Land of a Thousand Hills: It feels great!

It feels GREAT to be back! I apologize for the lack of blogs since I've returned. Immediately after returning, I began furiously moving houses, moving classrooms, meeting new folks and introducing them to the town, hiring new workers and guards, and getting ready for school to begin, all in less than a week! It feels good to be home though! My first moto ride after returning was dizzying! I realized just how much I had missed those dangerous things! While it was nice to be safely tucked inside my old, sturdy Tahoe all summer long, the thrill of the open air on my face, whizzing past life in Kigali, was in a way, very therapeutic! That is....until rush hour. That's when I wished I had my truck back. ha!

And as much as I loved chowing down on Bojangles and Whataburger this summer, my stomach is thanking me now for this nice switch back to all things healthy. I missed the juicy pineapples and passionfruit, and the grapefruit-sized avocados for next-to-nothing. I did already splurge and buy a Coke Zero here. (They are waay more expensive than at home, but I was excited to see one!) :-) Prices in general have increased a bit, but we all think it's due to the election, and the fact that there are many, many shorterm "mzungus" that just come to Rwanda for the summer, and leave again. And also due to dry season prices.

Other thoughts upon returning...

I'm still getting used to running with this high altitude, but my runs have been amazing! I have missed the dusty roads that weave through the village, the swarms of children running behind you, and the smells and noises of the women cooking with their babies cooing on their backs. Running the Loop Road through Baker's Creek Park doesn't quite evoke so much spirit within me, but it was nice not to be stared at this summer like I'm on display when I run. (I've got to get used to that again!) I love the return to all things simple. But it still takes some getting used to...the water not running all the time, sometimes no hot water, brown-outs many times during the day, and some blackouts as well, eating by candlelight, broken toilets, HUGE weird spiders, etc. Those are all just minor details I'll get used to again, but when you come from a couple months in the States, it feels really different for a while. I think it's harder returning now than it was for me when I came for the first time last year. I don't know why, but it feels that way. Maybe because I had just a short time at home this summer, and also everything was so new for me last year. I'm just rambling here. I do love my friendly lizard and gecko pals that keep me company at night, roaming all over my room...but we didn't quite appreciate discovering the big fish head in the toilet the first day back. Ha! Who knows how it got there!?! It's as hot here as it is in NC right now, but most nights it cools off a lot and you need a sweater even. Right now, Kigali is as dry and dusty as I've ever seen it. The last time it rained was in June, before I left! But the locals say the short rains are just around the corner, and most can even predict the date. Many say it will rain on the 28th of this month. I hope so cause we need it badly!

I live in the same diverse neighborhood of Gaculiro, but a different house a little farther away from the school. I love running through the neighborhood in the evenings and seeing Rwandans and Kenyans playing "football" in the grass, Indian kids playing cricket, our Chinese friends playing badminton in the streets, a Dutch family riding bicycles, and Americans playing ultimate frisbee. I always think that's probably what Heaven looks like...a sea of different faces, different smiles, all laughing and getting along together. I've got great new roommates. I prayed for them before I met them, and God has been so wonderful in answering those prayers! I live with Kelly, from Simpsonville, SC who teaches P.E. at KICS, and Kerry, from Lansing, Michigan who teaches first grade. I knew Kelly from last year when she was a Bridge 2 Rwanda volunteer teaching at Sonrise School in Musanze. They are both fun girls with big hearts, and it's been an answer to prayer that we have connected in such a good way.

It's been wonderful reconnecting with familiar faces, especially my sweet kids at Mother Teresa's Home of Hope. I was elated to see their bright eyes and big toothy grins, and get knocked down by their hugs again. My little one, Genine, found me immediately and we had the sweetest reunion. She laid her head on my chest and started singing "God is so good," and I about lost it. Those little ones bring me so much joy...listening to them sing, giving them piggyback rides, lettng them play with my mzungu hair. Children give such unashamed love, just like the love of our Father. It's a beautiful thing. If we could all have the faith and love of a child!

The first week of school was pretty eventful...well, the first day was, at least. On the first day, the generator at school blew up and caught fire and smoked out the whole neighborhood. It was quite a sight seeing all the workers in the neighborhood try to organize themselves and dig up dirt and sand to throw on it. It took about an hour to put out, and of course the Kigali fire brigade got there just as the locals got the fire under control. Thankfuly there was no damage to the school, and the nearby gas tank didn't blow up! Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me that day. I think I'm going to like my new students, but it sure was hard to say goodbye to last year's group. This year, I have 16 students and they are from every continent except Antarctica! I have students who are from or who have lived in: Rwanda, Uganda, Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, Oklahoma, Texas, Vancouver, British Columbia, South Korea, India, Belgium, France, England, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Melbourne, Australia! Talk about diversity! Social Studies is gonna be soooo fun this year! I've already learned about what a red-bellied black snake and a bandicoot is from Brandon from Melbourne! I think my new students will be fun, but challenging this year. I have one student, from South Korea, who speaks no English and he has Aspergers and Tourettes. Will you please pray with me that I can have the patience and strength each day to help meet his unique needs, and still have energy for the other students as well. This is a situation that I really need prayer about, and I am just placing it in front of the Lord every single day right now! Thank you for praying for me and my student.

Last weekend, the new KICS staff took a retreat to Lake Muhazi again. It was a good time to connect with new and old staff, and talk about new school policies as well. After a nice goat brochette lunch, I went down to the water and saw a young Rwandan boy in a dugout canoe rowing to the shore. As he got closer, I spotted familiar colors that I love, and then the beautiful symbol came into sight. The minute I saw this young fisherman, we became buddies. :-) A sweet reminder of my other home! I love when God chooses to surprise me in fun, little ways like seeing a T-shirt from home. The road going to and from the lake was less than stellar, and we had to go far into a wide ditch on the right to narrowly miss this gaping hole. Roads like this are a common sight when you get out of the city. Well, this blog is too long now. I know many of you are wondering about the elections and the post-election grenade. I'll write another one about all things politics in a minute. I miss all of you and think of you in my prayers each night. Peace!