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.

A Minnesota summer.

Summer, in pictures:

 I got to spend lots of great time with my family at the lake.  Here is my mom and Aunt Julie, after a day (or many days!) in the sun.

The sunsets on Trout Lake are the best.  This is my little cousin fishing.

Sunset boating.

Sunset water (sense a theme?!)

Really, we're not twins. (My sister Laura and I.)

I will miss long summer nights.

Stormy skies on a drive through central MN.

Jayme and I went to the Boundary Waters.  It was an epic, and I mean epic, trip.  We had steak the first night.

And oatmeal the following morning.

And here we are making our "holy crap we made it through the hardest portage of our lives" faces.  It was an intense trip, but the adventure was oh so worth it.

This campsite won the "best ever stayed at in BWCA" award.  It was rainy when we set up, but the morning brought sun and warmth.

Roots, rock, and water.  

4 days and I'm on a plane back to Rwanda. Where'd the time go?!  

Hope your summer is full of beautiful sunsets and fun adventures.

Much love.

Last Days in Rwanda, First Days in MN

It's hard to believe I'm writing from a comfortable couch, in Minneapolis, drenched in morning sunlight from Minnesota sun.  I just finished eating greek yogurt with raspberries, which were two things definitely unavailable throughout my last year of life.  I am ever so grateful to have these months at home to connect with those I love on this side of the Atlantic.  

My thought process this morning... "Okay, so if I want to post a blog, it will take at least 30 minutes to upload photos, so I'll start the upload, go for a run, grab coffee, and come back home to post."  Well, the upload of the below photos literally took.... 10 seconds for each photo.  Internet speeds are like lightning here. Its crazy.  

So, without a run under my belt, I will update you on my last few days in Rwanda!

The day before my flight back home, I headed up to Musanze for a quick visit to see the kids at New Hope and help Chantal with a few projects.  One of those projects was taking pictures while her architect and builders started measuring the building site for the new homes.  A month or two back, all of the kids from New Hope moved to Musanze from Kigali, which although being a huge change for me, is just awesome for the ministry.  Here is a picture of the new land.  It is nestled under towering volcanoes, with plenty of space to grow food and keep animals.  On this land, in about 9 months, will be a beautiful new building to house all 30 (or close to it) children at New Hope.  The vision and plans for this property are well laid.  I am excited to be a part of the process.

                            

This is the architect looking at the plans, eyeing what should be roped off for the building site.

And here is a builder cutting planks to build a fence for the building site. Aren't the colors in this landscape just incredible?

I also got the chance to visit the pre-school started by the Anglican Mother's Union in Musanze.  Here are the kids in their new, tie-clad uniforms.  So cute.  Its really hard to get a picture of a bunch of 3, 4, and 5 year olds looking at you (and gasp - even smiling), however!

Here is Desami identifying letters.  The teachers in this school are just wonderful. I got to meet them a few months back and talk with them about planning out their instructional day, but seeing them in action was just so great.

After this wonderful day, I bussed back to Kigali to see friends, do some last minute packing and organizing, and found myself on a plane bound for Brussels.  Who I didn't expect to see was one of my very good and dear friends, Marta, on the plane.  We enjoyed the 30-minute flight to Kampala, sitting side by side, catching up.  She then got off the plane in Kampala, where she is doing educational research for the next month.  It was such a welcome surprise!  Here we are, in all our traveling glory:

Now, I guess its time for that run and some coffee. :)

Rwanda + Minnesota

15 days.  I'm a comin' home in 15 days.

I devote this set of photos to my two homes: Minnesota and Rwanda.  Here are snippets of my life in both places.  These places have helped define me, challenge me, and shape me into who I am.

The hills (mountains?) outside of Kigali.  When the fog rolls in like this, it just stops you, and commands that you stare.

My classroom in the afternoon sun.

Lake Kivu.  A place of rest and beauty.

Caria and Deborah, two beauties from New Hope.

My dear friend, Natalie, and Ariane.  

And here's Ariane again (from New Hope Homes).

Muddy Chacos (and feet) after a walk down and up hills laden with rainy season rain.

+++

And here are a few pictures of my first home. The one I get to return to, so very soon:

Trout Lake dock sitting. 

Birch bark. And long sunsets.  Two things I'm really looking forward to seeing again.

Summer bonfires with friends. Can anyone guess who this is?  Winner gets a free coffee, on me.

Minneapolis. In all its glory.  You hold so many people I just can't wait to see!  And so many places I can't wait to go.... and good coffee, and ice cream... and I could go on....

15 days. 

A few photos as of late.

