Rwanda 11.27.10 Last Day

Today is Umuganda Day which is a mandatory "community service" time during the morning.  Everyone is required to do something to improve the appearance of their property or public property--cleaning, pulling weeds, repairing. Umuganda Day is the last Saturday of each month and no one is permitted to drive until noon.

Since no one can drive until noon, we had decided to return to Kigali yesterday and have today to rest, pack, and shop for souvenirs.  We were all a little nervous about driving back to Kigali Saturday, arriving around 3 pm and being ready to get on a plane at 8 pm. 

 down time

Thankfully, our van made it back to Kigali with no problems on Friday. 

However, we got stopped by the police and it was very interesting! 

Our driver immediately ARGUED with the officer telling him he should not have stopped us. 

Christine, our interpreter, just giggled in the back seat. 

Seriously, giggling.

She did this at other times when things seemed a little awkward for us.  Maybe she enjoyed seeing us get nervous.

We were a little nervous. 

In the States, we don't argue with an officer that stops us in traffic, unless we WANT to get a ticket.  It's almost a guarantee that if you argue, you'll get a ticket.

Not the same in Rwanda. 

No ticket.

Anyway, packing was a cinch today because we only had our dirty clothes and souvenirs.  We packed suitcases into other suitcases. 

We arrived in Rwanda with 21 bags and went home with 8.

It was kinda nice. 

It was time to load up and head to the airport around 6:30 pm.  I am fighting off the sadness I feel.  I don't like good-byes.

We got a little late start but still no worries.....until....
 

we are driving uphill

about 10 minutes from the airport

and all of a sudden....

the van DIES.

Our awesome driver, George, safely pulled over and he tried to get it started again.

Nothing.

Out of gas.

We are all looking at our watches.

We call Mike who is driving another vehicle and he finds us on the side of the road and gives us some gas.

Still can't get the van started.

Half of us pile in his car and just as we are about to pull away, the van starts!

We made it to the airport in time, got checked in, said good-byes to our friends, and waited to board.

Now it gets really interesting....heading home and figuring out what's next.

We did have a cool little bonus blessing on the way home---

I call it life's glitter.

Next post!

Rwanda -Leaving N*el and Thoughts from Jeremy

While I was busy painting toenails and fingernails, Jeremy really connected with a few of the older boys at N*el.

These are the ones I keep thinking about---the 16, 17, 18 year old boys who lost their families during the gen*cide.  These boys have grown up in the orphanage.  They long to have a "mum," dad, brother, sister.  They want someone to give them a chance.  These are the ones that cannot be adopted (they have aged out), yet they long for a forever family.

All week I have asked God to show us our place,

our part in Rwanda. 

I think it has something to do with

these boys and girls,

young men and young women.

We said good-bye at lunch time and it was very difficult to let go.  We found out we would need to stop by N*el after lunch to pickup guinea pigs, but we would not all get out of the van.

One good-bye was hard enough.

But when the boys saw our van again, they RAN to get letters they had written to us right after we left.  They wrote one to "My mum," "My dad," and to "My family."

I could not believe what I read.  This is one letter written to "My family":

Dear my dad and my mum,

Please, I want to tell you my history.  I have not brother, sister, my dad, mum and family they was die in the genocide.  But now I have my family, my dad, my mum, my young brother, my sister and my friend.  I'm your child.  I love you dad.  I love you mum.  I love you brother and sister.  I will remember you.  I pray for you my family.  I will never forget you.

Thank you my family,

lovely John.

It makes me cry all over again.

I'll close with Jeremy's thoughts from an email he sent to a friend one week after we got back:

"Once we returned from Kigali on a Sunday night, I hit the ground running with work the next day.  It wasn’t until Sunday, Dec 5, when I was filling out an evaluation form from AGCI (organization we went thru) at 5:30 am (because that’s when I am waking up these days), that it really hit me.

Until that point, if asked what was most impactful about the trip, I would have answered about the affect of the Genocide on the people of Rwanda.  Just how many people were directly affected and how recent it was.

On Sunday morning, the question on the evaluation form asked the same thing, but this time God showed me what really impacted me.  He used the teenage boys at the Noel orphanage to show me a picture of myself.  Let me explain.

