Playtime

In between our work projects there are those special moments with the little ones. Joy abounds with their energy, big smiles and curiosity. And they are always looking for a shoulder to ride on or a hand to hold.

These are the fortunate children that have a safe haven and educational opportunities. Forty five among the 1.2 million orphan and vulnerable children of Rwanda.

One Body in Christ

"For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us..." Romans 12:4-6

We are the hands and feet of God serving with the gifts he has given us during our time in Rwanda.

Carol and Robin have been working with 6 teachers and Vincent Niyodusenga in the preschool sharing teacher resources, crafts projects, and books. We are exchanging ideas, providing many tools and encouraging their creativity.

Greg, Dan and Kevin will have two tough days of installing a cement floor at the Remera boys home. They are the teen headed household St. Paul's is supporting annually. They spent today working with Benjamin, a builder for Arlene, his assistant and the Remera boys. None spoke English. Their inspiring story will be on my Blog in a few days.

Kira and Dave are working with Sam, the farm manager to access the feeding, watering and cost effectiveness of the animals. Today they designed and will build feeders for the rabbit hutches. They will also build mangers in the pens for feeding the goats as well as create new watering troughs. They are the first with animal expertise to focus for several days on these much needed projects.

Pastor Lee took a tour of Urukundo then hiked down to the source of the water. His church, Park Forest Village United Methodist Church, was instrumental in the success of the water project serving 300 households.

Each day brings a new adventure. Each day brings many blessings. Each day brings opportunities to realize how fortunate we are to have our families, our church, education, food and water. We sing praises nightly during our devotions of these many gifts. God provides and we are called to provide for our brothers and sisters.

Primary School

Before we left, the team prayerfully agreed to support the building of the first of three classrooms for the Cyakabiri Primary School. The initial money was sent before we arrived to begin the leveling of the ground and laying the foundation. $7,500 of the $12,500 needed has been raised. Thanks to many of you we are building!

Now that we are here, Greg, Kevin and Dan are working beside the men and women workers. Jobs for families. There are even two married couples working together. There are many hired as the wages are $2.00 a day. More than the possible $1.00 a day, if they could even find a job.

Our guys are carrying the bricks and even admit some of the women can carry heavier loads. Work is 8:00am to 12:00 then break for 2 hours and resume from 2:00-4:00. It is backbreaking work in the hot sun. But smiles and much joy is shared when they see the muzungu arrive each day to work with them.

We are so blessed to be a part of this ministry of education.

God Moment

I am often asked how I decide when to go to Rwanda. I have said we NEED to be there when all the kids are there, when all the teens are home from secondary school which is a boarding school. One person asked, "is there something they need from us that we need to be there?" I say, "no it's what we receive from them. It is how they fill our hearts."

This is so similar to what I have received from the children and teens at St. Paul's. The fullness in my heart knowing they are serving in missions with joy.

And the God Moment came during devotions with the team and all the youth this evening. Ornella, a Rwandese, a senior at Ripon College in Wisconsin and the founder of the Hug Movement was visiting Urukundo for several days as her organization recognized Mama Arlene's work.

This evening she had a special message prepared but as she walked toward the gathering she heard the drums. She held her Bible and on her way chose something different. She chose to speak on I Timothy 4:12. She said, "this is the first time I have heard God speak clearly in a long time. The message would be about the youth, not about me." Every voice has a purpose.

I Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

You see we all knew Kira, a PSU and Wesley student on our team, had selected this as her special scripture for the prayer calendar.

I asked Kira to share her thoughts as it spoke to her, "It was an amazing God Moment when Ornella chose this passage as the basis for the message today. The words of the scripture really resonated throughout the duration of the devotion. Here was a group of teenagers leading a very moving devotional to praise our God. I think a lot of Americans view the children of Africa as not having very much, whether in terms of material things or potential. But I want everyone to know that these teenagers have so much to their name. They have loving friends, a wonderful home, Mama Arlene, schooling, the dreams of their future and incredibly large hearts for God. It has been a blessing to meet them and I look forward to continuing to be inspired by them during the rest of our stay here."

