rwanda + day 6

Day 6 in Rwanda – our last full day here and quite possibly the best.  Today was spent almost entirely with Compassion children and students.  Early in the day, we made a return trip to the Nyamata Student Center.  We again were greeted with song and dance.  The choir sang for us, and then invited us to sing {on stage}.  We weren’t exactly prepared for this, but fortunately, one of our translators {Rosette} had a beautiful voice.  We sang “Awesome God” in English and Kinyarwanda, complete with sign language.  What was a little awkward at first turned into a beautiful experience of singing praises to God.  Further proof that He is completely in control. 

Up until lunchtime, we played with the children nonstop.  Teresa, Amy, and Emily made salvation bracelets with several groups of children while Chad, Steven, Steve, and Reed played a variety of outdoor games with the others.  Duck-duck-goose, relay races, and spin around randomly were very popular today.  Brock was probably the most popular, though, as he passed out balloon after balloon to the children.

At lunch, we were given the privilege of serving lunch to all the children.  There are about 270 children in the Nyamata project, and every single one of them was given a piping hot, HUGE serving of rice and beans.  The children were incredibly behaved, too.  This is presumably their biggest and best meal of the week, and not one of them begged, grabbed, complained, or got out-of-line.  I questioned whether there would be enough rice and beans prepared, but again, God was in control.  Each stomach was filled, and there were leftovers. 

We were forced to say “murabeho” to the majority of the children as we all departed for our sponsored children’s home visits.  I can only speak for myself {Reed}, but this was probably the highlight of the trip.  Chad, Emily, and I rode together as we went first to Bonane’s house {Chad’s sponsored child} and then to Muvunyi’s house.  Both houses were fairly nice {multiple rooms, stucco/stone, dirt floor} in comparison to some that we saw in passing.  Sadly, though, it was because of their extreme poverty that they lived in them.  Bonane’s house was a government-provided house and Muvunyi’s house was built by World Vision.  Getting to talk to the families was great, but being able to pray – hand-in-hand – with them was far better.  Both families were incredibly grateful for Compassion and how God is working in their lives.  I am increasingly amazed at how their joy is not measured by material things but instead by God’s living presence in their lives.  I have much to learn.

Our incredible day concluded with dinner tonight at the hotel.  Three students from Compassion’s LDP {Leadership Development Program} joined us.  They were all 21-22 years old and had beautiful stories to tell, all of which were affected by the 1994 genocide.  They are “graduates” of Compassion’s CDSP program and are currently enrolled in college.  One wants to be a teacher, one a foreign ambassador, and the third an accountant!  They were so appreciative of what God was doing in their lives through Compassion.  All three of them would positively not be where they are today without being sponsored through the Compassion program. 

Tomorrow and Saturday are travel days, so unless an airport has free Wi-Fi, this might be the last update for a while.  Thank you so much for your prayers.  They have truly been felt.  God-willing, we will see you soon!  Psalm 67:1-2