The Noel orphanage has 600 kids ranging in age from 4 days to 20+.  Just under half of these are over 16 years old.  They were born right at or before Genocide.  They have lived at the orphanage their whole life, and they have no place to go.  As I spent time with a few of these teenagers, I realized what they treasured most.  It wasn’t the activities we brought to “do” with them, it was spending time just sitting next to them, talking to them, knowing their name, and holding their hand.  I walked hand in hand with 16 year old boys that wouldn’t let go.  They have a deep, deep longing desire to be known, cherished, and loved by a parent.  Someone that is proud of them and loves them unconditionally.

It took me a week to understand, but now I see what God wanted to teach me. 

Those young boys are a picture of my soul.  My soul longs for my heavenly Father in a way that I can’t even express in words (Rom 8:23).  God is the only one that can satisfy this desire to be known, cherished and loved unconditionally.  Yet I (and Satan) fills my life with activities (some are fun and some even good), but they distract me from the deep relationship I desire to have with my Father.  I fail so often in just sitting with Him and holding on to him, not wanting to let go.

As I remember those kids, and see the pictures, and read the letter that one of them wrote, I see a picture of the hope that Paul describes (Rom 8:24-25).  These teenagers have not become jaded by the number of visitors that have come to their orphanage to visit with them only to never return, and especially to not take them as their children.  Instead they wait eagerly with a hope that perseveres.  They express confidently that we are here to be their mom, dad, sister and brother.  They know that they aren’t leaving with us, but they want to know that we long to be with them and to know them and to love them unconditionally.

So now, as I look at their pictures, I see myself.  An orphan who has been adopted.  Because of Christ, I no longer have “the spirit of bondage again to fear, but I have received the Spirit of adoption”  and I can now confidently “cry out, Abba, Father!”  I recognize the deep desire within me that only God, the Father, can satisfy.

When a friend challenged us to memorize a certain passage in Scripture last Spring, Vanessa and I chose Romans 8:1-30.  I had no idea that God would teach me His word and hide it in my heart, and now use it and orphans in Rwanda to show me a picture of myself."

Tomorrow, we say good-bye to our friends in Rwanda...I do not like good-byes.

Rwanda 11.26.10 Pedicures at N*el

Friday morning we decided to try a group project with the kids at N*el.  Before we got out of the van, I heard several of the kids calling my name. 

They remembered my name.

I tried to call them by name if I remembered.

I recalled a few.

=)

So we wanted to make handprints with paint.  The idea was to do something similar to what we did with the t-shirts at Home of Innocence---writing out the verse, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Or at least "God made me" and then putting their handprint on the paper.

It did not quite work out that way. 

With 7 of us and about 100 of them, we got the handprints on the page and that's about it.

We did good with supplies--had plenty for everyone, but not so good with the finishing touches.

(we definitely learned what we can do better on the next trip)

Emily went straight to the baby room when we arrived.  She wanted to have another baby on her back.  She ended up spending the first 2 hours just hanging out with the little babies. 

There were about 20 babies between the ages of 3 days to 6 months.

After our handpainting project, I found the older girls.  Actually, they were all waiting for me because they had heard I was bringing stuff to wash their feet and paint their toe nails.  I only got to wash three of the girls' feet when they asked if they could pass the nail polish around and start painting each others' toes and finger nails. 

I had the purple polish and it was a favorite....

or they just wanted me to do the painting.

I prayed for each one I touched,

Their feet were dirty.

Some had missing toenails.

After I painted toes I started painting finger nails.

I had hands and feet all around me.



I painted on both girls and boys.

I wanted each one to feel loved and special.

I asked, "What's your name?" in Kenyarwanda

After all the older girls were finished they went and did some kind of a group dance.  I tried to pay attention as I kept painting.  I probably painted for 2 hours and one of the mamas thought I had had enough and told all the kids, "finished!"

I would have painted 'til every drop of purple was gone.

I didn't mind.

Next post will be about Jeremy and the boys at N*el...promise!

Rwanda 11.26.10 At N*el

Our time at N*el Orphanage was not long enough.  We spent Thursday afternoon and Friday morning here.  When we drove onto the property Thursday afternoon, Mama Athenes (I call her Mama N*el) and lots of children greeted us by clapping.

We were given a tour and I was amazed at how orderly it was.   I guess I imagined an orphanage with 600 kids would be kind of crazy and chaotic.

(kinda like 'Annie')

=)

Christine interpreted as Mama N*el explained that the orphanage started in 1954.  There are 578 orphans to be exact, but 196 of them are 18 or older. 

They have no place to go.

 This afternoon we did sidewalk chalk, songs, and coloring books.

We had many tour guides.  Notice Emily is carrying a baby on her back.  We were invited at once to carry babies on our backs.  Emily enjoyed this very much.

