Akagera Game Park

After spending one night at the Iris Hotel in Kigali, Kinsey, Linda, Jan, and I woke up around 3:30 AM to be ready by 4:30 to leave for the Akagera game park. We met one of our ministry partners, Alex, who went to the park with us. Kinsey, Alex, and I (along with our driver) went in one vehicle. Linda, Jan, their driver, and later the safari guide went in the other vehicle. It was dark and foggy when we left. It was a little bit of a drive to the park, but so nice to see some of the country. I couldn't help but notice people pumping water from the wells everywhere during the morning. I couldn't help but thinking of Isaiah 12:2-3 which says, "Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."

I didn't get pictures of it because we drove by so quickly and because it was so foggy, but I watched young children work so hard that morning to pump water. The water isn't even good, clean water. Praise God that His well of salvation is never-ending and full of clean, pure, holy water that washes all of our sins away!

This is the room that Kinsey and I slept in at the Iris Hotel:

 Here are our mosquito nets:

 The Iris Restaurant:

 I took this photo later after sunrise of people getting water:

Me, Jan, Kinsey, & Linda just before entering the park.

 Our Safari guide:

Beautiful scenery:

I really like this photo:

 Tsessebe

 Antelope

 See the giraffe in the background?

 Beautiful

 Walking away

 Zebra - they were very shy.

 and so hard to get photos of!

 Black & White

 Pretty Colors

Me, Alex, Linda, Jan, & Kinsey.

 Water Buffalo

 Buffalo

 Another Tsessebe (they always looked just like a statue)

 A fish eagle

 The monkeys & baboons were so cute!

 I have no idea what kind of bird this is.

 I thought it was pretty cool though.

 Hippos!

How awesome is that?

 I just love being near the water!

 Anyone know what this is?

 There it goes!



After we left the game park we went back to the Iris Hotel to find everyone outside waiting on us. All of our ministry partners and coaches were there. It was such an incredible blessing to meet all of them! At that point, we had no idea who we would be working with over the next few weeks, but it didn't matter. It was a blessing just to see and meet our brothers and sisters in Christ! From there we loaded up in the vans and made the 3-4 hour drive to the Peace Land Hotel in Gisenyi, Rwanda.

Genocide Memorial

As soon as we arrived in Kigali we went to the Genocide museum. What can you say about the genocide? It is my personal belief that if it weren't for the genocide, e3 wouldn't be in Rwanda. I certainly don't think I would have felt the tug in my heart to go.

I'll be honest with you. We had to go through the genocide museum quickly. Still... To know what took place in Rwanda is just unfathomable. To read about the approximate one million people being slaughtered... to read the stories of real people and families being completely obliterated. To walk through the section that was completely dedicated to children broke my heart. To see their pictures, read their ages, read their favorite things (activities and foods), and then read how they were murdered... my stomach is turning as I think about it...

What happened in Rwanda is unacceptable and evil. Women were brutally raped and infected with HIV. Young girls were raped in front of their siblings and parents and then murdered (if they were lucky). Children (even babies) were killed by any and all means because the Hutus didn't want anymore Tutsis in existence. Children were murdered by being being slaughtered by machetes, being burnt alive (even in churches), or by simply being beaten into walls. Are you sickened yet? You should be.

Beneath each square stone is 50,000 bodies...

As we traveled through Rwanda children were alone on the streets everywhere. Orphans are literally everywhere you turn. Poverty and disease stand on every dusty street corner. There is no escaping it. These people need help. They need hope. They need Jesus.

Romans 10 is on my heart this morning, so I want to share Romans 10: 14-18 with you.

The Bible says, " How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."

Rwanda is open to the word of God. It's literally like they are sitting there waiting on someone to bring them the good news. Would you go? Would you tell them? God has commanded us all (not just some of us) to share the gospel. How are the people of Rwanda whom have suffered so much terror going to hear the good news of Jesus Christ if we don't go tell them? If you're interested in going, please visit http://hisgreatplan.com/ or http://www.e3partners.org/Page.aspx?pid=1130 for more information on how you can be part of what God is doing in Rwanda.

The torch in the middle is lit in remembrance for those lost (most of whom remain nameless) during the tragic genocide.

