Its a Wrap

Now that I’ve been home for awhile, it’s time to give a wrap-up of my most recent continent-hopping.

Things that I appreciate more since getting back home:

1. Hot showers
2. Potable water to brush my teeth (instead of using bottled water)
3. Not having to put something on my feet while inside (I like to go “barefoot”)

What I miss most about Africa:

1. Feeling closer to God
2. Having much less stress
3. The friendly people of Rwanda
4. Warm weather
5. All of the children
6. The choir kids
7. Working on the water tower
8. All of my fellow team-mates

It is really hard to describe all of the emotions and wonderfulness of being in Africa. It is like nothing I have ever experienced before.

The people were all so very warm and genuine. They were grateful for a smile, a hug, a touch. All of the things we no longer regularly do in America.

People talk about them (referring to “folks” in general from other countries) as being so poor and so downtrodden, so lacking in the basic conveniences of life – but what we saw were God-fearing people that loved the Lord and each other. We saw no bickering among the children. All of the children were respectful and instantly obeyed authority. There was no whining about anything. If someone told them to move or go or bring or “whatever”, it was done…without exception.

And there was no fear of being amongst the people, either in the countryside or in the cities. We did not feel intimidated at all when walking by a group of locals that may have been standing around or visiting. I would have been much more leery in the US.

What do they have that we don’t? They have things that money can’t buy. They have time. They have love. They have faith. They have a community that takes care of each other. They have God and truly know Him.

Rwanda was a beautiful country. Her people were generous and kind and loving. I want to go back. I felt like what I was doing mattered there. And it was appreciated. I didn’t feel like an outsider. I felt like a fellow follower of Jesus, trying to do what was best and right. True, I struggled with that at times (we all do -we are human) but I felt more on the right path while in Rwanda.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone that so generously helped make my journey possible. To all of you that helped sponsor me to get me over there, as well as all of you that prayed for me and/or followed my journey. I gained so much during this experience. Much more than I gave. But what I gave I did freely and what I gained was received freely as well. Thank you so much for making that possible.

The group talked about a song that described what we all thought while in Africa. The song that came to the forefront was “How Great Is Our God”, a wonderful song by Chris Tomlin.

We also decided that Psalm 127 adequately summarized our work and our time in Rwanda. I will close with the NIV version:

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat –
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.
Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.
Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate."

I intend to continue using this blog for snippets into my life. So stay tuned, and thanks for caring enough to share my life journey.

With love in Christ,
-Phyllis