 Dinner is about to be served.

We got to help serve.

They have pigs, cows, goats, and maybe a few other kinds of animals on the property.  You can't tell in this picture, but this pig is as big as a cow. 

Bigger.

Not.even.kidding.

Tomorrow is our last day before we leave on Saturday and I can already feel the sadness settling in like a fog.

I can't wait to share Jeremy's thoughts about our last day at N*el.  He wrote an email to a friend after we got back and he gave me permission to post part of it.

You'll have to wait!

Rwanda 11.25.10 Headed to N*el

It's Thanksgiving Day.

(If you are just getting to my blog you are entering my Rwanda trip journal and I am writing as if it just happened.)

Today we leave Kigali and drive about 3+ hours to Gisenyi.

(our van loaded down with donations, rice, sugar, milk, supplies, and a change of clothes!  We also had 10 people squeezed in....good times!)

I still can't believe we almost missed this part of our trip.  You see, when we were given a list of opportunities and places to serve in Rwanda, the N*el Orphanage was quite overwhelming to us.

600 orphans.  7 of us.

What would WE be able to do??

So up until about 2 weeks before we left, we did not plan to go to N*el. 

Then.....as a couple of other plans fell through, we decided to consider it again.

I CRY at the realization of what we almost missed!!

You will see soon, but first I just want to share some of the view as we drove to Gisenyi.

 Just one of the waterfalls we saw

 Volcano

 Could not resist getting this shot

 Rolling Hills

Lake Kivu

 View from our hotel room

Part of our Thanksgiving dinner

(a piece of toast with some kind of gravy on it---kind of tasted like dressing....kind of)

HAPPY

THANKSGIVING!

Rwanda 11.24.10 Saying good-bye and Gahanga

Today is the last day with the guys at Home of Innocence. 

=(

We finished two of four rabbit hutches and got the remaining materials cut and ready to build two more hutches.

We needed to buy rice, sugar, and milk for another orphanage we will be travelling to tomorrow so the girls went back to the store.

One of the boys lingered by our van as we got ready to go.  He didn't speak English but I talked to him anyway telling him we would be back after the store.

He was sad.

He knew it was our last day.

I was sad too.

This boy actually has a family, but he kept running away to live on the streets.

He's nine years old.

He has been at the Home of Innocence for about a month now and hasn't run away. 

I wonder what keeps him there.

It's amazing how we connected with and loved these boys so quickly!  Oh I am so sad and miss them already!

The Home of Innocence was Emily and Wesley's favorite place on our trip.

AGCI is actually planning another trip in April--they want to send a team to work at the Home of Innocence and spend time with these boys.

Are you interested??

I wish I could go!!

The deadline to sign up is December 15th so if you feel that tugging at your heart---don't delay!

Sign up!

We packed our lunches today and ate before heading out to the

Gahanga Orphanage.

Gahanga is home to about 45 people from the ages of 7 to 30--all with disabilities.  Many greeted us on the front porch as we walked up and I was so proud of Emily and Wesley for the way they handled themselves.

We patted or shook each one's hand and said hello. 

It was a little uncomfortable since most were not verbal and there was lots of drool and such. 

Emily read a Bible Story.

Then the kids and I hung paintings that we brought from a local girl scouts troop here at home.

Jeremy unpacked all the donations and then we started taking pictures of the residents to hang up as well.  The caretakers wanted everyone to have on the same shirt so they got busy helping everybody change.

Jeremy met a young man named Michelle, who was originally from Zaire.  He spoke some English and some French, and when he got excited he said,

"Ooh la la!"

He also taught Jeremy a song in Kenyarwanda that means

"and my God is amazing"

Jeremy busts out in that song at random times.

=)

Okay, on a side note, I got sick today---you know, the travel sickness that everyone fears.  I started taking my Cipro and otc drugs and was good to go.  Everyone on our team ended up getting a little sick (except Larry), but it was very manageable.

Nothing to worry about.

Oh--tomorrow we head out of town to our last orphanage.  We almost missed one of the biggest blessings of our trip. 

and the scenery along the way was breath-taking!

Rwanda 11.23.10 Home of H*pe

Today we spent some more time with the boys at Home of Innocence (still working on those rabbit hutches and just hangin' out--falling in love with these boys!)

AND


we visited Mother Teresa's Home of H*pe!!

If you didn't know, this is one orphanage that places children for adoption. 

BUT everything is on hold right now until Rwanda enters into the Hague Convention.

which will hopefully be sooner rather than later! 