Long Flights to Africa

Journal Entry: Thursday, May 19, 2011 5:32 AM (Local Addis Ababa Time)

"We are still on our very long flight to Addis Ababa. So far we have traveled 5,804 miles and 9.5 hours. We are at an altitude of 37,000 feet and traveling 556 miles per hour. Earlier in the flight we were served chicken and rice meal, which had a strange flavor to it. I did like the potato salad served on a piece of lettuce. I also had a piece of cheese, a wheat roll with butter on it, and a brownie. I had an orange Mirinda with no ice to drink. Later in the flight I was able to drink a whole 12 oz can of coke; though it wasn't very cold.

Earlier in the flight (while I was finally sleeping) they came through and had everyone close the window shades so the light from outside couldn't come in. Most people took the opportunity to try to sleep. Several hours later (after 5 AM their time) they brought us all wash cloths that were wet to wash our faces and hands with. That felt nice. Now it is 5:45 AM, and they just brought us juice".

 Welcome Screen on the plane.

Our flight plan.

We flew over part of the Sahara Desert!

Chicken or Beef? I chose chicken.

After a long, long leg of our flight, we were finally over Africa and were able to raise our window shades. I was so incredibly excited to see a beautiful sunrise over AFRICA! I couldn't help but be reminded of our risen savior and the entire purpose of this trip!

A view of the city from the plane.

There are many, many mountains and hills in Africa.

Addis Ababa only had Ethiopian planes.

We finally arrived at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia! What a joy to be able to get off of the plane for a little while! We were able to use the restroom in the airport, buy a coke or water (which cost $1.00), and just roam freely for a little while before boarding our next flight. I must say that I didn't see anyone eat again. Before we got to Addis Ababa we were served a full breakfast with a cheese omelet, fried potatoes, raspberry yogurt, a croissant, a wheat roll wrapped in oats, a cup of fruit, and some orange juice. Ethiopian airlines fed us very well. If you were sleeping, they would wake you up to make sure you ate. Seriously!

Here is the gang waiting at Addis Ababa to board our flight for Kigali. As you can see, we were all a little tired and ready to get to our destination!

After a quick stop in Entebbe to let some people off of the plane and to pick up some more passengers, we were finally on our way to Kigali! I must admit by this point in the flight I was feeling quite droopy. On this flight, I was sitting next to a 30-year-old man named John from Rwanda. He lives in Germany with his wife and two children. He was on his way to Rwanda for two weeks to visit his parents and sister. As we spoke, I discovered that he moved to Germany for school two months before the Genocide began. He said that his family didn't flee, so I couldn't help but wonder...

Hallelujah, Amen! After a long few days of flying, we arrived at Kigali International Airport!

It was so nice to be on the ground, to see some of the city, and to simply be in Africa. There was no way we could ever know what God was going to do in the upcoming weeks.

Let the blogging begin!

Let the blogging begin! Our Huntsville crew met at the Huntsville airport on the evening of May 17th. Randy, Joy, and Mom took me to a nice final meal at Cheddars. I had some steak and shrimp, which was yummy. I was the first on the team (aside from Mike and Mary) to arrive at the airport. I was so incredibly nervous. I was so anxious. I kept telling myself that I had nothing to fear. Why on earth was I already so anxious? We were only flying to D.C. on this day anyway.

Anyway! After meeting the local gang, we all walked upstairs together (friends and family included). We gathered in a circle, held hands, and prayed together. I teared up with excitement and a little sadness about leaving loved ones behind. After saying our goodbyes we went through security and headed to our gate. We quickly figured out that our plane hadn't arrived though and was still in Washington D.C. due to weather! We were several hours late departing, but it was all good. It gave us those of us who hadn't really met before time to to chat, relax, bond, etc.

After our plane finally arrived, we had a safe trip to the Washington Dulles airport. We had to wait awhile on the bus to take us to the hotel and got in pretty late, but the hotel was nice. Kinsey was my roomie. She and I stayed up until almost 2 AM chatting and organizing everything for the next day. There was a lot of anticipation for what was to come! Breakfast the next morning was good; although, I think we were all ready to get going. We all got up on time, met those teammates from other states (like Stan and Jeri whom Kinsey and I met in the hallway), and made it on time to the airport to catch our next flight to Africa!

Amanda and I on our way to the Washington/Dulles airport with luggage all around us and on top of us!

The Ethiopian Airlines desk we waited at.

 Kinsey, Anna, Pam, Jeri, & Stan entertaining us while we were still at the Ethiopian Airlines desk waiting to check our luggage, etc.

More pictures & posts to come. They'll get better & better. I promise!

A Spirit of Adoption & Joshua

I wrote this email last night to my prayer team for Rwanda. The word is still really on my heart today though, so I wanted to publically share my thoughts and prayers:

“As hard as I might try, I cannot go to bed tonight without praising God!

