Rwandan Conference

Currently I am listening to a Rwandan preacher, who I believe lives somewhere in Europe, give the word of the Lord here in Atlanta...
I am part of a team from ZHOP that has traveled to Atlanta for a Rwandan conference that we are speaking at and doing some worship for. Here in Atlanta there are probably 150 Rwandan, Gana, and Uganda peoples assembled to fellowship, worship, and hear the word of the Lord.
Thus far, my favorite part of this weekend has been dancing as all the Rwandans go nuts with the sweet 6/8 time. All the sudden the room erupts and though I don't understand a word, somehow my hips do. :) We've done some of the worship, lots of dancing to the sweet African music, and lots of listening to translators. I love being an observer of different cultures and this is definitely a schooling lesson in African culture. As I have observed I've noticed several things. First of all, they seem very connected to eachother. Though most of the people who have traveled - at great distance for most - to come to this conference and don't know eachother, they act as though they have known eachother for years. Maybe this is because they have shared so many of the same experiences, the same sufferings, and thus must come together in love. I spoke to a guy here, around my age, who was a refugee in Kenya at age 13. When I asked him tonight over dinner how long he was in Kenya, he responded with, "a long 5 years." I can only imagine what he actually meant by that...
And of course, secondly, there are the zoot suits. With the Rwandans, the men are almost as decorated as the women! I've seen bright blue, red, and pin stripe suits - long and decorated, big and blingy. Tonight I saw a teenager in a zoot suit taking lots and lots of pictures of himself in front of a Christmas tree. He seemed like he was wearing a BMW or a million dollars.
And lastly, they are the most smiling people I have ever seen. So loving and so joyful. They smile as they sing, smile as they cry, smile as they pray, smile as they eat...oh and wow. the donuts they make...I think that's the only thing I've eaten thus far. A little bready goodness.

That's all for now from me. I'm getting back in the dancing line!