Wednesday, July 28, 2010
old people make me laugh!
I have to share this hilarious story with everyone...so yesterday I woke up feeling good and decided to run to my friend's house which is out West C, almost to Enochville. I was running along, already past the Y, and this car pulls up alongside of me as I run and it just stops. I turn and look, and in the driver's seat was the cutest old grandpaw ever. He had his worn-in demin overalls on, with his tattered John Deere hat, and cute glasses, chompin on his tobacco. This grandpaw was OLD. And he looked at me and smiled. So I stopped running, thinking maybe he needed directions cause he was lost or something. Then he just smiled a big ol' grin, and said in a grizzly grandpaw sort of way, "Honey, I had to pull you over cuz you were speedin.' I need to give you a ticket!" Then he laughed and gave me a great big two-teeth grin and told me to have a good day. haha! I laughed. This old man had stopped just to smile and give me a laugh. He didn't even care about the cars piling up behind him. haha. It sure did make me laugh and gave me a little boost of energy to keep on running. That's what it's all about ya'll. :-)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
He's home!!!
I just got to talk to my brother, Ethan, for the first time in FOREVER! His ship is home from deployment, and he gets to come home to K-nap this Saturday! We'll get to spend one week together before I depart again. I can't wait to see him in approx 140 hours! Yay!
Interesting quote...
Just read an update in the New Statesman about happenings in Rwanda, and found this rather interesting quote from the foreign minister....
"We certainly might not be a model government for a lot of people, but we're not a stupid government," Rwanda's foreign minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, told journalists. "And we will not try to kill three people in a row right before election."
Hmmm...not sure what to think about this one.
"We certainly might not be a model government for a lot of people, but we're not a stupid government," Rwanda's foreign minister, Louise Mushikiwabo, told journalists. "And we will not try to kill three people in a row right before election."
Hmmm...not sure what to think about this one.
Frolickin' in the falls!
Those of you who know me, know that waterfalls are my favorite thing on this planet! Even more so than icecream! There's something about them that are so calming, and so natural to me. I think it's incredible to see how God designed something so pure and life-giving, and then delicately and creatively placed it in between some carefully positioned rocks so that the end result is a beautifully orchestrated flow of wetness that rushes past you, (or on top of you!), and is amazing to the ear and the eye. How cool is He! I stumbled upon 4 really awesome waterfalls this week while camping and hiking at Hanging Rock State Park in Danbury, NC. I had been here before, but never knew these waterfalls existed until now! And to think, this park is a mere 90 minutes away from K-nap. What wonder there is to be found in waterfalls! I could look at them all day. All I need is a quiet place in nature, with the sound of the falls, and maybe a good book, and I would be at peace. I wish I could see the waterfall at MerrieWoode before I go back. Maybe I'll try to squeeze in a trip this week. Thank you God for creating waterfalls!
"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" ~John 7:38
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
If you'd like to help...
Many of you have asked about things I would need to take back with me, and I probably should have put the word out as soon as I got home, but I'm so bad about doing things like this!
Anyway, I am collecting some items to take back to the kids in Rwanda. It's sooo much cheaper to just carry things back with me in my luggage....and fortunately I have a lot of extra room this time! I can still receive packages when I'm over there, but they can be VERY expensive to send, and who knows when I'll get it!
If you would like to donate any of these items, I would be more than happy to come by your house and pick them up!.....
*new or used soccer balls, soccer cleats, anything relating to soccer!
*other sports equipment that is small enough to carry in suitcase: frisbee, jumpropes, etc.
*new or used baby clothes and baby items
*new or used kids clothes/toys/books
*school supplies: DRY ERASE MARKERS, paper clips (they dont have these there!), masking tape, duct tape, colored pencils, markers, stickers
Thank you for asking! Let me know how I can assist you! I can come pick up items! I leave in 3 weeks!
Peace!
Anyway, I am collecting some items to take back to the kids in Rwanda. It's sooo much cheaper to just carry things back with me in my luggage....and fortunately I have a lot of extra room this time! I can still receive packages when I'm over there, but they can be VERY expensive to send, and who knows when I'll get it!
If you would like to donate any of these items, I would be more than happy to come by your house and pick them up!.....
*new or used soccer balls, soccer cleats, anything relating to soccer!
*other sports equipment that is small enough to carry in suitcase: frisbee, jumpropes, etc.
*new or used baby clothes and baby items
*new or used kids clothes/toys/books
*school supplies: DRY ERASE MARKERS, paper clips (they dont have these there!), masking tape, duct tape, colored pencils, markers, stickers
Thank you for asking! Let me know how I can assist you! I can come pick up items! I leave in 3 weeks!
Peace!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Politics
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,704894,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/10479882.stm
Here are two links to recent interviews with President Kagame. One is with BBC, and the other is with Spiegel, a foreign news source. They're both very interesting and I agree with some things, although I don't agree with everything in either of them. There's a lot being said and written and reported lately about the political situation in Rwanda. The 2nd free elections are coming up in less than a month on August 9, and Kagame is in a prime position to win, along with his RPF party. Everyone expects and knows he will win, but it's how he will win that is so important to the country.
Three of the main opposition parties have been arrested and thrown in prison or placed on house arrest. Others have received death threats, and/or have been unable to register their parties for some reason. Many have been arrested for vaguely collaborating with "terrorist organizations" or for denying the genocide. Now, there are only 4 other candidates, and many believe that at least 2 of them are "stooge" candidates who are with the RPF, Kagame's party. Regardless of whether or not that's true, just the fact that the more vocal opposition candidates are totally out of the race looks bad to outsiders, especially groups like Human Rights campaign. So, of course, since there are candidates who aren't being allowed to run and are being jailed or exiled, this has created a sense of fear and paranoia among many Rwandans.
