Bring and Take

I called someone and said:

"Please bring the computer to the classroom and take the keys to the office."
Meaning: computer to classroom and keys to office.

All said and done... the computer was in the office and the keys were in the classroom....

I realized that take means away and bring me here.

After we clarified the confusion the computer and keys got to the right spots.

Concert and Play

This is Leila and her brother. They put together a song and sang it. 

 This is a dance crew. 

It contains three of my staff and their siblings. 

They were great. 

Three of my staff were in a play and it was great!

Tr. Patrick

This is Patrick. 

He was one of my staff. 

I trained him to be a teacher working with a student with special needs. 

He saw a job opening last week for a teacher at a school by his house. 

Together we practiced interviewing. 

There were 20 other trained teachers and him all interviewing for one position. 

He was the one that got the job! 

Way to go Patrick!! You are a great teacher! 

Horses?!?

I found out there were 10 horses in Rwanda. 

So, I found where 4 of them lived and went horse back riding!

Brian had never seen a horse that close before and he got right on. 

We even trotted a bit...up and down, up and down. 

It was so cool. I love horse back riding!

Prepared!

I work hard to train my staff to be prepared. 

You never know what will happen so you need a plan A, B, C and a just in case plan D. 

Vicky has learned to be prepared...in every aspect of life. 

Her students are never sitting still because they are always doing something fun. 

She even is prepared in other parts of her life...

Her sandals broke and it was no problem because she had extra ones in her bag...she did not even need to use my extra shoes I have in the office. 

Way to go Vicky! 

Housemates!

This is Liz, Joel and Dingo. 

They are from Australia and I live with them. 

It was Joel's birthday yesterday so we had a big celebration. 

Was so much fun. 

I am very blessed to have them here in Rwanda with me! 

Back To School

Last week was our first week with students. It was a bit busy but it went well. 

The start of our second week of school will bring new students and the need to find more TAs. 

Beginning of school is always a big crazy and will still be crazy as long as new kids come. 

Sunset

It is beautiful. 

The sun set over the hills

Back in Kigali

I am back in Rwanda and back to school.

The start of the school year is always a bit nerve recking but with support of family and friends and knowledge that God knows what He is doing....I think I will be just fine.

Me and my Mom

My mom and I took a day together!

It was full of butterflies, shopping, ice cream and hugs. 

It is always hard to leave my mom but I have to remember that she raised me to be a child of God and I am just following what He has asked me to do. 

I love my mom 

June....

The June Newsletter is out!

Check your email

If you did not get it and want it send me your email address

Enjoy

Friends

It is always great to come back to America and see friends. 

There is one friend, in particular, I always look forward to see...

Emily!

She is growing up so much. 

Emily is going to high school next year! 

Was so fun to talk, play and catch up. 

Grandma and Grandpa

It was exciting to be picked up by my grandparents!

(Mallory and Lily too)

They took my to the best Chicago style hotdogs in town, Portillo's...mmmm. 

They are the best. 

Heading to Chicago

A week holiday in Rwanda. 

Was so nice to spend the time here.

Now I am heading to Chicago to see friends and family. 

Cassandra Graduated

Big smiles all around!

Cassandra has worked very hard to get to this point. 

She is taking a year to apply to university and work. 

Primary Graduation

Elvis graduated from primary school. 

That is grade 6. 

Next year he will be in secondary school. 

He is way excited but a bit nervous too. 

He will be just fine :)

Home Grown Lettuce

I picked some lettuce from my garden and gave it to Bella. 

She loved it!

Leila's Graduation

This is Leila. She just graduated from secondary school. 

One chapter has closed and another has open for her. It is scary but very exciting. 

For the next year she will be working with me in the Panoramic Program, helping kids with learning disabilities. Oh, and college searching...

I am grateful God put her in my path. 

Green Bean!

My garden is growing big! 

Lettuce and carrots and...

I found a green bean!

Bella is going to be so happy

Only 3 minutes

We had the secondary teacher put on scarves, glasses and belts all in funny ways. 

We gave them colored pencils that were poorly sharpened and swiggled lined paper

And we told them to do this assignment...

As we blasted the chicken dance song

Lite candles and shook music shakers

My staff walked around 'encouraging' them to do the assignment. 

One person stood in front saying 'The sky is green and the grass is blue' in a low voice.

And at the end no teacher did the assignment correctly...they said it was too distracting.

We then told them...you only felt that way for 3 minutes (one song). People with autism feel like that all the time. Their senses are heightened and it feels like so much is going on. 

We just need to be patient and love them they way they are.