Day 10 - Liberation Day, A Casket Device, and Music

Happy Fourth of July! Today was a great day for making relationships with the children. Today was Liberation Day in Rwanda. This is the day set aside to celebrate the “official’ end to the Genocide of 1994 and the beginning of a new “dawn” in Rwanda. We played a 2 hour soccer game (football) in this great Rwanda weather. We then read books with the children and even though they can’t understand you, they still sit in your lap and intently listen and look at the pictures. When you are done with one book they have another one waiting for you to read them… “ dis book naow” they say. Lastly, I pushed them on the swings… when you get done with the last one in the row the first one you pushed is slowing down…. “ Bene! Poosh! Biga biga” they call to you. Great day indeed. Thank you for following. – Ben Ikeler

Reflections from Vicki—
Sadie mentioned that her, Nick & I went with two kids from the orphanage to pick up 3 cases of soda at the village the other day. I’m sure seeing 3 “muzungus” pushing a wheelbarrow along the road was quite a sight for the Rwandans. After we were halfway there, I asked the kids if they knew where were going. I never even thought to ask which place we were supposed to get the soda from! The buildings all look the same, but the kids seemed to know where they were supposed to go. Turns out, we didn’t go to the right place and got charged an extra 600 Rwandan Francs (one dollar) because we were supposed to go to the wholesale store.

Every morning and every evening, we have a time of devotions. Each member of the team leads both devotions at least one time. Our topics vary with each person leading devotions. We’ve been talking about how we have seen Jesus on this trip. Some of us agreed that there hasn’t been any “huge” spiritual feeling, but that “it is in the little things,” like giving a hug or saying hello to people on the streets. I have seen Him in all of the children & workers here. They are so happy & so proud of their lives & what they have, even though by our standards they have very little. Sometimes, we get so caught-up in the belief that in order to make a difference we have to have a miracle like a healing or something really obvious, when in reality just a kind word, reading to a child or a smile can make all the difference in someone’s life.

Today I went with Ed & Skip to meet with Languida at a cemetery as they put together a casket lowering device. Craig Baker, a member of BCC, has a professional relationship with Languida as she operates a funeral and memorial service business here in Rwanda. Craig arranged for the casket lowering device to be shipped and it arrived while we were here. Skip and Ed agreed (after Skip spoke to Craig) to help Languida assemble the device. We first had to get to the cemetery which was difficult because it’s located near the national soccer stadium in Kigali. There was a huge Liberation Day Celebration—much like our July 4th Celebration and the streets were filled with people leaving the stadium. We made it and Isaac dropped us off while he went to take care of some church-related business.

Before we were finished, word must have gotten out that the muzungas were there because we had attracted quite a crowd! Languida also took us to see her showroom where she sells the caskets, flowers and makes funeral preparations. In Rwanda, the family prepares the loved one’s body—not a funeral home. The funeral company will provide the casket, flowers, etc., transport the body, and arrange for the burial plot to be prepared—there are also no casket “vaults’ used in Rwanda. The casket is simply lowered into the dirt.

Isaac’s meeting was running late, so we went with Languida and her four relatives to the Nakumatt Shopping Center in downtown Kigali, and had coffee and lattes with them. We had a great visit with them and enjoyed talking with them. We were also well entertained by seven year-old Arsed, who did some great “Michael Jackson” type moves.

Sadie stayed back at the home today with Ben & Nick and played “Futbol,” colored with the kids, palyed waffle-ball, read books, and played on the swing set.

Tonight Ben started family time with two songs he wrote and everyone really enjoyed them. Then he got out his “little guitar” (Ukelele) and Sadie led in some hula dancing. Nick finished family time by talking about, and showing pictures of, the seasons in America and the different sports played each season. We ended with prayer & some more dancing. After family time the team had devotions and then enjoyed good old-fashioned popcorn (no microwave here!) while we talked about our day.

Quote for the day: “I don’t look good in women’s pants.” --Skip

IMANA is GREAT! (God is Great!)

AMEN!