James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."
It's definitely one thing to read a verse in the Bible, and a completely different thing to carry it out in life. As a team today, we had the unique opportunity to be a part of that very idea presented in James 1:27 in a way none of us had experienced before. We were able to lend just a small hand to what the Rwandans call "Umuganda". Everyone in the country is required to come together one Saturday a month and work in their community. This is a requirement for the people of this country, but that doesn't change the weight of it's beauty.
On this particular Saturday, the church/Arch Bishop, chose a widowed Genocide survivor caring for 9 children.(Not all are her personal children, btw). They needed an addition built onto the home to accommodate the large family. The community was there and working hard already when we arrived. The plan is usually to work one half of the day on a particular task. This time frame sounded so minimal for the task at hand, but we saw immediately that more could be done than we thought.
Bricks, up on the hill, were being made with mud and dried in the sun and many completed were already being carried down the hill one at a time and used in construction of the house by using more pliable mud for mortar.
When we arrived, an assembly line, or 'fire line', if you will, was suggested, and bricks were passed down the hill to the house site very quickly. At first, it seemed as if the people there were almost doubtful of our ability or willingness to participate in the work needed. However, when we jumped in and passed bricks like nobody's business right alongside them, they lightened up and starting thanking us for being there. I believe that they saw our desire to be with them there in those moments to help build their local community as well as the Kingdom community.
Quickly, we saw the structure begin to rise. It was remarkable. A community, has joined together to bring provision to the widow in need, and innumerable similar instances in the history of this practice. Wow.
Being privy to that project was a first for most of us as Americans, but it is definitely not something to be forgotten.
Next, we headed back to the Gahinga guest house where we would stay for the evening. Some of the group went on to the market to finish up some shopping, while the rest of us stayed behind to bask in rest on the shaded patio. This place was beautiful! It looked almost like an African resort overlooking the city of Gahinga! This evening, we went to 'Heaven', the American owned restaurant where most of the team had gone several nights before. However, for me, it was a first. It was awesome! The staff there was amazing and the atmosphere helped create a perfect last night dinner. So now I can say, I've been there, done that, and got the t- shirt. Literally, got the t-shirt.
So, to summarize: We found a few little pieces of Heaven today on Earth...first, a mix of culture/ people's working together to follow Gods word in providing for the orphans and widows...and second, the literal 'Heaven'.
I couldn't have asked for a better ending to this adventure! It was great, God is greater, but home sure is sweet. Until we step back onto American soil...
Sincerely thankful,
Stephanie Hammonds
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