We're studying the digestive system in Science now, and today I showed my kids a video of how food digests. When it got to the part where it shows the epiglottis, and explains how it's a flap of skin that acts as a trap door at the top of your trachea so as not to allow any food to go down your windpipe.....two of my boys, sitting on opposite sides of the room, shouted at the same time, "Man, God is sooo cool!" :-) (It was a cool diagram.)
That's the kind of response a teacher always loves. Giving Him all the glory that He deserves! When I get to teach about how our body works, and learn about it before I teach it, :-), I am in awe! Our Maker is incredible. Even the parts that we're not quite totally sure about yet, like uvulas and appendixes, and why our body does certain things....nothing is a question for our Creator. It's neat to see these 10 year olds, many who come from families who aren't believers, making statements about how cool God is. And who can disagree about the coolness of an epiglottis?? I mean, wow. Everyone thinks trap doors are cool.
Of course, it was with almost equal coolness that they understood how waste was released from our body. :) Gotta love 4th graders! And I do. I love them. Today, when Marijike gave our lunch prayer, and said, "Lord, let this food nourish our bodies," I actually prayed it. I prayed it, and didn't recite it like some days, out of habit because I'm really hungry and just want to get down there before the 5th graders. I'm always in awe how God uses sickness, and other not-so-cool things, to help us lean on him more and even reconcile us to Him.
It's ironic that I'm teaching about the digestive system now, cause for the past couple weeks, mine hasn't been digesting. :-) Honestly, it's been a bit of a scare, but at the same time, I have felt so well taken care of, and loved on. I wouldn't want to be sick any other place. My principal, a former Army medic, dressed in his leather jacket, rides his dirtbike over to check up on me and bring me meds. And my doctor is a parent of one of my students; they're from Oklahoma. He comes to my room and then carries me around in his old Landrover to the clinics, the pharmacie, even lets me stay at their house. He's the same guy who stitched up my lip on his kitchen table last year. :-) And we've been talking to great docs from SC, even Morehead Scholars, who went to Harvard! There are great minds here! So it's been a weird two weeks, and frustrating not to be at 100%, but we have finally turned a corner, and yesterday and today I ate meals with no pain, nothing! We all think now, I had some crazy parasite/worm that just needed an extra kick to leave my body. But we've kicked the infection out now, and I know it wasn't just the meds. I totally believe in His healing power and the power of prayer! Thank you for your prayers! I felt so loved...I even had friends in the States making calls to "their people" over here! That's what I call crazy love, like Francis Chan! :-)
This whole ordeal was actually a great experience to have a little fear, (I think a little fear is good for us,) but also just to slow myself down and spend time just resting and doing what God has put in front of me to do. Not all those million other things I think I need to get accomplished in 24 hours.
I realize I still take things for granted. But God still has a way of reminding me whats important. I'm back to looking at the simple things now, and celebrating them in a big way! Lord, let this food nourish our bodies. I really prayed that today! Celebrating eating food, and my body working as it's created to! It's very cool and wonderful. I am enjoying it again. I'm so thankful for friends, for community, even for an epiglottis.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
~Psalm 139:13-14
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Adventures with Ethan, Part 1
I'm gonna try my best to document my adventures with my bro on here! Ethan, I might need your help remembering things! I should have journaled more. But it's too hard on a dirty, bumpy bus with chickens and goats cluttered all around you! Ethan, I think you should write at least one "guest" blog entry, from your point of view. k!
So, the first few days Ethan was here, we hung around Kigali and he got to see a little bit of "my world." But what do you think we did first? Of course, we immediately unpacked him and opened all the Christmas goodies. I now am stocked with an abundance of skittles and starbursts and chocolate! :-) Here's a pic of Ethan opening his giftcards. It was fun opening gifts together. Thanks fam!
