well here!
Today, was one of my favorites so far. Thanks to our beautiful teammate, Ashley, we got to facilitate a Beauty for Ashes event with all the women. This event was a way to share our stories with each other, and how God is taking our brokenness and replacing it with truth and blessing. Together, we shared our broken pasts, and asked the Lord the truth of where He was during those painful memories. He restored women back to Him today, through testimonies, worship, and praying together. They learned that He was with them, holding them and crying alongside them, even if they couldn’t feel His presence.
This evening, one of the women opened up her heart to me. She invited me to her room and shared with me her complete testimony of how the Lord so passionately called her out of a time of darkness and back into the light of His goodness. She showed me that during the Beauty for Ashes event this afternoon, God spoke to her and showed her that during her most vulnerable time, when she felt so broken and lost, He was holding her in His heart. She pulled out her photo album and shared more of her treasured memories, family, and beautiful life. Then, she humbly gave me a photo of herself as a way to remember and pray for her. Just through this new friend sharing her story, I was so blessed. Listening to her share, I could see how much faith and trust she had in the Lord, and how graciously God worked in her life.
She then gave me a beautiful card of encouragement, which included the following verse:
“You empower me for victory with your wrap-around presence. Your power within makes me strong to subdue, and by stooping down in gentleness you strengthened me and made me great!”
Psalms 18:35 TPT
I was so touched. But still, “I have one more surprise,” she said as she pulled out a brown paper bag… I opened the gift bag to find a brand new pair of sandals. I was so in awe of her thoughtfulness and blessing. I explained to her that I was just saying earlier this week that my flip flops were falling apart and hurting my feet, and since my chacos were stollen in Nepal, I would probably need to get new sandals soon. “How did you know that I needed new sandals? How did you know I was just thinking to go out and buy some tomorrow morning?” I asked. Her response, “The Holy Spirit told me to bless you with shoes.” I was so utterly blessed and amazed at how good God is in working through others to meet our every need. Guys, I did not tell her I needed new shoes. I did not tell her my feet were in pain from what was left of my own flip flops. I did not tell her I was going to buy new sandals that next morning! But God! Holy Spirit knew and wanted to bless me instead.
This is not the first time God has blessed me with a gift through someone that didn’t know my need or desire… but God hears our hearts and cares about the little things we care about.
We ended the day with a movie night and popcorn, watching Cinderella with all the girls, laughing together and hugging one another in this home of peace and restoration.
Here is a short clip of our amazing mornings, worshiping and dancing with the women at HOPERwanda. It was an honor to participate in devotions and worship every morning with these beautiful daughters of the Most High God!
