I'm thirsty

I lost my orange water bottle yesterday and I've looked for it everywhere. I can't find it anywhere. I miss it. I kept reaching for it today, it wasnt there. Of course, I'll find another one, or it will turn up. But today, I was thirsty. Thirsty in other ways too. It's just been one of those weeks, you know, "those" weeks, where things haven't gone my way at all. Been tired, felt dry inside and out...frustrated... But of course, things have still gone God's way! They always do. I was comforted this morning at devotion when Doug played this song on his guitar, one of my favorite worship songs. I was introduced to this song at YAV orientation in Chicago 3 years ago when I was about to leave for Kenya. It's simple and beautiful, and it filled me up today! Not thirsty anymore! (But I still need to find my water bottle!)

All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of His mercy
As deep cries out to deep.

Come, Lord Jesus, come
Holy Spirit, come
As deep cries out to deep.
Come

Lake Kivu pics

Forgiveness

Last weekend, the Muslim community celebrated Eid, the end of Ramadan, and we celebrated a holiday from school, and a reason to get out of the city and see God's beautiful creation. A few teachers journeyed up and 'round some serious winding mountain roads to the tiny village of Kibuye on lake Kivu. Kibuye suffered the worst casualties during the genocide, with 95% of their population slaughtered, leaving many areas with no witnesses or survivors. You can do a circular walk around the town in less than 2 hours....past the stadium where 10,000 perished, and the church where 5,000 died. Those 5,000 were led to the church by town officials, thinking they were being led to a safe haven, but were sorely deceived. A mob, drunk on banana beer, threw grenades through the building, and a total annihilation took only 3 hours. The church has now been rebuilt, with new stained glass in the broken windows, and new hangings on the altar. We attended Catholic mass there on Sunday, and it was one of the most memorable church services I have ever attended. The sounds of the choir, Tutsis and Hutus alike, singing praises to our God in their shared Kinyarwanda language, was deeply moving. It's only in Christ, that genocide survivors can sit on the same wooden bench each week, and sing hymns together with the people who killed their entire family. If there's ever been a lesson for forgiveness, I think this is it. There's a memorial outside the church to remember the victims. There's many genocide memorials all over Rwanda, some still with bones and skulls and perserved bodies in limestone. But to me, this small church in Kibuye is a more evocative, memorable place than the other ones. Because this church is not a reminder of death....it was made alive again! "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions...it is by grace you have been saved." Thank God for His grace. The rest of Kibuye was just as memorable...a gorgeous view of the hills and islands, looking down the cliff from our Presbyterian guest house....hitching a boat ride to Amharo "Peace" island...waiting three hours for our food to be ready....and singing praises to Him every night, with our fellow musician, Doug. I was thankful for the time away to be reflective. Even though Ramadan is over, I ask you to keep our Muslim brothers and sisters in prayer. Lift them up. One of my professors at CIU told us that if we would commit to praying for the Muslims named Mohammed, Abdullah, Fatima and Khadijah, we would be praying for millions around the world. Enjoy the pics from Kibuye! God bless!

Umuganda Day

In the last 5 years, I've heard there's been many sweeping changes in Kigali, and even the whole of Rwanda. Some are advantageous...(some not so much.) One new idea that President Kagame put into effect is Umuganda Day. Umuganda Day takes place on the last Saturday of every month. This word means "togetherness" or "community." On this morning, until noon, there are no cars or moto bikes out on the roads. All the shops and tiny "dukas" are closed. Everyone stays in their community and works. It's community service day every month! And what is so neat is that all of Rwanda participates...this is a national event, and it actually is effective! I couldn't believe it the first time someone told me about this. I said, no way, that sounds like a good idea, but do people really adhere to it? And they do! It's a day for communities to help one another. It's time to work on a yard project for a widow, or help build a house, or fix something. Rwandans are serious about Umuganda Day. If they catch you out n' about, they will put you to work! I was thinking today... would Umuganda Day work in America? Could people stop their busy lives from 8-12 one Saturday a month to pitch in and help someone. Yeah, I think it could work. Kind of like a Kannapolis Kares Day every month. That would be cool. I know, Renee, at my church would love it! :-)

I've been noticing too, how clean Rwanda is, especially compared to Kenya. I never would have guessed! In 2005, all plastic bags were banned in the entire country. It's even illegal to bring a plastic bag, like a Food Lion bag into the country! They use paper bags at all shops here, but most people bring their own bags from home. When they were cleaning up after the genocide, they found millions of plastic bag remnants all over the place, and the new President just decided to ban them in his attempts to keep Rwanda clean. Wow. Pretty incredible. I'd say, in a way...or in many ways...we are behind in our efforts to protect the environment. (and our communities!) I never would have guessed it would be like this in Rwanda. Makes me think about all the Food Lion bags and Walmart bags I use at home. Not good. Another crazy thing...it's totally illegal to spit outside on the ground! Again, they are trying to keep Rwanda clean. Of course, littering is totally illegal, but spitting? All I can say is that my friend, Keith, wouldn't last a day here. :-)