No, honestly, the first thing we did was hop on a moto and head to the orphanage to play with the kids! We caught motos from the airport, cause his bags hadn't arrived yet, so we grabbed a quick meal at Bourbon, and went to Home of Hope. I so wish we could take pictures of my precious kids so I could show you how beautiful they are! We played with them, gave them piggy-back rides, and sang to them. Then Ethan went inside a dimly lit room and we helped feed and spent time with the mentally challenged kids. Some weeks, the nuns won't let you in this room, but I'm so glad Ethan was able to see these kids and just hang out with them. During playtime, when the other kids come outside, these kids are never allowed outside of this dark room. On occasion, you can coax the nuns into letting you carry them up to the screen door, so they can look out on the sunlight! These kids almost always break my heart, and I think it was the same for Ethan. Hard. Often times, when I'm allowed in that room, I'll just walk over to some who are lying in this crib in the back and just massage their tummys and legs, and see them smile in response. They love and crave stimulation! And sadly, they hardly receive any.
I took Ethan to eat at all the local and fun ex-pat restaurants too while we were in Kigali. A lot of the local ones in my area have been bulldozed down in the last few months, to make room for new development. It's been sad. No more cheap and delicious goat! Even the one that I took Ethan too was razed this week! Ethan says he lost weight during our trip...I definitely gained...I told him I'm not used to eating out all the time anymore! :-) But not to worry, I've had a visit from my nasty friend, e.coli, this week, and all is back to normal again. ugh. That's why I've been slow bloggin.' Not fun.
Anyway, Ethan had a fun introduction to African transportation. I think he enjoyed the motos allright, (I love them!), but for some reason, when he was here, we had bad moto luck. We had one run out of gas, one have a blow-out, and on New Years Eve, when I was riding with my cute dress on, I hear a super loud banging noise, and then the moto just rattles to a stop. I jump off, and look, and half the side of the moto had fallen off right there in the road! Of course the driver took it all in stride, and said, no worries, no worries, and started pulling out all these random tools. (this is normal, by the way.) He told us to wait until he fixed it, but Ethan's moto driver who had come back for me didn't look too pleased, so I just flagged down another one. Poor guy. But all in all, motos were awesome! You feel completely free, swerving in and out of traffic, down and around hills, going faster than everyone else, overtaking semis...it's awesome! The real challenge this trip was not the motos...it was the buses! I'll write about them later on!
He got to visit my school, and my classroom. Here are the Fruits of the Spirit Christmas trees my kids made, hanging outside. I took him on a run through my favorite village, and he enjoyed getting mobbed by the children shouting, mzungu, mzungu. Usually, theres only a sprinkling of kids, but school was out, and we interrupted a soccer match, and then were just immediately flooded with hugs and High-fives and handshakes and about 50 kids running behind us. Those are my favorite runs! Such joy! We spent one sobering day, touring the genocide memorial. I know he wasn't looking forward to it, but so glad he did it afterwards. It is really a must for anyone coming to Kigali. I think it helps you understand the history, and the places you will walk and people you will meet, and it really puts things in perspective for you, whether you're coming to stay like me, or just coming for a few days. We got to spend some time visiting with my friend, James, at his coffee factory, but sadly it was raining too hard that afternoon, and most of the factory was closed for the holidays, but he still got to understand a little bit of the coffee business here, and how it gets back home to Starbucks!
I also took Ethan to my favorite Rwandan buffet restuarant, called "Karibu." That means "Welcome" in Kiswahili. Karibu is the Rwandan K&W, but it's all outside. The lunch buffett is $4, and you pile your plate as high as you can (sometimes we have contests), and you eat until you tap out. When you come to Karibu, let it be known, it should be your only meal of the day. But this time, with Ethan, there were no contests. We didn't pile high. We were polite and we just enjoyed our big lunch of matoke, goat, pasta, potatos, spinach, yams, and tons more. The night before leaving for Uganda, we enjoyed pizza at New Cactus, which has the best views of Kigali at night. My friend, Mary Elise, from Texas, joined us. She's Catholic, but we still love her! :-) She's here as a Salesian Lay Missionary, and she lives and works on 27-acre farm, right outside of the city. She lives with over 150 reformed street boys, and is the first woman to live there at the site! They call her mom. You can check out her blog here. http://www.maryelisemission.blogspot.com/ Her experiences on the farm remind me a lot of my experiences with the girls at Wema in Mombasa. I met Mary Elise at the orphanage, and before seeing Kerry and I, she hadn't seen another mzungu for 3 months! She is now estatic to have friends that she can get away with and process things with...it's so necessary! And she keeps us laughing!
