Mother of the Groom

We have had many firsts with the street kid ministry - housing, education, jobs, bank accounts, university, and now... our first wedding.

One of our first street kids,Vincent got married last week.

It was such a grand day. 

I couldn't believe how the other guys and girls, some living in the houses and some still on the street, decked themselves out in the best clothes they
could borrow. 

Some of them looked so incredibly handsome, that well, I didn't know
what to think. 

 What I do know is this... the more 'firsts' we have, the more it encourages the others to keep focused in life,  and find it within themselves to continue to find the life that God has intended for them.

         

Swearing their vows at the civil wedding

I have NEVER seen a Rwandan guy put his arm around  his girl during the civil wedding!
GO VINCENT!

Leaving the Civil wedding, marriage certificate in hand

With the Father of the Groom

Getting the Bride ready for the church ceremony - such a typical scene
Reminded me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding!

Bestman - Sincere (have never seen him looking so good!), Vincent the groom
and Serge, father of the groom.
Good looking men!

Crowd at the church.
170+ people - had to send for more Fanta!

At the end of his vows, Vincent said - I love you - in English.
The crowd when CRAZY!!
Again, I have NEVER heard a Rwandan guy say that in his vows - except Serge!

Husband and wife

Some of the kids sang them some songs as a gift.
SO proud of Tubbie - she is a great singer and leader.

The cake

Leaving the church after a grand day!



'Gone Dark'

That is the phrase that comes to mind when I think of the last number of weeks - all of April really.

Maybe Serge and I enjoy spy / espionage movies too much - but that is how I feel. Like I've been trying to survive in my own little world and not paying much attention to what has been happening in the outside world or connecting with it.

Feel like I'm coming out of the 'dark' somehow.

Praying I'm not just trying to make myself think that way because I'm done with all has been going on in life the last weeks. I was just saying to Serge this morning that I'm still finding it hard to haul my butt out of bed since I was so sick with a bad cough and cold for a couple of weeks. Amazing how that puts me out of commission in a busy life and I KNOW that I didn't take the time to rest when I should have. Maybe a lessoned learned? I hope so.

Must choose to live in life and resurrection!

All Things Work Together for Good

This phrase from the Bible is definitely one that can give me trouble and requires faith to believe. I know it in my head, but really... 

However, the more I learn about God and the story we find ourselves in, the more I believe it. (Not an easy thought though as we head into the week mourning next week for the genocide here)

But, yesterday was one of those days when we were about brought to tears with, 'This is why we do what we do' sort of thing.

If you read my last posting, you know that last week we had some pretty tough decisions to make on a kid that we have had years of relationship with. After he was asked to leave the house, Serge told the other two guys in the house, Jean Claude and David that they were to come clean. They needed to think about their lives and find Serge to talk.

Jean Claude found Serge yesterday.

Of course there wasn't much that he told Serge that we didn't already know or suspect in his life. Through tears he confessed to the lies he had told us. But I think greater than that... he confessed for not standing for Valence. 

You see, Valence used to live at their house and we had asked him to leave last September, again  - due to some very difficult things going on at the house. Turns out that not all the stuff Valence was being accused of, by the rest of the house, was true. 

Jean Claude's heart is broken that he didn't stand for Valence.

Jean Claude asked Serge if they could please ask Valence to come back to the house.

He also told Serge that he has already gone to the headmaster of their school and asked if he would accept Valence to return to school.

I about cried when Serge told me all this.

Here's a kid that has learned the value of truth, confession and is on a journey of learning what it means to help those who cannot help themselves - to stand in the gap. Oh so sweet!

And this all comes because of some very difficult decisions we made last week.

Serge has yet to talk to David to hear more of his life story and then we'll see how this continues to all work for good. Such a great hope we have that our life stories are constantly being changed and transformed!