Out and about.

Today was a good day.  I spent time in Gitarama instead of visiting the boys' home with Theresa and Valerie.  We have been going and going since I arrived and I needed some time to chill and slow down.  It was a really relaxing time.  I cleaned my room and organized it, worked on some Global Capacity stuff, ate lunch and chatted with our housekeeper's son Omar, and took a nap. After that I studied some kinyawarwanda, which made me feel a bit better about the language barrier.  This is the biggest problem I have right now.  It frustrates me so much to not be able to carry on a conversation with people, or even to ask for things in shops.  I know with time and practice this will diminish, but nevertheless I wish I knew so much more.  

After that I went to the salon with Omar to get my head shaved.  I did bring my own shaver with me to Africa, but surprisingly enough I broke it.  Yes, shavers require the use of a power converter here, and yes, I have three with me.  But, I forgot and plugged in the shaver and proceeded to shave the side of my head.  A few seconds later I smelled a burning smell and noticed the shaver began to smoke.  So, I learned my lesson by ruining the shaver.  So, I have been walking around for two days with a chunk taken out of my hair on the side of my head.  It was hot.  Anyway I was the talk and stare of the salon.  I don't think they often have wuzungus as clients.  It was so nice though, a very gentle razor and very soft touch.  He then proceeded to shave my face with the shaver, which was not so gentle.  But then he put some alcohol and then powder all over my head and face, which was nice.  I think I am happy that I ruined the shaver so I can support this salon and befriend them.

Now I am at the internet cafe on my own computer, and really feel like I fit it.  Oh, and it does help that they are playing "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake and "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillet.  

Yeah, I think I'm gonna like it here. 

I have a cell phone.

I now have a cell phone. It's pretty expensive to call to the U.S. on it, but it's cheap for the U.S. to call me with a calling card. The link to buying a good, cheap calling card is http://www.callsmadelocal.net/search.asp?Country=83&name=&connection=No+Preference&value=Any+Value.

Email me if you want to know my cell number.  

I can also receive and send text messages. Remember that the time difference is 6 hours. I plan on getting a calling card too so I can call home more.

I should have internet at my house next week, so I can IM / Skype / iChat / email / Facebook with you all much more!

In Byimana.

I had the privilege of spending the past two days with the boys at Umuryango. What a pleasure! Yesterday we arrived at the home before the boys came home from lunch. We were dropped off by a taxi and then walked the .6 miles to the home. What a joy. We were surrounded by beautiful village kids along the way. It was so neat to watch the kids run up to Theresa and Valerie, who teach them English for an hour/day. They adore their teachers. I recogized some of the kids from last year. When we arrived at the home we took a tour of the home and the TWO that are being built. It is so very exciting to watch the progress. I plan on putting up pics when I have faster internet in the home we are staying in.

The boys came home from lunch and it was glorious. They ran over to me with smiles and gave me big hugs and kisses. Even the newer boys, who I hadn't met yet, welcomed me with open arms. It is so great to see them all again. The boy I sponsor, David, just kept hugging and kissing me. He sat next to me on the couch for a long, long time and we tried to communicate as best as possible. We spent much of the afternoon playing the game Sequence, which is now a favorite of everyone.

Today was a very exciting day. We wanted to do something special for the boys since it is a national holiday here. So, we rented a large bus and picked them up early. We headed over to the "Muzungu Mall" and got them all ice cream. This was a special treat that most of them had never ever had. And, to our surprise, most did not like it. It was way too cold for them. After that we headed to a soccer (futbol) stadium. We had lunch on the bus and then got tickets in one of the national stadiums for two matches. We watched the two matches, which proved to be a really crazy experience. The second match packed out the stadium and there were all sorts of people climbing the back wall and then getting hit by clubs by policemen. I didnt realize what a huge sport futbol is here. This second match was the national championship match, and President Kagame showed up too! After the matches we headed to a fine dinner in Gitarama. The boys were so thankful and appreciative of the day and it was a pleasure to watch them experience their surprises.

Finally in Gitarama!