Finally, on the morning of the 22nd, we woke up at 4:30, got a taxi, and barely made our Kampala Coach bus, headed across the border to Lake Bunyonyi! At the time, Ethan was complaining and thought Kampala Coach was a dirty, po-dunk bus, but two weeks later, he was praising them left and right! Ha! :-) Stay tuned for more Adventures with Ethan. Next up is the border crossing, and Lake Bunyonyi, my fav place!
Entering my classroom
Mass graves at the memorial
Ethan, Mary Elise, and I at New Cactus, enjoying the view!
Headed to Uganda. It's too early!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Life
"find life experiences and swallow them whole. travel. meet many people. go down some dead ends and explore dark alleys. try everything. exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of life." ~lawrence k. fish
In beginning a new year, I've been thinking back to experiences I've been blessed to have this past year...people I've met, mountains climbed, rivers paddled, conversations spoken and felt, people understood, dreams realized; 2010 was a life-giving year! I just stumbled through my photos and just randomly found some photos, that to me, celebrate life. I love this quote by fish, but I like to read the last line a bit differently. I like to say, 'exhaust yourself in the glorious pursuit of God.' If we are pursuing Him, we are living! We gain life, and through Him, so much more! Enjoy 2011! Let's live it!
Please Pray for Sudan
Only 4 days from now....this Sunday...on January 9, Sudan will hold a referendum vote to decide its future. This will be a historic day for Sudan, as the people of Southern Sudan will decide whether to remain in a united Sudan, or to secede and establish their own nation. Voting will be held in Sudan on Sunday, but it will take 2-4 days for votes to be counted.
This referendum vote is a huge part of the Peace Agreement that was signed 6 years ago which ended 20 years of civil war in Sudan, where over 2 million people lost their lives. This is no small matter, and the country really needs prayers beginning now! There will be huge implications whatever the outcome is on Sunday. People who have been displaced from their homes by the war, are now giving up their jobs and their "new life" to return home to vote. People are flooding into Southern Sudan right now.
If Sudan splits, a new country will be formed that will need much outside aid, lots of development and many people praying for them. And if Sudan remains as one country, it will face MAJOR challenges in uniting the north and south under a new federal government, and in helping the South to bring fair government and development in rural areas, especially in the human rights sector.
One positive thing is that the Christian church in Sudan has agreed to remain as one church. But it will really need to support those churches in the north, because the north will be in a new Islamic state, should Sudan decide to split.
There are huge tensions and expectations on all sides about a likely outcome for Sudan and much political wrangling over power and wealth distribution. There is also much argument over the actual border line between North and South Sudan, because much of this area runs through rich oil fields. This could easily become a source of new conflict. Whatever happens, in a country more used to fighting than talking and with so much at stake for all involved there is a huge potential for violence and bloodshed at this time.
On a side note...in what many are saying is just strictly politics, the U.S. has placed an embargo on all mail from East Africa to the U.S. right now. It began on December 15, and we're not sure when it will be lifted. We can still receive mail, but can't send anything out! Most say that the embargo is a direct effect of the political climate in Sudan, because the U.S. has a different take on things than Rwanda and other countries. It's all an interesting political game, but I want it to be finished, so I can write a letter to my momma! :-)
Please join me in praying for Sudan this week, and especially on Sunday. Prayer for Sudan at this time of change is very important. January 9th has been requested as a day of prayer in churches in Africa. Pray with us!
