Cross and The Cross

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I've been back over a week now and just like last year, I am still processing the events and experiences of this trip. I'm so impressed with people that have the ability and focus to detail their trips and share as they go. I seem to start off with great intentions and then after the first or second post, I'm in the weeds. So today I'm sitting with a file full of pictures and a heart full of gratitude, thinking of what I would like to share with you. Or, since we were surrounded by our Texas friends, I guess I should say Y'all.
This picture sums up the heart of what I brought home with me. There was more, and different, and wonderful, but this, this is all of it. 
Last year, on my way to meet Ella, I sat with Rebecca, the CDO (Child Development Officer) overseeing her sponsorship and she briefed me on the status of her family. 
(See previous post https://godmomentmemoirs.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-power-of-home-visit.html )
She told me about Ella's dad, Cross and his struggle to find a job, about how he survived the Genocide and spent most of their money at the local bar. She asked me to pray for his salvation and I asked you to pray as well. 
So when I prayed for Ella and our other sponsored kids, I always prayed for Cross to be delivered from addiction and for his heart to be healed. Honestly, I didn't really have the faith for all of that. I didn't pray grandiose prayers of faith and expectation and declaration, just simple, heartfelt pleas for his salvation. I'm so glad that it is not about my faith or anything about me...it's all about the heart of a Father that loves His children and delights to do good. Cross was always on His heart and He heard every prayer, from the fervent ones his faithful wife prayed to the faraway cries of strangers. 
I never expected to return to Rwanda just a slight year after my first visit, and I didn't expect to see the prayers of so many answered so quickly, but I did!! I got to see it. I heard it first from my friend, Laura who visited them in October (and is also the sponsor to Elyon, big brother to Ella on the far left) and then again from Rebecca on our way to their new home. Cross came to the foot of The Cross, with his humble, broken heart and received healing. Then he asked to be baptized and met with his Pastor first to show his sincerity. And so he was. 
Can I tell you the wonder of seeing this family again, knowing they are whole and thriving and working together to build up their kids and their community? It's a miracle. One of the real ones! It leaves me speechless...so I'm just going to leave this with you and call it a day because I have no words to add to what the camera captured. 
Thanks to  Serah Galos as always, for the amazing pics!!! 




Cross' "keyhole" garden, installed in the fall with Laura's team and  somehow relocated to the new house!!



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