“Muraho” from Rwanda!
This blog, America meets Africa.
Meet my team’s Rwandan host family, who have gone above and beyond in making their home and ministries ours.
We live in their house in a village outside Kigali. It’s a small house by American standards and there’s no running water (only what is fetched in jugs from a well on 20 minute trips), but it still feels homey. Our first day here, Pastor Innocent told us to think of his home as ours, and that we are family. “Please, yes, I am Dad Africa and Vannessia is Mom Africa” (interpretation: “You have family in America but we want you to think of us as your African family. To us, you are our American children”)
“Dad Africa”
“Pastor Innocent,” as he’s known to the rest of the world, is as sweet as they come. Whether it is asking in his telltale unhurried speech and thick accent, “Kayla, are you fine? How was sleep last night?” or driving us around at late hours to show us the city, his demeanor is disarming and his joy is contagious (adorable). A respected Pastor in the community, he is well-known, and that just means more people get to know his sweet self. He even gave us all Rwandan names to be known by while we’re here (mine, if you’re curious, is “Mutesi”).
Vannessia “Mom Africa”:
A well-known and respected Pastor of her own church about 30 minutes away from Innocent’s, Vanessia’s faith is constantly on display in the public eye. She has her own television spot preaching the house down every Saturday night and it’s not uncommon to see her at breakfast just getting in from recording her radio program that she left for at 4am.
She started a preschool at the church for village children to be educated, and at its opening had 150 applicants for only 28 spots. This month she has translated for us on many journeys through the village to meet the kids’ families and see where they live and what needs may be there.
It is not uncommon for her to sleep in her church office overnight when the church and school need her. (Side note, we got to introduce her to peanut butter for the first time, and when all meals are cooked slowly on hot coals in this village, peanut butter is a new GAME CHANGER for her. Go peanut butter.)
Joshua:
A newly 14-year-old (his birthday is today!) that loves Justin Bieber and Chris Brown. He waits for hours after school until we are home to play cards. He will translate for us whenever we need it, and doesn’t mind being our designated cockroach shooer-awayer (direct quote, from Joshua to the massive cockroach in our room: “Out Devil, out! Fire fire fire!!”)
I may or may not have watched the Lion King with him, and so far, we’re pretty even at card games. He’s an insanely cool host brother. I kinda want to smuggle him home with me so you all can meet him.
Innocent Jr. “Mucho”
Mucho, Joshua’s little brother, isn’t around quite as much because of school, but he equally loves playing cards and hanging out at the end of the day. Don’t you dare try to walk past the hallway, make eye contact, and not be greeted with “Hi (your name here)!”
A little socialite in training, it’s impossible to sneak past him – but not that anyone would ever want to.
Maria:
Maria cooks delicious food for us and, with a big smile on her face, even insists on washing our laundry. Maria is hysterical, crazy, and loud. An adopted daughter to Vannessia and Innocent, once she picked up a cockroach by its leg and stuck it on the back of a teammate’s neck. Still, I can’t help but smile when one of the first things I hear in the morning is her startling, top-of-the-lungs “GOOD MORNING I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!!”
Lam:
Also as sweet as they come. Lam comes around a lot to help prepare meals for many people on hot coals, one dish at a time. He doesn’t speak much English, and I don’t know much Kinyarwanda yet, but boy, do we try. Our master well water carrier, Lam is an incredibly sweet man who confidently says “I love you!” instead of a more typical greeting as he shakes your hand….or hugs you. Either one.
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Our hosts are different every month. Sometimes we live with them, sometimes they help us find a place to live. Every month our host’s ministry is the cause we come alongside and support every way we can.
This month, our hosts took our team in on faith. They’re currently building a new house to live in right next to Innocent’s church and are being forced out of the one they are renting in fewer than 10 days. Please remember their family in prayer, both for the completion of their house and for Vannessia’s health (she may have recently contracted malaria, but was still preaching in church today about the healing of God).
Stay tuned for more regarding our work with this family and their ministry.
Love always,
Kayla
