My kids sang this song today during chapel. 4th grade was in charge of chapel today, and I couldn't be more proud of them! They sang, danced, prayed, and worshipped. They did a skit based on a true missionary story we read in class, when a tribe of Karens in Burma waited 44 years for someone to help them understand God's word, way back in 1795. A long time to be waiting! And they were so eager the whole time...they knew about God, knew of him...had heard his name mentioned before by their ancestors...but that's all they knew. Had to wait 44 years to find out what was so special about Him! This story made me feel a bit guilty...I got to thinking about how I've had a Bible all my life...always known about God, but am I always eager to understand His word? Nope. I'm not. But I wanna be! God is an AWESOME God for sure! He opened the rainy sky and clouds for us, and gave us sunshine so we could have chapel outside today! We sang the song in English and Kinyarwanda. Here's the Kinyarwanda version...it took me about a month to learn! Ha! Kinyarwanda is waaay more difficult than Swahili. Words don't sound like they're spelled!
Imana yacu irahambaye,
Mwijuru no mwisi,
mu bwenge,
mu mbaraga mu rukundo
Imana irahambaye
Our God is AWESOME in any language! :-)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Kids from Gisakura
Kids experiencing with my camera. They LOVE taking pictures! I think they did a great job too!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Nyungwe pics
Amazing!
Kamiranzovu falls
Enjoying the view!
Look close and you can see a monkey in the middle :-)
Entering the forest, tea fields
They tried to pave the road leading to the forest...they might as well have kept it dirt!
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Forest
Waterfalls are probably my most favorite thing on earth. I think they might even top ice cream for me. One of the reasons is because I feel so connected with God through His creation. I think God must of thought of me when he created waterfalls, and that thought makes me smile. :-)Last weekend, I was able to go hiking in Nyungwe Forest with some teachers, and I saw my second "African" waterfall. The first was in Tanzania. And both have taken my breath away like a bowl of ice cream could never do. :-) So refreshing! Makes me think of that verse in John..."Whoever believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from within them."
The forest was amazing. We spent 5 long hours on bumpy African roads, and I suffered a bout of food poisoning from some bizarre-looking green vegetable soup. (I was just really hungry!) But it was all worth it. On the way, we had views of gorgeous tea fields, deep terraced valleys, and plenty of green trees. (something I've missed in Kigali!) When we got there, we hiked 8 miles into the largest remaining mountain rainforest in Africa! Definitely got rained on, saw some cool monkeys, some weird-looking plant species, and even a black viper snake! Ok, it was only a baby snake, but still, it was only 4 feet away! Not cool! The Rwandan guy who was with us took our arm and hurried us past it, but said we had nothing to fear. Only afterwards did he tell us that if one bites you, and you don't get this special medicine powder from the village, you die within 5 hours. Great. Made us feel a lot better. He actually said he had been bitten before, but this special "powder" saved him. Hmmm....We didn't see any other large animals, but we learned that the government is trying to reintroduce an elephant species in the forest. The last elephant was seen here in 1999, and since 2004, they've tried to introduce other elephants, but poaching is still a serious problem here.
Sunday morning we were supposed to be on the 10am bus back, but time is a relative thing in Africa. That's one of the first things they will tell you when you get here. "Oh, no worries, it's African time!" We ended up waiting 4 hours in Gisakura village by the roadside trying to flag down every bus. I had a blast. I met almost everyone in the village, got soaking wet during a thunderstorm, and ended up having a fantastic time playing and singing with the kids.
I love observing life in an African village. I guess I could write a whole seperate blog about this. I love just watching the action, watching life....the parade of women in brightly colored cloths with babies tied to their backs and carrying loads of something on their heads; young, barechested men hauling entire stalks of banana trees, or huge wooden carts of logs; older men ambling along in their best suits, trying to get down the red clay hill from church; young boys pushing thier homemade "go-carts" made from tire leather and wire, leading it wobbling down the road; others on ancient bicycles, carting milk or water jugs; a group of youngsters chasing run-away pigs or chickens, and swatting and laughing at them; young girls trying to keep up with their mothers, some with babies of their own to carry. Life. I love it!
