Rwandans walk everywhere (marche beaucoup! as my host mom would say). Knowing me, that was a bonus and is good (NeeByeezah! = its good), but also knowing me the risk would be super high for me to twist my left ankle a lot. So far so good, it is only slightly tender. Yesterday, we spent time in the morning trying out different classes (observing) at UCC as Zachary had recommended. We would hold another meeting this coming Monday to work out our schedules for the rest of our time there. Turns out we weren’t the only OoMoonZooGoo (term for white person or person not from Africa) volunteering at the centre. There were two girls from Germany who had stayed there for 9 months now: Johanna and Gaby and also two girls from France who had just arrived a week before us named Lidi and Cecile. The rest of the volunteers are local Rwandans who give their time to be with the disabled and mentally challenged kids and adults who benefit from the centre from its many progressive programs to teach them to be independent or gain skills that could be useful. I decided to spend the day in the skills classroom with a mixture of all types of disabilities and teachers. The room is the biggest in the centre and is open-concept to allow for different stations for different crafts. At the entrance is a cluster of sewing machines and on the right are knitting machines for the blind as well as a table where stuffed elephants were sewed from fabrics. Further in are tables for placemats, pictures, picture frames and woven panels made from banana leaves and adjacent is an area for making paper beads. It was at the banana leaves station that I planted myself; introducing myself with my limited Kinyarwandan (hello, how are you, I’m fine, My name is and I don’t understand). As I couldn’t communicate more I just ended up smiling and sitting with them, trying to point at one of the finished products saying I wanted to try. Isisa finally ended up starting one as he pointed for me to observe him while talking loudly to Benjamin who kept laughing at my lack of Kinyarwandan knowledge, saying that I could say Muraho (hello) and then fini (thats it). In my mind I started becoming curious as he only repeated this news over and over, smiling at my apparent lack of knowledge of their language. Isisa was more forgiving and kind as he let me take over the weaving of the leaves to make a sort of placemat or woven circular fan (not too sure what they are used for). I believed that I could pick it up quick and I was being affirmed many times that I was on the right track by Isisa who finally addressed Benjamin that I was doing really good, whereby Benjamin smiled at me and just went to work without another word about my terrible Kinyarwandan; turning from a skeptical outburst into a content smirk at my success. At least that is what I interpreted from a mixture of knowledge, intuition and reading of faces and tones. I also was extremely alert knowing that I could prove him wrong; that I could do something well right now and weave these leaves together. I remember finishing almost all the way and feeling so accomplished. It was a good morning of crafts, focus and the amazing smell of banana leaves inches from my nose.
Tonight is my third night living in Gisenyi, Rwanda; I’m currently sitting on the bed in my concrete-walled room under my beautiful, yet functional mosquito net. I am surprised I am awake after walking probably over fifteen kilometres on constantly rocky roads, on which I almost tripped too many times. Also that I have been so fatigue (excuse if I use French randomly...) the past three days to even journal or blog; so much as happened, I can’t even relay to myself. My feet are dusty all day, reminding me of how Jesus would walk in sandals and how the culture of His time was one of constant walking and dusty feet as well. Frankly, it feels really good to not be held to the same standards of hygiene as in Canada (although the standards here are also quite high for cleanliness, just different) and no mirrors anywhere! I barely care about my appearance or think about all those negative thoughts I always have about my body and my face and blotchy skin back home. This is my new home now as my host parents joyously told me over bowls of potatoes, beans and lots of fruit! MarakohJay (in phonetics) is the name for passionfruit there and it is simply scrumptious!
Our arrival at the Ubumwe Community Centre (UCC) was greeted by most of our host families almost dragging us out of the car to greet and hug us like grand old friends. Excited chatter in English, French and Kinyarwandan abounded as my host mom grabbed my hand and held on as she showed me around the centre’s main building and inclusive pre-school building (or House of Children) at the back. We hung around the front of the building in a classroom talking to our new families and the Rwandan volunteers there. The first we met was Jeff, then Hamza, Francine, Innocente, Christopher and finally Zachary (the man who ran the centre since he was 25 years old and who organized all our accommodations, pick-up and anything we needed). My host mama is called Mama Abigali (after her first born’s name). Jeff decided to show me around again as we waited for the rest of the girls who were in Andrew’s car that unfortunately broke down around Musanze (a town on our way to Gisenyi from Kigali). Already there for only 5 minutes and I felt such peace, contentment and comfort amongst excited jitters left over from my slight vigilance of new encounters with strangers. I could tell right away there would be lots of transparency, honesty and smiles! I quickly found out that my host mama mostly spoke French and Kinyarwandan, my mind constantly buzzing to dig out whatever broken French I had from my 8 years of French classes. Definitely not fluent but good enough to understand and be understood; for that I was grateful and also surprised by how much I did remember! I am here. Finally made it to our destination, though a little groggy and extremely wide-eyed with excitement, every sight and scene I took in as if breathing really deeply every second. It is good to see palm trees again and feel a breeze that does not tear at my skin but hugs one’s senses as if in greeting. That tropical rainforest smell or mildew of a damp basement permeates the bathrooms and dimly lit areas. Our flight pit stopped at Kigali, Rwanda (before heading to Nairobi) where there is a small airport with a tiny duty free tuck shop and one baggage belt; it would be hard to miss anyone coming off a flight, namely our mentor, Marian after about 40 minutes from the time we landed. We were surprised to be greeted at the airport outside by Andrew, a friend of Zachary’s (head of the Ubumwe Community Centre where we are to work). We greeted in English and with smiles as we also tried to speak some Kinyarwandan, saying Muraho (hello). We