Some final thoughts

Here are a couple of post-mission trip observations from one or the more experienced members of the team.

In several cases, the ladies on our team were moved to tears by what they saw, heard and experienced on the trip (ok, a couple of guys got sort of choked up a couple of times too).  My prayer is that everyone at Eastminster would shed a tear for the poor, defenseless and needy in our world.  There is so much suffering and so many people who need our help.  We can never be insensitive to these needs.

The children who live in the orphanages we visited are truly blessed and happy.  They have been removed from the tragic environments they were in and now have a safe, supportive and Christian setting in which to grow.  I was privileged one Sunday afternoon to be invited (they begged) by some of the young ladies from Tumaini to go to the secondary school to hear them sing.  I was not sure what I was going to experience, but it turned out to be a 48 voice, a capella choir lead by a coach with an operatic voice.  When they started to sing, I thought I was in a magnificent European cathedral.  But the point is that the singers came from all the school area and the Tumaini kids fit right in.  They were not second class members of the school or the choir.  Because of Tumaini, they are living “normal” lives.  Thanks to the support of Eastminster and many other congregations, the Riamukurwe Presbytery has been able to provide a place for these children.  Praise God for the actions of the Presbytery and for the love and support they have received.  The money and supplies we are able to provide them is vital, and the love we are able to bring them every couple of years confirms the love of Jesus to the leaders and to the children.  

Babu Tom