Sewing at Ubuzima

Storms are Coming

Grace

Grace.

That word seems to be the theme of the week.

I have had a couple instances where I have found myself thinking and working over what grace really is.

Is grace forgiving AND forgetting?

What are the consequences involved with grace?
Should there be any if you truly have forgiven someone?
Even if you give someone grace, what happens with the trust in that relationship? Is it gone? Or can it be built back?

These thoughts flood my mind and heart after having just talked about grace the past two weeks at church and then hearing about an incident that happened this week with Jean Paul.

As I wrote earlier, a bunch of us went to see Jean Paul because he graduated from high school. When we got there he said that one of the students had died so they were in mourning and therefore there would be no graduation ceremony. Jen had a funny feeling about this and had the driver ask a few of the students if it was true – they said that no one had died. Jean Paul was then taken to the office to see Serge and Alain who then followed up with the story he was telling.

He continued to lie.

Apparently this has been a reoccurring issue… and it broke some hearts that he was continuing to live this way.

It was made to be a big deal for the fellow interns and I. We were told not to have any contact with him until we talked with Jen and Serge. But now we are all asking the questions of what does this look like – where do we go from here? What does the grace look like in this situation? This has happened many times before and some instances have been pretty serious – so how do you know when you can and can’t trust someone.

Especially after all the grace that has already been shown to them? Can you still trust them even after the grace has been extended – and at what point do you feel the need to extend grace but then completely detach from someone for your own protection?

I don’t think that I will ever fully understand grace, but until then, I will read the word and pray that God reveals the ways in which I need to live my life – full of grace.

Jean Paul Graduates!

Well day three and this cold is still sticking around… I have taken one full day of bed rest and then ventured out yesterday… although I enjoyed being out of the house by half way through the day I was ready to lay down again.

So here I am day 2 on bed rest – it’s so gorgeous out I just want to be outside! I had to switch my home visit to next week, which is a bummer, but the great thing is that I can still edit photos from my bed! Ha ha!

Well, I had a good time yesterday despite this nasty cold. A bunch of us went with Jean Paul to his graduation ceremony! Unfortunately the ceremony was canceled because apparently one of the students had passed away. So instead he just got his diploma and we were all happy just to be there for him and show some support. He is one of the only guys from the street to have graduated from high school – so it was a big deal!

Hopefully I can kick this cold and get back into my regular routine but I think for the next few days I will just be laying low so that I can be 100% for next week!

Visiting Patrick

If you have been following my blog, then you probably remember reading about my one of my first friends Patrick (aka Soda) who went away to school.

Well yesterday me and my four muzungu friends, along with a Rwandese friend, went to visit him!! And boy was it an adventure!

It was quite cold and very rainy when we first arrived at the bus park to meet Jean Paul. We then walked to find our bus that would be taking us to our destination. We found our small bus and all crammed inside. Luckily it didn’t fill up completely so we had more room than you usually would on these buses. We said a quick prayer for safety and we were on our way!

As we were driving we all were enjoying the amazing view outside the city heading south. Nicole was trying to capture every beautiful mountain but the roads were so bad and the bus so small that we literally were being rocked every other second. We all couldn’t help but laugh hysterically at how hard it was trying to get pictures. Lots were blurry and lots looked the same but we managed! I eventually had to stop because my seat wasn’t even bolted to the bottom of the bus. Once the man beside me got off the bus - every time we turned or the weight shifted I would feel the chair lift, fall to the right, and laugh with Jean Paul who was sitting beside me.

We got to the school and I was so happy to see Patrick walking towards me. He showed us around the school and told me how he was doing and we decided to get some Fantas. It was quite a mission because his school is Adventist and almost all the shops were closed since it was their Sabbath. We finally found a little shop where we could get some drinks and played some cards. They taught us one of their games and in return we taught Jean Paul and Patrick how to play spoons but with bottlecaps.

On the way home we decided to get a bigger bus to have a bit of a nicer ride home. (It ended up taking us 2 hours and 30 minutes in total). It was a little less bumpy but this time the back hatch of the bus kept opening and sent people’s luggage flying out the back. At one point all you could hear was Nicole yelling “stop the bus!!!” when the man ran back to collect the missing things he came back on to ask if anyone’s phone was missing… Sure enough Nicole checked her pockets and somehow her phone had fallen on the ground and out the back of the bus. At another point in our journey we stopped to let a few people off and the back hatch was open. We were all sitting and talking when all of the sudden Nicole felt someone grab her leg! She yelped and turned around to see one of the men laughing! Needless to say Maddy and I had our legs up as far from the back for the rest of the journey.

