Day Three.. Waka Waka

Today, the children in Kayonza took a piece of my heart. I don't think I have ever experienced such joy and sadness in one setting. As Pastor Eddie said today, "I would give my life for you." And really, I would give my life for these people.

In their touch.. you see their longing for a deeper love.
In their actions.. you see how they love you.
In their words.. you see their gratitude.
And last but not least.. in their eyes, you meet Christ face to face.

Children of Kayonza- you are beautiful. And I will always be singing and dancing to Waka Waka with you. "Tsamina mina eh eh. Waka Waka eh eh. Tsamina mina zangalewa anawa aa. THIS IS RWANDA.."

Keep growing my heart Lord.
In You,
Nikki

Day 3 in Kayonza

Team Rouge Rwanda visited a school and orphanage in Kayonza today. The children spoke English and shared with us their dreams. Many wanted to be doctors, pastors, and pilots! Then we delivered shoes and food to two famalies whose sponsors had sent with us money to purchase these items for them. The children are so precious...

Mary Gore

Hearts stirred.. (Night of Day 2)

Today in Kigali our hearts were stirred by what we saw.. women sewing and singing, people walking, biking, driving along crowded roadways, and finally, a church where genocide occurred. Our team is well and filled with the joy of the Lord to serve with Africa New Life Ministires. I wish you all could spend just 15 minutes with Pastor Charles and hear his heart and vision for the ministry. God is clearly at work here and we gladly left home and country to join Him in this.

Pray for us and keep reading for updates as often as we are able to post. We have some amazing stories and pictures to share and can't wait to give you just a glimpse of what great things are happening here! Having a bit of technical difficulty with internet usage and picture downloads from the official camera. Nevertheless, what an amazing team, beautiful green country, lovely people.. what more can I say except goodnight?! Oh, and of course, thanks for your prayers.

Connie

Day 1 and 2

(I am asking for grace in the delay of blogging. The internet has been unexpectable and I haven't been able to update you all since we've been here.)

Muraho! (Hello in Kinyarwanda)

We have finally arrived here in Rwanda. After traveling nonstop since Friday- we are all exhausted. We have officially boarded and unloaded 5 different planes. So far we have been to: Chicago, London, Nairobi (Kenya), Bujumbura (Burundi), and finally.. Kigali, Rwanda! Every time we stepped foot onto a plane, the time zone would be changing on us yet again. Adjustments were made, sleep deprivation happened.. but, our hearts stayed lined with the vision in why we were going. And that, was beautiful..

Six hours in and we've already been able to experience so much. Let's start from the beginning, shall we? Can we say culture shock galore?! However, these people are to die for. We were instantly drawn to their presence. It was a weird feeling to see how African New Life Ministries was ready to serve us instead of us serving them. After all, we are here to be the hands and feet of Christ. Right? Some of the most genuine and caring people i know..

I shared with Connie earlier how God had been reminding me how to trust Him. For as long as I can remember- when I am on a plane, I try to get seated as close to the window as possible. Taking off and landing my eyes are glued to the transpartent windows. God had a different lesson to teach me this time around. From London to Kenya, we were on the largest of the four planes we had taken. I was seated in the middle of the very middle of the plane. Three on the left, three on the right, and three in the middle. Where was Miss Paloma seated? I guess some can consider that I was the meat of a sandwich. I remember sitting there thinking about how badly I wanted to look out that window seat. I began to pray for patience and trust.. immediately God gave me a vision of what I was missing by not being able to look out those windows.

Well, it's almost 1:00 a.m. here and I should be getting to bed. God is doing crazy things in our hearts. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as you are in ours.

You are LOVED,
Nikki

Photo I took at the Dream Center.. beautiful place, beautiful people! Random fact about Rwanda: It is illegal to take photos of the people, but not the children. If you would like to take photos of the adults, you must ask first. Of course I have already gotten in trouble, for I am like an Asian tourist that just saw New York City for the first time. Haha.. few will get that ;)