Beeta (not sure if that's the correct spelling) is a greeting in Kenya-Rwanda.

Bonjoure is used a lot here to. Here in Rwanda everyone knows at least two languages. The most commonly used is Kenya-Rwanda and French but English and Swahili are in use here as well. 

Now for what I really want to say... I miss you guys!!!! But I'm sad to leave. This last week has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. Our contacts didn't set up any appointments in the orphanages or school for our kids team. So I spent most of my time traveling with the 3d group to different sites around Kigali. They performed the dramas and preached the gospel... I prayed for ppl, took pictures and just tried to love on the kids.  

The crusades at night have been pretty awesome. There were probably well over a thousand ppl there but later on we found out that it was mostly only one tribe [hutu}. Although here in Kigali the two tribes [hutu and tutsi} are supposed to be undefined or unified the fact is just not so. Apparently there is a silent division going on so only one tribe will come to the crusade and the other wont. Its so strange.

But nevertheless God has pulled ppl from every corner of Kigali and brought them to the meetings. Hundreds of ppl have gotten saved and healing of major illnesses's such as cancer, broken bones have been mended and even a mother who is 7 months pregnant fell before the meeting but instead of going to the hospital she came to the meeting. They prayed for her and the baby is doing great now!

But even at these awesome crusade nights I didn't feel like I accomplished what God has planned for me to accomplish....

Until Saturday when we had our kids crusade!!!!!!! We had some where around 3,000 kids in the dirt soccer field in the middle of town. We played games and sang songs, learned a memory verse and all kinds of things! The kids loved it and were so amazing!!!! They are not like American children at all. They paid attention very well and were so grateful for everything! 

One thing I really loved about the night crusades was when we got to sit in the dirt with all the little kids. They just piled up around me and began braiding my hair and petting my arms. They kept turning my hands over to see my palms then they would look at there palms almost as if to say we are not that different. They learned to say "I love you" in English and many came up to me and said it again and again. Quit a few mothers came up to me with their babies strapped to their backs and through hand gestures asked me to pray for them. it was so neat. All the children are beautiful! 

We finally got to go to a couple orphanages one on Friday and one on Sunday. That was fun! The first one had about 100 kids and the second one was actually the largest orphanage in Rwanda. And the national director is a Christian!!! the facility is amazing!!! I think its better then anything we have in America to be honest. there is so much I could tell you about it!! 

On Sunday we went to a church that was pastored by the first female pastor in Rwanda. Her name is Josephine and she actually went to VBI with us!! How cool is that????? She had a ton of vision and has her own orphanage. I want to come back and help her. 

I have to skip around some now to cut this short but you'll be getting the full story when I get back so no worries. I actually began this letter yesterday but the Internet died so I couldn't send it but that's probably a God thing because there is something else I needed to add. 

Yesterday afternoon we went to the Genocide Memorial. It was like nothing I have ever seen before. I had no idea humans were capable of such horrible acts of evil. I wont go into the details now. However I got book on it to bring home so you guys can see what I saw in that memorial. The whole experience has changed my life.

I'm not sorry that I went at all. I'm so glad I know now and I wish I knew what happened here before we started our ministry. I have a much broader view of the evil of humanity, the pain we can inflict on each other and to think that God sees all this and Jesus knew we would do those awful things. Why would He save us? Its unexplainable.

 I have so much to tell you... We leave tomorrow at 2. Thank you for praying for me. I know I needed it. 

I love you all so much, I'll see you on the 17th.

hugs 

Holly