This post contains student writing.

While walking along the main road in Nyamata during Sunday’s scavenger hunt, music could be heard resonating from a building directly off the path. One of the tasks for the scavenger hunt was to learn a song from someone in the town. The music drew the group and me closer as we approached a welcoming lady with a glowing smile and a white dress. She welcomed us into her happy-place, church, where she sang in the choir. As we took our seats, people sitting in rows gazed in our direction. I began to bob my head in sync to the beat of the music. Nelson, Habisona, and Julie began to do the same as the music continued to brighten the mood. A woman moved Julie over so that she could sit next to me to translate the songs the choir was singing.

After the singing, the preacher asked us, visitors of the church, to announce our names and where we are from. Nelson explained to the church that we were sorry that we don’t know Kinyarwanda and we continued our introduction. The preacher went on in Kinyarwanda reading from the Bible.

As we left, the four of us were happy, especially me, because of the experience. At home, I attend a Catholic church. It is completely different because of how structured it is. The purpose of religion is to bring people together to form a happy community, which was very prevalent here. I look forward to instill this supportive environment when I return home!

-Lily