Street Kids

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to meet some of the most wonderful, sweetest kids I've ever seen. They are children, mostly between the ages of 5 and 18 who live on the streets of Kigali. Some were orphaned in the genocide, orphaned because of HIV/AIDS or other ways, or abandoned because their families couldn't take care of them. I was worried that I would be focused on that and unable to really engage, thinking about how their lives must be. 

But, from the moment I walked on the property and was besieged by kids hugging me and jumping up and shouting "Muzungu photo!" I just wanted to love them. I spent the next several hours loving them, dancing, playing hand games, and just cuddling with them. It was obvious how they just wanted to be loved and touched. We also had worship time and to see all of them singing, dancing, and jumping just loving God touched my heart. I almost cried just looking at their happy faces and seeing how they truly have joy in the Lord. 

It did hit me last night back here at the house that I get to sleep in a bed and they are curling up in the gutters. I know that I'll never be able to understand why it has to be that way, but I know that they are loved by many people and more importantly God. I saw it in their faces and felt it in their hugs and cuddles. I can't wait to go back and see them again.