After breakfast with the kids and our devotions, we went to the site to begin work. This day was a half-day of onsite work because in the afternoon we made a visit to tour Kabgayi Hospital outside of Gitarama. When we arrived at the worksite, we were given our orders for the day. One team was to begin spackling the walls on the inside of the house with concrete, with the other team moving the tons of boulders/rocks to the footers of the boy’s home. In Rwanda, large boulders are used for foundations, and then are broken apart. Cement—prepared by hand as there are large mixers are in Rwanda—is poured in the footers. After the concrete sets, a second layer of boulders are laid upon the cement and additional cement prepared and poured. If you look at the Blog pictures you can see how the boulders/rocks have been used in the foundation.
The boulders ranged from 20-300 pounds and wow, what a workout! The spackling crew was comprised of Andy, Betty, Annitta, Jen, Marcia, John, and Sally. Paul, Ed, Sandy, Leslie, Fred comprised the boulder relocation team with Nate rotating between both teams. Using the wood carrying “ladders” our Rwandan team members built, Paul and I teamed up with Rwandan counterparts and relished carrying the LARGE boulders! We were always sure to lift with our legs, and given the large step we had to make between where the boulders were and where we needed to relocate them, we enjoyed giving our thighs, calves, biceps and triceps a workout! The ladies challenged Paul and me to arm wrestling by the time we had to depart the work site!
After a quick stop back at the Christian Guest House, we jumped into our ATRACO taxi van for the trip to Kabgayi hospital. This was another emotional gut-punch for many of the team members. I am not ashamed to say I was in tears for hours after seeing the children in the Malnutrition Unit. You know the commercials where children are laying on mats on concrete with flies buzzing? Yep, that’s what we saw albeit not to the horrifying degree of the commercials. I simply lost control of my emotions when we saw a 3 year old girl who was blind because she did not have enough food when she was growing. At the same place—on the same mat we saw a little girl--who was to be baptized that day and was an orphan—who had visible sores on her head.
We walked in the pediatric unit and saw babies who won’t be alive by the time many of you read this posting. This hospital is deplorable and is run by the Catholic Church in Rwanda. To be sure, this is not the same Catholic Church which operates in America—in my mind it just can’t be because this hospital is not serving Jesus Christ. The sight of these precious gifts from God who are dying or barely alive was too much to bear—yet we had to in order to understand the magnitude of the need in this beautiful country.
Ironically, while we saw so much poverty and dying at this hospital, we also saw new life (you will see the pics, too), in the recent birth of two new babies.
America has responded admirably in fighting HIV/AIDS in Rwanda and this hospital has a great HIV/AIDS office and sees many people. Yet, keep in mind as you look at the pictures that every family is responsible for sheets, bathing their loved one, doing their laundry, and cooking their meals—if they are to receive any food at all. And the worst part is the children whose parents who have died of HIV/AIDS and the kids are just abandoned at the hospital. Not to mention the children who walk the grounds of the hospital with nobody to care for them AND they are HIV positive.
When you look at the pictures you will see a young girl in a pink coat standing with Leslie in the photo. Go right now and look at this photo, then return to this Blog line……this child was holding Andy's hand and looked up into his eyes and asked him, “Will you be taking me home with you today?” I ask you, in the name of our Lord, are YOU not moved to tears by this? If not, re-evaluate your relationship with Christ.......
It is an afternoon, and an environment, we’ll never forget. Emotionally, some of us don’t know if we have any more strength left. Frankly, I’m numb. Yet, somehow we must “get it together,” as on Wednesday morning we are heading to the Genocide Center. Please pray for the team…..
http://www.kigalimemorialcentre.org/
Today’s reflections are from our Brother John and Sister Sally!
We had a very uplifting morning, literally. Many abs & biceps were strengthened passing bricks two by two, carrying bricks, carrying buckets of cement. Then more bricks, bricks, & more bricks.
Moving right along: That stone pile needed to be out back for the foundation where they will use them for the new Girls Home. Paul spoke of humility this AM in devotions. I’m certainly humbled by the strength & stamina of these Rwandan workers, men & women alike. The women are throwing bricks up to the top scaffolding where it is caught by a man. Women are carrying buckets of cement on their heads to the spackles inside.
Nathan & Sally got a ride on one of the rock carriers.
