Roz' rainy memorial service

We went up to Mugongo (Roz' farm) early today as we thought that her grave marker / garden area still needed a lot of work before the 2 p.m. service. We found that her Rwandan friends had worked through the night and it was in pretty good shape. Mark, Adam and I were able to stroll around her farm, have tea in her house and play and visit with the children.

About the time the service began it started to pour down rain. There were two tents set up and I'm guessing nearly 300 people crowded in to stay dry. We were happy to see Terri Taylor who made it just in time. For nearly the whole two hour service it rained heavily. While the rain made it a little difficult, it was still powerfully evident just how big of an impact Roz had on so many people. I met many Americans, Congolese, Rwandans, Europeans and more today that had in one way or another been inspired by the sacrificial love Roz gave throughout her life. The 120 or so children that sang, danced and told stories of how she rescued them from a homeless life was the biggest example of her love. (She started the Imbabazi Orphanage at the age of 82 and has been the director the last 12 years.) She loved children just as Christ told us to. She also loved those in the community around her by providing them secure jobs, treating their sicknesses and giving them an example of working hard.

Diplomats (US ambassador was in attendance today), family, friends, business people, philanthropists, missionaries, conservationists, strangers and many beautiful children said goodbye today to Roz' and thanked her for her inspiration. I believe her legacy will live for eternity.