Rwanda Update # 2 - Day 3 and no sunburn yet!

Rwanda is amazing friends...so many pictures and stories can not be captured in this short paragraph, although i hope you are anxious for the long debrief when we return. i did think you would like to hear these 2 stories:
1) Our Driver, DiaDonye...is one of the coolest guys ever. yesterday we went to the genocide memorial which honestly, was brutal for all of us. At one point I asked him how his story fit in, and he told me that both of his parents, his brothers, and all of his cousins would killed by machete. I was shocked! surely all of the movies, books, pictures, etc...wouldn't include this man that has now become my friend. EVERYBODY is effected. EVERYBODY has lost somebody. at the end of the tour, i sensitively inquired how he handles walking through the memorial. What he said moved me: "Matt, it is very hard every day...but every day i must choose to forgive again". Wo-i have never experienced a truer picture of Redemption than what i have seen and heard here. Just wait for the story tomorrow about Charles! Bring the kleenex...

2) Today as we were driving into the mountains to get to our camp, where we will spend the second half of the trip, we stopped by a nearby village off of the highway to play a soccer game with the locals. we all wore the same bears soccer jerseys, and sang loud as we ran down to the field. the ENTIRE village came out to play. we were hopeful we would be playing against 10 year olds, but would not be so lucky. there was a team of 20 year olds already on the field. therefore, the entire village go to see us get whooped 3-0. it was great...lots of cheering and laughing. in fact...somehow i have gained the nickname everywhere i go of: Yao Ming. Since i am the tallest person they have ever seen, obviously i am connected to him...right?

Collin-Ryan-and Ty are incredible. What young men of God...servants to the core. Schatzman has carried a box with a projector in it now for 72 hours straight. Still leaning in to hear complaining, never will happen though. I love these guys! Be proud fellowship.

I will continue to update the blog! Keep checking and praying. Tomorrow we tour the land, scrimmage a local team, and go on a 12 mile mountain bike ride. Translated in rwandan: who took the oxygen and why didn't i pack the icy hot.

With Love,
Matt and the team