Off to CFC

Greetings again from Rwanda!

We have arrived in Rwanagama safely and have starting interacting with the students and serving.

Yesterday we set up all the donated clothes in an unused classroom and arranged for each student (approx 150 students in all) to come and choose a shirt for themselves. T-shirts were for boys and we had feminine shirts for girls. The children are very obedient. They each came in and selected their shirt and thanked us as they quietly left. Not one child begged for more, and when they got to their classroom, they were so excited for their gently used new shirt.

Later in the day we set up tables and interviewed each child for updated information for their sponsor. The children are very curious about America. They all have come from the street. They are happy here and are so thankful to have their basic needs met, such as food, shelter and clothing. So many of them are committed to Christ and you can see the joy of God in their eyes. They are so happy, yet they have nothing. The interviews revealed they long to hear from their sponsors. Getting a letter from their sponsor could be the highlight of their whole season. Most of them don’t have parents, which were killed in the genocide, and have siblings, if any, scattered across the country. They desire so much to have a family, and to have a mother and father and live a family life. There is this sense of longing…longing for something they hope for…a family and parents. The children are very affectionate, and when I talked with them, they gather around me, touching me, putting their arms around me, hugging me and playing with my hair. They need so much love.

Today we helped organize the library. There were about nine of us that worked for 3 hours getting books donated to the school to be ready to be put on the shelf for the children to read. The books were donated through the Peace Corps. This afternoon we will continue our interviewing of the students.

Every afternoon we have a downpour and teaching has to stop because it’s raining so hard on the metal roof, no one can hear or talk. So we just sit and smile at each other while we wait for the rain cloud to pass over!  Right now as I write, there is thunder rumbling in the distance. We usually get a big downpour in the afternoon. Mornings are blue sky, sunny and hot (+90 F).

Tonight our team is going out for dinner in town. Our hotel has been feeding us all our meals so far.

Friday we will be going to an orphanage to visit more orphans in need of love.

On a personal note, today is my birthday. Kat and Steve, bless their hearts, took me into town (we walked) and bought me lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we took a “bicycle taxi” ride back to our hotel. It was a great adventure and so much fun!

Thank all of you who are praying for us and have donated in some fashion towards our mission. All items are needed desperately to support the children in their learning. Rwanda needs these children to learn and grow so they can make their country strong again. Please continue to pray for us for safety of travel and that God continues to work in us.  Blessings to all of you.

Mary Williams

Team Member

PS Oh! Almost forgot to mention the US Ambassador to Rwanda just happened to show up at school today. He said very nice things about the mission of the school, thanking us personally. We all got to meet him and shake his hand.