Sent to Rwanda

Here’s more honesty: This has been the hardest, most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I get stared at and challenged daily because I do not look like the majority of this country. I pretend I am the tough, confident person they think I am, but I’m not and sometimes my day ends early because I am just worn out. I have experienced what has felt like every emotion possible, sometimes all in the same day! Things don’t work in my host culture as they do in my home culture and the rules and norms are completely different. I am reminded everyday that this is not my home, but in all honesty when I come back to America I am reminded that America isn't either.   What’s crazy is this: Even as tough as it is, I wouldn’t be anywhere else right now in my life. Someone asked me not too long ago why I stay, even with so many people coming and going, and constantly making new friends, why I’m still here? I responded that I am the best version of me here. I listen to God and want ...

So, I arrived in Rwanda to start a new adventure. You have been with me, prayed for me, and encouraged me when I was scared (even though I pretended I wasn’t).   This is probably one of the most difficult emails to write because I’m trying to sum up the last 3 years of my life in one (not so) simple message.   When I first moved here, I was doing communications for ROC, the organization that I came here with and fell in love with Rwanda because of them. I was facilitating a women’s entrepreneurship program. I started a Bible study for some junior high girls in my neighborhood and a ladies Bible study for other Americans. I was also volunteering once a week with an orphanage. I wanted to do everything, I wanted to see everything and meet everyone. Three months in, I was tired…and sick. The first year here, I was sick a lot. I think it was a combination of learning how to properly clean and cook food and just being smooth worn out. Everything was new and exciting and I didn...

I can't even believe that TODAY, three years ago, I moved here! Sometimes it seems like just yesterday and somedays it seems like I've been here longer. =) So today is a little glimpse into my house and some funny differences of living in Rwanda. I have come full circle. Since moving to Rwanda, I have lived in 4 houses. I moved into the first for only 1 month just to figure out what kind of living situation I would need/want. Then I moved into a neighborhood called Gaculiro pronounced something like: Gah-Chu-LEE-RO. In Rwanda, "r" and "l" are interchangeable, so it can also be Gacuriro, or Gacurilo. After returning to start my second year, I moved to a neighborhood called Remera and as of July 1, I'm back in Gaculiro. I live on Benjamina St., which was recently numbered KG 412.  Gaculiro is also called the "Vision 2020 Estates", it was designed by the government to promote the middle class of Rwanda. It is essentially a neighborho...

Pictured: Peter, me, his wife Chantal holding baby Faz (10 months), oldest son Fabrice (10), and middle daughter Fabiola (5). Peter has worked for me for about two and a half years as my day guard/gardener. I trust this man like crazy, even though we know very little about each other. Peter's English is about as good as my Kinyarwanda, which makes for difficult communication, but we try.  He is one of the hardest working men I know and I just love seeing his face in the morning ( and let's be honest, prior to coffee there are few people's face I look forward to ).  When we hired Peter, my first roomie Betsy and I were looking for someone to help with the gardening and a few things around our yard. We hired him one day a week. He continued to work hard and we kept increasing his work and salary. When I moved to a house with a larger yard, he came with us and again, another increase in pay. Now, to give you some context for pay scale. Peter is well paid for h...