This referendum vote is a huge part of the Peace Agreement that was signed 6 years ago which ended 20 years of civil war in Sudan, where over 2 million people lost their lives. This is no small matter, and the country really needs prayers beginning now! There will be huge implications whatever the outcome is on Sunday. People who have been displaced from their homes by the war, are now giving up their jobs and their "new life" to return home to vote. People are flooding into Southern Sudan right now.
If Sudan splits, a new country will be formed that will need much outside aid, lots of development and many people praying for them. And if Sudan remains as one country, it will face MAJOR challenges in uniting the north and south under a new federal government, and in helping the South to bring fair government and development in rural areas, especially in the human rights sector.
One positive thing is that the Christian church in Sudan has agreed to remain as one church. But it will really need to support those churches in the north, because the north will be in a new Islamic state, should Sudan decide to split.
There are huge tensions and expectations on all sides about a likely outcome for Sudan and much political wrangling over power and wealth distribution. There is also much argument over the actual border line between North and South Sudan, because much of this area runs through rich oil fields. This could easily become a source of new conflict. Whatever happens, in a country more used to fighting than talking and with so much at stake for all involved there is a huge potential for violence and bloodshed at this time.
On a side note...in what many are saying is just strictly politics, the U.S. has placed an embargo on all mail from East Africa to the U.S. right now. It began on December 15, and we're not sure when it will be lifted. We can still receive mail, but can't send anything out! Most say that the embargo is a direct effect of the political climate in Sudan, because the U.S. has a different take on things than Rwanda and other countries. It's all an interesting political game, but I want it to be finished, so I can write a letter to my momma! :-)
Please join me in praying for Sudan this week, and especially on Sunday. Prayer for Sudan at this time of change is very important. January 9th has been requested as a day of prayer in churches in Africa. Pray with us!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
A New Year of being certain!
I read somewhere that the nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty.
I wrote that down in my journal when I read it, and I keep going back to it. I have to read it a few times, and really try to think about what that really means! I've got a few thoughts...
Having certainty..living a life of certainty all the time, is like a commonsense kind of life...whereas a life of uncertainty, living from faith, and covered with grace, is the mark of a spiritual life. Really, to be certain of God, means that we are totally uncertain in all of our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring, or even what today may bring! Or especially what a new year may bring!
Who knows what 2011 may bring?!? Not me! I am totally uncertain, but completely excited and putting my trust in the only one who does know...and I trust in His complete and amazing plan that He has orchestrated for me, His beautiful daughter for this year! That's what I do know.
I can look back on 2010 and be thankful for His mark on my life. There were some "uncertain" times, where decisions were placed in front of me, and I just went out and said, ok God, I don't know what you're gonna do or what you're doing, but I trust you. And each time, He revealed himself. It's hard sometimes, to go out, especially in uncertainty, and completely surrender to God whatever it is you need to....and then just watch and marvel, and not even be surprised by what He has done, because you are CERTAIN of Him who is doing it!
"As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.".(..another quote that I have no idea who wrote, but I have down in my journal!)
I want to do this this year, in 2011...totally surrender all to Him, do the work that He has placed before me, and watch and see Him working! I want to have a faith that doesn't worry...that seeks God's will, and moves towards Him, not worrying, but totally knowing and being certain in Him and His purpose.
"My earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death." ~Philippians 1:20
I wrote that down in my journal when I read it, and I keep going back to it. I have to read it a few times, and really try to think about what that really means! I've got a few thoughts...
Having certainty..living a life of certainty all the time, is like a commonsense kind of life...whereas a life of uncertainty, living from faith, and covered with grace, is the mark of a spiritual life. Really, to be certain of God, means that we are totally uncertain in all of our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring, or even what today may bring! Or especially what a new year may bring!
Who knows what 2011 may bring?!? Not me! I am totally uncertain, but completely excited and putting my trust in the only one who does know...and I trust in His complete and amazing plan that He has orchestrated for me, His beautiful daughter for this year! That's what I do know.
