Simply Love: Rwanda - June 1-2, 2012

[The following post is an excerpt from my journal as I traveled to Rwanda. The inconsistency in the entry title and datestamp is due to limited internet access while I was on the trip. These experiences were documented in real time, and I am posting photoblogs now that I have returned.]

 June 1, 2012 - 2:28 PM Central Africa Time; Kigali, Rwanda

"A gift opens the way for the giver
    and ushers him into the presence of the great."

Proverbs 18:16

We fly out today. We started our journey home around 7:30 AM with our three hour bus ride from Gisenyi back to Kigali. When we got to Kigali, we had lunch with Jean-Claude from Best Family Rwanda. We brought a donated guitar to Rwanda with the intention of leaving it with an orphanage to continue their worship. After visiting each of the orphanages, the team decided unanimously that we wanted to gift the guitar to Best Family Rwanda. We knew it would get the best use there after seeing their love of music and dancing. We all signed the guitar with encouraging messages so that each time the guitar is used, it will remind them of our love.

Jean-Claude came to lunch straight from his law office, and he looked so cute spiffed up in a metallic silver sport coat! He was so grateful to receive the guitar and thanked us several times.

Check out the sport coat! So precious!

After lunch, we headed straight to the airport. There we said goodbye to our guide, Jane, our bus driver, Alfonse, and four of our team members who are on later flights. When I went up to the counter to get my boarding passes, the woman printed two and handed them to me. Everyone else had gotten checked in through to Washington, DC. Luckily, the actuary in me likes to double check. I noticed that the two boarding passes she gave me were for my two flights within the US. I told the woman I was missing boarding passes, but when she went to print them, she had some trouble. Long story short, I ended up with a pretty sweet handwritten boarding pass! It was a new experience to say the least. I thought for sure the chances of me getting on that plane were slim.

"A handwritten boarding pass?! Well, this should be interesting..."

I am tired. I know I have quite a bit of processing to do after my many experiences, so it may take a while to recover. It was an all-over difficult goodbye. Goodbye to selfless Jane. Goodbye to Alfonse, who I am convinced is the best driver in the world. [He was able to maneuver the 25-passenger bus into tight places that I would not have been brave enough to take my compact SUV through!] Goodbye to sweet orphans (with unknown futures due to reunification). Goodbye to the leaders at the orphanages who have dedicated their lives to the kids. Goodbye to a fantastic team of new friends who I now consider my family. [We have already discussed "Rwanda: Music & Missions 2013" with the same team except maybe add a couple of spouses who were not able to come this time.] Goodbye to Rwanda. I will keep praying for you, Rwanda. I will pray for your people (especially my beloved daughters), and your orphanages and organizations that we partnered with.

 June 1, 2012 - 7:30 PM Eastern Africa Time - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

"Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord." 2 Kings 10:16

A young engaged Greek couple sat next to me on the flight from Entebbe, Uganda to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The woman is currently working toward a Masters Degree in London and she was doing research in Uganda. It was her first time out of Europe, so she was discussing with me her surprise at "how underdeveloped Uganda is." Fortunately for me, because she is studying in London, her English is great, and we were able to bounce from one topic of conversation to another!

At one point, she mentioned that her birthday is around Christmastime, which opened up the door for me to ask about religious beliefs in Greece. She shared that Greek Orthodox is the dominant religious belief (which I already knew, but it was a nice way to open up the lines of communication), but she mentioned that the younger generation does not care about religion. She said that she personally practices only for the tradition. Hearing this broke my heart.

I so desire for others to know God the way I know Him. He is irreplaceable and unforgettable. If all people were to truly know who He is, they would care more about Him than anything or anyone else. But, someone who does not know Him the way I do cannot possibly understand the words I would use to describe Him. They would have to see His work and feel His love to gain a clear understanding.

My new friend does not know it, but God pulled through. As we were exiting the plane, she mentioned to me how kind I had been to her, how great she thought it was for me to spend time with orphans in Rwanda, and how thoughtful it was that I engaged in conversation with a complete stranger from Uganda and wished her safe travels. My Greek friend does not know it, but she saw God at work in those moments. I exchanged contact information with her, so hopefully that seed will grow. All I can do in the meantime is pray.

June 2, 2012 - 5:45 AM Eastern - en route Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Washington, DC

I have mastered the art of vertical sleeping. It requires three pillows, a blanket, and a small backpack, but I have it figured out! Well... either that or I am exhausted enough that I could sleep just about anywhere at this point - yeah, probably that one.

I have the privilege of sitting next to a sweet and beautiful 8-year-old Ethiopian girl, her mom, and her little brother (who cannot be more than two-years-old and is sitting on his mom's lap). This is their first ever flight, so I helped show them the ropes. I helped the young girl set up her headphones and find the movies, music, and games on the touchscreen in front of her. This family is moving to the states to live with their dad/husband in Maryland. The little girl and I had quite a bit of fun interacting the first few hours of the flight before we fell asleep. At one point, I woke up to find the precious girl nestled fast asleep against my arm. I could not help but smile. Her mom offered to move her, but I did not mind the least bit. Her little brother was sprawled out over his mom's lap, so I am sure it helped to have a little bit less weight on her.

"He gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!"

Psalm 113:9

We also have several "special guests" on our flight. Yesterday was a joyful day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Friday is one of the days that the Ethiopian government issues visas, so many families who had waited two to three years are finally able to take their adoptive children home! I think that a nine-month pregnancy is a long time to anticipate a child, but I can hardly imagine waiting two to three years! That is a ton of joy to build up, and believe me- I could see it bursting forth! There are glowing mothers and fathers all around. Many of them are first time parents, so I can only imagine their excitement! I wonder what their stories are. Did they choose to adopt as a first option? Did they have trouble having children on their own? Are they unable to bear children? Regardless of the path God has brought these families on to this point, they followed His call. This has been the perfect way to wrap up our trip- seeing the hope of orphans being fulfilled! May God bless these families beyond measure.