It has been seven months since I have seen my family while on the World Race. After so many months we are able to invite our parents to come join us for a week on the field for something called, Parent Vision Trip. It’s a time to see our folks and show them a piece of our new lives. Parents get to work along side us as we go to ministry. They fall in love with culture like we do, they take cold bucket showers like we do, worship in the local church, and say the hard goodbyes just like we do. My Mother came to Rwanda recently and got to experience a culture and community I had the joy of living in for a month. I asked her to share her experience on this blog.
Thanks for flying across the world for me, Mom. I love you.
Mom you are invited. I did not know Carla’s yes to ministry would land me in Rwanda. I got the invite! Will you come? Such a simple question deserves a simple answer, but fear grips the heart. I have never flown over an ocean. As I worked my way mentally to my “yes” (the word that sends ripple effects through the life of every one you love), I had a phobic train of thought about flying. “I’ll have to fly over the Atlantic. What if the plane goes down? What if I’m still alive to experience the crash? What if I survive the crash to have water crushing over me? What if I don’t drown? I’ll be hanging on to some wreckage waiting for a boat to find me. What if they don’t find me? The sharks will circle and I will be eaten alive as fish bait. It would be better to die before I hit water. That way I won’t know I’m fish bait.” This entire split second scenario was accompanied by a rise in my heart and breathing rates. Then I thought, If phobia is trying so hard to grip my mind, that evil wall is an indication that I am called to go to Rwanda. In that moment, after my mini meltdown, my YES was to my daughter AND to God! I will go!
PVT meets. After arriving a few days early for personal time, the 50+ parents met at the airport to be bussed to home base. As we arrived at the compound we were greeted by wild hellos from the racers, our children. What a greeting! Even now I tear up thinking of it. One of the best hugs of my life! My housing was shared with 11 women: all new friends. The two bathrooms (with toilets that flushed occasionally after pouring in a bucket of water) and the two showers (that allowed us a place to stand as we poured a bucket of water over us to bathe), were shared with all the racers and the dads. Sufficient and for a limited time. Our racers have adjusted their lifestyles to their environment for 7 months. According to Carla, we were on the Parent Vision Field Trip, and I agree.
Pastor Moses. Rarely do you have the opportunity to meet someone who is an overcomer that has a heart overflowing for those around him. He said YES to God! And a community feels the ripple effects. As a child, Pastor Moses was left homeless with siblings in Uganda. He cared for his siblings somehow and was connected with a woman of God who lead him to Christ. Moses is all in for God. When God called him to Rwanda, he did not want to go. But how could he tell his Lord no? The community in which he lives, and we served, has named itself LOVE. How fitting. Moses was there the entire time, making sure our needs were met. His connection with the leadership and the community is great. His humor, gift of hospitality, love for people and love for the word are unmatched.
Ministry. We served in a small community on the outskirts of Kigali, Carla’s ministry home. These were the kids she taught, the community she lived in, and the pastor who blessed her life. For me it was extra special because I got to walk where she walked.
Our first job; moving dirt with picks, shovels and hoes. Rwanda is a mountainous country and water is it’s main concern. In this case, it was water to drink (which is an issue as many do not have running water), but how do we control the flow of water during the rainy season? The water etches it’s way through the dirt roads and into the fields disrupting whatever is in its path. Here we go, moving dirt by hand building small canals to facilitate water flow.
Such a community! The leaders are all trying to improve their home with the resources available. One racer’s dad specializes in water flow issues and meets with the leaders. Their willingness to be taught is astounding. A ministry is born. Methods of communication are established. Long distance consulting is set and future plans to return and implement phases of development are put in place. If the community chooses, help is established.
Time with the kids at the school was wonderful, but humbling. It’s a community school with volunteer teachers trying to meet the need for education in an impoverished area where kids are not guaranteed an education. And what a job they are doing! Well mannered, fun loving kids who love to give hugs and giggles! The simplicity of the play accompanied by interactive games to reinforce learning English was genius! The need is great! The church and the community struggle to keep the doors open for the school. There is no money for salaries and everyday a teacher chooses between the needs of her family and the contributions to community. These people understand the community and the sacrifice that is needed to better their situation, but are battling everyday to make it happen. The need is great! And they feel it is hard! Oh how my heart breaks for them but treasures the beauty of relationship and community they have established. The church has played a major role in this community and Pastor Moses is the lead.
