We are now in Rwanda! With the hardships of adjusting to last month in Uganda, Rwanda is quite the oasis. God knew exactly what we needed to rejuvenate our bodies and our spirits. We are living in the capital city of Kigali which is highly westernized, meaning real toilets, a coffee shop, grocery store with choices, television and traffic signals. It was honestly a bit of a culture shock when we first arrived. I think they're progress was a little unexpected, given the atrocities that occurred not all that long ago. The other night, my team and I watched the movie Hotel Rwanda to remember what the country has been through. I had never seen it before. It broke my heart, made me want to throw up and cry all at the same time, just knowing all of that happened. Knowing I've driven the same streets. Knowing I see the faces of people who lived through that time everyday here. To be honest, I got upset after watching that movie. With mankind. and with God. It was such an abrupt reminder of how disturbed and distorted the human heart can become. And begged the question of how could God let that happen?
This is the first month we have really been able to watch the news, and seeing the unrest in the world makes me ask the same question sometimes. How could You let this happen?? It changes much of my perspective, thinking I was living uncomfortably for a few months, when I'm not fearing for my safety or worrying about what I am going to eat. a loving slap in the face. I have to find peace in the fact that ultimately God is in control. That ultimately the battle has been won. But even still, the importance of this journey becomes greater. In making known the path of Life. of Freedom. of Redemption.
This month my team and I are working with Pastor Innocent and his family. Pastor Innocent cracks me up. He tells us that he loves us everyday, and for some reason, calls me "Jackie" roughly 50% of the time. In the mornings, we are teaching at his nursery school. Mostly the alphabet, reading and a basic mathematics, in order to get the kids ready to enter primary school. In the evenings, we attend and speak at church services. The services are lively and so full of the Spirit. On Sundays, whoever is speaking at the service also does a radio broadcast with Pastor at around 6am which reaches around 4 million people and can be heard as it is being broadcast over the internet anywhere in the world! (http://www.radioflashonline.com click on the gorilla with headphones. The next program will be Oct. 23rd, 10pm central time.) It's going to be a great month! and so hard to believe that we only have three more weeks in Africa! God is good. All the time.
