“Mzungu, Mzungu!” I look up and see 3 little kids chasing after us. They are yelling out “white people, white people!” I stop walking, turn around and open my arms. The next thing I know a small little boy jumps into them and I feel as though we are siblings reunited at last. Imana Ishmwe.
I stood in the line waiting for it to be my turn. The sound of young men and woman singing praises to God filled the room. I couldn’t understand a word they said but it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. I was so full of joy and excitement. Finally it was my turn. I stepped in the cold crisp water and took Pastor John’s hand. My life was different now and I wanted to show it to the world. He said a prayer over me and it was in that next moment I was baptized. Imana Ishmwe.
Me! Me! Me! Twenty-nine students all with their hands up and each one begging for me to choose them to come up to the chalk board. I have never in my life seen students so eager to learn. I pick a little girl named Hamissa. Her hair is short, her uniform is covered in dirt and today her shoes don’t match. She walks up to the board grabs our only piece of chalk and writes the letter “A”. Beautiful, I tell her, “Just like you.” She looks up and smiles at me. I give her a hug and she runs back to her desk. I then look back at my class all packed into a tiny room and ask who’s next? Imana Ishmwe.
Her neighbors slowly gather as we sit outside her home and listen to the tragedy she has just gone through. Her face alone tells me she has seen many hard years and her small frame has become weak and brittle. We have come to pray for her. She tells us that her daughter has just died and her son-in-law passed away just two months ago. She is grieving the death of her daughter and now wonders how she will prove for her 5 small grandchildren. She can barely provide for herself, let alone another 5 hungry mouths. Although I know her heart is broken, as I hug her goodbye she looks me directly in the eyes and says “Imana Ishmwe.”
Every day, every encounter teaches me something. Sometimes when I journal at night my hand starts to cramp as I write about the day. Long into the night I’m writing about what my Savior is doing here in Rwanda. And as I open my eyes the next morning I get to experience it all over again in a whole new way.
When street children chase after me I’m reminded of how God is waiting to embrace me even though I’m covered in filth. “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, Abba, Father.” We are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16
When I think back on the memory of my baptism I am overwhelmed with thanksgiving. I had been baptized once before when I was much younger but at the time I didn’t fully understand what I was doing and what God had done for me. Since beginning the World Race, God kept putting baptism on my heart. On July 6th I was baptized at a small church with 25 other Rwandans. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was able to show the world that through Christ I have been risen from death and now waking in a brand new life. I am restored, I am a new creation, I have life! 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 5:10, Romans 6
When I think about my students who have so little but keep pushing forward through every trial in life I know my God protects, strengthens and gives us hope. He is a good God and I see that in each one of my student’s faces. Their desire to learn and sing about God is a beautiful thing. It is what is going to change the country of Rwanda.
The older woman is just one out of the many people I have met this month that teach me how big our God is. He comforts us during our times of trouble and provides strength to those who grow weak. Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, He gives renewed energy. Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men stumble. But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles ‘ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.
I will never forget these experiences. For they have taught me more and more about who our God is. And to that I say Imana Ishmwe (Praise the Lord).
