We’ve now been in Kigali Rwanda for two days, and its been a very full time of reconnecting, and becoming reacquainted with Rwanda’s unique and profound story of reconciliation. Church of the Redeemer has two families that live and serve here full-time (the Hanlons and Abrahams). These are dear people who are very much a part of our story and reality as a church. People who were married here (in the Abraham’s case) and children that were baptized here, and those who discerned their call at Redeemer and were sent from our fellowship. That’s a deep connection that requires responsibility on all our parts. We sent them, and supporting them in prayer, finances and relationally continues to be vital. That’s why we come here to see them, and one of the most important things we will do while we are here in Rwanda over the next week.

These two families are engaged in important work in education and in pastoral ministry. They are changing lives through the power of the Holy Spirit and the work is often hard–requiring sacrifice and self denial. So we’re spending time with them, loving on them and their kids, and seeking to represent the whole church family to them. When we arrived Kari said “Its’ just refreshing to see your faces!”. Thank you for praying for them, and for us.

Also today we traveled south, encountering refugees being transported from Burundi. It was a very present reminder that this region is surrounded by conflict and tension, and that much of the world is racked with war. Rwanda’s story of reconciling perpetrators of the genocide with victims (which we saw first hand again today at a special reconciliation village in Bugesera) cries out to us, who cannot even reconcile over comparatively small infractions and trivial offenses. This is why we continue to need Rwanda’s witness in our own lives. Of course, many people in Rwanda have not reconciled either, and carry deep wounds in need of the Lord’s healing. The Hanlons and Abrahams are contributing in significant ways to that end, and our love and support of them helps us to be a part of that. This is the Lord’s gift to our church.

Tomorrow we head north to Musanze and Sonrise School, where we will be for the weekend.

Grace and peace to you.

(click on any photo to enlarge)