Just when I could barely handle the sluggish days creeping down to the home and the wedding, God gave me refreshment through some lovin' of my dear housemates and friends.
2) Yesterday I started the day a little crabby for no apparent reason other than I was tired and woke up with no time to pray. Hmf. Well, I got to the favorite African buffet in town to meet the staff for a farewell lunch, and just when I was stewing myself in a little self pity, they showed up and showered myself, Kate, and Claudine with beautiful words of encouragement fun and laughter. When I first arrived here in Rwanda, As We Forgive Rwanda Initiative consisted of Myself, Andrea, and our Rwandan brother, Benjamin. Now we have: Andrea, Kate, Christine (all housemates too!), and Benjamin, Aimable, and Claudine (the Rwandese team). But, the team is about to shrink again since myself and Kate are leaving Rwanda and our other co-worker, Claudine, is leaving as well to finish her studies.
Yesterday was a day where I was also being quite overly-critical of myself. But Benjamin, who I actually used to "counsel" in the early days, is pretty much running the show of AWFRI and has made a complete 180 turn into one of the most confident leaders I have seen! I have never heard such beautiful speeches about myself, Kate, and Claudine from him and in the midst of his difficult language barrier it was some of the kindest words I have ever heard. Same with Aimable and Andrea in their farewell speeches. They have observed gifts in myself that nobody has ever noticed before or voiced or even that I was aware of. Needless to say, I have never been so humbled in my life, so loved, so valued, and appreciated. It was a way that God Himself came to close me in His arms and tell me that even while I'm still a sinner, I also have gifts to offer the world that He gave me. If you know me at all, you'll know I was a weepy mess of tears (well, actually all 7 of us at the table were crying I was not the only one! It was so blessed and unexpected. Hands down one of my best days in Rwanda).
3) That very night Kate and I (my wonderful housemate and close friend are doing all of our good-byes together) had my Bible Study over to our house for some farewell cake and pizza. It was a wonderful time and they read Joshua 1 for us "Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law which Moses commanded you." After we all shared what we learned from each other, and then they prayed over us sending us away from Rwanda. See below for a photo of our Bible study group (Uh there are like 5 Rwandans missing from this shot, because of the house change to visit our house instead of the pastors they didn't want to come and make the trek)!!
Top Left: Lisette (Pastor's wife from Netherlands), Aba (Ghana), Kate and Andrea (housemates), Pastor Aadrian (Netherlands), Norbert (Germany).
Bottom Left over: Sheila (Rwanda), me, Mary (UK), and Sophia and Alan (Singapore/Malaysia)
We talked a lot about how Rwanda is lonelier than people think due to the nature of the very wounded country and lack of trust Rwandans have towards Westerners in general because the horrific past of how the Western countries helped the genocide happen. So this cell group has been the most surprising and hugest blessing in creating a family atmosphere.
4) Today was another good-bye lunch at my co-workers home Guma from Prison Fellowship. I was able to finally meet his beautiful wife, and visit with his family and also my good friend Faustin who barely speaks a word of English but I am teaching him! He was also able to come for lunch too. We had tons of laughter and looked through a looottt of photos.
Here is Guma with his wife and myself!
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