Stories from Jonathan

shared by Jonathan Heidengren

Our trip to Rwanda has been amazing, but it’s also been difficult. It has been hard because there has been a lot of time on buses while we travel from place to place. On the bus trips I have had lots of time to think about the people I miss back in the US and I become homesick and want to go back to Greensboro. However, the amazing times we have had with the people of Cyangugu and Karangazi have filled me with so much joy and then I don’t want to leave. I have made new friends and met brothers and sisters in Christ who have welcomed me into their homes and treated me like family.

This trip has been a new experience for me because the reason we have come is just to be with the people. It is not to accomplish some project or lead VBS or build something, but just to visit with the people. Bishop Alexis (Gahini diocese) shared with us that the people feel so loved that their brothers and sisters from America have travelled so far to be with them. At each church, they usually try to lead us to seats near the front that have been reserved for us, but Tripp always asks if we can sit with the people. As we come to sit with them, their faces light up with joy and we are welcomed into their midst as family.

My three highlights of the trip have been building relationships with three different people. The first is Bonnie, Bishop Nathan’s right hand man in Cyangugu. We are about the same age and are kindred spirits and I so enjoyed talking, laughing, singing, and getting to spend time with him.

The second is Asa, a young boy who I met at a church service in Karangazi. We spent the whole morning service together and I bonded with him as he sat on my lap and as we worshipped God together.

The third is Timothy, the young boy I sponsor through Compassion International. It was such a joy to meet him and get to know him a little bit. But we really bonded over the game of fútbol. We talked about our favorite players and teams and then we got to kick around the fútbol that I gave him. Later that afternoon we got to play a game of fútbol with the other sponsored children and their interpreters and we had a blast playing together! All three of them treated me as their brother and welcomed me into their lives with joy and love.

I am so grateful for this experience to meet my brothers and sisters through Christ in Rwanda and to celebrate God’s goodness with new family! And while I am very excited to come home and be with my family in Greensboro, I will not forget my brothers and sisters in Rwanda! I hope that I will have the opportunity to return and when I do I will celebrate being reunited with family!

Update 1

Greetings from Rwanda! All is well here as we are enjoying the incredible scenery and beautiful people who call this country home. We have been on the go since we landed in Kigali last Saturday (Or was it Friday? The whole time change thing is confusing). We have been many places and have made many new friends. In Kigali we were able to visit the Genocide Museum and Hotel Rwanda which gave us a better understanding of this country’s devastating past. From Kigali we left for Cyangugu where we were able to see the vibrant Christianity that is alive in the churches there. We had the privilege of witnessing many different savings groups started by Hope International, as well as many bible studies that are using International Cooperating Ministries’ Mini Bible College curriculum. The majority of churches we visited were founded by ICM—the members took great ownership and pride in their church. The other day we made the long trek from Cyangugu to Gahini where we are right now (I believe it was about 10 hours of driving). Here we are spending time with our sister church in Karangazi who we worshipped with this morning. It was an energetic service full of rejoicing and praise to our Lord.

Something that has stood out to each of us on this team is Rwandans’ generous hospitality. We have been welcomed so graciously every place we have gone with singing, dancing, and embracing. The people here are so quick to offer a smile and warm greeting. Our team has experienced the love of Christ through the underserved love the people have shown us here. It has been a blessing to see the unity Christ brings to his body while maintaining its diversity—every tribe, tongue, and nation shall glorify the Lord.

A quick example of this beautiful unity occurred last week while at an ICM church building site. My team was able to work alongside church members who are volunteering their time to construct their church. As we worked on moving dirt for the foundation we learned a song in Kinyarwanda and sang together. After our time at the building site concluded we hopped into our bus and went to a building where the congregation meets while their church is being constructed. Somehow our friends had beat us to the church and were waiting outside for us singing. We joined them in song and dance then they led us into the room where they meet. They proceeded to perform a ceremonial foot-washing, wiping us down from head to toe with colorful fabric. This was one of my favorite moments here thus far. My heart swelled as the Spirit’s presence united me with my brothers and sisters. That day we worked side by side and praised God side by side. Our love for one another was tangible in that moment. I hope to remember this all of my days.

I hope all is well in the States. We look forward to encouraging you with the stories we have shared in here when we see you face to face.

Kait, for the Rwanda Team

Monday, June 22nd - Rwhistle while you work

Our first day in Cyangugu was spent visiting various ICM projects.  ICM helps congregations build church buildings at a cheaper cost compared to if a congregation decided to build on their own. At first I thought we were just going to see the projects, however, we participating in Umuganda.  Umuganda is a civic work day where individuals work on local projects.  It is an interesting concept and I wonder what Greensboro would look like if we took part in Umuganda.

On my first visit to Rwanda, we participated in Umuganda. We helped build a wall onto a widow’s house. We had to carry large bricks down a ravine to where the widow’s house was.  Luckily we made a long human assembly line and were able to hand off bricks down the line which made work a lot easier.  The widow was a survivor of the genocide that had adopted children whose parents were killed in the genocide.  When we arrived at the first location, we found men and women leveling land.  They didn't have any graders or backhoes like we have here in the US that would make quick work of the task at hand.  The only tools that they had were shovels, hoes, mattocks, and wheelbarrows.  

