Hello again!

Hello again! I first must apologize to all of you for my lack of blogging! I really intended to blog as soon as I was healthy again, (those dang amoebas had me down for a good while!) and then when I was healthy again, life just keeps coming, and I never seem to be able to make enough time for all the wonderful things like writing, and processing and story-telling; the things that I love to do and that help me reflect. I apologize. I am healthy now, and will do my best at writing on here, because I know many of you enjoy hearing stories from Rwanda. :) I'm working on uploading some pictures as well!

School was out last week, and it was a nice break from the usual, even though I really missed my students! I enjoyed sleeping in a bit, going to the market for colorful fabric and interesting finds, spending more time with my sweet babies at the orphanage, and even going to the dentist! No cavities, yay! The parents of one of my students are missionaries from the Philippines, and they head up the Adventist Dental Clinic here in Kigali. They are super gentle, kind, educated, and awesome dentists! It was such a blessing to have a wonderful dental experience so far from "home," where they have all the same, modern equipment, and it was about a fifth of the cost in the U.S.

I've been busy at school with teaching my lovely students, after school Science Club, and a Girls after-school fitness club for middle school students. It's been a great way to get to know these girls, and help empower some of the Rwandan girls to lead a physically active lifestyle. I've been blessed to lead these girls and pray with them, as we strive to be "fit" in every way. I'm still learning, myself, how important it is to create sacred time and space every day to be with God, because being spiritually and emotionally fit is fitness too! :)

We're all super busy at school now writing accreditation reports for ACSI, which have been necessary, but very time-consuming. You can pray with us next week, as we host an ACSI visitor on our campus who will examine us and offer suggestions on the timeline of how to proceed with accreditation. Our goal is to become fully accredited by next April. This process is laborious, but really helps give our school credibility in the eyes of parents. By the way, ACSI stands for: Association of Christian Schools International. We are also striving to achieve accreditation with Middle States of America (MSA) as well. KICS is growing and God's provisions are real! We now have the resources to begin building a Science laboratory and a library, which is a first for a school in Rwanda.

My evenings are spent tutoring my sweet Kang-Hee, the Korean boy who was in my class last year, and also tutoring a young Rwandan girl who doesn't go to our school, but is the daughter of our community "Umudugudu." This is probably my most favorite kinyarwanda word to say. U-mu-du-gu-du. And what is an "umudugudu" you ask? An umududugu is a "village chief" or "community leader." Our community leader is Marguerite, a wonderful lady, who runs a preschool in the basement of our church. It's been a joy working with her daughter, Nicole, and cultivating in her, a love for reading!

My sweet little ladies at the orphanage, Genina, Josephina, and others, bring me so much joy on the weekends. These girls are growing so fast and are so strong! It's just incredible seeing them now, and remembering the young, tiny babies they were two years ago. It's been such an answer to prayer to see the kids thriving at the Home of Hope under new leadership and management that allows them to have physical fitness and not be cramped up in dark rooms. Visitors and volunteers are readily welcomed now, and they are acceptive of donations and ideas. A wonderful answer to prayer! Adoptions are still closed in Rwanda, as of late last year, because they are trying to update their policies and become aligned with the policies of the Hague Convention. There are still many families who have dossiers at the Ministry, and are eagerly awaiting for Rwandan adoptions to reopen. It's our prayer that it will happen soon!

My Sundays are spent worshipping at CCR (not the band!) :) Christ Church Rwanda is a non-denominational community with a rich, diverse congregation, from many, many countries. I love worshipping alongside my students, parents and neighbors. We're a real community! Right now, CCR is looking for a new lead preacher, as Dave Jenkins and his family are heading back to the U.S. to be closer to family there. Teaching Sunday School to 50 young, eager kids who speak many different languages, with a translator, is both challenging and a tremendous joy! An afternoon usually consists of quiet time and lunch at home, or a group of friends hitting up the new "Mr. Chips" hole-in-the-wall concrete establishment owned by a Canadian man, who actually serves a pretty remarkable Pork BBQ sandwich! It rocks! Then I hurry to Home of Hope before the afternoon rains come, and spend the afternoon jumping rope, making beds, folding clothes, feeding children with disbilities, singing, singing, singing, and loving the sweet children.

I've enjoyed having my dear friend, Anna, back in the country recently, after the death of her dad in Arkansas this summer. She's here until Thanksgiving, but hopefully returning soon! We've enjoyed some fun weekend adventures lately, visiting our friend Frances in the mountains of Musanze, and exploring the Musanze cave, where many Rwandans were killed during the events of 1994. I had the neatest experience ever with our friend, Betsy, being able to trek into the Virunga mountain range and visit with the mountain gorillas, only five feet away! I'll be sure to post some gorilla pics soon! It was amazing seeing the similarities we have with the gorillas. crazy!

Life is rich and full here! His blessings are real and evident! Thank you all for your prayers, emails, encouragement and support! I miss you all there, and hope you are doing well!

Love from Kigali,

Emily