Village Dedication (pt2)

Part 2


There were well over 1000 people on the village for the dedication. Everyone was having a great time listening to the choir and watching the Maranyundo Girls dance and sing. Then the rains came and the people filled the food tent, the gazebo and porches of the cottages, anywhere they could get out of the rain.

As we made our way back to the speakers tent the rain became more intense and the girls from the Maranyundo Girls School, who were doing a traditional dance for the First Lady and other guests were getting very wet. But they never skipped a beat as they danced, sang and played the drums. Everyone fully enjoyed their presentation. Our children were next on the program to sing a song for the First Lady in English. They have done so well in learning songs in English and only having been at the village for a month. It was raining so hard that the First Lady asked that they do not sing as they would have gotten very wet, she also had the Maranyundo Girls cancel their second dance for the same reason. The girls were very disappointed, they had practiced for many hours to perform for the First Lady, but it was her call and only looking out for their welfare.


As I started with the introductions and Pastor Dorothee, from the EPR Church here in Nyamata, gave the invocation, the rain was pounding on the tents so hard you could not hear, even with the sound system. Of course we could not use the podium, so the speakers stood in under the tents with someone holding the wireless mike and at times someone else holding an umbrella.


The rain actually helped keep everyone on schedule which is a hard thing to do at these types of functions in Africa. The big draw back was there was no time for conversation or photos after the ceremony. Most of the dignitaries left as soon as the speakers and Benediction was finished.

Rosemary and the First Lady both gave wonderful speeches. They explained Rafiki's plan for the orphans in Rwanda that would come to live with us. They were both encouraging and challenging.


We had planned food for 150 and again the rain helped us. If everyone had stayed to eat we would have run out of food, but praise the Lord. we were able to feed everyone that stayed after the ceremony.

We were blessed to have our first 12 children at the village for our dedication. Some villages have had their dedications prior to having children. Sometimes that is just the way schedules work out and the Lord will bless them for that. But it was great to have the children with us and see the First Lady and other dignitaries see these children so happy in their new home. Only one month since being in their villages in very poor conditions.