Could take 6 months

12 months

or longer

No one knows.

=/

We were greeted by a nun with the SWEETEST smile and a few EXCITED little kiddos--that looked to be about 2 years old. 

The kids jumped into our arms and the nun led us on a short tour, half of which I missed because I stayed in the play area with the children when we got to that part. 

I just couldn't help it!

This orphanage is home to about 100 kids from birth to 7 years old.

They have strict visiting hours from 8:00-10:00 am and then again from 3:00-4:00 pm.

NO pictures are allowed under any circumstances.  They say they want to protect the children's privacy since these are adoptable children.

There were a few little ones with apparent disabilities and I noticed that they were in a safe room with plenty of caretakers.  I played for a bit on the floor with a couple of these little guys.

So great to see them smile!!

All the other kiddos were outside in a play area that was made up of a concrete porch and extended concrete area.  There was a small fenced-in grassy area with old metal play equipment in it but NONE of the kids played there.

Wes went down the slide and got the air knocked out of him.

Now we know why they don't play there.

They were all running around on the concrete and picking up small sticks and wood chips from woodpiles nearby. 

No toys were seen anywhere.

We brought out our coloring books and crayons first. 

aye-yi-yi!!!!

We had enough for every child to have more than one sheet and a couple crayons, but they could not wait to get their piece of the fun.

could.not.wait

Have you seen "Finding Nemo?"

You know the part where the birds all start saying, "Mine"?

Okay, it did not take me long to understand the Kenyarwanda word for, "mine."

I was tackled for paper and crayons.
Others on our team tried to get some from me to help pass them out too.

It was C-R-A-Z-Y!

Once everybody got their paper and a crayon or two, things kind of settled down.

All of us had no less than two kids on our laps or backs, and/or shoulders at all times. 

These little ones do not have diapers....so you can imagine...

They showed me their coloring and wanted me to color on their sheet too.

I smiled a lot and spoke praise to them for their coloring.

Emily and Wesley felt overwhelmed and were not having fun.  The initial chaos was a little much for them.  They both sat under the porch for a bit to kind of ....deal with it.

I don't blame them--it was hard. 

They both re-engaged again once Caitlan started leading some fun songs with the kiddos.  They helped lead too.

It was going great....until....

we had the not-so-bright idea to bring out the inflatable balls we had brought.

We had about 15 to 20 balls--still needed to blow them up.

There were about 40-50 kids running around.

What were we thinking????

We start blowing up balls and the chaos started all over again.

Seriously---what were we thinking??

Our time was almost up and we had successfully blown up all 15 piddly little balls and caused about 30 kids to start screaming and crying.

Some of our team tried to engage the kids in some group play with the balls but that didn't work.

We left.

Hugging tear-stained faces.

About to cry ourselves.

Once we got to the van, I asked our interpreter if the nuns just absolutely hate us.  We come in and stir up the kids for 2 hours and then leave them crying.

It felt like a disaster.

Christine said the nuns do not hate us.  They do not get to hold all the children long enough so they are happy to have us and the toys we bring.  I was not convinced....until later....

So we headed out to drop off the boys at Home of Innocence and the girls went grocery shopping for Home of H*pe.

We bought rice and sugar

This is the street we drove on to get to the store

The boys started painting their cars we brought--they had lots of fun painting and racing them

Today, I noticed the boys keep their toothbrushes outside in the window sill--not in the bathroom.

ate lunch at a place called New Fiesta--owned by a Rwandan who had spent some time in the States.  The name sounds like it might be Mexican food, but the only thing that was kinda 'mexican' was the chips and salsa.

It was good!

We went back to Home of H*pe for the 3:00-4:00 visiting hour.

I am so glad we did!

I wish I had made Emily and Wesley come back because it went so much better this afternoon.

We get into the play area and we see HAPPY children playing NICELY with the balls we had left.

I thought for sure the balls would have disappeared never to be seen again after we left this morning.

It was time for them to drink milk so we sat with them at their little tables in a covered area.

They had generous amounts of milk--and were offered seconds and thirds if wanted.

I was thankful to see that.

After milk we had time to just sit and play in the concrete area. 

I had 3 kids on my lap and at least 3 kids combing my hair with sticks.

The "mamas" also brought out bananas for them to snack on while we were there.

I sang to them, prayed for them, prayed for forever families for them, prayed adoption would open up quickly again in Rwanda.

We gave lots of kisses and hugs as we left.