I woke up today with a word on my heart. I don’t know why, but these words always come to me when I’m getting ready in the mornings. I may be in the shower or drying my hair, and a thought will hit me. The word was adoption. What an appropriate word for Mother’s Day. What an appropriate word it would be for Father’s Day. Hey, what an appropriate word for every day!

 The Bible says, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father” ~ Romans 8:15.

Father, I just want to pause and thank You right now that You are my Abba Father. Father, I want to thank You for adopting me. Lord You knew my every need and my every weakness, and You chose to adopt me anyway. Lord, I thank You and praise You today for your unfathomable, unfailing love!  

Wow, I’m kind of on fire right now. It has been a good day with the Lord. God has really been dealing with my heart today about salvation. My heart is weighing heavily for the people of Rwanda. It is my utmost desire to see people saved. It is my desire to see the glorious sights of heaven one day with people of every nation, race, color, and language. It’s going to be unimaginably beautiful, yet I still try to imagine it! Please pray. Pray for the spirit to move. I am nothing, but please pray that God can use me to bring Honor and Glory to Him.

Oh, Father, I pray that you would lead, guide, and direct me through the Holy Spirit. Lord, You lead me to Rwanda. Now I ask that You lead me to the specific homes, places, and people You need me to go and speak to. Lord, I pray that Your words and not my own would be spoken and heard. Lord, I cannot do this without You. I don’t have the strength or the power. Lord, only You have the power to save. Lord, I pray that I would see the wonders of Your mighty saving power in the land of Gisenyi, Rwanda. Lord, I ask that you would heal this nation that has been so hurt and devastated by poverty and war. Lord, send them Your spirit of peace, reconciliation, and restoration.

Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” I don’t know about you, but that verse really excites me! We are the children of God! Have you really thought about that lately? Ponder on it for a few moments, and let it bless you. You are a child of the King! Your Father created it all! Verse 17 goes on to say that we are “joint-heirs with Christ”. Pretty crazy, right? I certainly don’t deserve to be a joint-heir with Christ, but am so very thankful that God allows me to be!

Adoption… I suppose here in the U.S. there are many forms of this. Some people do legal adoptions whereby they adopt children, change names, etc. Other times people may just sort of take in others as their own. Either way, it is a beautiful blessing. When God adopts you though, He gives You full rights and privileges. When you accept the spirit of adoption He has to offer, He makes you His child and makes sure I always stays that way. No hurt feelings or any amount of distance between you will ever change the fact that you are His child. Nothing and no one can ever pluck us out of His mighty hand. I praise Him today that He adopted me!  I also praise Him today for sending people my way in this life who have sort of adopted me too. There have been times in my life that I honestly didn’t know where I would have been had it not been for that spirit of adoption that He placed in the hearts of people along my path.

I can’t help but think that there are people now that I have adopted too. While I definitely hope to actually do that one day, I find myself “adopting” others (younger and older) in different roles in my life. What a blessing for God to give us such a spirit to share with one another. I just can’t imagine a more beautiful thing right now. I hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend and a blessed Mother’s Day with your families.”

Bridget

P.S. I just have to make this addition. If there was ever a child that I would’ve adopted if I was in the place where I could, it would have been Joshua. On my mission trip to Honduras, Joshua, whom was a year and a half, had been abandoned on the streets. I don’t have my journal with me to go back and check. If I remember correctly, Joshua’s mother was raped and became pregnant at the age of thirteen. No one wanted her once she became pregnant. No one especially wanted Joshua though.

I had the amazing blessing of caring for him the one night he was at the mission. I fed him and clothed him. We laughed and played. I held him and loved him. I slept next to him that entire night with my arms around him. I still remember waking up with those big brown eyes staring at me… To this day, His photo is still the background on my cell phone, laptop, and his photo sits on my dresser. This little guy captured my heart. What can I say without crying? The spirit of adoption is just one of the many amazing gifts God has given us.

This is Joshua:

And these are his precious feet:



Thank you, Lord, for Joshua and all of the other beautiful children around the world. Lord, I pray that one day you would make a way for me to be able to adopt a child, or of it be Your will, children like Joshua, that are in need of food, clothing, and shelter. These children need so much. They need to be shown that someone cares. They need the love of mankind, but more than anything, they need the love of a savior! They need a love of a father. They need the love of THE FATHER! Lord, I praise you today for all You have done and for all You're going to do! Amen!