Found this great verse in Leviticus that reminds me what we are to this earth and what our responsibility is..."The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants. Throughout the country that you hold as a possession, you must provide for the redemption of the land." Leviticus 25:23-24

I want to tell you all about my amazing mini-trip to Kibuye town and Lake Kivu last weekend...but right now, my computer is getting severely overheated and making really weird noises, so I'm gonna give it a rest. I'll write more tomorrow with pics too!

student discussions

Every day I am in awe at my students and how much wisdom they already have about their faith. I absolutely love teaching Bible, and love starting each day with prayer. And I can pray with my kids...we can hold hands, we can pray for each other...it's so neat to see and be a part of after teaching in public schools. (Not that I don't love public schools...I do like the challenge of sharing your faith in other creative ways with students....but this is neat to be part of as well!)

The 4th grade Bible curriculum centers around theology...with topics like heaven, hell, angels, salvation, the Holy Spirit...etc. I was thinking at first it would be too difficult and too advanced for 4th graders, and I was wishing I could teach some fun stories in the Old Testment instead, but it's been a joy to hear their thoughts on these topics. I love their enthusiasm and eagerness to share what Jesus means to them. Their thoughts are beautiful and refreshing, and make me smile. And we have been able to integrate many stories too.

This week we were learning about mercy and forgiveness, and how David showed Saul mercy when he could have killed him, but instead just took his spear and water. I had the students write a journal topic about a time when someone else has shown them mercy, and also a time when they've shown mercy to another person. The answers were sweet and thoughtful....but this one in particular made me laugh. (I think I need to review the concept a little more with her!)

"Once I showd mercy to my family when I sorted everyone in my familys clean clothes and poot them in all ther rooms. no one tolld me to do it i was just bored so i did it." :-)

We did another journal on what they already think/know about different topics relating to our Bible curriculum. I am amazed at how mature many of them are in their walk with God. Reading what they write helps me affirm what I know and believe. The innocence of a child is so sweet!

Their thoughts on heaven...

"Heaven is God's wonderful, enchanted home, like a tall white building, and he's making it nice for you and me so when we get there we will feel at home."

Thoughts on God...

"God is the best and most loving Father ever. He's my very best friend, and the most amazing person ever made." Amen to that!

My favorite discussion this week was in Science. We have been planting different types of flowers and plants, and discussing parts of the plant. Yesterday we looked at a grown flower and picked out the different parts....stem, flower, root...etc. We talked about how the roots are underground and you can't see them but they are very important and you don't want to pull them up because the plant will die. One of my girls raised her hand and said, "Ms. Griggs, I think that the roots on a plant are like your heart, because the good stuff is in your heart, and whats in your heart makes you grow closer to God everyday if your heart is right, just like the plant grows taller and taller to reach God every day too." My kids are soo sweet! The presence of God is here for sure, in 4th grade this year!

Funny things...

1. We opened our jar of honey...and found a dead bee!

2. To kill the mouse/rat in our house.... (I hope it's singular, and not plural)....the only thing available is this substance called, "Magic Glue." Tons of mice in this country, but not a darn mousetrap. Go figure! But this mouse glue stuff is crazy. It's basically just strong super glue, but the Rwandans swear by it. It's actually made in China, and on the back, it reads...."Being toxic, this substance is not dangerous and can be safely used in homes." Don't they mean, being "non-toxic?" Not sure. It IS made in China!

Anyway...you delicately spread this stuff on a piece of cardboard....(we found some in our front yard)....then you put some cheese on there and wait. I bet it was hilarious watching us try to spread the stuff....we were stuck all over the place. The Rwandans were right...it did work....but it was not so much fun seeing the poor little mouse stuck to the cardboard, suffering. Sadly, Micah had to drown him. Maybe it would have been better if it had really been toxic. :-(

3. There's these people that have been coming around and "labeling'' all the many potholes in our community. This is no small task. We've heard that it means that sometime in the next decade, they might be fixed....so it's good news! The funny thing is how they label them. They spray paint a white square around all of them, along with a number. But there's some squares that have like 3 or 4 potholes, but they only have one number. It's funny when I'm running, I'll see hole #26, and then hole #39 right beside it. I still haven't figured out their numbering system. Just yesterday, hole #8 was painted right outside our house! Yay! (or is that #8 AND #9???)

Pics

All those black things are bats!


The back of "Hotel Rwanda"



Front of the hotel