This is a blog of my mom’s experience when she met me in Rwanda at PVT. Thank you Lord for such an AMMAAZZIINNGGG opportunity for my mother to experience what I’ve been experiencing for the last year of my life.
So Enjoy!!
It’s been a few weeks out after returning from PVT with India. She asked me to write a blog on my experience in Kigali, Rwanda on the African continent. Well let’s face it, I’m not a writer, I don’t even journal. I mentioned that when she’d asked me to do this. She asked why not, I told her I don’t want anyone reading my thoughts and feelings. She said “mom you have to share your journey”. I agreed to do it but not without hesitation. You see I didn’t want to go when I learned the trip was to Rwanda. It was to far away… too out of my comfort zones, not knowing what to expect, but something was tugging at me to accept the invitation. The voice inside kept saying “say yes”… it wasn’t India’s voice though, it was God.
When I stepped off the plane in Africa, this feeling came over me. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck and arms stand up and so much overwhelming emotions I started to tear up. You see I had stepped onto the Mother Land… the place my ancestors had been taken from. What an emotional beginning to my journey.
So I’m completely out of my comfort zone, there’s no hot showers, no hot water, but a cold bucket shower. Wow! My child has been doing this for months and has adapted. I can too.
Then the next day comes and we are assigned to work in one of the villages building a road. Oh no! What have I gotten myself into? But I adapt and do what I was there to do. I met these wonderful people who have so little or nothing… but what they do have is love for God and joy for life. I was blown away. I realized I’m blessed beyond measure to have met them and helped them improve their surroundings. So for a couple of days I’m helping to build a road for the people in Musiga. The road will help the water run off during the rainy season, picking and shoveling hard red clay dirt. Who would have thunk it, but I was there doing God’s work with India.
During a trip to church one evening, one of the parents got injured stepping off of the bus. The foot looked really bad and definitely needed medical attention but we all continued with the mission at hand.
On the last day of our trips to the village, we went to help the teachers with the little ones at the school. They were ages 3-5, I think. The racers had been there before helping teach English, read to them or play games. We played games and sang songs with them too. But one of those little angels stole my heart. Little Shema’, big brown eyes( reminded me of India), so innocent and scared to join the other children in the fun and games. I was so drawn to her. I wanted to hold her and let her know she was safe, but she was having no part of that. You see, her teacher said she was afraid of strangers (foreigners). I thought because I looked like her, she would feel safe, but she didn’t. Most the missionaries or strangers the children encountered didn’t look like them, but India and I did. It did take some time for her to warm up to me but she eventually did. She even sat on my lap and let me hug her for a brief moment.
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I was so elated she realized she could trust me. I learned and realized later during my time in Rwanda, the genocide had been only a few short years ago. 20-30 years is not that long ago. I think that may have attributed to some of the awkwardness the villagers felt when they were with us, and not just the children.
I prayed that would never happen to anyone in this world again. “God please protect all of your people.”
I am so proud of India for listening and saying “yes” to God. I had done the same thing which brought me here. I experienced a little of what she was experiencing in another world and was humbled by it.
Now on to the big adventure on safari, yes it was mind blowing. To be in the natural habitat of the animals and see them…WOW! It was amazing to see them walking and running on the plains with their herds. OMG!!! I was awe-struck. I just kept thinking to myself… look at God.
Well the time has come for our last gathering with parents and their racer. Everyone was so emotional because it had been an emotional experience. We had spent the week ministering and praying with our children. India and I had connected on a totally different level. God had allowed me to see her in a completely different light. Thank you Father for allowing this to happen.
Then something unexpected occurred while we were at our last gathering. Some of the racers and parents were testifying about their experiences during the trip and how God had worked in and with them. I was so captured by it all, the Holy Spirit was truly in this place. So, remember I mentioned one of the parents getting injured, she offered her testimony about her experiences of the week. How the power of prayer and faith in God had touched her and healed her. I was so intently listening and feeling the Holy Spirit rise up in me, you see it was then that I realized I had witnessed the power of prayer and God’s healing power. Miracles had taken place and I was there experiencing it right along with the others. India saw that I had gotten it. I starting just balling and India did too. We both realized the miracle at the same time. No way should that have happened without God’s intervention. We prayed together and for each other. Thank you Father in Heaven for letting me hear you. Thank you for gifting me with your child India to raise and for allowing us to be not only mother and daughter but also, sisters in Christ.
I will forever be grateful.
Carmelitta G. Favorite
