Capital of Rwanda

The capital of Rwanda is Kigali and it is right in the middle of Rwanda. It is a developed city with buildings, cars, taxi, stores, and even a mall.

Here is a typical day in the city:

Round-about:

Mini-bus, also known as a taxi:


*Pictures taken by Karyn: more at www.karynmakinsafrica.blogspot.com

Rwandan Skyscraper

Welcome to downtown Kigali.I was looking at God's beautiful creation.

The nature and plants were so pretty but then...there...in the distance...a skyscraper...man's beautiful creation but the design was instilled into man so therefore it is still God's creation.

And a little taste of home :)

First Graduation

Jean Paul's High School GraduationJean Paul is the first street kid that has graduated in Jen and Serge's program.

I was so excited to be there to witness it.

Interns

The team in Rwanda gets a lot of interns throughout the year.
Left to right: Karyn, me, Nicole, Mike

Karyn is a photographer from Canada, Nicole is a student from the UK and Mike is a construction worker from Canada. They have all come to help Jen and Serge as well as the people of Rwanda.

It was great to have them there because they showed me around town, helped me learn the culture and we had some fun too.

Kamari Family

Meet the Kamari Family: Left to right: Prince, Serge, Beni, Isabella, Jen

They are the International Teams missionary family in Rwanda. Jen is from Canada and come to Rwanda about 7 years ago. Serge met Jen the first week she was in Rwanda and from then on it is history :) Now they have three kids and are living out what the Lord has called them to do.

They work with street kids. Now when I say street kids, the majority of what I am talking about are boys ages 12-25 years old that live on the street. Serge and Jen teach them proper living skills, find them a foster home, and get them into school.

They also work in a village called Kayonza; about an hour and half from their house. They train people to farm and the important of education. At the local church they have helped start a group that teaches crafts to people that have been affected with HIV/AIDS so they can make an income for their families.

All that and they still have family time! They are all lots of fun and I am excited to be a part of their team.

Traveling Time

I had a few extra stops along the way...
I started in Rwanda
hopped over to Uganda
then to Ethiopia
9hrs to Rome and then 9.5hrs to DC
I had a 7hr break at the airport and then to Chicago
Slept for almost a full day and back to work

More stories to come!

On My Way Home

My two week vision trip is over and I am now on my way home.

In one hour I will start my adventure back to the US. It is about a 38hr trip to get home.

I will post pictures and more about this trip when I get home.

Special Needs...Beginning Stage

In just two weeks in Rwanda I have been able to meet with many people and have gathered much informatoin about educating children with special needs. I have met with parents, teachers, students, pricipals, professors, governors and associations...

As a result I have concluded that there is a start of special education in Rwanda but it is at teh very beginning stages.

There is no nationwide sign language for the deaf; out of the 66 thousand blind people, only 30 are taught a 6 month vocational training program at a time; there are no docotrs to help children with the medical conditions that come with down syndrome and autism; there is one short course at one of the universities on special education/counseling (and it is just blind and deaf); there are no adaptations for children that are dyslexic or struggle with reading and math...MY HEART IS RACING! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!

Some sort of national frame work needs to be established, but where do you start??

During my converstaion with the big private school in Rwanda they asked me if I would be willing to help adapt the curriculum for children with special needs, train teachers how to teach students with different learning styles and bring awarness to parents...wow what an opportunity!

In order for a national frame work to happen it needs to start somewhere and what better place than the big private school in Rwanda!

The dream to educate all the children with special needs in Africa has a chance!!

Beautiful Country

We took a drive through the country and I got to witness Rwanda's beauty first hand. Ok so pictures just do not do a justice but this place is gorgeous!

Beads

I got an opportunity to sit with a group of people from the church and learn from them. It is a group that was started by the church to help the members of the congregation that are affected by HIV/AIDS. They learn how to make beads (you know those fair trade ones) and sew to bring in an income for their families.

When I arrived they were grateful to have me. I do not know their language and did not know how to help with the beads but they were willing to teach me.

First thigns first...langugae...They taught me how to greet in Kinyarwanda. I am not sure if I was saying it correctly but I tried very hard and at least they understood me :)

One woman taught me how to make beads. She was patient through the language barrier and with my lack of small motor skills to make the bead tight like she could. By the end I almost go it. I did not make as many beads as she did but it was fun.

Needed a Jacket

Right now in Rwanda it is rainy season. That means it is about 80 degrees during the day but about a half hour before it rains the temperature drops, a breeze coems and then rain. It actaully gets cold. I put on a jacket! It rains for about 15 mintues andthen stays just a tad coolder for the rest of the day.

