Wow we are up to day 3 and what an amazing day it was! It all started with our morning worship in which emotions ran free (well for me anyway) It is just such a beautiful place that I love with every minute that I’m here. After our worshiping time (our half hour of power) breakfast was downed and we headed off to a child headed household to help build a new house. We visited this house yesterday and learnt that the young girl lives in the house with her younger sister. Both of her parents have passed and they live there by themselves. The current house is very tiny and there is no security. It has a door but it isn’t connected to the house. When we got there today we saw the house in progress. It is a wonderful thing to see the community in work. They have all come together to help build her house as they know the value that she is in the community and they want to help her.

Our first job today was water carrying. So, flash backs from yesterday occurred and we once again picked up our containers and headed down the hill towards the lake. While heading down the hill and overlooking the amazing lake in front of us, it is hard to think that the people here have so little but man do they have the views. The land of a thousand hills alright, and where there are hills, there are valleys and lakes. It truly is a magnificent place. One thing that came up for me today was separating my life at home with what I am doing here. By getting past the things that are holding me back from being in this moment I was able to see what God has ahead for me so much more clearly. It even gave me so much energy just from this release that walking the 800m hill with a 10L full bottle of water was a walk in the park and I can tell you that the view from the top was worth the travel.  The water we brought up was for the mud that was being used for the bricks that we made today. My job today was the human cement mixer. 

I was very eager to get into the mud with the guys and give them a hand. I was then joined with 3 others where we passed the mud up to the people making the bricks. One thing that I have noticed on this trip is that we are all working so well together. This was shown especially today when we had a factory line going on with every one passing mud to the next to make it easier for the people making the bricks. I know I came out with smooth legs from the mud and a tan that people pay hundreds for. (Although a quick hop in the shower washed away the tan but not the smoothness!)

Next we were off to the kindergarten where we sang with the kids and gave out sticker and balloons. As usual the stickers went off like a charm. The bubbles where a bit of a shock to them but they slowly came around. I spent most of the time showing a group of kids how to blow into the bubble wand and getting bubbles sprayed in my face, Good times. The teachers were so thankful that we were there that they had cooked some corn for us. We had this with some of the best African tea I have ever tasted. Apart from the tea, the whole experience was amazing. They shared their food with us as a way of saying thank you. This is a big think to Rwandans. It was really humbling.

The afternoon was spent at the centre for champions where our team divided into groups and did different activities with the kids. Some played basketball; others were out on the field playing AFL. There was a craft group making pom poms and apparently the pom poms are the best things ever!

I have been very fortunate to be spending time with the young adult’s leadership team. These children truly are leaders. They are really taking in the ideas that we are giving them and they are embracing their roles really well. The kids have so much potential and I believe that they are really going somewhere. We still have a few more days with them so I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for them. I know they are going to be great.

Overall, it has been an eye opening day and I feel so blessed to be here with this group and with the loving Rwandans. They have embraced us in their community and I know that I will always have them in my heart. A reading that came up today was from Matthew 5: 14, 16 and reads: “you are the light of the world. A city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.” We are here doing God’s work and everywhere we have been today the people can see by our deeds that we were sent hear by God and that he has a plan for everyone, even the ones that may not think that they are worthy enough. We are making a difference in the lives of people who wouldn’t have this usually. One lady was saying today that they don’t see white people in their community let alone people that are willing to get into the dirt and mud to help them. By making a difference in their lives, I know that they have made a difference in mine. This truly is a nation of God’s people.

It’s now the end of the 3^rd day and still have many adventures to go in the next few days. So this is me signing off and sending my love to everyone back home.

God bless, see you soon.

Sam