Folks, we're coming into the home stretch.  I leave Rwanda in a mere 4 weeks.  Minnesota (via Washington DC and my wonderful sister Laura), I am very much looking forward to spending 2 months with you.  In the meantime, here are some pictures of life lately:

  

A wonderful sixth grade girl from MN donated art supplies to the kids at New Hope.  When my friends Donna and Harvin were here, we arranged an afternoon of drawing and painting.  (By the way, in case you don't know who Donna and Harvin are, they are INCREDIBLE blessings in my life and hopefully, many of you will meet them this summer.)

Desami.

The other Desami (they are twins) practicing his letter "p".

The older boys painting the Chelsea crest.  Isaac is a HUGE fan - complete with jersey, shorts and shoes. All Chelsea, all the time. 

And today, May 1, is Labor Day here in Rwanda.  We have the day off school, and it is a brilliantly sunny day.  A bunch of friends and I took the opportunity of the day off and had a big picnic, complete with frisbee, whiffle ball, cards, and good food.

Here's a blooming tree hear my house:

 My friend, Jamie, enjoying a coke. (Can you tell where she's from?)

  

 I made Grandma Helen's / Grammy's famous broccoli salad. I'm not quite sure which Grandma originated the recipe, but I do remember it was the first thing I ever "cooked" in the cabin kitchen. Thanks for teaching me so well, lovely Grandma and Grammy. It was a hit (and has been every time I've made it here this year.)  

It's not a picnic in Rwanda without a bag of samosas.

Happy Labor Day, everyone...(a few months early for those of you stateside.)

Joy.

Its been too long since my last post! Life here continues to be full of joy.  Its rainy season, and I'm loving the change in weather. It (almost) feels like a season change... although I still have only worn my down jacket twice: once in the high elevation cold of Musanze, late at night (in the northern part of the country), and second driving a moto through the rain.  I think I actually felt cold last week after being out in the rain, and it was a very welcome feeling!  Here are some recent pictures:

Lionel and Prince swinging in the moonlight at New Hope Homes. Doesn't Lionel (with the hat) look super suave?  

This is quite the close-up of Ariane.  I love this picture because it totally captures how she and I interact.  She likes to sneak up on me, flash a huge smile, and run away, all in a matter of a few seconds.  Somehow I caught her still for a few seconds to capture her beautiful eyes.

I will not eat them Sam I am, I will not eat green eggs and ham!  We celebrated Dr. Seuss day in 2nd grade a few months back.  What is not pictured is my green foot.  There was a small incident with food coloring...

Here are some future videographers checking out some pretty sweet equipment.  (At New Hope Homes.)

For "favorite book character day" I dressed up as Pippi Longstocking. Anyone else remember when she strapped big, old sponges on her feet to mop the kitchen floor?  I always admired her ingenuity.

For those of you who don't know, I've committed to another year here in Rwanda.  I will continue to teach 2nd grade at KICS (Kigali International Community School).  I am coming home for June and July, and then returning here to Kigali in early August.  I'm feeling really good about this decision.  I love that I get to live so close to the kids at New Hope and am able to be a constant presence in their life.  My work here at KICS has been an incredible blessing.  Second grade and I make a good match.  I just love teaching second graders.  

Love and peace to you all,

Abby

Weekends in Musanze.

These past two weekends I have ventured to Musanze, a town nestled under Rwanda's towering volcanoes.  Not only is this the town where people start their gorilla trekking adventures, it is also the home of the Mbandas, directors and founders of New Hope Homes. Last weekend, I had the privilege of staying with them and visiting a new preschool they have just started.  I was able to meet with their teachers, pictured here:

Both women were full of laughter and joy, as you can see in this picture.  We talked shop for at least 3 hours. I learned what they do each day, helped them develop some forms they needed, and gave them some tips on how to structure their day. It was really fun!  Here is a photo of the main entrance and learning area in the school.  I love how colorful and welcoming it is!

As you can see, they have a lot of great resources, but could definitely use more.  If you have anything you'd like to donate to the cause (books, art supplies, learning posters, children's music, preschool curriculum) please let me know!  I'm hoping to gather some resources from home this summer and bring them back in August. 

Yesterday (Saturday) I hopped on the bus to go back to Musanze, this time to visit the older kids from New Hope on their visiting day at Sonrise School.  It was SO fun to see them in their cute little uniforms, and in their element at school!  The morning started off with an assembly, where the students sang songs for us "parents."  At first, their lines were incredibly neat and orderly.  Look at that straight line!

Here are some of the kids. Esther, one of ours from New Hope is peeking at me.  She's holding the flash card that says "want".

Here is Chantal, New Hope's director, with all our kids from New Hope that attend Sonrise.

I'm so proud of these kids.  They are all doing well in school.  I got to meet some of their teachers and even (gulp) see their grade reports.  Two girls in P3 (similar to 2nd/3rd grade in the states) are first and second in their class!  Amazing!