At night I seep with a comforter, liek a real blanket. I am sure it is different durign dry and hot season but I know during rainy season I need to carry a long sleeve shirt or a jacket with me at all times.

You never know when it will rain until it starts to cool off and then wind starts to blow. Once it starts raining the whole city pretty much stops until the rain stops.

A Taste of Rwanda

After being in Kigali (the capital city of Rwanda) for a day here are some observations:
It is gree, hilly and beautiful (pictures to come).
People are welcoming.
Everything, including internet and spell check all in French.
Therea re no animals running around the streets.
It is quiet and quit peaceful.
The city is very clean.
There are not many people selling thigns from bowls on to of their head.
They have cheese (for all of you that was apart of the Ghanaian adventure:))
Not everyone speaks English.
Peopel are very affectionare: hand holding, long hand shakes when greeting, and lots of hugs.

It might be my naive western midset but I assumed Ghana and Rwanda woudl be a little similar but let me tell you...it's not. There is a difference going from city to city in America; chicago to LA to Boston to Huston. Of course there is a difference from coutnry to country; Ghana to Rwanda.

Many adventures and learning to come.

In Rwanda

The travel time was a little longer than expected due to an extra lay over in Uganda but I made it to Rwanda.

I got a chance to get to know the missionary family that I am staying with today. Jen is the mom and Serge is her husband. They have three kids; Pricne (13), Isabella (4) and Beni (1.5).

Now for a good night sleep....

Heading to Rwanda

I am finally finished packing! I am heading to the airport at 3am on Monday March 14th.
Trip: Chicago to Washington DC to Ethiopia to Rwanda!
I will arrive in Rwanda at 3:30pm on Tuesday March 15th.

This is Rwanda. It is in East Africa. I will be staying in Kigali with a missionary family. Kigali is the capital city.
Rwanda is 7hrs ahead of Chicago time.

I am way excited!!

Master Packer

You would not know it by looking at me but I have become a great packer.

I asked the missionaries in Rwanda what I could bring to them from the US and the mom, Jen, gave me a pretty big list; brown sugar, some caned products, shoes, movies, books, contact solution, Easter candy, a few fun things for her kids. I got it all...

Today I pulled out my suitcase and started to pack well everything fit perfectly in my cool orange suitcase. I mean everything; Jen's whole list and all of my clothes, sandals and bug spray! Just call me a master packer.

Then I tried to list my cool orange suitcase...and well...I couldn't. I am guessing it weighted over 100lb. Needless to say I need to now unpack and pack everything in two suitcases. I hope my skills work when there are two suitcases...

We Graduated

I graduated from training! Whoa...that was a lot of information in a short amount of time. I learned so much and much more prepared than I did before.

Here is the class when the interns were with us.
In the middle is the coordinator of training. He was great!

Now I need to start getting ready for a short trip to Rwanda. I leave on March 14th! I am very excited.

Boy's Dorm at Wa Blind

I just got an email from one of the teachers at the Wa School for the Blind in Ghana. That is the school I taught at when I was in Ghana.

I found out that last night the boy's dorm burnt down. No one was hurt but I do not know how bad the damage is.

Here is a picture of the boy's dorm when I was there:

Please keep the school, teachers and all the students in your prayers.
If I get more news I will keep you posted but thank you for your prayers.

Language Training

I have been in language training for one week now and look what I have learned...
Korean!!
I am really learning linguistics which means, I am learning how to learn other languages. I am learning to listen for sounds that I did not know existed and moving my mouth/tongue in ways I did not think were possible. It feel a little silly and probably look and sound a little silly but it is very helpful!

I will have to learn Kinyarwanda when I move to Rwanda. One of the official languages in English but people only know it if they went to school.

I have been told I am doing great but the one sound I can not make is one of the basic sounds in Kinyarwanda... figures... but I will keep working on it!

Snow Day!!

We got so much snow!! It was awesome!

Can you find my car...?

It is the red bug :)

Even though all schools and most businesses were closed, we still had training. But afterwards we all played in the snow!

Karen, Gale, Katharine, Necia, Me, Ashley, Heather

It was great!

Roommates

Here at training we all live at the International Teams base. It is in Elgin, IL.

I am really enjoying living in community; it is like college again :)
I have three roommates: Gale, Karen, and Heather

They are great!

Karen is going to Uganda, Africa. Heather is going to Athens, Greece. Gale is still open as to where she is going.

It is so cool to hear every one's stories of where they have come from, how they got here and what they will be doing. God really uses each and every one of us and all of our skills, strengths, desires and even weaknesses. He is an awesome God!