Sent to Rwanda

As I have started working in Rwanda, I realize what a big part of our job is networking. There are no YellowPages for Kigali, so we learn about other organizations by taking phone numbers and exchanging business cards. I recently was introduced to an organization that I am particularly interested in, called Tubahumarize (too-bah-hoo-mah-ree-zey). " Genocide survivor, Jeanne Mwiriliza, founded TUBAHUMURIZE in January 2006, after the murder of one of her dear friends. Following the 1994 genocide of nearly one million people, including her own husband, Jeanne made it a regular practise to meet informally with women to share burdens and provide one another with emotional support. Her friend’s murder, however, was the catalyst for her to formalize an organization that would support women in many ways. That woman friend to Jeanne, who was crippled moving on a wheel chair, always talked about the violence done to her by her husband. One day she called Jeanne and told her t...

I'm homesick...I'm not going to lie. I'm not too proud to admit that I miss my family and friends. I get confused when I realize that everyone's life is still going on even though I'm not there. =) I thought the world might stop and wait for my return. OU's football season started without me. My dad turned a year older without me. He didn't even wait for me to have a birthday dinner...how rude?! I am not conceited enough to think that everyone would put their lives on hold for me. But being away has reminded me who is important in my life. I was hanging some family pictures in my room the other day and a friend noticed and started asking (in broken English) about them. I pointed to my mom, dad, sister and her 3 kids, naming each. She said, "Your mom looks smart. She looks like you." Smart=Well dressed or good looking (They got it from the Brits, I think). She started trying to ask me questions about my family, so I reciprocated and asked about ...

I have gotten through some of the settling phase and am starting to feel like I'm getting some work done. Almost everyday something new pops up that I have to deal with that sometimes consumes a lot of time. I start my week on Sunday by attending first service and then sometimes teaching one of the kids/youth classes. We eat lunch as a team after second service and because restaurants are so slow, we get home around 4pm. =) On Mondays, I work half a day (which seems to keep turning into full days) in the KICS office, helping their volunteer administrator with their web and email issues and some general computer questions. Tuesday is ladies Bible study and our staff meeting during lunch. Wednesday, we start by visiting the orphanage then back to the office around 11am. On Wednesday evenings, I join Moses and the youth and we spend time worshiping through song and learning new songs. Every Thursday morning, members of our ministry team meet to pray for any needs that are going on ...

I have now settled into a longer-term living situation in the same neighborhood as the church and school. I kept saying that I wanted to be near the church and school so I could walk to work. It's been about a week and I haven't walked to church or school yet. =) (Lazy American) I found a great roommate who desires the direction of her life to be more like Jesus everyday! And she is from Oklahoma...gotta love that! As I was preparing for this journey, I tried not to set too many expectations for what God has in store for me during my time here so I can let Him work. So my prayer requests are praises for my current living situation and a request for direction. I want to know how God wants me to spend my time and where He wants my focus. UPDATE: Since I wrote this, I have been walking to work (good exercise) because the brakes on my car have decided to go out. I was able to catch it in time and get it into a shop. The roads are so tough here that I also had a problem wi...