Out in Kayenzi

Thursday Adrienne, Berchimas and I went out to Kayenzi Sector (where we served last year) and visited everyone. As we drove into the community and I saw the Parish my heart swelled with joy. And then, as we drove past the church, Father Anatole was standing outside. We stopped and I basically jumped out of the car! My heart was leaping as I greeted him, a man who had been such a blessing and really a covering to our team as we were in the community he ministers to every day. We made plans to come back after the home visit with Daphrose (Adrienne's sponsor child) for lunch at the parish. We continued on up the rode and deeper into the community. The home visit with Daphrose was a sweet time, and made me realize more the awesome partnership/relationship between Adrienne and Berchimas. Daphrose had malaria while we were visiting with her, and because Berchimas can speak Kinyarwanda he was able to ask the right questions and get good answers. Something that would not have been able to happen had he not been there. He is a good man. We left for lunch and joined Father, Amerika, Christophe and others at the Parish. As we sat down around the table again it was just like old times. Such a great time of fellowship and laughter. And again, delicious food. After we said goodbye we made our way to Francoise’s home, my sponsor daughter. She was waiting for us, and as we walked down the path to her home, her family came to greet us as well. I almost cried as I greeted her mother and father. Her family had been one of the recipients of a cow last year and the cow looks great! Super healthy and doing well. THey are praying that it gets pregnant, so I said I would pray as well. We went into their home and I was astonished. This was the same house that last year was only somewhat done and definitely not able to be lived in. But now it was 90% done and we sat in the living room around the table. They offered us all doughnut type pastries and African tea, which was DELICIOUS! We chatted for a while, catching up about families and life. It was so good, and such a sweet time. They said to tell all of my family hello and that they are praying for you all!

After exchanging a few gifts (they blessed me with a rabbit!) we left and made our way up to the house that our team had helped construct last year. Mama Triphanie was home when we arrived and she just kept laughing as we greeted her. The house looks beautiful and she was beaming with pride as we asked her about it. I had really hoped to see Papa Martin, but he was down the road. The neighbor next door (I forget his name) had his house all finished now. Last year this house was where we kept the bricks (remember carrying them across the road, Rwanda 08 team?) but now the house was finished, complete with a fenced backyard and painted trim. (I’m serious!) And as we stood and spoke with him he told Adrienne and I that he had got married and asked if we would like to meet his wife. We said yes, of course. So we were able to not only see the beautiful home he had built but also to meet his new wife. (Tony, Phil and Jeff, he said hello and wanted to make sure that you all knew that he was well and married and everything.) His wife was very sweet and they showed us their wedding photos which were beautiful. Father Anatole actually married the two, so that was pretty special as well. Someone must have told Papa Martin that we were there, as he came within ten minutes to greet us. It was so good to see him! He is doing well, as are his children. His mama was in the hospital at the time, with some stomach issues (at over 80 years I think that can be expected!) but she is recovering well and was expected to be home soon. We left Kayenzi a little while later. Being out there was such a peaceful thing for me. Kigali city is wonderful and I really do enjoy it, but there are a lot of people and its fast. So being out in the slower community, and one that had such a huge impact on me last year, was a blessing and very relaxing for me.