There were two work areas; one area where all of the hoeing was going on, breaking up the top soil and moving the soil towards the bottom of the hill. The other work area was where mounds of soil where being shoveled into a wheelbarrow and taken to the bottom of the hill and emptied. We all got out of the van, grabbed a hoe or a shovel and began to work.  We shoveled and moved dirt for about 45 minutes.  The Rwandans taught us a song and at one point we were all singing and working together.  Needless to say at the end of 45 minutes, I realized that it has been many years since I’ve actually worked a day in my life.  We all were hot, sweaty, and dirty.  We then said, “Murabeho!” (goodbye) and got back into the van and drove to another site where a church was being built and shoveled and hoed dirt around again for 30 minutes.  

Despite my body hating life during that hour and 15 minutes of shoveling and hoeing, what struck me most was the joy and unity of the congregation.  People of the congregation all came together and have been investing and sacrificing their time, energy, and what little money they have into building a church that will expand God’s kingdom in Rwanda.  There is no telling the impact that this church will have in the future; all because of 20-30 folks had a vision of building a church and were willing to invest money, time, and doing the hard work, which can sometimes be the dirty work.  It is also encouraging to me regarding the opportunities God has for Redeemer in the years ahead.  Who knows what things that we can achieve for God’s glory and to build His kingdom when brothers and sisters come together with the same vision and are willing to put in the hard work.  At the end of the day, apart from God, we can do nothing.

Typically when you go to a foreign country on a missions trip and work on a project it is called “Sweating for Jesus.”  But what we did today should actually be called “Immanuel Labor.”  Brothers and sisters in Christ came together and worked with each other to help build a church to expand God’s kingdom on earth.  Imane Ishimwe!  (Praise the Lord!)

written Ryan Kildoo

Sunday, June 21st - Rwoad trip

Today, we drove from Gahini to Cyangugu.

It was a ten hour drive.

The views were great. The ride, not so much.

Saturday, June 20th - A day full of rwonder

Today, we visited Karangazi Parish School, supported by Compassion International. All of us took part in the blessing of meeting and getting to know Compassion students. Some of us even had the opportunity to meet the students we sponsor. As a team we were able to sit in on classes, hear scripture from students and learn more of the weekly lessons. Our team also spoke to administration regarding school growth and development and the ongoing partnership between the parish school and the church parish. 

One of the most profound moments of my experience thus far has been meeting Phionah. Phionah is the child Sarah Moubray and I sponsor together. It is indescribable the feeling we each felt when meeting her for the first time. Our interpreter, John, did an amazing job of making Phionah feel comfortable and open to asking questions. Sarah and I did most of the talking but within the few hours we had with her, it was beautiful to see her come alive. It was a beautiful moment to witness children being greeted with open arms and embraced in the love of Christ. One by one children received their gifts, but it was much more than material items. Each child is loved, prayed for, and today received a remarkable and intangible gift of Christ’s unconditional love. I pray these children and children everywhere will come to know the Lord in unspeakable ways and will share their knowledge and passion for life with everyone they meet. 

written by Stacey Greene

Friday, June 19th - Rwomen for rwomen

This morning, we were able to visit a Women’s Opportunity Center run by Women for Women, an NGO that focuses on helping women. The Center has a gift shop (where we picked up some souvenirs and some fantastic smelling, locally-grown coffee), guest accommodations, a kitchen, a meeting room, and several classrooms. The classrooms impressed us with their inviting circular design, which our tour guide, Luke, explained helped to create a welcome and safe atmosphere for women to discuss issues and learn. There’s also a garden, where they grow food that is served in the restaurant, and they are starting to produce yogurt and cheese as well. The Center is a fantastic resource for local women to learn, support each other, develop vocational skills, and earn income for their families. It was a beautiful space and I think we were all impressed by what is happening there.

In the afternoon, we went back to Karangazi School to spend some more time with the students. We made bracelets and played soccer. We’re learning to speak in a language of hand-holding and hugs and smiles. We make up silly games and we laugh a lot. It’s been such a gift to spend time with these students - they are bright, funny, welcoming, loving, and an absolute joy to be around. I’ve loved watch Sarah, Tripp, Andrea, and Kildoo greet friends from past years with excitement and giant hugs. Being here gives new meaning to the words “God loves the little children” and it’s so easy to see the Father’s heart for kids when we see the way these students love us. 

written by Hannah Boning

Thursday, June 18th - Rworking together

Today we connected with Hope International and visited some of their savings groups in area neighborhoods. Hope International is an organization that provides opportunity through micro-finance and credit savings associations. We saw local groups form to help with economic development and personal dignity of people being able to provide for their own livelihood with support from their local community. The visits were incredible! We were able to visit with three savings groups to hear about their experiences with Hope. One group saved enough for health insurance for their families, bought goats, and are in the process of saving to buy cows for every member of their group. Hope is helping these communities by providing the opportunity for needed resources. One widow shared that when she first moved to the neighborhood she did not have anything. She had no food, no clothes, no home, and now after being part of the savings group she has food, had on a beautiful outfit, and a home! Another group presented a group member with a set furniture while we visited; this group is saving so that each member will have a set. One member shared, “before I was embarrassed to have anyone over because I did not have anywhere for them to sit, now I enjoy having people over!” As the members shared they also encouraged one another, studied God’s word, and worshiped. These groups not only provide sustainable living for families but also provide an opportunity for families to engage in Bible studies, feeding the families spiritually as well. It was so encouraging to celebrate and worship with family that live across the world.

written by Andrea Dalporto