The Hope Rwanda Palau Festival has been the event of the year for me. I still can’t believe that just a few weeks ago I was part of such a successful event. Actually from the time I got the phone call telling me that I could come volunteer and be part of the whole thing I couldn’t believe it.
For me it was more than just the fun, it was the thrill of coming out of the house and knowing that I was going to be useful in something in something for a change.

When I went to the Stadium on the first, I didn’t really know what to expect. I had only been given two names and was told to look those people up when I got there. I didn’t know anyone and was a little bit intimidated. I was wondering what would be the welcome of people when they saw me, and if I would be welcome at all. When you are on a wheelchair, you never know what to expect, everyone reacts differently. Anyway, I got there and asked for Gary and Stephen and they showed up almost at the same time. I introduced myself and Stephen who had heard about me said that they had been told that I would work at the free clinic and would be the receptionist. I started to relax a little. They helped me out of the car and showed me inside. There were so many people already busy moving around and trying to get everything set for the day.

The amazing thing for me was that despite how busy everyone was, they stopped to say hello and introduce themselves. That was a big WOW for me, people never stop for me like that only to stare and wonder what someone like me is doing there, but that’s it. I met some really cool people who showed me around and made feel so comfortable that in no time all the uneasiness left and I was happy to be there. I was assigned to a desk and told that I would be the $1 Campaign girl. My job was to register the names of the public coming into the free clinic and get their dollar. The clinic was free but the government had taken the advantage of that event to conduct their $1 Campaign. But even with that, after all the medical care people were given, that dollar was really nothing.

It was overwhelming that all these people were helped and that I was part of it! People came in with all kinds of sicknesses and all were seen and helped to the best of our team’s ability. Very few went back disappointed because we couldn’t do anything for them and it broke my heart sometimes to see someone so coming in so hopeful only to be told that they couldn’t do anything for them. We had just a few of those but still it was sad. We had the case of a mother who brought her baby who had a cleaved lip and was told we were not conducting operation. Then we had the case of a blind woman who had heard we were treating eyes, that too was very sad.

But the most beautiful thing about being a believer is that we are never hopeless and although we couldn’t offer those people what they were looking for, we turned to the only who knows and cares and said a Little prayer with the people before sending them on their way and even though some of them went back sad, for others it meant something and made the whole difference. We serve a God who never fails where men do. We saw close to 900 people within three days and I know that for some people it was a turning point in their lives. Some lives were saved. I remember a little boy who had had a tooth infection for so long that when he came in the doctor said that a few more days and he could have died. It had gotten so bad. Now the boy is alive and well. Some people got their eyes checked and got glasses, others medication. Some came with rushes and got some cram to apply on them. Some came with migraines, ulcers, backaches, malaria… you name it! All were helped and went home happy.

For me, I didn’t just help out at the clinic, I also made new friends and I know there will be for a lifetime. The whole team was just awesome and everyone was nice to me. At the end of the day I would always have people waiting for me when my ride took forever to get there, despite the fact that they were all tired. And for that I was so thankful. We got to attend the concerts too and sat backstage. It was so cool! The coolest part was I got to meet Enrique, Andrew Palau and Nicole C. Mullen all in the same evening! I felt so blessed, beyond all I could have imagined.

The whole festival was an amazing experience for me and I still have a smile on my face just thinking about it. My pray is that after we experience something like that, we learn from it and try to bring the help that’s needed around us without waiting for people outside to bring it. I hope my country has learned from this. I am thankful to the Palau Festival and hope to get work with it again one day. They are such a blessing.?-Nadine