Hello Rwanda!

January 17 – 20, 2012 (Day 23 – Day 26)

On Tuesday (Day 24), we woke up for an early breakfast before we had to leave for the airport. Girum met us with two taxis after breakfast and took us to Addis Ababa Airport. After we said goodbye, we went through preliminary security, checked in our bags and went through immigration. We waited in the main departure area for a bit where we found free internet service. Unfortunately, we were only there long enough for Kaitlin to post three blog posts that had been hard to do so in the city. We went through more security and went to our departure gate. All of our seats were separated and none of us were sitting together. When we stopped in Uganda to let passengers off, more than ¾ of the passengers left. We were then able to join together in groups a bit. Kaitlin and Franzi were extremely blessed to be able to switch with a family and sit in the very spacious emergency exit seats. We were picked up at the airport by Olivier and Didier, who have both been at the Harpenden base. Some of Immaculee's family was there to greet her. When we got to the YWAM Rwanda base, we were given a chance to see our rooms and meet a lot of the staff. Currently, there are three different DTS groups here. One is on outreach from Switzerland and they're here for three months, one is on their lecture phase, and there is us. There is another group on outreach that is coming at the end of the month. At 4pm, we had a base orientation with Olivier and Didier. There are lots of different ministries with YWAM Rwanda, specifically schools. There's also a turkey farm here. We had our first dinner at the Rwanda base. It was sooo good but they also give so much food. That's something that we'll have to get used to, especially after eating only two smaller meals in Ethiopia. After dinner, we all set up our mosquito nets on our beds and went to bed early.

On Wednesday (Day 25), we woke up for an early, early breakfast at 7am. We then had team time where we worshipped and prepared ourselves for the Rwandan genocide memorial that we were going to that morning. When we got to the memorial, the first section was reading different quotes or passages of the start, during, and after the genocide. There were videos with different testimonies, pictures, and item to look at or watch. Then, there were rooms with big video screens and pictures of all the victims of the genocide. Then, moving to the next section, there was a pathway with different genocides that had occurred just in the last century. There were events like the Holocaust, the Armenians, and Cambodia. The third section was dedicated to the children that died in the Rwandan genocide of 1994. We all met outside where some graves and gardens were, dedicated to the victims. It was pretty heavy and most of the team members felt emotionally drained after walking through. But it was very informative and we were all happy that we had done this first before any ministry. After we had headed back to the YWAM base for lunch, we left for the city centre to exchange money. Later in the night, a few of the team members watched the movie, 'Sometimes in April' and it was about the Rwandan genocide.

On Thursday (Day 26), the whole base had intercession for YWAM Rwanda and the country of Rwanda. Afterwards, we had team time where Laura and Immaculee washed the feet of every trainee. Richard was very sick so he wasn't there. They washed everyone's feet and then we all had communion together. We then debriefed Ethiopia and went for lunch. After lunch, we left for our first official ministry in Rwanda. We went to the homes of people who were HIV+ and we were with the Switzerland team. Both teams shared two testimonies and a short message. Immaculee helped to translate Rebecca, Franzi, and Peter's messages. The time was super good and the people who we were talking to were all very sweet and praised the Lord. After dinner, we aren't allowed to go outside the base as it's dark so we spend most of our nights sitting around the big table that we have in our room and write, journal, go on the computer, or go to sleep.

On Friday (Day 27), we all had to start preparing our testimonies (which most of us have already done) and preparing a sermon that all of us would at one point need to share. Afterwards, we had to do some work duties around the base. We learned how to clean the Rwandan way by pouring water over the floor and using mop-like squeagy and drag the water onto the grass. After that, we started to all pack our bags for the trip ahead to the countryside. We are leaving tomorrow and will be working with an orphanage and the staff that work there. After lunch, we left for the market. Most of us bought wrap around skirts, earrings, necklaces, shoes, and bags for souvenirs or gifts for people at home. After dinner, we had a special 'fun night' at the YWAM base. At first, there was a fashion contest, where men on the base came dressed out in skirts and dresses. Then, there was a huge dance party. It was so much fun and all of the team members spent a good hour dancing with the people on the base.

Some prayer requests for this week still include health. The malaria tablets that we are taking are occasionally making us feel a bit sick or dizzy. And Richard has been feeling very sick for the past few days and has missed out on the group activities so please be praying for him, especially since we are leaving for a week. And there won't be another blog post until next week because we shall be out in the country.

G'day, Immaculee's Babies