The day (and the weekend) wasn't what we expected at all, but it turned out to be a wonderful way to spend our Sunday morning! It was one of those times where I was glad that I was able to just be still and know that he is God. And spend time with those He loves! It was a beautiful "un-busy"morning spent drawing pictures, learning new Kinyarwanda songs, and teaching all the kids how to use a digital camera. :-) One precious girl could sing "I will Make you Fishers of Men" in English. She was so proud. That was the only song she knew. A perfect song to know. Eventually, at 1:30, the WHOLE village of men ran out in the middle of the road during the rainstorm to stop the next bus for us...and thankfully they finally let the mzungus on. :-) It was a hilarious, random, and pretty awesome morning. I didn't get to go to church in a building, per se, oh but I had church. I was with the church! And He was with us! Good memories. We finally made it home around late Sunday night, totally exhausted, but fulfilled and refreshed!
I want to apologize for the lack of updates lately...the power has been very unstable all week. They say it's unusual for Kigali, but we've had a few 24 hour periods of no power this week. Don't know what the deal is, but it's all good! :-)
Hope you enjoy the pics! Peace!
The forest was amazing. We spent 5 long hours on bumpy African roads, and I suffered a bout of food poisoning from some bizarre-looking green vegetable soup. (I was just really hungry!) But it was all worth it. On the way, we had views of gorgeous tea fields, deep terraced valleys, and plenty of green trees. (something I've missed in Kigali!) When we got there, we hiked 8 miles into the largest remaining mountain rainforest in Africa! Definitely got rained on, saw some cool monkeys, some weird-looking plant species, and even a black viper snake! Ok, it was only a baby snake, but still, it was only 4 feet away! Not cool! The Rwandan guy who was with us took our arm and hurried us past it, but said we had nothing to fear. Only afterwards did he tell us that if one bites you, and you don't get this special medicine powder from the village, you die within 5 hours. Great. Made us feel a lot better. He actually said he had been bitten before, but this special "powder" saved him. Hmmm....We didn't see any other large animals, but we learned that the government is trying to reintroduce an elephant species in the forest. The last elephant was seen here in 1999, and since 2004, they've tried to introduce other elephants, but poaching is still a serious problem here.
Sunday morning we were supposed to be on the 10am bus back, but time is a relative thing in Africa. That's one of the first things they will tell you when you get here. "Oh, no worries, it's African time!" We ended up waiting 4 hours in Gisakura village by the roadside trying to flag down every bus. I had a blast. I met almost everyone in the village, got soaking wet during a thunderstorm, and ended up having a fantastic time playing and singing with the kids.
I love observing life in an African village. I guess I could write a whole seperate blog about this. I love just watching the action, watching life....the parade of women in brightly colored cloths with babies tied to their backs and carrying loads of something on their heads; young, barechested men hauling entire stalks of banana trees, or huge wooden carts of logs; older men ambling along in their best suits, trying to get down the red clay hill from church; young boys pushing thier homemade "go-carts" made from tire leather and wire, leading it wobbling down the road; others on ancient bicycles, carting milk or water jugs; a group of youngsters chasing run-away pigs or chickens, and swatting and laughing at them; young girls trying to keep up with their mothers, some with babies of their own to carry. Life. I love it!
The day (and the weekend) wasn't what we expected at all, but it turned out to be a wonderful way to spend our Sunday morning! It was one of those times where I was glad that I was able to just be still and know that he is God. And spend time with those He loves! It was a beautiful "un-busy"morning spent drawing pictures, learning new Kinyarwanda songs, and teaching all the kids how to use a digital camera. :-) One precious girl could sing "I will Make you Fishers of Men" in English. She was so proud. That was the only song she knew. A perfect song to know. Eventually, at 1:30, the WHOLE village of men ran out in the middle of the road during the rainstorm to stop the next bus for us...and thankfully they finally let the mzungus on. :-) It was a hilarious, random, and pretty awesome morning. I didn't get to go to church in a building, per se, oh but I had church. I was with the church! And He was with us! Good memories. We finally made it home around late Sunday night, totally exhausted, but fulfilled and refreshed!
