Visiting kids in Kabuga and Musanze.

This school year started off with two last-minute public holidays.  One was literally the day after school started.  The other, this past Monday, celebrating Eid.  Now last year, when these random public holidays popped up, I'd go over to see the kids at New Hope.  Now, however, they live two hours away.  So this last Monday, I took the chance to go to Hope for Life Ministry, a home for former street boys founded by my roommate, Hilliary.  I'd been hearing about "her boys" for the last year.  Natalie and I scooted our way to Kabuga, a town just outside of Kigali.  Well, I should say Natalie drove her purple Scooty Pep+, a little 75cc moped, which looks a lot like the one I drive around Kigali (besides that fact that it is purple.)  We made it, and she did a great job driving:

 

Natalie and the boys made bread while I watched and took pictures.  Here are some of them kneading the dough.  Natalie is an absolutely fantastic baker and loves to share her love of bread with anyone.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw a huge rabbit hutch near the house.  They raise rabbits for eating, 

much like my old house on the north side of Minneapolis.  These cute guys will eventually make a great meal.

A hydro-geologist from the states was staying at Hope for Life.  Here she and some of the boys are building a composting toilet with cement. 

There were a few photographers in the group ready to take over the camera.  Here is my favorite shot one of the boys took:

**

Yesterday, my alarm clock chimed at 4:30am.  On a Saturday.  Yes, I'm a little bit crazy, but not really because the purpose of waking up so early was to catch a 5:30am bus to Musanze, where the kids from New Hope Homes now live.  I got there before 7 and knocked on the gate.  Everyone seemed to be sleeping still so I waited and took in the surroundings.  Currently, the kids are living in a rental home while the new house is being built.  The rental house is just a short walk from the bus station on the outskirts of town.  The countryside is lush, green and hilly, with dirt paths carving through terraced farm fields.  Beautiful.  After a few minutes, Manuel came to let me in with a big hug.  All of the kids ran out of their beds to greet me.  It was a great welcome.  I've missed them a lot over the past few months.  

Look at how cute the little ones are in their jammies, brushing their teeth:

We built rock towers.

I think Esther would have a blast at Artist's Point in Grand Marais...

Who can build the tallest tower?

After a lunch of cabbage, beans, and rice, the older kids and I hiked out to a stream I'd been hearing about all morning.  Donna and the kids discovered it a few weeks ago and it definitely lived up to the hype.  At first the kids just waded around, splashing a bit.  Five minutes later they were floating down the small rapids under the bridge.  So fun to see them enjoy the water.

To get back home, we took a different route which took us up and down a hill.  This area is just so beautiful.  Can't wait for the rain to show up soon and make the green even greener.

Much love from Rwanda,

Abby

Love from Rwanda.

It has been over a week since returning to Rwanda and I think I'm officially over jet lag... although I could really use a cup of coffee right now!  (And it's 4:36pm.)  It is really wonderful to be back, although bittersweet after such a wonderful time at home with such dear people.  Here are a few instagrams to document my first week back in this beautiful country:

This is Sande and I in a (very) dusty van driving on a (very) bumpy dirt road (very) fast. (Note our expressions.)  I had the chance to travel to Kibeho, a small town in the south reaches of Rwanda, with Donna and six of the kids from New Hope Homes.  We visited a Catholic visionary who has lived there her entire life.  She is an amazing woman, committed to telling her story and praying for those who come to visit her.  Google "Kibeho" to find out more.  We stayed at a guest house and I entertained the kids while Donna had more time with the visionary.  We played cards, walked around the beautiful grounds (including visiting a giant statue of Jesus), ate meals together, and generally had a great time.  I also played nurse tending to a child who ate way too much food the night before... let's just say I didn't get much sleep! :)  It was so wonderful to reconnect with some of the kids, and spend time with the ever wonderful Donna.

The deep, red dirt is still here.  After my first trip in 2007, I wrote a song including the lyrics "deep red dirt, on my feet, it's seeping into me."  This dirt literally does seep into you (you should see the bottom of the tub when I wash my feet), but I was going for the metaphor.  This country is magnetic - it draws you back, time and time again.  And now, returning for another year, I definitely feel at home.

Tomorrow marks day one of the 2012-2013 school year.  I am delighted to start the year with a new crop of 2nd graders.   Each year, I like to make the number of the grade level I teach with a different object.  This year, it was buttons.  

To all of you back home - I am so blessed by your support.  Thank you.  I'll keep the photos and stories coming. 

Much love.