There have also been assassinations and assassination attempts that some are attempting to link to the government and they have caused fear as well, leaving many to believe there are big rifts in Kagame's RPF party. One of Kagame's generals, Nyanwasa, fled to South Africa and told his story to the press of what was going on. Later, he was injured in an assassination attempt. Two other military advisors to Kagame, a Major-General and Lt-General were arrested in April. And yet another Brig-General was arrested while heading to the World Cup in June. The Chief of Staff of a high official from an oppostion party was assassinated in late June.
The Press has been weakened also during the 6 months that have led to these elections. 3 newspapers have been shutdown entirely or either banned from operating for 6 months until elections are over. The acting Editor of one of those newspapers was assassinated in his home in late June. In addition, a number of Rwandans who are activists currently living in Burundi have been arrested and extradited to Rwanda. I'm not so sure banning these newspapers is the answer. When they are allowed to publish again, they will continue to publish whatever it was they were publishing before that angered the government, and they will be banned all over again. I think it would be better to have a council talk to them and advise them on more ethical journalistic practices if there is a problem, instead of banning them and having the government look like the bad guys.
And of course, the series of grenade attacks in Kigali have created an atmosphere of paranoia among many. The first one was in February, and the most recent in May. There are several theories about who could be behind the attacks. The one that seems to have gained the most credence is that Nkunda sympathisers are to blame. Laurent Nkunda, the CNDP warlord leader, has been held under house arrest in Rwanda since January, 2009, and it was his chief of staff that was assassinated in late June.
Of course there is no evidence of government involvement in any of these events. Regardless of who is guilty though, all these events, have helped increase levels of paranoia, suspicion and fear among voters lately. Despite the denials of Kagame's party that “everything will come back to normal” after the election, suspicion is rife that there are deep rifts within the RPF.
It will certainly be interesting to see how things play out this next month. I'm glad to be back home of course, and will be praying for my "other" home this next month! Please join me!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/10479882.stm
Here are two links to recent interviews with President Kagame. One is with BBC, and the other is with Spiegel, a foreign news source. They're both very interesting and I agree with some things, although I don't agree with everything in either of them. There's a lot being said and written and reported lately about the political situation in Rwanda. The 2nd free elections are coming up in less than a month on August 9, and Kagame is in a prime position to win, along with his RPF party. Everyone expects and knows he will win, but it's how he will win that is so important to the country.
Three of the main opposition parties have been arrested and thrown in prison or placed on house arrest. Others have received death threats, and/or have been unable to register their parties for some reason. Many have been arrested for vaguely collaborating with "terrorist organizations" or for denying the genocide. Now, there are only 4 other candidates, and many believe that at least 2 of them are "stooge" candidates who are with the RPF, Kagame's party. Regardless of whether or not that's true, just the fact that the more vocal opposition candidates are totally out of the race looks bad to outsiders, especially groups like Human Rights campaign. So, of course, since there are candidates who aren't being allowed to run and are being jailed or exiled, this has created a sense of fear and paranoia among many Rwandans.
There have also been assassinations and assassination attempts that some are attempting to link to the government and they have caused fear as well, leaving many to believe there are big rifts in Kagame's RPF party. One of Kagame's generals, Nyanwasa, fled to South Africa and told his story to the press of what was going on. Later, he was injured in an assassination attempt. Two other military advisors to Kagame, a Major-General and Lt-General were arrested in April. And yet another Brig-General was arrested while heading to the World Cup in June. The Chief of Staff of a high official from an oppostion party was assassinated in late June.
The Press has been weakened also during the 6 months that have led to these elections. 3 newspapers have been shutdown entirely or either banned from operating for 6 months until elections are over. The acting Editor of one of those newspapers was assassinated in his home in late June. In addition, a number of Rwandans who are activists currently living in Burundi have been arrested and extradited to Rwanda. I'm not so sure banning these newspapers is the answer. When they are allowed to publish again, they will continue to publish whatever it was they were publishing before that angered the government, and they will be banned all over again. I think it would be better to have a council talk to them and advise them on more ethical journalistic practices if there is a problem, instead of banning them and having the government look like the bad guys.
And of course, the series of grenade attacks in Kigali have created an atmosphere of paranoia among many. The first one was in February, and the most recent in May. There are several theories about who could be behind the attacks. The one that seems to have gained the most credence is that Nkunda sympathisers are to blame. Laurent Nkunda, the CNDP warlord leader, has been held under house arrest in Rwanda since January, 2009, and it was his chief of staff that was assassinated in late June.
Of course there is no evidence of government involvement in any of these events. Regardless of who is guilty though, all these events, have helped increase levels of paranoia, suspicion and fear among voters lately. Despite the denials of Kagame's party that “everything will come back to normal” after the election, suspicion is rife that there are deep rifts within the RPF.
It will certainly be interesting to see how things play out this next month. I'm glad to be back home of course, and will be praying for my "other" home this next month! Please join me!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Great Escape pics (what a wonderful week!)
Posing in front of what was once the smallest post office in the U.S.!
Our girls about to launch water balloons with this giant slingshot. Boys beware!
Happy campers!
Shaving cream fun!
Can we get out of this human knot??!?
Worship time
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