About a year and a half ago I returned from Ethiopia pleading with the Lord to show me what to do with all I saw. After a short time, I could not ignore the urging in my spirit that the Lord wanted others to go, to see and to do. The Orphan Care Ministry of First Christian Church was born and it was not long until Laura and Tymm Hoffman became team leaders for a trip to Rwanda and to Ethiopia. I ached for people from FCCM to go and I was able to almost sit back and watch the Lord as He chose who He wanted to care for orphans on this trip. Personally I have rarely seen such interest and cooperation from any congregation as people stepped up to help send those who wanted to go. Brothers and sisters in Christ and family members, friends and co-workers offered donations to help pay for the trip. Then came the Single Sisters who made hundreds of bracelets and donated every penny to the travelers. People donated sheet sets, handmade dresses, sports equipment, craft items by the ton and too many other things to list. (There will be a separate post about the baby dolls sent with the team to Embracing Hope Ethiopia.)
I thank each and every person who helped make this trip possible and I especially thank those who went to love on orphans. Their lives have been turned upside down with newly learned Truths from the Heavenly Father. This is part one sharing the tiniest bit of their story.
Our Team
This is the team who represented First Christian Church and the Orphan Care Ministry. Front row: Carla Decoskey, Jenny Guyer and Kelly Brock who is a friend of Carla Decoskey. Back row: Gretchen Bennett, Terry (T.J.) Ford, Judy Chance and April and Joe Fjeld.
On Friday, June 29 the team flew first to Washington, D.C. to meet up with the rest of the Visiting Orphans team led by Laura and Tymm Hoffman. They then flew to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia before flying on to Rwanda. Their first stop was Kigali, Rwanda where they met the Best Family who survived the genocide and now minister to others who survived the same horrific event. The team then visited the Genocide Memorial Museum which is an amazing memorial to the thousands who were killed. Rwanda is a fine example of how a people can come together in forgiveness even after something as dreadful as genocide.
Peace in a place set aside to honor the dead.
Soon it was time to settle into the work the team had set out to do. First stop was Noel Orphanage which is home to over 600 kids. Let me quote Lindsay Allen, a team member from Alabama, as she describes their arrival at Noel. "We drove up to the orphanage in our bus, and there are children standing at the gate. I don't know how many. Lots. And then some more. They were all jumping and screaming and pointing and waving...and smiling. Oh man were they smiling. We drove into the gate and they rushed the van.....Children immediately grabbed your hand as you stepped off the bus....we began saying "my kid". My kid's name is Nirere (age 12). He took my hand as I got off the bus. I hugged him and he said "I love you. I have been waiting for you". I mean talk about a way to start the day."
Jenny Guyer and friend making a necklace.
Joe Fjeld helping little people make necklaces.
T.J. Ford making necklaces with one of his new buddies.
It was by no means all necklace making that first day at Noel. They toured the facility, ached at the smells especially in the infant rooms due to lack of diapers, played soccer, played basketball, blew up balloons, face painted, did more crafts, blew bubbles and so much more. They sang and were sung to and even asked if they knew Justin Bieber! Here are some pictures of the team loving on kids in the name of Jesus and in our place.
April Fjeld smiling at the efforts of this little one.
Carla Decoskey enjoying her time with the kids.
Judy Chance playing with a little boy with stickers.
April Fjeld already with two new friends as soon as she arrived at Noel.
Husband, Joe, is right behind. What an incredible blessing for
a married couple to share.
April Fjeld already with two new friends as soon as she arrived at Noel.
Husband, Joe, is right behind. What an incredible blessing for
a married couple to share.
The team had lunch and time to shop at No. 41 ministry where women make bags to sell. Each sold bag feeds one child, one meal for one year. The team, overwhelmed by the enormous good that comes from this ministry, bought every single bag they had and Tymm had to go back the next day for more.
To be honest, I am not exactly sure when the following event took place but this seems to be a great time to tell you about it. The team had a meal made by a lady named Florence who was trying to make a living cooking meals. She was really struggling financially. The team went to Africa knowing there would be many times the Lord would speak to their hearts about helping special individuals and ministries. They took spending money, Joe and April took t-shirt money, and our NC 8 had some Orphan Care Ministry funds donated to use as they saw fit and as led by the Lord. The team put their heads and hearts together and decided to help Florence. When told of her financial gift from the team, she fell to her knees praising the Father who had provided the blessing. Immediately Laura Hoffman fell to her knees with Florence in praise and worship.
One of the most exciting projects of this trip was their plan to share the Word of God. Tymm and Laura worked with Visiting Orphans and thanks to a generous donation from a FCCM family, Bibles were given to each team member. Bibles written in the native language. The team members were to find a person to witness to, one on one, and share Scripture with them. Each team member was then to give that Bible to the person they were witnessing to. Bibles were marked with favorite passages and prayers were said asking for seeds of faith to be sown in Rwanda.
Jenny Guyer sharing the Word of God.
The team spent 2 days at Noel and before they left, once again they felt led to bless the orphanage. Laura said the team responded often and generously when someone felt led to assist. This time they bought food for Noel. Bags and bags of food that are seen in the lower right of this picture.
Once again I want to quote Lindsay Allen's words as they left Noel for the last time...at least the last time on this mission trip. "...I had to say goodbye to all my new little friends. One said "I will nevah fohget you Linsee" and hugged me. Seriously? Seriously? I mean, this is the same child who grabbed me when I got off the bus the first day and said "I love you. I have been waiting for you." It's like she knows exactly what to say to just break my heart. I hugged lots of necks and gave high fives and then we had a very emotional send off. All the team members were crying and the kids were running after the bus waving. It was such an emotional day. So much joy, so much sadness about leaving, so much love. And even though I left there with baby urine on my jeans and bird poop on my arms and cow poop on my shoes, I have never felt more blessed."
The Lord knows when we have reached our emotional limits and Visiting Orphans is extremely good at inserting a time that is sweet fellowship and spiritually refreshing. The last night in Rwanda was an incredible dinner together at Lake Kivu.
Watch for the next blog post.....Mission Trip to Ethiopia....coming soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment