all RISE!

Luke, Dave & I are just back from a weekend healing conference in Cyangugu. There seems to be a bit of pattern developing anytime we seem to travel any sort of distance. This pattern usually consists of dramtic Rwandan hills (I am beginning to believe there is no flat land in rwanda) and death defying stunts from bus drivers. On the way through we passed through the Nyawunga Rainforest, and I simply could not grasp the sheer vastness of this area. We were treated to seeing some wild monkeys, complimented by the uplifting African music along the way.

Many over 500 people turned out in this remote piece of land on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere, on which a church was built upon and subsequently knocked down from an earthquake. The point of the conference was for healing people from the trauma's of the genocide and helping people to forgive one another from a Gospel perspective. There was singing, dancing, testimoneys, drama and preaching (one of which I had to do, and it was terrifying!). So many people came up to receive healing and also to receive Jesus for the very first time - It was amazing, and humbling, and a learning experience. Imana Ishymiwe (meaning praise God in Kinyarwanda).

I am beginnning to love african music, and particularly the worship music. People all of a sudden just burst into singing and dancing with out worrying what's going on next to them. I think Barney from "how I met your mother" would love the music here as it seems to be all rise! and very seldom seems to be slow. Over the weekend we had got to know the CJ groupe de jeunes (youth group) a bit better, and on the way home things all of a sudden became animated and hyper as we all burst into song in each others languages. It was one of those moments in life I think I will never forget. These people are so full of the love and joy of God all the time, I am going to find it hard coming home to the lethargy of our culture.