Good ol' Boney M

So this morning I am driving to J.Lynn's and drive by the small shops close to our place. What is blaring but Mary's Boy Child by Boney M.

 

Caused me to laugh.... you see, Rwandans don't get into Christmas - if they do that is - on December 24th ... so I know they were somehow just liking the music and had no idea what the lyrics were.

 

Reminds me of all the times I have heard music in Rwanda that made me pause...

 

My first trip into Rwanda ... 2003... I'm in some remote village and what do I hear wafting through but Phil Collins. A bit surreal to say the least.

 

Before we were married Serge and I would go to this one restaurant up one of the mountains in Kigali for some Fanta and nice view of the city.  Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas was ALWAYS playing! Makes me tempted to go back and see if they are still playing it eight years later. Probably...

 

Rwandans LOVE Celine Dion ... anytime. They also love Don Williams. Nothing like the leading furniture company here having Don Williams playing in the background of their TV commercials.

 

I think this one takes the cake though... we were at a good friends wedding this past July and I about lost it during the reception. You see... in the middle of it all, the DJ played 'You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille'... again by Kenny Rogers.

 

For the most part... they like the music and have no idea what the words are saying. I wonder if / when it will change.

 

In the meantime, it's good entertainment.

Refugees at the Gate

This morning our gate bell went. Everyone was where they were to be ... so who was it?

Boniface our day guard came to say that it was two women and he thought they were beggars.

Serge went to check.

Indeed two women were at the gate

Congolese refugee women.

Both widows - their  husbands killed for being Rwandan heritage Congolese citizens

One had seven children and I didn't get how many the other had.

They had walked from the Byumba Camp to Kigali looking for anything they could find - food, money, clothes, a job...

It takes over an hour to drive to Byumba ... not sure how long it would take to walk .

Our  hearts broke.

 

You see... with the current events in Congo, so many - thousands upon thousands - have lost their hope to once again live on the land that has been in their families for centuries. These women and their children are a product of that.

They have been in the Byumba Camp for five months.

From the statistics and realities in the Kiziba Camp which we work in, I am sure they are not registered and there have not been given a home, a monthly food ration or any access to any other amenities within the camp. Who knows when that will happen, so ... they walked to Kigali to try to find means to provide for their family.

Serge gave them each money - enough to take the bus back to Byumba and get some food for themselves and their children. He also urged them to not beg in Kigali. Who knows who could take advantage of them and when what about their children. We pray that they take this to heart.

 

My heart was heavy as we left to take Isabella to the doctor.

The women had been so grateful for what we had done for them but I know that the money won't last long.

I also know that Serge's heart is so weighted down with the happenings in Congo and the realization that his people have no home.

I about cried when I thought about us taking Isabella to the doctor, just because we could, to get her checked out for whatever is ailing her.

I prayed today many times that if God would want it, our gate bell could be rung by any refugee who needs help. May they somehow find their way to our gate and may we be home to be able to respond to their needs as we're directed to.

 

 

Just what I'm reflecting on tonight...