Visit with a family

Today is Friday, but I actually want to write about yesterday. I have no pictures to post right now from yesterday or of today's safari adventure (I'm not on the right computer with all of the pictures), but I will tomorrow.

Yesterday was one of my favorite days here in Rwanda! Everyone on the team was able to visit with a sponsored family for the day. I had no idea what to expect, in fact, I was sort of nervous thinking that we were just going to sit there with the family and not be able to communicate. I thought the time would drag on and we wouldn't know what to do with them. Yeah, I had walked the side of the hills through banana trees and crops to get to other houses and seen some of the people's daily activities before, but I was always with a big group. But only 3 of us? Wow, that seemed really personal and different from anything I've ever experienced with the people here.

So we got dropped off on the top of the hill and we walked on down, all the while the Rwandese were coming out of their huts and waving to us and saying "Muraho!", which means hello. The one thing you have to know about the people here in Rwanda is that they are all about relationships...you are to stop and say hello and hug and shake hands. We did some of that on the way down making us late to meet Dan's family, totally proving that nothing here is done on time....it's all on Rwandan time!

Almost half way there we ran into one of the members of Dan's family, a 23 year old daughter...and at the moment I can't remember her name. She ran up to Dan calling him "Papa"...which means not only a father, but one who looks over you, one who cares for you. I was touched to see how excited she was to see Dan again...she had met him the previous day at the village church for family interviews.

I could go on and on like I already am about how full my heart was the whole day spent with this family, but I really want to touch on this 23 year old girl and tell the day's story through what I saw and experienced with her. She lead us to her house...her whole family was waiting for us, her 3 teenage brothers, her sister, and her mom (who came back home from the hospital the previous night just to see Dan that next day!) She brought us inside the house...she was running from one room (there were only 2 rooms in the house!) to the other bringing Dan gifts, and by gifts I mean a drawing and a few family photos.

Oh yeah, by the way, we did have a translator thank goodness! We were able to communicate with each other. This girl was so excited to see us that I just couldn't believe how much she really appreciated us coming to her house....she showed us her very simple house and the very few things they owned. She lead outside to see her family's goats and the new little hut the boy's were finishing. Then, she gathered her family around us and they sang a Rwandese song that was something so beautiful I can't even describe to you...it drew us to tears. They were just beautiful. I couldn't stop looking at them and thinking I just couldn't love them more! I later found out their song was about God protecting us and looking over us. I pray God look over them!

I know a little Kinyarwandan now and I told this beautiful girl that I loved her and I thought she was beautiful...we had some sort of connection instantly. I felt like I had known her for so long...we held each other for awhile, and both of us kept saying how much we loved each other! Then, she gets up, and grabs my hand! She wants me to fetch water with her....so, I go....and I went by myself. It didn't take too long, so don't worry that I went on my own....but walking the hills with just me and this girl, well, I just had the most amazing experience. Everyone we ran into, she would say in her language that I was her friend and the people were amazed that we were fetching water together. There was not one camera there with us, not one other person who could translate, not one other person to experience that moment with me....it was just me and the girl (I can't believe I cannot remember her name!!!). We communicated though and connected in a way I can't describe. I will cherish the few moments I had with her and the amazing experience God gave me. What an awesome day!!!

Ending it here now just because I could keep going on forever, but it's late and I must sleep. We woke up at 4am today to start the day early for the safari and tomorrow's another early morning with a very long and exhausting day ahead of us!

I miss you guys!