Months of anticipation
Lots of preparation
Hours of traveling
…….all leading up to the moment. The moment I went to my first orphanage in Africa. It was in August of 2011. For just under 7 months, I had been anticipating the trip to Ethiopia and Rwanda. Through God's handiwork, a friend and I had signed up for the same trip. We were 2 people on a team of 20, that came from 7 different states, and traveled around the world to a foreign country to minister to orphans and widows.
Leaving the airport in Kigali, Rwanda, we were extremely exhausted and in a daze as we tried to process being in a country so different from home. We loaded up the buses and went straight to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Museum. There, we learned about the history of the country, as well as causes and effects of the genocide. It was an emotional roller coaster! That first night, most of us slept very well from the physical and emotional exhaustion that we were already starting to feel.
Morning came and we felt like a whole new team. We were filled with excitement and anticipation as we prepared to go to the first orphanage. I remember our driver taking us on a detour that left us with an interesting story but eventually we made it to where we are supposed to be.
Kimisagra Orphanage!
It is land locked and on a hill. It is a small hike up a steep hill to get there. (Each time I return the walk up seems less and less but the first time for anyone is always a little shocking.) We climb the hill and gather in a tiny room to hear some history on the orphanage and meet the workers. This was interesting but we could see the kids craving our attention and love more than a football player craves a super bowl win.
Lots of preparation
Hours of traveling
…….all leading up to the moment. The moment I went to my first orphanage in Africa. It was in August of 2011. For just under 7 months, I had been anticipating the trip to Ethiopia and Rwanda. Through God's handiwork, a friend and I had signed up for the same trip. We were 2 people on a team of 20, that came from 7 different states, and traveled around the world to a foreign country to minister to orphans and widows.
Leaving the airport in Kigali, Rwanda, we were extremely exhausted and in a daze as we tried to process being in a country so different from home. We loaded up the buses and went straight to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Museum. There, we learned about the history of the country, as well as causes and effects of the genocide. It was an emotional roller coaster! That first night, most of us slept very well from the physical and emotional exhaustion that we were already starting to feel.
Morning came and we felt like a whole new team. We were filled with excitement and anticipation as we prepared to go to the first orphanage. I remember our driver taking us on a detour that left us with an interesting story but eventually we made it to where we are supposed to be.
Kimisagra Orphanage!
It is land locked and on a hill. It is a small hike up a steep hill to get there. (Each time I return the walk up seems less and less but the first time for anyone is always a little shocking.) We climb the hill and gather in a tiny room to hear some history on the orphanage and meet the workers. This was interesting but we could see the kids craving our attention and love more than a football player craves a super bowl win.
Eventually, we finished the interesting but less desired formalities and we were able to go with the kids. Somehow, I was the first to make it around the corner and into the courtyard where the kids had gathered. It was and still is an unforgettable moment.
Children swarmed me faster than a hummingbird flaps its wings. Some wanted a hug and then backed up one step. Some wanted to hang on and never leave. Some walked over smiled and just looked at me. Others came and just giggled with pure joy that I had come from so far to see them. I felt like I couldn't move. It seemed like the children were multiplying and I was overwhelmed. Of course, this all happened in a matter of seconds that felt like an hour. As more of the team made it to the courtyard, the kids spread out and seem to lay their claim on which muzungu (white person) was theirs for the day.
It was here at this orphanage that I learned how truly thankful someone can be for something so small.
a wooden toy car
a new headband
someone to play catch with
or even a hand to hold
These kids were emitting gratefulness in amounts that I never knew existed.
One girl was thrilled to be up in the air. Something that most parents do to some degree and she had probably never had such joy.
I may have enjoyed it more than she did.
I will never forget the first orphanage, the first group of kids that stole me heart, the first time I saw such gratefulness come from someone who had so little. Those kids will never know how much they changed my life and how much God has done since this moment. I suppose I will never know the same for them. But I can look back and know that for that moment these kids knew they were important and someone loves them.
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