Hello Mama.I was hugged and greeted with “Hello Mama” by many as Carla introduced me to the people she had been doing life with this month. ‘Hello Mama’ embraced so much. Somehow they captured with a phrase, a smile, and a warm hug how honored I was to be Carla’s mom. But the recognition was even greater. It was a reference to the endearing place a mother has in a family and a community. How do these people communicate so much with so few words?
Rwandan Church. I realized that I was worshiping God with my daughter in Africa! More tears of gratitude flowed. I didn’t know that was a heart’s desire. The word of God and our acceptance and commitment to Christ set the stage for a new family dynamic. Culture can be embraced with these new family members through Christ. I have Rwandan family and I got to dance! The music is loud and the whole church moves to praise and worship their one true God! It was such great fun! No air-conditioning to cool us, but dance we did! And God was there! Prayer, oh those wonderful prayers! Healing happened! Community established! Believers had language barriers, but no barriers in our love of God. I felt connected and a part of these wonderful people.
Successes of ministry:
- On arrival to the village, a racer saw a child with severe burns to his lower arm. Pastor Moses facilitated a meeting with the parents and the child was transported under the care of a world racer to the hospital at the ministries expense. Two days and one surgery later a smiling young boy is released. Doctor said by seeking treatment, infection was prevented and his life was saved.
- 400 bibles are distributed with funds raised by racers.
- At the village school, Blessing, a young boy who was petrified to be around white people (Mzungus) began to have interaction with us. As we allowed him to play with our cameras, to take pictures, he began to allow touch. His shell of protecting himself was slightly cracked and he began to smile. He even allowed us to hand him objects and touch fingers.
- A world racer parent (a RN by trade) broke her foot when arriving at African church. The pain caused her to almost pass out and she could not touch it to the ground. She was carried and sat in a chair at the door of the church. Through prayer, healing happened. She stood and walked into the church. She said, I know how to diagnose broken bones. It was broken and now it is not. But God!
- As Pastor Moses said, “Where do all these Mzungus come from?” A connection of love and caring is made that is overwhelming to some who live locally and service/minister to the daily needs of others. A refreshing knowledge is communicated that they are not alone in the ‘good fight’ of the gospel
It is Hard! Twice this phrase stood out to me. The first time I asked a waitress if we could pray for her. She asked to pray for money to finish college and that life would not be so hard. The second time it was as Pastor Moses told us that the government had placed padlocks on the church. The same church we had worshipped in for two nights. In American terms, new laws and building codes that are impossible for communities to meet because of poverty are being enforced. Organized religious groups were influencing government to prevent growth outside of their religious structure. Another obstacle for the true church of Rwanda. This will be the 6th time Pastor Moses has had to move. He said, It is hard, but he is looking to God’s solution.
The Rwandan People. I found it difficult to believe that a mass genocide happened there in the 1990’s. Over 1 million dead because people groups/tribes turned on one another, all based belief system of lies. Neighbor against neighbor wielding machetes causing gruesome deaths. But even more incredible, the recovery.The Rwandan people see forgiveness as the key to recovery. They place behind them the atrocities of the past and are still healing as a nation. After touring the genocide museum, this is the message that resounded in my mind, forgiveness. This is the basis of Christianity. Our sin against God needs reconciliation. Receiving forgiveness from God acknowledges a wrong/separation that is committed, opening a way for relationship with God. By giving and receiving forgiveness, we allow growth and healing as a son or daughter of God. By forgiving one another (an ongoing process) and allowing the past sins to stay in the past, we walk forward to a better future. This is what I learned from the Rwandan people. The Rwandan people are saying YES to forgiveness, opening the door for great works of God. The harvest is great there and in need of workers. Those who were in exile returned. The government seeing the need for land gave over 2/3s of the national park for farm land/ownership. A neighbor who had more that a few cows gave their neighbor a cow so the family could live. This was done across tribal lines. Healing begins!
My Yes; The Ripple Effect.Life is hard! But God is bigger. Forgive and move forward. Allow the kingdom of God to be established. This is my gift from Rwanda. I said yes and received more than I gave. My prayer is for the ripple effect to touch your life. Step out! Say yes, and see what happens!
Blessings,
Carla’s Mama
Safari on the Tanzania boarder