Well…We bought some pineapple (which is the BEST here!) on the way home, hit up some stores for chocolate, and some chips to have a movie night. All in all it was a very adventurous and fun day!

Water Project

The African Laundry Room

This is my office.

On the Job....

Almost 2 months!

Well another week has come and gone.. I can’t believe how quickly my time is going. I have been here for almost 2 months officially! I have had quite an amazing time here and am glad to still have 3 months left.

This week I went to Kayonza again to film serge and a man from the community as they went to fetch water. Mike came along with us and was nice enough to catch some photos of me on the job! I definitely enjoyed it and I am so thankful to do a job that is not just behind a desk. It was so fun to have kids join us on the journey. It is definitely different working here than at home!

I also got to visit a lot of people this week. Nicole, Jean Paul and I went outside of Kigali to visit Sincere at his new school. We got a lot of attention because not many white people visit there. In the words of Sincere it was a ‘miracle’ that we went. We also got to visit a memorial at a church by the school. The church was just full of clothes from the people that were killed. Blood splattered the walls and you could see bullet holes and holes from the shrapnel that flew from hand grenades that were used. After we walked through the church we made our way to the back where they had mass graves. Our guide talked about how many bodies had been buried there as we followed the guide we stopped and I looked down and saw that there were steps to go inside… I took a deep breathe and we walked down these steps into a cramped and very dark “grave”. We walked down and saw piles of bones and skulls as far as your eye could see. On the way back to the bus stop I was walking with Jean Paul and expressed how thankful I was he came with us to the memorial even though it must be hard for him. He said that it was no problem and that he used to have a hard time going because memories of what happened would flood back but not anymore.

As we walked along the road he told me a bit more of his story and then in the bus I showed him one of my favorite songs by Brooke Fraser called Albertine. It is a song about Rwanda and what happened here. I haven’t actually listened to it yet, - I was waiting for the perfect time…. And what better time was there than this?

Mike and I hung out with the guys again on and this time we played Frisbee with them! I also visited a lady from Ubuzima at her home and went to visit Jean Claude (and his puppy!!)

We have a visitor this week from America. She is looking to come long term to start a school for kids with special needs. She is here for two weeks to meet with some people and see what she can do here. It has been nice to make a new friend.

Well photos are continually keeping me busy and my relationships are continuing to grow! It is good to be here!

Thanks for reading… now… enjoy some photos!!

... this is what it looks like out of the city. How could you not love it here?

A few more animals from the safari...

Zebras

Giraffes!

Thank You for Your Prayers.

I am very thankful for all who have been praying for me since I have been here. God has definitely been protecting me.

I went on a safari this past week and when we were on our way home heading about 90k our front tire blew and sent us flying down the road out of control. Luckily we just missed a ditch and God guided us away from oncoming traffic. Instead, we hit a gravel patch which helped slow us down and managed to not slam into a pole but ended up skidding the side of it. Luckily no one was hurt, including 4-year-old Isabella who was sitting beside me. I was quite jolted because I have never been in a car accident before but God knows my heart and I just happened to get a baby placed into my arms so my spirit was calmed.

I am so grateful for all the prayers – I know that it could have been so much worse but God had his hand over our car.

Thank you! Please continue to pray for my health and safety.

Update!

Where to start… I feel like I have been able to continue connecting with people here. I am really enjoying the bible study we do on Monday nights because it gives some of my new Rwandan friends a chance to hear more of my heart and my faith. I am so thankful for translators!

I spent extra time at Ubuzima this week and really enjoyed just making beads and getting to spend time with the people. For the devotional time this week - Mama Deborah had people share their testimonies. It was so encouraging to hear them talk about how this group has offered so much support in different areas. One lady in particular said she didn’t know Jesus before, but that she learned about him at Ubuzima and now loves and serves him. I don’t know about you – but I find that SO encouraging. I love serving in a ministry that changes lives! At the end of our meeting I went to look at some of the jewelry they had on display (I had never seen any out) I saw a beautiful necklace – so I tried it on! When I went to take it off two of the ladies from the group wouldn’t let me. I insisted that I was just looking and then asked them how much I could pay for it. Mama Deborah turned to me to translate “It is a gift”. I just about cried. It is so beautiful and I felt so special.

I have had some fun times this week! Nicole’s parents are here from the UK so I have spent some time with them. They have spoiled me with hugs, lots of coffee of coffee and a couple lunches out! They both are so sweet and it has been a real blessing to have them here.

Some photos I took at the Rwandan wedding.

My Dresses for the Wedding!
(photos from the wedding coming soon!)