Farewell

So our 10 weeks in Rwanda is over and it is time to say Goodbye to the 'land of a thousand hills' - a land of poverty and hardship, beautiful people with spiritual depth and richness and hope for a bright future. What a privilege it has been to serve the Lord here amongst the Rwandese Christians in the RYFC family. I pray that the Lord will allow me to return here to share in their lives again.

On Thursday afternoon we farewelled all the teachers. On Friday morning we met with all the watchmen at 6.20 am so that we could farewell the night shift and the day shift guys all at the same time. We gave each of them a tiny gold kangaroo pin and a small card. It was a happy time. These guys keep watch over the RYFC property and the people who use it and live and work there. They had taken care of us on numerous occasions - taken our washing off the bushes when it started to rain and we were not home, hidden our shoes from view so that no-one from the road might see them (and take them) when we had left them out to dry, walked with us by torch-light when we arrived home late any evening. Most of the watchmen speak little English but it's amazing what a smile, a handshake each morning or evening does, and making an effort to say their names and speaking a few words of greeting in their language can do. It lights up their faces! Smiles speak every language. I think that smiles are a gift from God so that we can bless other people.

On Saturday Sue and I decided to have 'Open House' from 2 pm till 7 pm to say 'Goodbye' to our Rwandan family.  We bought crates of sodas, baked about 150 pikelets (mini pancakes) which we spread with jam and cut two pineapples into pieces and stuck toothpicks in them for easy pick-up and eating (very Rwandan!) We also had some yummy roasted groud nuts (peanuts) which had been given to us when we visited David's family a week or so earlier. It was both deep and fun - a very fitting end to our stay.

 

Our visitors enjoyed the refreshments we had prepared, brought gifts and we all enjoyed each other's company. Several stayed later and we had a deep time of sharing and praying - rare and beautiful.

Check out our new bags from two of our favourite teachers.

We needed to be helped with the head gear. Our visitors helped us to 'get it right' (!) and were delighted with the way we looked.

In the morning we had both packed our cases and carry on luggage and were pleased that everything fitted (at a pinch!) But by the end of the evening we had a luggage problem!  But hey! How special to be loved like that! We wouldn't change that for anything.

On Sunday the previous week Sue had been farewelled at church because she left to fly back to Australia in the early hours of Sunday 18th.

 
I departed Rwanda in the evening of 18th and so I was farewelled in the morning before I left. They too blessed us with gifts. These people are so appreciative and so generous with the little that they have. We could learn much from them.

Farewell 'Land of a thousand hills' and Rwanda Youth for Christ. God used you to bless us and we love you.