In September 2013, an amazing thing happened: after a single Skype session with a children’s village in Rwanda, people were moved. They were called. One by one, people of our congregation came forward, expressing a desire to build a stronger connection with this tiny African nation. Today, we are proud to say that Good Shepherd had a very successful first global mission trip. In June 2015, eight people brought messages of hope and God’s love to a community so very different from our own, yet very much the same.
The road to Rwanda ended with earth the color of red many of us have never seen. We were welcomed with open arms; each child, having never met us before, giving us hugs, showing us their love from the first moment. So very much was witnessed during our trip: how apples can make someone’s day; how new shoes are more than a luxury to those that do with so little; or how the touch of a woman can radiate God’s love, without saying a word.
Good Shepherd will be embarking on our second global mission trip to Rwanda in late July 2018. Our plan is to volunteer with the Rwamagana Lutheran School, a Junior-Senior High School in eastern Rwanda, about 60km east of Kigali. The school provides a high-quality secondary education in Rwanda by offering a secure and nurturing school environment that transforms vulnerable youth into future leaders and problem-solvers who champion environmental sustainability and social change. We will also be volunteering at the Nibakure Community Village in Nyamata, where we will support their early childhood education program.
Our next fundraiser will be a dinner theater on Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Founders Hall. Save the date, and stay tuned for details!
