Half way into the race…Month 6 Kigali, R w a n d a
Rwanda is known as Land of a Thousand Hills, it is beautiful and the cleanest country we have been to so far. We are staying at a home in one of the villages that is also close to the city. We even have beds to sleep in! I was awaken the other morning around 4:30 a.m to a bunch of song birds like I have never heard before. It was like a dream and brought me so much joy. On occasion a bird or two flys through our window and into our bedroom, freaks me out…
backyard outside my window <3
Our ministry this month has pushed me and allowed me to dig deeper into the scriptures since we are PREACHING everyday. The Rwandans are so hungry for the Word. Each day we go out with one other team member and an escort to a church that could be 5 min. to an hour away, to share the word of God, testimonies, and bring encouragement. I have had the opportunity to share at radio markets, international radio, and countless churches. God has truely graced me and given me strength in each of these moments. He has calmed my heart when it needed to be and given me words when I have had none.
One of the churches we visited.
I'll never forget the first church I went to with my teammate Brooke. We were led up the stairs of a big building in the city one night and into a church room full of believers praying and praising the Lord in the DARK. The power had gone out. Brooke got up and spoke not knowing how many people were even there until the lights came on right before I gave a word.
Rwandans love to worship. Most services are around 3 to 4 hours. It is Spirit filled worship….!We also have been apart of what they call OVER NIGHTS. This is a time for followers of Christ to get together for prayer, healing, dancing, and encouragement. Sometimes they are at a believers home or a church. We leave our house around 10p.m. and stay out until 3a.m. I have had the chance to attend two of them so far. I have watched old grandpas bounce around and dance for Jesus at 2a.m.!!
Also the first week we were here we visited the genocide memorial. It was unreal and is still very fresh in the hearts of the people here. So many people around the world still don't know about the million people who were put to death in this small country. God is moving in a special way here though. I had the chance to get to know one of the girls that helps us out at our house who was abandoned at age 2 during the genocide. She was left by her family and later ended up being taken in by another and treated like an animal. When the war was over, her Muslim family came back and found her hardly alive. The Lord has saved her and she is now a Christian. Please join me in prayer for her family that is still unsaved. It is very hard for her being the only one along with her sister.
It was definately hard being away from home during the holidays. This was the first Christmas I have ever been away from my family but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love having brothers and sisters in Jesus all over the world that celebrate the birth of our King the same way we do.
Christmas Day with our contacts
The Lord gave me a verse for the New Year …"May the Lord make your LOVE increase and OVERFLOW for eachother and for everyone else, just as ours does for you." 1 Thessalonians 3:12
Headed to Uganda next week. I'm getting pumped to raft the Nile and go bungee jumping at some point! LOVEYA!
Rachel
