Wide Eyed & Mystified

My time in Africa, has not looked at all like what I thought it would.  Well, the first few weeks with Hearts of Hope were beautiful and mostly what I expected: meeting the new ladies and sending off the men and women from the graduating classes.  I was then able to go to a refugee camp and help hand out kits (with underwear, reusable shields and liners, and soap) for Days for Girls, as one of the ladies on the HOH team facilitates that.

(Putting snaps on)

After that was finished, I was starting to integrate into life here.  Prayer House on Monday nights.  Prayer with friends on Tuesdays.  Wednesdays/Thursdays hangout/game nights.  Friday’s cell (Bible Study).  Weekends, sometimes more hangouts.  Then, our first case of COVID hit.  Everything shut down.  Gatherings prohibited.

At times, it’s felt like the world has stopped spinning.  You feel trapped.

And I know it’s similar in the West too.  But, I really believe God weaves His story and desires through it all. 

“May we never lose our wonder.

 Wide eyed and mystified

May we be just like a child

Staring at the beauty of our King!”

 

Most of you reading this know my story for this year.  I heard God calling me to Africa for 2020.  When I first decided to come back to Africa, I was only going to come for 3-4 months (Feb-May).  Then, I wanted to extend it to 6 months (Feb-July) because I wanted to work with the ladies from the new class for a bit before I left.  Someone from Kenya then reached out to me and asked if I would come there and I decided I would help there for 3 months.  I had finally decided I would be here Feb-November and make sure I was home for Thanksgiving. 

God is a funny man.  He has me exactly where He wants me and for the time that He wants me.  Borders are still closed.  There are expensive flights that leave Rwanda every once in a while, that have connections to the USA.  But, He knew I was supposed to be here.  That being said, I’m still unsure if Kenya will be a possibility.  So, it’s a daily of laying down my desires and picking up what He has in mind.  “For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” 1 Corinthians 1:25

In reality, I wasn’t sure what ministry was going to look like during my time here.  I knew that I was supposed to be here, and I told Glenda I would help with any side projects she needed help with.  Here are just a few things I’ve been doing:

-Encouraging people…messages, emails, video chats

-Inventory (and having a little fun while doing it too)

–Food Distribution.  During lockdown we packaged food and gave it to ladies as they came to receive it—and brought joy and laughter to a lot of them!

-Prayer.  Like mega prayer. I started a prayer wall here and I’ve been trying to be intentional about reaching out to people to see how I can pray for them, especially people here in Rwanda.  On Friday nights HOPE also has a “prayer meeting” and we look at how God has answered prayers over the past week and what we need to pray for in the coming week dealing with the new projects.

-Mask Making!  We first started out with working with the Rwandan Government for two weeks.  Then, Paul Hardy (https://paulhardydesign.com/products/artisanal-face-masks-rwanda) from Canada.  3,001 masks have now been shipped to Canada and are currently being sold.  It’s a “buy one, give one” campaign, so for every mask sold, a Rwandan will receive one!  How cool is that?  Currently, our ladies are busy sewing the first 1,000 give away masks.  What has my role been in this process? 

                -Greeting the ladies every morning with a smile (behind the mask) and a “Mwaramutse” (Good Morning).  Along with some elbow bumps (otherwise it would be hugs), ankle taps, and lots of laughs. 

                -Giving praise to God for what He’s been doing—through devotionals, singing, and prayer (usually led by one of the Dream Team members)

                -Helping decide which size masks to be made out of which gitenge and deciding lining color for the backing and thread colors.  The lovely Pamela usually goes with Luc to buy the materials from the market, brings them back with ideas, and then I get to help pass along ideas with some of my own.

                -I also help the one woman with the lining.  I tell her what size, what color, and how many, and she cuts.  I usually help in the counting too. 🙂  It’s been super fun working with her and being actively involved!

                -Counting and recording masks at the end of the day.  This can be a process! 

                -Nightly reports on how the day went and how we can improve.

                -Refilling the handwashing station.  The little things that actually make a difference 🙂

                -Lollipop Friday!  Every Friday we give out lollipops with an encouragement or scripture in Kinyarwanda.

                -Bringing joy, light, and hope to the ladies!

                -Sanitizing the sewing room and gate handles so everyone stays healthy!

                -Chilling with the ladies sometimes—just trying to talk in Kinyarwanda to them makes them smile so much.

                -Lunchtime: helping serve the food!

                -Writing encouraging messages on the shipments!

 

                -Celebrating the WINS! (3,001 masks!)

-Encouraging/checking in on the team:  It might not seem like ministry, but it is.  This team has been hard at work, and sometimes the work never seems to end.  Beneficiaries are hungry or in need.  It’s been a long stretch so sometimes they need encouragement—and they also encourage us! 😀

-Making friends with the street vendors.  It’s a joy to see their faces light up when we pass by or come to buy items.  They are welcoming and give us fair prices because they know us as regulars.

-Loving on a family down the street every time we pass by (the kids always come out waving, “hello teacher”).  We sometimes share fruit with them, something that is often seen as privileged in Rwanda and a true treat. 

-Learning Kinyarwanda and teaching English.  One of the ladies that is still living here wanted to know more English.  For a while I was giving lessons, but it honestly was more like I was getting lessons.  She is kind and patient with me.  I’ve also had some other friends who have been willing to spend some time to share some wisdom as well.  I still don’t know a lot (it’s not the easiest language to pick up), but I love learning!

-Games with the two ladies that live here.  We’ve played Uno, Speed, and solitaire.  They absolutely love learning and playing.  It’s not something they were privileged to grow up with.  So, taking the time out to just hang with them and “give life” means the world.  It usually ends up in a photo and hug session too. 🙂 

-As I learned on the race…Life is Ministry, Ministry is life…so even everyday ordinary things like game nights with friends, saying hi to people on morning jogs, teaching friends the art of roasting a marshmallow over a stove flame (HAHA), just sitting with others while they do their laundry, trimming shrubs, attempting Kinyarwanda…it all matters. Love just does.  It doesn’t think twice….like when you are still in social distancing and a kid playing on the street runs up and hugs you.  Love God. Love your neighbor. Make Disciples. Be transformed by God.  What can you do today to love your neighbor well and share the beauty of our king?!  May we never lose our wonder…and stay wide eyed and mystified of all that HE is doing!