About 25 students, a mix of residential and online, studying mainly nursing, psychology, counselling, or seminary, all met up alongside me in the Washington Dulles international airport on Saturday, to journey over 7,000 miles together to the beautiful country of Rwanda. It was great to get to know one another better, hearing story after story about how God had handpicked and provided for each of us to follow Him to this place. After several bouts of nodding off, lots of reading, praying, and thinking, a few charlie horses, and many glances out the window (too see amazing views like this one over the Swiss Alps!) we arrived safely at last!
As I stepped off the plane, the warm air filled my lungs and I took in the sweet familiar scent. It was so good to back in the amazing continent of Africa. We rounded up all of our luggage (enough to fill an entire bus-not even kidding!) and made our way to Solace Ministries Guesthouse where an entire display of colorful food awaited us, a reminder of how hospitality is never ever in short supply here. Looking up at the mosquito net above me in bed that night, my imagination drifted off to what lay in store in the days ahead. The words I read by David Platt earlier that day swirled in my head and became my prayer, "When You come to Jesus, His Spirit fills your spirit. His love becomes your love. His joy becomes your joy. His mind becomes your mind. His desires become your desires. His will becomes your will. His purpose becomes your purpose, His power becomes your power." I thought of Philippians 2:1-8 and prayed that our team might follow in Christ's footsteps of servanthood.
