One Year Later...

Well, almost a year...362 days really I suppose...

Anyway, I've reflected at different times about my experience, and so here is a journal entry from March that highlights some of my thoughts. It is a bit strong, but real, and encompasses some of what I think of when I remember Rwanda...

3/31

Father, forgive me for my cold heart! So often, especially now, except when I remember my family, I look back to Rwanda and shed tears of regret. There was so much I didn't do, and such a wrong mindset when I lived there! I was "busy" for God and for my own "spiritual" growth, and yet missed most of the hurt and need around me, didn't see what He was really doing and what He could do through me. 

Images of the handicapped at the bus station haunt me, as I ignored their plight, justifying it with the idea--as if I new or cared--that they would misuse the funds. Or the one time I did give the man a little money, I didn't even make eye contact, I merely gave him something to assuage the guilt. That isn't love!

Sure I cared about the Batwa kids, but I didn't even try to go back or have considered helping them again. Even the people who came up to me in the internet cafe, aside from Dan and Patrick, I ran away from them. 

I was there to "help," but my actions showed I was seeking my own comfort and desires over the prevelance of needs around me. 

I so desperately wish I could do it over. How I hope things would be different. But I can't, so I must never forget, and rather remember and do well in the future. I must look for Jesus in the eyes of those I see...

The Face of Rwanda

Long time no post...

So its been a while since my last post, which I will blame on work. First, there was no work to do, life was pretty slow, so not much to blog about. Then, the last few days, I've spent 20+ hours trying to get this website up and running, finally getting FTP access. You can see it here: www.moucecore.org.rw. For some reason the header, and some of the images don't show up correctly. If anyone has any thoughts on the matter, please let me know.

There have been a few times over the past week that I have thought of things to blog about, but rather than remember them, I'll just share some thoughts from last night.

7 days from now we will be on the long bus ride to Uganda. It will be so good to be back home, but I'm starting to realize how much I will miss Rwanda. Rwanda, to me, is not the weather. It isn't the transportation, the food, or the language. It isn't the MTN center, nor is it Moucecore. Rwanda is located in the part of Kimironko known as Becer. Its other name is Gahigi. Andrew, Claire, Ariela, Christa, Chris, and Arthur, and now Melissa, Daddy, She baby, Ivan-Derek, and Niela-Caudette--they are what I will think of when I remember Rwanda.

So strange, and sad, to think that these people whom I have spent two months with and have grown to love, I may never see again. Anything could happen, of course--especially if Ariela does make it to America to study aviation--but for now, in a week, I may be saying goodbye forever.

Sobering thoughts as we begin the last week of our African Summer.

The "family"

The afore mentioned Zebra

Lions...Tigers...absent

So there once was a group of Muzungus (6 to be precise) who went searching for the wildest animals in Africa. The only stipulation was that they had to be visible at Akagera National Park from 8am - 1 pm on Tuesday. As would be expected, this limited the sightings, but nothing could prevent a few of our intrepid interns from stalking the ferocious...giraffe.

Yes, the giraffe. While we saw a few different kinds of animals, none as up close, and as odd as the giraffe. They are such strange looking creatures. We found a "herd" of six, 4 adults and two kids. Judging from the markings on the giraffes, I think that two newlyweds were coming to the couple with the kids for parenting advice. Trust me on this one. So anyway we took many pictures, and then Joel, Kim, and I moved in closer. Slowly creeping up on them, never letting the camera lense waver, we moved closer and closer, until finally, I broke into the clearing and took this video.

In in addition to giraffe, we saw some zebra (I include this picture for Sarah Beth), many deer-like creatures; snout of the hippo (a delicacy somewhere I'm sure); and a few very shy warthogs that did not want to be photographed (as Team Latvia will attest, the desire of the subject to be photographed has never really entered into my mind when taking pictures, so I snapped one of the warthog anyway). It was quite a fun time, and we returned to the hotel at 3pm, tired (we had arisen at 5am) yet still with an entire afternoon and evening ahead of us. Some great planning on our part.

God is Awesome...

Can all the non-Presbyterians out there give me an "amen"?

Allow me some elaboration...

So first there is Patrick. I believe I've mentioned him before. He works at the coffee shop where we go on a weekly basis. He saw my Bible one day and asked if I was a Christian. I told him I was and we started talking. He asked if I had any Christian books, and I gave him the four loves to read. He is reading it right now, and Mom sent Mere Christianity with Matt and Ben, so I'll give it to him before I leave. We've been to his church once, and I hope to go again, and maybe take him out to eat and have a really good conversation.

Then we have Dan. I met him at an Internet Cafe and we started talking. He asked if he could come over to visit some time, and I said I'd have to check with my parents, but sure. Last week he came over, we all ate together (which was weird, entertaining a Rwandan--having a guest--when I am a guest myself. But my family was great and we had a good time). Yesterday he picked me up at 5 and we went to see the premiere of a Rwandan movie that his cousin was in. He invited me over to his house again sometime, and I may even spend the night. Sunday we will be going to his church, the Evangelical Restoration Church. He hopes to study Information Technology in America.

Then we have Alfonse. He is a moto driver who I had a conversation with while he was taking me home one night. After a while, (it was a long ride) it came out that he was trying to learn English. I asked if He wanted an English Bible, and he said that there was someone he knew who wanted to teach him English--from a Bible. So now I know that he will get some good spiritual instruction, as well as learning English. Ben and Matt brought many Bibles with them, so I'll call him up in a few days and give it to him.

Then there is another moto-guy who took me home after the movie last night. He goes to church every morning. He is studying English so that he can go to Seminary, which is in English. We got home and I told him to wait a minute, ran inside, and brought him and English Bible. He was so excited! As I walked back through the gate, I could hear him praying, thanking God for the Bible. It was so cool to see him so excited about his new Bible.

Then there is Brian. He is an American that we met at the 4th of July celebration at the Embassy. He is 25ish, and here for 2 months, working at Vision Finance, a micro-finance bank associated with World Vision. We hung out with him at the embassy and then he came to Bourbon coffee with us for a few hours. He is a great guy, who God is taking on a spiritual journey right now. He just last year came to the place where he believes that there is a God. He is now wrestling with the question of why Jesus is the only way. Kim and I talked with him for a while, and he eventually asked us for our top 5 Christian books. It took some brain racking, but we finally came up with some. We'll need to think that through so we are better prepared in the future. He and I talked at length about drinking, and why I won't get drunk, though I may drink some (all things to all people, 'eh Paul?) and all sorts of things. We're going visit him at work, and then go out to eat on Wednesday. He is a really neat guy, and I am excited about the journey that God has Him on, and it is so neat to have played a part in it.

So there you have it 5 people that I've interacted with, and not one was my fault. Its so funny, I didn't really initiate with these people, but God brought them across my path in such a way that conversations about God were a natural result. Its neat to have these experiences and opportunities, and have them so noticeably be completely God. God will bring His people by, I just have to be willing and attentive. Who's next?