This week has been an interesting one and proved a little more difficult than previous weeks. It was a pretty busy week with a full schedule and things to get accomplished before we start traveling more in just a few short days.
Monday: Day off (These days are much needed because of the stress and busyness of the rest of the week. These days are reserved for shopping and internet cafe! So it was a pretty good day!
Tuesday: English Classes/ Ghanaga Church
This was by far my favorite church so far since we have been here and it was such a good day to spend with the church members. When we showed up at the church our team had no idea what we would be doing but this is my favorite type of arrival because it leaves room for surprises...surprised I was. Brian, Stacie and I were able to help the church by doing some yard work, along with hoeing a rode. Yes that is right, Stacie and I hoed a rode to remove the grass on top to make a walk way. Let's just say I was the smelly kid that night because it was HOT and we sweat A LOT! :)
They were so grateful and I really felt like family there at this church. The people welcomed us in with open arms and showered love on us! It was really sad walking away from this church!
Wednesday: English Class/"Hotel Rwanda"
Our group had the opportunity to go to where over 2,000 people were saved by a hotel manager during the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda. It was a really nice hotel and it was amazing to walk through such a place of history. However, the most exciting part happened before we got into the hotel.
There is a conference going on in Rwanda this past week for all of the Eastern African countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and Congo. As we were walking to the hotel...ALL of the Presidents from these countries drove by us. I stood in awe as so much political authority drove by us to enter into meetings. I seriously almost wet myself! It was so special and I was so glad to be a part of it!!!!!
Thursday: English Class/ Genocide Memorial
This was a tough day for me because we visited a memorial site where almost 300,000 Rwandans are buried. It really hit me hard and I did not know what to do! Not only did all of the information hit me hard but being around so many white people also hit me really hard. It was so strange because normally I would be happy to see so many white people but I was not happy at all! They actually made me mad! So that was a weird emotion as well! But one I got through.
I am still processing all that I saw at the memorial and I honestly don't know how long that will take me to process but when I finally come to some conclusion I will post more about that experience but for now that is all I have!
Friday: Last day of English Class/Moving Bricks
Our last day of English Class was really sad because we had been working with these students for 4 weeks and built really strong relationships with them. It was so nice to see the success/progress each of them were making. SO we threw a little party for all of them to celebrate the finish of a good class. We played games and had snacks!
Then we went to the local church near our compound and moved bricks! It was a really interesting job and one I enjoyed because it gave me time to process the things that went on during the week. But they do not like us girls working too hard and would always make us slow down or stop so we could rest. This did not make me happy at all! But it all turned out well! I got over it!
Saturday: National Clean UP DAY IN RWANDA!
This was a new day for a lot of things to happen...The whole country of Rwanda on the last saturday of each month is supposed to stop and clean from the hours of 8am to 12pm. So we were supposed to go to the local church at Remera and clean! Everything was going great for the first 2 hours until the governor showed up and killed the clean-up party. It was so weird because HE was mad that we weren't cleaning more of the community property rather than the church.
Since the very beginning of the build of this church, they have had problems with the government and it has been a really difficult journey for the church. They could not get the government to approve a building permit to finish the church for over a year. So we the governor showed up, us white people peaced out because we did not want to get caught up in the conflict. Milly tried to explain more about what happened but it did not make much sense. it was really dumb the whole entire time...so we just chilled for the rest of the afternoon. It was nice but we wish we could have done more on the church.
Sunday: Day of CHURCH
It was such a blessing to be able to go back to Ghanaga Church for morning service, it was a blessing and a half. I felt at home and could have stayed with them all day long! Stacie preached and I gave my testimony, while the rest of the group and us taught them "I have decided to follow Jesus" as well. Our group also told the story of Peter and Andrew and the Good Samaritan. It was such a special service.
Then we went to the pastor's house for lunch, which was delightful! No variation in the food choices but it was still pleasant! The pastor and his family were so nice and welcomed us as family! One of their members in the church has a project they work on with different Arts and Crafts, so he brought them for us to see. Once he was done telling us about the work, he gave us one of his hand crafted items. I got this beautiful little giraffe craving, which they said reminded them of me. It was a special gift and one I will always look at and remember the special church.
After we left the pastor's house at about 2pm, we got back to our compound to drop off our stuff and go to another service. This service left me speechless and I really do not know if I have words to describe what went on for the whole 4 hours we were there. BUT I WILL TRY...
Imagine an ant hill on speed that got shaken by a naughty little boy who thought it was funny! Then the little boy screamed into a microphone at the top of his lungs while the mic was already turned way too high. Then there was some more screaming and howling and dancing and jumping and running and mixed other forms of human bodily expression!
This is only a brief summary of everything that truly went on during the 4 hours of my life...It was so nerve raking that I left and screamed at the top of my lungs when we got out...our whole entire group had to leave early because we were going crazy. I seriously was going crazy! It was the most bazarre and random thing I have ever seen! It was a good time too worship and I really didn't mind it until the last 20 minutes of time I was there.
The week was a good one and one that showed our team a lot! God is truly trying to stretch each of us in different way while teaching us many things! Every experience holds such unique and different opportunities for God to further his direction in each of our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment