This house in Rwanda became our home on February 5th. Our host, Fatia, picked us up from Kigali, the capital, and traveled 3 hours north with us to her village where we have been serving for the month. This house is home to so many, and even those that don’t live here know they can come for a meal and fellowship. This includes everyone from her late-husband’s old work friends, people from the church, and hungry street children.
Yohana (English name: John) helps with Fatia’s ministry and has been translating for us this month. Translating quickly turned into teaching and befriending. We love John. He is a dedicated church member and sings (and dances) in the church worship band and is passionate about education. He will be graduating in May and then hopes to go back for his Master’s degree. We spend most of our time with John and he puts up with our shananigans without judgement.
Two women we have met at our Rwandan home are Kabetesi (English name: Jackie, pictures with baby Sifa) and Mukankanza (English name: Josiana, pictured in the yellow dress), who is a genocide survivor with a beautiful testimony. They have two of the biggest serving hearts I have ever seen. They serve us so we can continue to serve the Lord. They prepare all of our meals, wash our dishes, and hand wash our laundry, all on top of keeping the house clean and feeding themselves, their children, and everyone else who lives here and comes for meals. These girls are so funny and loving. They speak as much English as I speak kinyarwandan, but we help each other and laugh in the process of learning “Ndagukunda cyane,” (I love you so much) and “Yesu ashimwe” (praise Jesus)!
Three of our new friends with the most giggles are Prince, Plants, and Sifa, ages 10, 5, and 8 months. There is never a dull moment here.
These people have filled this house with love (“urukundo”) and become family extraordinarily quickly. I have faith we will see each other sooner rather than later, or as my new friends have taught me, “Turasubira!”
Please keep our new family in your prayers, especially for Fatia’s ministry, that Josiana finds work, and John is able to pursue his Masters.
More to come about this month’s ministry!