I can look back on 2010 and be thankful for His mark on my life. There were some "uncertain" times, where decisions were placed in front of me, and I just went out and said, ok God, I don't know what you're gonna do or what you're doing, but I trust you. And each time, He revealed himself. It's hard sometimes, to go out, especially in uncertainty, and completely surrender to God whatever it is you need to....and then just watch and marvel, and not even be surprised by what He has done, because you are CERTAIN of Him who is doing it!
"As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises.".(..another quote that I have no idea who wrote, but I have down in my journal!)
I want to do this this year, in 2011...totally surrender all to Him, do the work that He has placed before me, and watch and see Him working! I want to have a faith that doesn't worry...that seeks God's will, and moves towards Him, not worrying, but totally knowing and being certain in Him and His purpose.
"My earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death." ~Philippians 1:20
Friday, December 31, 2010
We're back!
Ethan and I made it back safely to Kigali this morning, after what will go down as the all-time, worst-ever, "TIA", scary, awkward, extremely uncomfortable, Survivor-like, 12 hour nighttime bus ride from Kampala. There really are no words. But I'll try to conjure up a better image for you later! And also of the good times, the amazing scenery, views, and extraordinary people we met. We had such an awesome time exploring Uganda, and saw some stunning examples of just how cool and creative God is. After Ethan leaves on Sunday, I'll have a week before school begins, and I hope to have some time to try and reflect and write, and put some of the memories on paper (or computer!).
We slept some this morning, and were thankful for showers and clean clothes, after about 48 hours of wearing the same thing. We're at Shokola now, and just enjoyed some hummus and mint tea, and had an awesome skype with family, including the famous Aiden! Man, he's getting big! Miss him so much! Momma, we'll skype with you tomorrow, k? Been a good relaxing day. Gonna try to connect with a few friends tonight (most are still out of country.) Bout to head home and primp a bit and go to a "Seychelles" themed New Years party at the preacher's house so Ethan can meet a lot of the KICS families, then probably gonna head to my favorite estabalishment of Carwash for some great and greasy pork, and maybe try to see "Black Mzungu", the famous Rwandan hip-hop and reggae artist in concert later. Should be a fun and interesting night! Glad to get to spend it with my brother! Tomorrow, we've got big plans for an African market experience, craft co-op, and just some chill time. He leaves after church on Sunday. :-( I promise more stories and pics will come later from our adventures. Miss you all and thinking of you at home right now enjoying the snow! Can't believe ya'll had a snowy-white Christmas! I'm jealous! Much, much love, peace, and joy to you all...and many bright and beautiful blessings and promises for 2011!
Love from Kigali,
Emily
We slept some this morning, and were thankful for showers and clean clothes, after about 48 hours of wearing the same thing. We're at Shokola now, and just enjoyed some hummus and mint tea, and had an awesome skype with family, including the famous Aiden! Man, he's getting big! Miss him so much! Momma, we'll skype with you tomorrow, k? Been a good relaxing day. Gonna try to connect with a few friends tonight (most are still out of country.) Bout to head home and primp a bit and go to a "Seychelles" themed New Years party at the preacher's house so Ethan can meet a lot of the KICS families, then probably gonna head to my favorite estabalishment of Carwash for some great and greasy pork, and maybe try to see "Black Mzungu", the famous Rwandan hip-hop and reggae artist in concert later. Should be a fun and interesting night! Glad to get to spend it with my brother! Tomorrow, we've got big plans for an African market experience, craft co-op, and just some chill time. He leaves after church on Sunday. :-( I promise more stories and pics will come later from our adventures. Miss you all and thinking of you at home right now enjoying the snow! Can't believe ya'll had a snowy-white Christmas! I'm jealous! Much, much love, peace, and joy to you all...and many bright and beautiful blessings and promises for 2011!
Love from Kigali,
Emily
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Hi everyone! This is going to be really quick...because my brother, Ethan, is here!!! And right now, he's waiting at home for us to go out to Carwash for the best pork/goat in town! I took him on a 45 minute run through the village today, and it about killed him. :-) He's so hungry now! Sorry for the lack of blogs this week. There's sooo many things I want to write about, but they will have to wait a few weeks! The last week of school was wonderful, but crazy and chaotic too with all the fun Christmas chapels and programs. And then Ethan arrived Sunday afternoon (sans bags!) But they came later.
