New Perspective

After being here in Rwanda for a week, you can’t help but to have your perspective changed. Mine definitely has. 

I take so many things for granted living in the US that so many others around the world don’t even have. Things I don’t even think about, that just seem like normal life, are non-existent for most people here in Rwanda. Everyday items like clean water, electricity, toilets, heating, air conditioning, sanitary bathrooms, showers, toothpaste, deodorant, shoes, q-tips, internet, cars, computer, cell phone, tv, and so many other things. 

I’ve gotten so used to these things being available to me and part of normal life that I don’t even realize how much of a blessing they are. What’s interesting is that most Rwandans living outside of Kigali don’t miss these things because they’ve never had them. We’ve had a move in the US over the last several years to combat consumerism, which I agree with wholeheartedly. But here in Rwanda, that’s not even on the radar screen. Simple lifestyle; incredibly powerful faith. 

Another thought from my time here is the essence of community. Because there are relatively few of the items mentioned above in most communities throughout Rwanda, “living in community” looks very different from what I am used to. Everyone walks to get somewhere, the Church and school is the center of community life, and the water well serves as a gathering place. Music is an incredibly important part of the culture here, and most celebrations and gatherings involve singing and dancing. People work together and collaborate because they HAVE To- their very existence depends on it. Subsistent farming communities are intertwined because people rely on each other- everyone has to contribute in order to survive. You can’t “just exist” in a community, you have to be an integral part of it. 

What does this mean for our realities of community? Not sure yet, but I know that when a community has to work together on something, it enhances “doing life together.” 

Check out Jeff Shinabarger’s blog from earlier today on “Could you live here?,” regarding Rwanda. I share the same sentiments.

Rwanda Day #6

Another amazing day here in Rwanda. We spent the morning with 10 students from a local University here in Kigali. Each of these students are part of the Leadership Development Program through Compassion. There are a total of 35 students throughout Rwanda who are part of the LDP through Compassion. These students basically are given a scholarship to attend a University, and participate in weekly activities that allow for continued spiritual and emotional growth. 

Really impressed with these students. Over 200 applications were received for these 35 spots, in the first year of the program in Rwanda. Over 1,500 students around the world are part of LDP. This is the best of the best from the Compassion program for children who have been sponsored through childhood and adolescence. An amazing program and one of the highlights of the trip for me- meeting these college students and having the chance to hear their stories and encourage them. 

We also visited Hotel Rwanda, which is actually a hotel by a different name but actually the site where the movie was filmed. If you haven’t watched the movie before, go and rent it immediately. It is a great film, and a good look into the Genocide of 1994 through the eyes of the hotel manager and how he protected both Hutu’s and Tutsi’s in the hotel, without any protection from the UN or other groups. Stars Don Cheadle and Nick Nolte.

Recent Interview at Catalyst with Rick Warren

Listen in on an interview I did recently with Rick Warren at Catalyst West Coast. We sat down backstage and discussed a number of issues, including how young leaders can avoid crashing and burning over the course of their work/ministry careers. This episode also includes an excerpt from the interview Andy Stanley did with Rick on stage at Catalyst West. 

Stream live here or download from itunes.

Rwanda Day #5

Visited two Rwanda Clean Water wells today. More on that in a later post. The well site for these communities is a gathering place. People will walk or bike to the site sometimes up to 10 times a day. 

More pics from today.

The Global Church

After 5 days in Rwanda, I am encouraged. One of the main things I continue to be encouraged by is the beauty and scope of the global Church. The Church is alive and well all over the world. Too many times we hear that the Church is losing influence, but from what I’ve seen here in Rwanda, I am convinced that God is at work through the Church in incredibly powerful ways. 

We attended an Anglican Church here in Kigali today, complete with hymns and praise songs, corporate prayer, children singing, and a powerful message on the parable of the Banqueting table. It was the “early” service at 8:30, and was about 3/4 full. All in English. Then the 10:30 service was in Kinyarwanda (Rwanda’s language), and it was completely full and overflowing. The service was lively and powerful. Hearing the songs sung in Kinyarwanda made me think of Heaven. Chances are we probably won’t be singing in English, but “all tribes and all tongues will praise Him.” Even though I didn’t know what exact words they were singing in the second service, I could tell what they were singing about, and who they were singing to.

There were hundreds of children present. I actually wanted to attend the Children’s service because the singing was so amazing. People here sing with passion and hope and purpose. They give with great generosity. Each day is a blessing. I know I am guilty many times of just “showing up” for Church, and going through the motions. Listening instead of interacting. 

It is very encouraging as well to see the partnership between Compassion projects and the local churches here in Rwanda. This is true for every Compassion project. There has to be a local church to partner with. Seeing this partnership in action is even more evidence of the Biblical model for the Church- taking care of the least of these, the children, the widows, the orphans. Giving hope to those trapped in poverty. When we visit these children and families and community leaders and pastors who are engaged in this partnership, it is like seeing a small glimpse into Heaven. 

My theology about the poor and for the poor and those living in poverty is being refined and defined on this trip. I used to think the greatest role we can play is to provide food to those in poverty. That is definitely part of the equation. But not the full solution. The greatest challenge for those living in poverty is no hope. But what Compassion does is it gives children HOPE. And the family members HOPE. And the communities where Compassion projects exist have HOPE. 

I can see hope in the eyes of the Children we meet. I saw hope today in the eyes of the Congregation members at Church. I see hope across this country of Rwanda.

White Men Can't Jump

And this is definitely proven by Jeff Shinabarger, on the trip with us in Rwanda, Africa. Our group went to a fabulous Anglican Church this morning in Kigali and had a great time after Church visiting with church members and also the Compassion staff that work with the church locally. 

But as we were waiting for our transportation to arrive, Jeff and I thought it might be fun to shoot a few hoops on the playground basketball court at the school next to the Church. Before shooting a quick game with some of the local kids, Jeff wanted to show off a bit, and here is what transpired…. enjoy. 

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Day #4 Pictures

Another incredible day here in Rwanda. More thoughts tomorrow, but for now, some pics from today. 

Pics from Rwanda Day #3