Fall 09 Feature
There’s a slight chill in the morning air as the sun slowly grows warmer. No clouds in the sky, at all. The traffic and noise in the street has built to a substantial level and people are walking up and down the side walk. Motorcycles are everywhere mounted with young men who serve the city as moto taxi driver or “boda boda” as the locals say.
Five guys (dubbed the Nacho Cinco) make their way out of two hotel rooms, down darkened hallways (because the common occurrence of electricity being disrupted has happened again). The breakfast buffet is loaded up with more amazing food than could be asked for. The service from the hotel staff is the best. The guys laugh and joke over breakfast while tossing out an occasional line from the movie “Nacho Libre.” Occasionally a serious moment arises because the conversation has shifted to politics or something like that. Another line from Nacho breaks the seriousness and we all laugh.
What is the plan for the day and how are we all going to work together to get it done? We have limited resources and time (of course) and people expected great things. If we were in the states, no problem, just go to the local mega hardware super store and get whateve. We are not in the states; we are in Kigali, Rwanda strategically located in the heart of central eastern Africa just below the earth’s equator.
Five of the greatest pro athletes have decided to leave their friends, families and comforts of home behind to go halfway around the world to do something together. What is the something? It is an annual event in Rwanda called, “Hope Rwanda” and this year, Andrew Palau of the Luis Palau Association, has been invited to come participate by throwing a Palau style festival.
So, what’s up with Rwanda and why a festival? Every year between April and July, the nation of Rwanda takes 100 days to stop to reflect and remember what happened fifteen years ago, the 1994 genocide brutally killed an estimated 1 million people in 100 days. Now, Rwandans continue the hard work of healing and restoration, laying the groundwork for a strong future. Through Kigali Festival with Andrew Palau on July 17-18, 2009 and the festival’s preceding Season of Service, hope and Good News were offered in abundance.
The five guys had to be a part of this, it called to their soul. You see, the Palau festivals aren’t just an amazing concert with rad action sports and a preacher. It’s much more…
The excerpt is from the Fall magazine and was written by Jeff Pieper. Subscribe today to get your copy and read more!