Nathan & “Paulow” were practicing karate kicks after lunch. Andy had to scold them for throwing water at each other as it is difficult for Rwandans to get daily. John felt he truly accomplished something today by trowling cement on the brick walls inside.
The team met Dr. Jean Bosco at Kabgayi Hospital. This was depressing as the need is so very great everywhere. Babies & children are dying because the parents have no money for food or medicine. You will hear more about this later.
We were introduced to a nurse caring for 1000 adult HIV/Aids patients all by herself. The whole experience lets a real hole in your heart and the motive to do something.
But:::: GOD is even at that hospital among those circumstances. That being the one bright spot of seeing a newborn baby being taken home by her Mama today.
May God bless all you at home in the cold & snow while we suffer here in the 75-80 weather.
Love to all,
John & Sally
Ironically, while we saw so much poverty and dying at this hospital, we also saw new life (you will see the pics, too), in the recent birth of two new babies.
America has responded admirably in fighting HIV/AIDS in Rwanda and this hospital has a great HIV/AIDS office and sees many people. Yet, keep in mind as you look at the pictures that every family is responsible for sheets, bathing their loved one, doing their laundry, and cooking their meals—if they are to receive any food at all. And the worst part is the children whose parents who have died of HIV/AIDS and the kids are just abandoned at the hospital. Not to mention the children who walk the grounds of the hospital with nobody to care for them AND they are HIV positive.
When you look at the pictures you will see a young girl in a pink coat standing with Leslie in the photo. Go right now and look at this photo, then return to this Blog line……this child was holding Andy's hand and looked up into his eyes and asked him, “Will you be taking me home with you today?” I ask you, in the name of our Lord, are YOU not moved to tears by this? If not, re-evaluate your relationship with Christ.......
It is an afternoon, and an environment, we’ll never forget. Emotionally, some of us don’t know if we have any more strength left. Frankly, I’m numb. Yet, somehow we must “get it together,” as on Wednesday morning we are heading to the Genocide Center. Please pray for the team…..
http://www.kigalimemorialcentre.org/
Today’s reflections are from our Brother John and Sister Sally!
We had a very uplifting morning, literally. Many abs & biceps were strengthened passing bricks two by two, carrying bricks, carrying buckets of cement. Then more bricks, bricks, & more bricks.
Moving right along: That stone pile needed to be out back for the foundation where they will use them for the new Girls Home. Paul spoke of humility this AM in devotions. I’m certainly humbled by the strength & stamina of these Rwandan workers, men & women alike. The women are throwing bricks up to the top scaffolding where it is caught by a man. Women are carrying buckets of cement on their heads to the spackles inside.
Nathan & Sally got a ride on one of the rock carriers.
Nathan & “Paulow” were practicing karate kicks after lunch. Andy had to scold them for throwing water at each other as it is difficult for Rwandans to get daily. John felt he truly accomplished something today by trowling cement on the brick walls inside.
The team met Dr. Jean Bosco at Kabgayi Hospital. This was depressing as the need is so very great everywhere. Babies & children are dying because the parents have no money for food or medicine. You will hear more about this later.
We were introduced to a nurse caring for 1000 adult HIV/Aids patients all by herself. The whole experience lets a real hole in your heart and the motive to do something.
But:::: GOD is even at that hospital among those circumstances. That being the one bright spot of seeing a newborn baby being taken home by her Mama today.
May God bless all you at home in the cold & snow while we suffer here in the 75-80 weather.
Love to all,
John & Sally
In the pictures you will see: Sally in the boulder carrying truck, a proud new Aunt at Kabgayi Hospital, with Dr. John, the HIV and TB positive little girl with Leslie who asked Andy if he was taking her with him, families doing wash at the hospital, our bricks, the room in which families cook to feed their family members who are in the hospital (meals are NOT provided), our team spackling, the cement team's pit, folks at Kabgayi whose needs where great and wanted to talk with us, the team on the boulder pile, Nate on the boulder carrying truck, the brick relay team, Kabgayi's entrance, and the brick relay team with Paul's impersonation of Elvis moving bricks!
Pray for us.....we HAVE felt your prayers, and continue to need them!
GOD IS GREAT ALL THE TIME.....ALL THE TIME GOD IS GREAT!!!1
Ed
