I had every intention on sitting in on the planning meeting that Carol and Ray had scheduled with Jean and Bean, but God had other plans for my morning. One of the team members brought supplies along to have a spa day for the ladies at Solace if they got the opportunity and since a small group of us had been given the opportunity to tour a hospital, so I got asked to help with the pampering. I had seen some of the women in passing, but finally got the chance to really talk to Agnes, Edith, Sandrine, and Mama Lambert. Agnes said we were like Jesus to them (we were washing and massaging their feet and hands). Mama Lambert seems to be the ministry mother/supporter, so when asked who lifts her up and gives her strength to keep going, she responded "Jesus, God,....and you'".

You know, at first, you don't always see how much you mean to someone else or in their lives, but her comment really touched me. I was searching thru all our busyness this week for why God chose now to use me/us as a missionary (-ies) and the answer was in Mama Lambert's words and appreciation. Just us being there could renew the hope that the widows and orphans once had in abundance. And, the simple act of us massaging the hands and feet of the women who work so hard to lift up those widows and orphans emotionally and offering a simple luxury or painting their nails gives them a much needed refreshing. There is a different way to show each group of people that we care about what happens to them.

After settling the payment to World Vision for transportation costs of my visit, the team went to visit the genocide memorial in Nyamata. Jean, from Solace Ministries also wanted us to see the high expectations they have from the widows and orphans they help out. We visited a growing village and the home of the community leader. It was pre-set to be wired for electricity, had landscaping near the front porch, and a garden in the backyard (inclduing at least 10 fruit trees). They are not only to keep their own garden to provide them with food, but also to help in the community garden as well.

The memorial itself was very difficult to see. The bones of all the people who were killed there were lined up on shelves in the back of the sanctuary and the clothes covered the walls and hung from the rafters. We did meet up with some visitors from California and gave them a ride back to Kigali.

Back at Solace, we were inviting to a Mourning Service. By the time the ceremony started, I was so emotionally numb, I couldn't even sit thru a movie. I felt like I had no emotions at all. Supposedly, the service went all night til sunrise, but I slept thru it all.