spent some time studying the language as we waited, sweating, at the front of the tiny airport (there are no waiting areas). The drive to the Discover Rwanda Youth Hostel was surreal as I wanted to see everything. The most memorable moment was when I realized just how hilly it was. Imagine a dark, dark night and driving in a large Toyota SUV, windows open, whipping by palm trees and paved sidewalks that ended as a slope downwards into a pool of stars (the houses in the valley below). Kigali is big, with seas of houses riding the wave of a valley or slope of a hilltop (though less at the very top of hills). I was so curious when we arrived at our hostel approaching a Chinese restaurant called the Great Wall of China Restaurant. We asked our new friend, Andrew, if he enjoyed Chinese food and he nodded. Our first experience with a Rwandan was that they were quiet and soft spoken, always kind and gentle-hearted, smiling and patient with our lack of filtering. Of course, not everyone was like Andrew who spoke softly and calmly, as I later found out, though joyous hospitality is a consistent occurrence so far. Our hostel was nice, deceivingly so; there were many travellers coming through from Europe and the States; the most Caucasians we would probably see for the rest of our trip. The room we got was incredibly cheap for six beds (bunk), a porch, wifi, included breakfast and incredible views. Still very spoiled. I had a wonderful sleep on the top bunk of our mosquito-netted bunker and a refreshing cold shower; it was good to be clean after a long almost two-day flight! This whole time, though I had my own thoughts, I was also surrounded by the presence of my 6 new friends, including our mentor; all very exciting! I am now relaxing at a table on our communal balcony area on our floor in semi-darkness, charging my computer and trying to use the wifi to contact family and friends, though sometimes taking 20 minutes to load a page. I am glad for that opportunity.
As I sit here on the comfy Brussels airline that should boast about their sizeable leg-space, I have just burned through all my plane letters (although being very disciplined and reading 5 of them on my ride to Brussels and the other 5 on my ride to Kigali). I am so very touched and on the verge of tears, laughter, hesitancy, hugs, doubt and even fear just from the whole experience of the idea itself. I am unsure of the time especially after so many flight changes and although I love flying, airplane food makes for gassy moments. There is approximately 4:06 hours left before I plant my two runners onto Rwandan soil, so I believe we are flying right over Egypt or the Mediterranean Sea right now; Southeast. It is bright and sunny outside now but I believe that Toronto had just awoken and I believe that my parents are safely home after their long flight. I can barely imagine what to anticipate and how I will react within the next months because all I know for sure is that we (six girls and our mentor) will be sleeping at a hostel in Kigali (the capital of Rwanda) tonight. Though there is uncertainty and inevitably apprehension of my need for control, I am oddly at peace with not knowing and would rather not know because I already know God is looking out for me and there will be prayers even when I have no words as I try to see the world with His heart and His love. Sure, there is fear mixed in somewhere there, knowing that I will have to let go of all the privileges afforded in Toronto (smartphones, ipads, fast wifi and a dense social cushion provided by this “hyperconnectedness” through technology, you get the gist). It will be a moment by moment thing, so sometimes you may find my thoughts unfinished, still processing or simply stating what happened. Though, if you are reading this right now, friends, I hope that you can take something away from my stories and be inspired in what you read. So take a gander with me this summer and walk with me, pray with me and try to challenge yourself to step deeper into a moment and to love wider and deeper than you have ever done before, and that includes yourself!
Some prayer requests I have for these three months: · A willing, obedient and trusting heart to see the world different than I ever have · To ask questions as best as I could · Strength and courage to step outside of my comfort zone · To be gentle, kind and open to everyone I will encounter, even if it is myself for the first time · To be unafraid to live all out for God · That I will be safe and learn lots · To grow deeper in my faith and walk with God as He is always with me · To allow myself to feel every moment and emotion deeply and with mercy and grace · For a heart constantly burdened with love · To be honest to myself and to others · To have fears and hopes but within that, courage · Please pray for my place here in Rwanda, the reason that God has put me here at this time, whether for something to learn for myself or someone to know or meet or to do or even beyond our scope, pray that I seek god first and never seize to have faith in His constant faithfulness in the plans He has for us all I will try to visit the internet cafe at least once every two weeks to update all my saved blog posts! I also have a cell phone now and can receive and call people in Canada! If you have a chance, I would love to hear from you through text, call or e-mail! My number is 0789651701 (I am not sure what the prefix to text to Rwanda is...you will need to google it and let me know please!). Remember that Rwanda is 6 hours ahead of Toronto. Also, I would also love if you would comment here or in a message (FB, e-mail or SMS) any questions you may have as you read my blog, even questions for me to probe here; I would love to hear what you think as you read this as I may miss something or see differently from experiencing it than in hearing or reading about it. Also for our curiosity’s sake! (I will find out whatever questions you may have, trying to bridge my assumptions with yours about life here) I thank you to all of my friends who wrote me such beautiful plane letters as well! I have read them over for encouragement and it really helped me in some moments at the beginning. They are a constant reminder of your love and beautiful hearts; of which I am truly thankful for! You are an inspiration and I pray that God’s joy will shine in your life as you have shown me! For all my donors, you are not forgotten as you are with me on this journey, for that there is no price for this opportunity to experience life here. I am forever grateful and hope to share with each and every single one of you when I am back. Without your generosity and belief in me or in God’s plan for me, I would not be here to blindly see God’s work daily and stumble both literally and figuratively. Thank you so much for your willingness and faith; it will never be forgotten! |