The final days- Jess and Mae

GOOD MORNING! It is currently 8:45a.m.on June 1st in Kigali, Rwanda which means it is about 1:45 a.m on June 1st in Texas.

Maegan and I worked our schedule around where we have this entire day off. We're going to take some time and go have coffee w/ a missionary friend, watch a movie or two, and do some packing. We leave on June 3rd, so day after tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will be very busy and thursday we leave so this may potentially be our last blog. We're both going to just take a minute and say a little bit.

I went to Kinyinya yesterday which is the village of genocide survivors that Maegan has already visited. While there, several of the orphaned survivors really opened up about their stories and felt no restricitions in asking about ours. :) The stories of genocide survivors are heartbreaking and I'll never forget them. I'll never forget the atrocity that has been done in this country or forget the people that still need prayer for healing. It is a blessing to hear their story and see their hope. It is a blessing to share Christ with them and know all of us no matter our circumstances are in need of a savior, the savior, Jesus Christ.

Our time here has been a blessing. I've taught in many services, but still believe I've learned more than I've taught. This culture is beautiful and the people are beautiful adn now I'll let Mae share!

Well...what to say...Overall, there have been many, many emotions during the time I've spent here. Some days are wonderful, some days are rough, some days I dread what we're doing, some days I still have the excitement of a child, but somehow, even through those bad, conflicting emotions, when I see the face of a small child, whether it's a child I'm holding and loving, or just seeing through the car window, it all fades and I remember my purpose and all those negative emotions are worth it. It's a mission field, to think there would be no hard days would be naive, but to know there are hard times, and to process and work through them and get over them, and still bring glory to the Lord, that's what's worth it. Even on our days off, we love to still find ways to bring God the glory He deserves. As we just say and discussed our plans for the day, we decided since we didn't have much to do, we would go on a walk and hand out my last bag of smarties. I would hate to do nothing. I know that sometimes rest is glorifying to our Father, but with only 2 days left, i know that there are days at home to rest, and while we're here, I want to be HERE. Doing things. Serving our Father. Serving the Rwandan's. Even if it's something as small as giving out candy to kids in neighborhoods that might not have that opportunity at "sweets" for a long time.

The lessons I have learned during these three weeks have been great. In my journal I've been keeping track and calling them all "Africa lessons;" I will share them at some point, probably upon our return.

I have learned a lot about myself, a lot about our God, and a lot about a cool culture. Being here has only solidified what I thought I was called to do with my life. I remember a time I wanted to be an attorney, and not have children and potentially not get married, and then the Lord stepped in and totally changed my heart, and now I realize children are who I want to be around the rest of my life. Crazy huh? I'll expound on that later and wrap up for now.

Keep praying for us. We still need it even with only a few days left. There is still time to be attacked by the enemy, and there's still time to honour our Daddy God.

Thanks so much for your continual support and prayer! We have felt it here more than we imagined.

-Jess and Mae