Well, I arrived in Rwanda finally. JP, Theresa, and Val were all at the airport to greet me with huge hugs. It is soooo good to be here! It looks so familar, from last year. We drove past where we stayed last summer and we also visited the "Muzungu Mall" for some ice cream. We went in to Kigali and got cash exchanged for me. We then headed to Gitarama. The house we are staying in is perfect. It is lined along the road, filled with lots of activities - shops, other houses, and streetkids. This breaks my heart! We didn't spend much time on the street yet, but will starting tomorrow. The house is large and will be a great base for us to live at. We will be visiting the boys tomorrow and I am so excited! I am a bit wiped now, so I am looking for a good nite sleep. Oh, and another thing - I have my own bedroom, which is great. Lots of time for me to spend with God and processing through this amazing journey I am on. Ok, that's all the energy I have for now. Gotta head home for dinner and sleep for tomorrow :)

In Ethopia.

hello folks! hope you are doing well. just wanted to give you a quick shout from addis ababa. i stayed here overnite at a motel and fly to kigali in an hour. my flights have been good so far, no delays or anything. i was majorly bummed though because i left my bible on the airplane. that will bless someone else though. (so maybe when jonathan comes he can bring me one, wink wink). i am so excited to land in kigali soon! i met an american (from ia) who is on his way to tanzania to oversee a building project of a 18-cottage orphanage. he is a structural architect who also runs a child sponsorship program at an orphanage in haiti. so, it was so great to chat with him and talk about how he does things. we were both sharing stories with each other about our experiences in our respective countries. it is so refreshing to talk with him since he has the same heart, burden, and holy discontent that i have. i love it here! all the sounds and sights. addis ababa looks very much like kigali does. ok, i must run. thanks for all of the prayers and thoughts. talk to you soon :)

God's Call is All Worth It.

I just got off the phone with my good friend Theresa, who is currently living in Rwanda doing a variety of things like community health assessments, teaching English, and working and playing at the Boys' Home. It was the first time I have spoken to her since she has been there, and it was glorious. She sounded so good and absolutely loves it there. When I called her, she was having lunch with the boys at the Home. The boy that I sponsor, David, was right next to her and told her to tell me that he loves me.

Even though I didn't speak to any of the boys, I could hear the rumblings and the sounds. I could hear loud noises and voices of Rwanda, voices that are largely the cause of my holy discontent, my burden, my heart. I am moving to Rwanda because God has connected my heart to them in a way I cannot explain. I can't communicate with them very well or carry on a conversation. When I arrive there in 9 days I won't have much to say. Which is ironic because my heart feels and says so much about them. But it is not just them that makes the Spirit inside me yearn to go, it is that I am in the midst of God's calling. And there is nothing I would rather do than to follow what God is calling me to. Although it is extremely difficult to sacrifice all that this trip is asking me to give up, it is all worth it.

I Am Heartbroken

I had a cry tonite about my move to Africa. I leave in 10 days. I am heartbroken. I feel as if a piece of my heart is dying. There is so much transition now and I am having a difficult time with it. Just this past week I left my position as Director of Administration, a job that I have occupied for 5 years. I am giving up my car tomorrow because the 3 year lease is up. I am in the process of packing up my house I have owned for almost 2 years. All of these things have proven to be consistent and routine for me, stability in the midst of 2 1/2 years of rockiness, pain, and uncertainty. And for someone who thrives on routine and predictibility, I am very challenged now.

One of the things that I am dreading is saying "goodbye" to those people most important to me. Now, I know that it is not really a "goodbye" but a "see you later." I have every intention of coming back from Africa in December. I will even get to see some of the people who are so near and dear to my heart when they come over to Africa during my stay there. What I am so fearful and anxious about when I do say my "goodbyes" in 10 short days is that I will not be able to convey in words and actions, what I feel in my heart. I have led a pretty remarkable and extremely blessed life over the past two years, a life that I never thought possible. And to a large extent I have my amazing family and friends to thank for this. I want to be able to tell them what they mean to me, how they have blessed my life in ways they hadn't even considered, how it breaks my heart to leave them.

Amongst the empty dresser drawers and the half-packed storage bins, from the empty shelves to the empty carport, there is an even greater emptiness and void that remains in my heart. A heart that is crying itself to sleep tonite.