I want to apologize for the lack of updates lately...the power has been very unstable all week. They say it's unusual for Kigali, but we've had a few 24 hour periods of no power this week. Don't know what the deal is, but it's all good! :-)
Hope you enjoy the pics! Peace!
Being
I think the way the devil gets at me sometimes is keeping me too busy to spend that QT with my Maker. Too busy, doing good, productive things! But not anything that is as important as spending time with the one who created me. Just being in His presence and letting Him talk to me for a change. I need to do more of that. Stopping. listening, being. I'm doing too much doing! Do you ever feel like that? I think sometimes I'm guilty of mistaking a "busyness" in life, with a true peace in my soul. One thing I'm realizing is that this experience in Rwanda is much different from my experience in Kenya...in many ways. I was so eager to get back to Africa, to the simple life, to God's country (continent), where things were slower and I felt God was somehow closer. But maybe it was just I was closer to Him! I stopped and listened. Sat under coconut trees and learned about life, love, religion, Him! Played...got dirty. Used my hands. Even though I'm teaching here...I'm constantly busy...I need to remember the real reason why I am here. I need to just be. Be in his presence. I was able to be still and listen to Him in Kenya. I need to work on that more here. "You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures evermore." I hope you are basking in His presence today..full of His joy!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Prayer Request
*Update* Baby Paul has just celebrated his third birthday, and has been taken off his meds. He is strong and healthy and doing wonderfully now!
I need you guys to pray for a special little fellow named Paul Thomas Smith. He's the new, infant son (only 3 weeks old) of my dear friend from high school, Lauren. He's back in the PICU with some as-of-yet, unidentified infections...maybe in the brain, but we hope and pray not! His tiny little precious body has undergone too many tests in the last week, and we need to pray for healing and rest for Paul and his parents, Lauren and Brian. Pray for strength for Paul to fight off whatever is attacking him, and energy and peace for Lauren and Brian as they have to be with him, and also their 2 year old son, Jack. Pray for the doctors, that they have knowledge and wisdom about what may be the issue, and the ability to fix it! Pray that God will reign in this situation and we will give Him all the praise, honor and glory! Thank you!
I need you guys to pray for a special little fellow named Paul Thomas Smith. He's the new, infant son (only 3 weeks old) of my dear friend from high school, Lauren. He's back in the PICU with some as-of-yet, unidentified infections...maybe in the brain, but we hope and pray not! His tiny little precious body has undergone too many tests in the last week, and we need to pray for healing and rest for Paul and his parents, Lauren and Brian. Pray for strength for Paul to fight off whatever is attacking him, and energy and peace for Lauren and Brian as they have to be with him, and also their 2 year old son, Jack. Pray for the doctors, that they have knowledge and wisdom about what may be the issue, and the ability to fix it! Pray that God will reign in this situation and we will give Him all the praise, honor and glory! Thank you!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
photosynthesis
I never knew I would love teaching Science so much! Science is fun! You get to do fun stuff and be creative. (I still don't like Math, btw!) In 4th grade, we've been studying plants, their life, how they grow, their parts, and of course...how they make their food! We cut up some water bottles and old yogurt cups, and planted all kinds of stuff! It's been fun watching the seeds grow. the bean sprouts really do grow right before your eyes....its amazing! Our corn and watermelon has been pretty successful thus far, but the peppers and tangerines not so successful. Each kid painted their bottle and different seeds. We soaked them in water and got to peel the coating off the beans to see the inner parts. Pretty cool. They also wanted to do an experiement to see what a plant needs to grow properly. So there's one plant that has everything it needs: sunlight, air, water. We denied one plant water, one we put a bag over it and denied it air, and the last one we stuffed it in this dark room so it has no light. They thought it was amazing to watch the plant with no light grow the tallest and the fastest! I thought it was cool too! If you've never done it , try it. It will grow like 10 inches in 3 days...but of course it's not green. It's trying to find the light..phototropism! Anyway, we're having fun with our "garden." This week we learned a cheesy photosynthesis song that I wrote one night at midnight and acted it out with different props and motions. I'll spare you from having to hear it. But it was a success! Science is fun!
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