Photos of the teens will be added as electricity just went out.

*Deborah and Giselle
*Esperanze and friend
*Watching basketball
*Playing basketball. That's our Dan airborne.
*Tressor 11th grader studying physics

ARRIVED!!!

After 17 hours of flying Robin, Kira and Carol and our 9 suitcases made it to Rwanda. A short Blog as we are exhausted.

A long day but we are ready to be here. All of us and a new friend also heading to Rwanda shared our arrival. But she almost ended up in Uganda. Before we knew it, she got off the plane instead of continuing to Rwanda. We alerted the flight crew to track her down. When they did she had already through gone through customs and was waiting for luggage that would never arrive. God places people in each other's lives to show how much we really need each other no matter where in the world we are.

Kira and Ajide sharing a story.

Robin and Ajide and Johnny keeping her busy laughing together.

A welcome from the little ones. After they get to know us they will have huge smiles and hugs.

A Teen's Reflection

Megan Perdew, a member of St. Paul's UMC and a senior at State College High, shared with me her thoughts about being involved with Rwanda.

"I have been a part of St. Paul's United Methodist Church for as long as I can remember, I have practically grown up in this church. However, I never came across a mission project that interested me as much as the mission work our church is doing in Rwanda.

I was excited to hear that I could help people there who are teenagers like me. More specifically, I volunteered to help collect clothing, DVD's, CD's, and a few other items for teenagers living in Rwanda who do not have the privileges that I and so many of my peers take for granted.

For instance, I often hear my friends complaining about their parents not being willing to buy them an iPhone, or the new iPod, while some of the teenagers living in Rwanda are grateful for just a new pair of jeans. By collecting these things for people my own age, I felt a greater connection to the individuals who will be receiving them.

In addition, I was happy to participate in this mission since it enabled me to directly help people who could very well be my friends if we went to high school together." ~~ Megan Perdew

This is what missions is about, connecting our youth and giving them opportunities to become leaders among their friends and in the church.

Megan recruited several friends from church that helped sort and pack what they collected. Over 151lbs of clothing, CD's, DVD's and books. The children will love the soccer ball someone donated.

Thank you Megan, Claudia, Haley, Sylvia for sorting and packing. Thank you Liz for helping by dropping off several pairs of jeans.

Books for Rwanda

The call arrived from Arlene Brown - NEEDED...books for 2 additional Cyakabiri preschool classes in Rwanda. What fun to research and buy books!!! Then on two Sundays members of St. Paul's UMC sponsored 94 books and wrote special messages, blessings to share.

They sponsored storybooks with CDs and ones with flannel board sets. Books about reading, cooperation, animals, numbers, the environment, water and the wind. Counting and ABC books, silly books and colorful books. Early readers and workbooks on tracing and puzzles.

Books on faith. Demond Tutu's Bible Stories and God's Dream, Noah's Ark, Psalms and the Lord's Prayer for children and the Prodigal Son. I also found amazing multicultural books on Africa. Elizabeti's Doll, Chirchir is Singing, Bringing the Rain to Kapati Plain, Jungle Drums, The Water Hole, and Handa's Surprise. Even Going on a Lion Hunt instead of a bear hunt.

Let me share the messages, written for the children, that are so inspiring....

Roadwork - "I hope this book helps you build your future."

Fabulous Fishes - "We are all together as fish in God's sea of life. Enjoy your journey as we swim and pray together."

God's Dream - "To little friends across the ocean.... Enjoy all the wonderful things that God has given to us. Laughter, love, joy and faith."

Planting a Rainbow - "My mother is 91 years old and we still plant a rainbow every year."

I Like Myself - "My prayers for you that reading enriches your life as much as it has mine."

Water Dance - "...God's incredible creation. He has made such a glorious earth for you and me."