After a warm send off by our Kibuyi pastors we headed out early Saturday morning to begin our R & R time in Ngungwe Rainforest. Saddleback recommends that PEACE trips have a couple of days of R & R to rest and to begin processing all that we have learned. Also, it's a time to begin transitioning back into American culture. Believe it or not there is culture shock that happens when we come home.
We spent most of Saturday traveling the winding hilly roadways of Rwanda. We drove through the rain forest and had breathtaking panoramic views for the almost 2 hour drive just through the forest to reach our accommodations.
Sunday morning we hiked through tea plantations where we learned how to pick tea (in case we need to find work here :-)) Our guide showed us several medicinal plants, many of the local bird species, and guided us into the dense forest to where we could see rare Angora Colobus monkeys. We followed a swinging, chattering colony of about 60 black & white individuals as they made they're way through the tree tops eating as they went. It was a wonderful, magical experience.
The afternoon was spent reflecting on our trip, debriefing the lessons learned and planning a return trip. It was a very fruitful time as we shared with each other. We are grateful to have each other on this trip.
We arrived back in Kigali last night. This morning we have a meeting at the PEACE office to debrief with them, finalizing plans to complete the translation of CR materials and begin preparations for our next trip.
Please pray for travel mercies as later today we begin our journey home, arriving in Los Angeles mid day on Wednesday. Pray for good health as we journey home.
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To All... Sounds like you have really had an overwhelming experience of God's protection, of His mercy and grace, of His love, and of His world. He has uniquely gifted each of you and placed each of you right where He has decided you need to be, so that you can serve Him best. God has put you all together to experience the people of Rwanda, the surrounding areas and the constant knowledge that He is in control of everything. Everytime I read about your daily encounters, it becomes so apparent that God has delivered you all from your past so that He can use you to spread a message of hope to so many, and for a designed future of serving Him. Your account of this trip has been great for us to read and try to (even though we can't) picture your descriptions. We are praying that your return home will be un-interrupted, that your luggage will arrive the same time you do and that your passage thru customs and the airports is smooth. We are looking forward to hearing more when you all return! God bless you all in all you do this day. John Brennan
ReplyDeleteAND DON'T FORGET THE ARMOR!
ReplyDeleteI'm praying by now that you are safely on your way back home. Hoping that your last meeting at the PEACE office was productive in finalizing plans for the CR materials translation and plans for your return trip,and above all that you were building and framing upon relationships.
ReplyDeleteMay you have peace instead of sadness as you begin your "time traveling" and may you continue a legacy full of hope.
Thank you again for committing to this journey of sharing yourselves--what God has done in your lives-- and blogging with us even when your energy was tapped out at times.
"He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.
He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.
He generously poured out the Spirit upon us because of what Jesus Christ our Savior did.
He declared us not guilty because of his great kindness." Colossians 3:5-7
Remember, it's not over 'til it's over, until each one of you is under your own roof. So, I'm praying you through all your stops and starts, that during these last hours of the trip you will continue in harmony with each other, always thinking of others first before yourselves.
Can't wait to listen to the stories and see the photos as you process the trip back home bit by bit by bit. I know you could fill up a book as quickly as Dave can fill up memory cards. Thanks for taking all those pics, Dave!
See you very soon! -- jo