Since he's arrived, we've eaten at Bourbon, tons of great Rwandan food, played with the kids at the orphanage, visited the coffee factory, explored the lively market, eaten at Cactus overlooking the city, visited the genocide memorial, and ridden about 50 motos already. :-) He's about to get used to them! Tomorrow morning we head out for a 10 day adventure through Uganda and Rwanda. Not sure if we'll have internet access or not, so I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas!! We'll come back on New Years, and he leaves on the 2nd. I'll have about a week before I have to start school again, so I hope to catch up with you all during that week. I'm so excited Ethan is here, and I'm with family this year, and I get to share a bit of my world with him! But we will be missing all of you and miss being at home with the familiar sounds and smells.
As I've been preparing for Ethan to come, and getting "ready" for this time of year to celebrate this amazing birth of our Redeemer, this year one word has stayed with me...Light! We've been studying John in our Bible Study, and my kids had to memorize the beginning of John.
"The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it."
-John 1:3-4
You know, I think the disciple John was trying to describe something, or really someone, that is totally indescribable! It's so hard to put into words the power of the light of Jesus. When I think of light, I think of the sun, or a Christmas tree all lit up, beautifully decorated. But I think John was trying his hardest to capture the full power and mightiness of the Light, of the Messiah that had come to earth. He is the light in all of the darkness. There is darkness everywhere. We all know that. We don't have to look very far to find it either. It's here. And it's there where you are too. Loneliness, confusion, hatred, racism, sin. But John tells us that no matter how dark the world is, or your community is....the light of Jesus is always stronger and more radiant than ever! And I know it to be true. I see His light everywhere. I see His light working through people and in people that don't even realize it! This Light is real! The light truly overcomes any and all darkness, and this Christmas, I want to celebrate that! He is the Light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hidden! ~Matthew 5:14.
Blessings to you this Christmas! Love you!
Emily and Ethan
Since he's arrived, we've eaten at Bourbon, tons of great Rwandan food, played with the kids at the orphanage, visited the coffee factory, explored the lively market, eaten at Cactus overlooking the city, visited the genocide memorial, and ridden about 50 motos already. :-) He's about to get used to them! Tomorrow morning we head out for a 10 day adventure through Uganda and Rwanda. Not sure if we'll have internet access or not, so I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas!! We'll come back on New Years, and he leaves on the 2nd. I'll have about a week before I have to start school again, so I hope to catch up with you all during that week. I'm so excited Ethan is here, and I'm with family this year, and I get to share a bit of my world with him! But we will be missing all of you and miss being at home with the familiar sounds and smells.
As I've been preparing for Ethan to come, and getting "ready" for this time of year to celebrate this amazing birth of our Redeemer, this year one word has stayed with me...Light! We've been studying John in our Bible Study, and my kids had to memorize the beginning of John.
"The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it."
-John 1:3-4
You know, I think the disciple John was trying to describe something, or really someone, that is totally indescribable! It's so hard to put into words the power of the light of Jesus. When I think of light, I think of the sun, or a Christmas tree all lit up, beautifully decorated. But I think John was trying his hardest to capture the full power and mightiness of the Light, of the Messiah that had come to earth. He is the light in all of the darkness. There is darkness everywhere. We all know that. We don't have to look very far to find it either. It's here. And it's there where you are too. Loneliness, confusion, hatred, racism, sin. But John tells us that no matter how dark the world is, or your community is....the light of Jesus is always stronger and more radiant than ever! And I know it to be true. I see His light everywhere. I see His light working through people and in people that don't even realize it! This Light is real! The light truly overcomes any and all darkness, and this Christmas, I want to celebrate that! He is the Light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hidden! ~Matthew 5:14.
Blessings to you this Christmas! Love you!
Emily and Ethan
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