Transition and Worship

Hello friends! Fun day today. Thanks for all prayers for my belly - things seem to be ok! :) Joy had the honor of meeting 3 of the children that she and Rob sponsor through Compassion International today. It was a fun time of exchange, meeting new friends who work with these dear children, and learning more about Compassion.
Gihozo is front-left with her mom and auntie behind her. Joy is center with Jean Claude, and Sanga is front-right with his mom (and baby sister strapped to her back) behind him.

Then, Joy and Marcel adventured to the market so Joy could buy a few things while Chrissie and I visited Amahoro ava Hejuru - a little business where Rwandese widows make and sell crafts. This is also where our friend Laurel worked when she was here. This one's for you, Laurel! :)

I feel like Joy and I have had some time to settle into Rwanda and the culture here. We've learned some Kinyarwanda phrases, greetings, and vocabulary. Jano, Chrissie, Mugabo, Marcel, and Rakundo are friends beyond acquaintances - they give us that foundation of "family" that helps us to venture out, knowing we have a place to come back to. The hillsides and scenes of Rwanda are more familiar now too. People laden with bananas, chairs, and anything else on their heads and women with little babies on their backs aren't new novelties, but part of the familiar scene.

On we go with the mission of this trip. It's fun to be accomplishing our goals of seeing and letting you see too. The timing has been perfect, I feel. Now that we're more comfortable with being here, our branching out time is starting. Compassion, Nkurunziza, World Relief, Hope International, Amahoro ava Hejuru Crafts, International Justice Mission, and local churches are all stops on our visit. Grand tour, here we come!

Exciting news of the day: Marcel will be joining us tomorrow when we visit Joy's Compassion children in Gitarama (an hour from Kigali). He grew up there and we're all excited for the time together.

God, here, is more than a nice thought or a being somewhere. He is real, and a (the only) dependable refuge in a world of pain and trouble. Marcel told me tonight, "Four years ago, I heard a man talk about Jesus. He said in Jesus is peace, and my heart saw that peace and said, 'Yes, I believe it.' And I have found it to be true." "An ever-present help in time of need" runs deeper in Marcel's heart than I can understand.

I'm always awed by worship in a new place. First comes that keen awareness of awkwardness in introductions and small talk, then gradual familiarity... but then! to come before one God in adoration and praise - in a church service or in a personal conversation - suddenly changes the focus to a refreshing and glorious health. We are one body, under one Head, Christ. Lifting Him up bonds us together in a way so strong that only those who are His can understand.

I wish I could take every one of you to church Sunday morning for that first moment of turning our focus to Him. We met several people and tried our best to remember cultural lessons. When announcements finished up and the choir began to sing, I was overcome. Rwanda. Africa. This music. This beat. These people. Me. Here. God and Father. All together, Us. Singing. Praising Him. Amazing!!!

Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker.

-Psalm 95:6