Victory Rwanda 2012 Day 12

Alisa working with students at City of Joy.

Shema.

Simon enjoying the new toys he got from VBS.

Lauren and Jojo.

Leah and Cody.

The kids have fun tossing water balloons.

Every move I make, I make in you.

Two weeks ago, a team of nine courageous servants set out on a journey to the heart of Africa to share the love of God with the people of Rwanda.  I count myself lucky to have been a part of this team, and I am immensely grateful for being able to partake in this incredible experience. Through this trip, I’ve seen so many novel and exciting things, met so many genuine and amazing people, tried so many new and… interesting… foods, and learned so very much about life, humanity, myself, and my God. As we depart today, I would like to use this Blog post to recap my experience and share my thoughts.

After a great many hours traveling by plane to a brand new continent, I found myself over 7000 miles, and six time-zones away, from the place I call home. Farther than I have ever imagined, or for which I’ve prepared myself.   After piling into the truck that would transport us around the country, a land cruiser worn by Rwanda’s rugged terrain, our team made its way to City of Joy, where I would stay the first six nights of my trip. I spent the entire hour and 40 minute drive struggling to take in everything I saw around me.

First, the mountains. As I anticipated this trip during the several months prior, I imagined my destination to be somewhat like a desert; relatively flat, and generally an orangey-sandy color. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The landscape here is made up of thousands of mountains, covered in green vegetation, and much bigger and grander than the Appalachians I grew up seeing.  For the rest of time I would spend here, I would continually find myself awestruck by this place’s grandeur and beauty every time I would step outside.

“Creation revealing His Majesty.”

I was further culture-shocked as we drove through the city, as cars made left turns from the right lane, and the Rwandan military made its presence well known, with soldiers on every other street corner, carrying automatic weapons. But everything really hit me as we made our way through the outskirts of town, and I observed what I can only describe as a scene out of an infomercial. One of the ones that show’s sad, poor little kids with dirty faces looking out of crooked mud-brick houses, as a well-dressed, rich white guy pretends he cares about them, and asks you to give him money. I was there, and it was real.

I was still trying to comprehend everything as the team settled in at City of Joy, and as I was coming to realize just exactly where I was, a wave of what I assume to homesickness hit me like a ton of bricks. I didn’t eat that night.

For the next five days, we worked hard through the mornings, fueled by banana pancakes, digging the foundation for a school. I could shovel dirt and rocks for a solid fifteen minutes before I had to break for water, and after about 3 hours of that, us white-folks were exhausted, our hands covered in cuts and blisters. The natives we were digging alongside with worked non-stop—all day. These men were absolutely amazing. 

After our bouts of hard labor, we would make lunch, and then spend our afternoons working with teenagers, teaching them the Gospel, and helping them practice their English.  Hearing them talk about their lives, hardships, and aspirations was deeply moving. These kids were honest, hard-working, respectful, and devoted to their studies. A sharp and refreshing contrast to the youths of my home area.

After wrangling goats on Sunday, we left City of Joy and traveled to Victory Home, where we would remain until the end of our trip (now). On our first night, we gathered with all the kids to introduce ourselves, and afterwards, they sang and danced for us. I was totally blown away. The joy with which these children praised the Lord was breathtaking. On the second night, I had the opportunity to lead worship for them, and once again I found myself in awe. I’ve been very fortunate in the opportunities I’ve had to worship with some extremely talented and energetic individuals, but no previous experience could ever compare with the passion and completeness with which these children praised God, and I could not be more thankful that I got to be a part of it, even for a short time.

The kids here have very little in this world. No TVs, no cars, no video games, no text messages, no variety in the foods they get to eat, no new clothing, no parents. But I would argue that despite all they seem to lack, they’ve got us beat. What they do have is a joy and a peace that surpasses all understanding that only comes from knowing and trusting God. I am immensely thankful I got to meet people who have so much with what seems like so little. My views on life, success, and happiness have been forever changed.

On our last day here, we spent time with the kids reading Bible stories before the other half of our team arrived from City of joy. We attempted an activity that involved the kids throwing boomerangs… with varying degrees of success. Afterwards, team members and many of the kids went to play football at a big field in another village, and we had an awesome time! My team lost, but I didn’t screw-up too badly, and not being a soccer player like EVERYONE else there, I felt pretty good J.

We finished our day with an enormous feast for us missionaries as well as all the children. My plate had enough food on it to feed three of me, but it was soooo delicious. I ate my fill of rice, beef, noodles, beans and potatoes, and washed it all down with a tasty coca-cola (from a glass bottle of course). After we ate, several choirs sang some songs, and then it was our turn. Our team sang “Every Move I Make,” and “Trading my Sorrows.” The kids shook the building with how loud they sang along with the “Yes Lords.”

As I’m typing all this out, I’m realizing more and more that it’s going to be tough leaving this strange place. I’ve grown attached to all the amazing people and adorable children here, as I’m sure the rest of the team has. I’m also going to miss the beautiful landscape and interesting new experiences, but this trip has been so much more than all of those things. For two weeks, we dropped everything we knew, and adopted a whole different kind of lifestyle. A lifestyle that keeps God at the center and strives to serve others and make differences in lives. I know I’ll never forget this experience and all I’ve learned from it, and I hope to carry aspects of this lifestyle with me when I return home.

Thank you all so much for all of your support throughout this journey. It truly has been life changing.

Chris