& it begins!

Day one - such joy!  We woke up bright early in Kigali and headed to Missionaries of Charity - Home of Hope orphanage where Tristen will eventually be adopting from!  Such a blessing to be a part of that process.  While she doesn't know who the child will be, it was amazing to be in the place and interacting with all of the children.  This isn't any type of orphange, either.  It was started by Mother Teresa and is Church ran, and it is not only orphans.  There are orphans up to the age of five, special needs children, and elderly who are unable to take care of themselves.  We spent time with all three groups, and each one was a different experience.  The children long for love, and clung to us with all their might.  Each of us had a different child attached to our hip, and of course we never wanted to let go.  That's one of the dangers of mission trips - you want to take all the children home!  (Mom, I'll try not to come home with a Rwandan baby!)  Spending time with the special needs children was one of my favorite parts of this visit.  There was a girl named Nadia who is traumatized by the genocide that happened in Rwanda.  She was five years old when it happened, so when asked her age, she told us five.  She repeats the same story over and over about the terrors of the genocide.  She told us about the bullets and how scared she was, and just repeats that over and over.  We prayed over Nadia that the Lord would give her comfort and a restful mind.  Joe said the most beautiful prayer as we laid hands on her, I couldn't help but cry. Such wonderful moments that will never be forgotten.  Tristen and Ginny met a lovely old woman named Kristen who was found crocheting by her bed.  Kristen told them her story, and it's a story of many in Rwanda.  Kristen was a victim of the genocide, and still had metal in her legs as well as several chunks of her leg missing from bullet wounds.  She was unable to walk.  During the genocide, she was 8 months pregnant, and her teenage daughter now lives with her in this safe haven.  Her other two sons are still on the street, and she was concerned about them.  Ginny prayed for her and her troubles, while Sister Bonita translated, and asked that the Lord would protect her sons and be close to Kristen's heart.  Over and over we all prayed for healing in this place, that the Lord's hand would be upon each person present.

After our visit to the orphanage, we went to the genocide memorial in Kigali.  It was an overwhelming and heart-wrenching experience.  Being ignorant, I wasn't even sure why the genocide happened or even when it occurred.  While learning the facts of this tragedy, so may emotions swept over my mind.  We were all deeply touched at this site.  The pictures of the victims made it so real, all I could figure to do was pray.  For the survivors, the families of the victims, and for reconciliation in the country.  So many emotions that it's hard to explain in words!  In the words of little Kyle, "Why did this have to be?" Such a good question, proposed by a six year old.  We must never let an event like this happen again.  It was aweful to not know the right answer, but all I could think of to say was that we don't always know the reasoning behind God's plan.  We just have to trust that the Lord has a purpose.

We are currently at lunch at this most American bistro you can imagine!  They did a great job westernizing the food as well.  After this, we will make the long trek to Kibuye, where our projects will be put in full swing.  Thank you all for your prayers, we are so grateful!!!