One month ago today, I was on my way to the beautiful country of Rwanda.
I miss it so much.
Since returning I’ve been asked many times, “how was your trip?” “what did you learn?” “how has it changed you?” “what was the best part?”. I don’t know how to answer any of them except just to say I miss it.
I could tell a thousand stories of things we saw, history we learned, resilient people we met, worship we heard, tears we cried, meals we enjoyed, friendships we made, and yet none of it feels like enough.
Rwanda changed me, for sure, but not necessarily in the ways I would have expected. The best I can do to explain it is just to say that the world for me became smaller. I feel so deeply connected to the Rwandans we spent time with. They are moms with the same love for their children, the same dreams and desires and worries. Their tears and joys are the same as mine and it feels beautiful to hear their stories and enter into them.
A reader who commented on my twirling in Africa post said it best:
“I feel like we know these things for a reason and that God knew that when His people from here come in contact with His people from there, for a little while the heart of the kingdom beats softly in unison“.
It makes me cry every time I read that.
Oh, I just loved it. All of it. We cried so much and heard such hard stories to take in. But we also laughed harder than I’ve ever laughed before and ate amazing food and felt encouraged with stories of healing and progress and hope.
I created this artprint for our StyleForJustice trip and would love to offer it to you as well.
Gary Haugen is the founder of an incredible organization called International Justice Mission and I can’t say enough about how valuable their work is. You can learn much more about IJM here.
To download the print, log in or sign up for our library of freebies.
Thank you for your inspiration and post on Noonday. I had never heard of them but after looking them up from your Rwanda post I decided to host my own adoption trunk show! It was a blast and was so fun to draw awareness with beautiful jewelery. Now I have two friends who are going to become ambassadors as we had none in our area all because of your posts. So thank you, even though you don’t know me your trip has changed more lives than you think.
thank you so much for this print. I am from saint Louis and deeply saddened about the violence and hatred that is here currently. this brings me comfort (as I am sitting here crying). I hope that with all the tragedy destruction our city can come back stronger for the better. thank you
We leave this coming Friday for Rwanda, our whole family of nine is going. Our friends who are there right now work with Africa New Life Ministries and apparently know your friend from Noonday. They have Saddleback Leather and Love 41 and part of their mission as a company is to see the work of the Lord furthered in this country. We consider this a great privilege to be able to go. I know we don’t know each other but somehow this connection makes me feel connected to you as sisters in Christ. Blessings to you!!!
Sorry to leave this here but I sent an email and still haven’t heard back. I ordered some art prints and never received them. The order online says it’s complete so I’m wondering of it shipped to the wrong address? could someone please contact me? Thanks so much.
Oh no! I just sent an email! Sorry for the delay.
how has it been ONE MONTH already? i miss it. i miss the people, the sights, the smells, the late night dinners, the creating, and our amazing team. was that even real life?
such beautiful photos! what an amazing trip:) hope we get to see more soon!
p.s.- such a silly thing to notice, but i think you forgot the word “way” in the first line :) sorry to be the girl that points that out- i would want to know if it were me ;)
just yesterday i was alone in the car & was trying–once again–to put into words that week.
yes…“I feel like we know these things for a reason and that God knew that when His people from here come in contact with His people from there, for a little while the heart of the kingdom beats softly in unison“….i love that
love you friend
i miss it too…
I had never heard of this organization but appreciated it so much since reading your blog posts about Rwanda that I donated to it for everyone’s Christmas gifts instead of wasting money on things people don’t need. Thanks for the idea!
Awesome! Thanks for your generosity!