Incredible Trip So Far

Hello from Rwanda!

Wow! What an incredible week we’ve had so far. I have learned so much from our time here. We visited a church about 45 minutes away from our hotel, down a very bumpy road, and over many holes and rocks. We all fell in love with this church from the first time we were there. Every time we drove up, kids would run after the van until we got to the church. We helped mortar the church wall, and stack bricks to build a nursery school. The home visits we so inspirational. One of the women we visited was 80 years old and never had a muzungu (white person) in her house before. She also hikes up a mountain to get to the church every week. We heard such inspirational stories, some I will never forget. Today we visited a church not to far from the hotel and did some more house visits.

We met a young man named John, the Baptist, he is 20 years old, an orphan, and takes care of 5 children. We also met a woman, also 20 years old who was raped and now has a 1 and a half year old son, Joshua. She gave up her education to take care of the baby. I have met so many people with such amazing stories. They all have given me inspiration to be a better person, and a better Christian. This has been such an incredible trip, and I have learned so much. I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for us in our last few days of our trip.

See You Soon!!

-Jessica 

Ps. Miss you and love you all at home!!

Hiking to Homes

Today we hiked a lot to get to people’s homes so we can connect to them and meet them.

They were very happy and welcomed us with full hearts. The people we met went through times such as death of a loved one, and being hurt from a loved one. Many of the women we met were widows and one had a husband that was an alcoholic. They shared their stories about coming to Christ and how much that impacted them. They were so honest about themselves when people in America would do everything to hide them. It helped us reflect on how thankful we are just that our parents are alive and for all the things God has given us that we take for granted. The people here welcomed us very warmly and we felt close to each other. This connection was only possible with the help of Jesus. Even though we only met few minutes ago, we still prayed with each other and wanted to give each other joy. I was amazed at this one little boy that fell asleep in my lap during the times of the service. Looking at this boy, I thought that I would never fall asleep in the laps of a foreign teenage girl that I met 10 minutes ago. He reminded me of how warm people are here in Rwanda and how we are able to have a connection even though we live thousands of miles away. 

The youths that we met were very welcoming and friendly. There was a time after introducing ourselves when the pastor asked the youths of the church to say a name of one of the people from America and to lay your hands on them. I was surprised at this one teenage girl that remembered my name and remembered that the name belonged to me. It is difficult for the Rwandans, and even Americans to remember my name, and I felt God again through this girl. It was something that helped us really bond with each other and know that the people here are just like us and have the same problems as us.

We had good reflections on how the Rwandans are influencing us when we came to serve them. It was a good day of experience and learning.

-Danielle

Sharing the Love for God

Today we went to see people from the church’s houses.

It was great to see how happy they got when they would see us walking up to see them. When we went to the preachers house, we gave his wife a gift from America. We gave her a scarf, and just the look on her face was worth hiking all the way to their house. I’ve been noticing that I need to be more thankful everything, even the littlest of things. After lunch we went back to the church to talk to the students. I got a little home sick, and a very sweet 16-year old named Pascal made sure to ask me if I was all right and it made me notice that even though we had only met, you can still care for one another like brother and sister.

At the church, it was a good learning experience for me to see that even though you can live thousand of miles apart, you can still share the same love for your God. Today was an amazing day and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for us for the last few days.

-Katie G.

The Legend of Zelda

Today was an amazing day filled with lots of great experiences.

We started out going to a nursery in Byumba. We met about forty kids that were 3-5 years old. We got the opportunity to go to their classrooms and teach them. After lunch we visited a few houses. The first lady we met was named Azziete. After hearing her story and getting to know her, we gave her some gifts. We gave her a bag of rice, beans, soap, and a scarf. She was so thankful for these simple gifts. Azziete decided to give her one of her only pictures of her children to remember her by. This was so generous because she was so thankful for our visit that she gave up her only picture of her daughter. I took a polaroid with her and gave it to her. Her face lit up. This was such a big gift to her, and it made me so happy that a little gesture could do so much.

Another house visit that stood out to me was visiting Zelda. She was so joyful, even though she was living in such poor conditions. I shared my favorite verse with her. We gave our gifts to her. Zelda was so happy. She set her gifts down and danced for us. When we said goodbye, she gave us a huge hug. It was great to see how happy she was from seeing us and receiving our gifts. 

Today was an incredible day and I can’t wait to have so many more great experiences ahead.

-Ally Demas

Small is the New Big

Today I ‘ve witnessed more love and appreciation for the smallest of things then I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve met so many people these past two days at the Angelican church we’ve been at that I will remember my whole life.

The pastor of their church is such an inspiration and amazing model of what a servant of God is. I had a great moment with him today where he opened up and shared his fears and struggles with me and Alaina. He asked us to pray about what he shared with us and to email him when we found a solution. It was so touching that this amazing man would so openly share his deepest thoughts and struggles with two people from halfway around the world that he’s only known for two days. I feel honored to pray for him.

On the van ride back to our hotel I had an incredible conversation with a man Justin who worked as a helper on our T-Pain themed van. He told us about his life and walk with Christ and other interests of his. One thing that was so incredible for me to hear was that out of everything in his life his very favorite thing to do is pray. I will forever remember our conversation and was so amazed by his incredible faith.

-Katy Killion

Another Amazing Day

Today was an amazing day today, but then again every day is a new best day.

Today my van group went to the school here in Byumba, and we went to different classes teaching the children small English phrases like “what’s up” and “nothing much.” Also we showed the kids bubbles it was hilarious because they had never seen bubbles before, and there were so excited to blow bubbles and pop them as well. We also played a few games with them like, heads up seven up and four corners.

After the school we went to different peoples homes and talked to them about our lives and also they would share about their lives. One woman we visited her name was Joyce and she was so happy to share her story with us. She told you about how every morning at 5 A.M. she walks to the church to pray, and Pastor Johnson told us that sometimes he isn’t disciplined enough to go to his church that early to pray. Another woman we met, her name was June. And she took it upon herself to care for the other women whose husbands have died. Also she told us that her only request was for us was to give Pastor Rick Warren her greeting, and to tell him hello from the old woman who always danced in church.

- Alex Mastroianni

Loving and Welcoming People

What my team and I did today touched my heart in a great way. Today I felt a wave of different emotions. We drove through a crazy road with bumps which was super scary, but the drive was completely worth it to see the joy of the people once we arrived. The children crowded around us and hugged us like they have known us forever. Later in the day we want on a long hike to the bottom of the mountain to speak with different families. I was able to pray, share my favorite verse, and  share my family pictures with one of the families and even though I had never met them I felt comfortable sharing with them. There was a old women who 80 and walked up the mountain every Sunday to go to church and that was just so heart warming. She also gave the best hugs of all times, and made me feel so blessed to be there. What was also amazing was the fact that even though these families live in poverty they still bring in orphans to their homes. Rwanda has some of the most loving and welcoming people. I am so thankful for my parents letting me come on this trip. I am truly blessed

–Savannah Valdivia