so not fun but sickness seems to be hitting me today. last night we had some new food and it did not set well with my stomach.
this week has been interesting and only going to get more so but I will have to write more later because our time here is almost up.
I miss a lot of people in the states and yet I am falling in LOVE with Africa more and more every day! It is amazing here and the people are all wonderful! Something I do not know how to describe!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Week # 2
so 2 weeks down in the BEAUTIFUL country of Rwanda! It is an amazing country and one i hope to return to at some point!
This week we began teaching English for a class of students. Every morning we begin teaching at 10:30 and have a varied lesson from day to day. The class lasts for about 2 hours. Every student has a varying range of English knowledge and so it proves difficult to make a lesson plan for all of the students but it is a lot of fun. Something of a challenge. I do enjoy it though. Seems like I am the lead teacher. Thanks to my mom's ability to teach ESL for her ministry in New Jersey.
in the afternoons our team has the opportunity to travel to orphanages and play with all the little kiddos or visit different NGO's within the city. There is such a need here for people to just love other people and it is always a joy to hold/hug a child. these visits can sometimes we a little frustrating because people do not always receive us well but God is working in mighty ways here in Rwanda.
On the weekends we have the opportunity to travel to a rural church out side of the city and visit the people/kids. The past weekend we went to Gagatara church, which is a brand new little church starting in a small little village about 2 hours outside of Kigali! When we arrived, we had to walk to the church. People here love to walk and so we walk A LOT! As we got closer to the church we saw a massive rush of children running toward us....not even gonna lie...about 200 kids ran down this hill straight for us...it was the most heart warming sight you have ever seen. God knows exactly what we all needed after a tough week of things not working out.
African are not the best at telling you what you will doing before you actually need to do it. so when we arrived at the church they told us we were in charge of all of the kids and to put on a VBS. Our first thought was WOW...that is a lot of kids to handle. So we busted out bubbles and cameras to keep the kids entertained for like an hour. Then we had a lesson and taught them "Jesus, Loves Me". It was an awesome time. That night we were supposed to be showing the Jesus Film, so we took our stuff and went to drop it off at the hostel we were staying at before returning to watch the film.
At the film, I had about 20-30 kids around me at all times. They were all so adorable and I wanted to take each and every one of them home with me but obviously I could not. A little boy climbed into my lap and fell asleep within minutes. Many of these children just need someone to love them! So I am here to love all of them that I can! I just wish I could do more for them at times! God is going to take care of them when I can't!
After the film we headed to the Pastor's house for a home cooked meal! Mind you it was like 10 at night, we hadn't eaten in about 12 hours! Although, we get into the house and sit down...right across from me is a HUGE spider and it freaked me out! First of all there was no electricity in the town, which meant that I had to view it by candle light. It was HUGE and we were in the house for about 2 hours! They really like taking a long time to prepare the food! Once the food came, it was in a bowl heaped FULL of food. Let's just say the food won that night and I could not finish my meal! The meals here consist of a small piece of meat, potatos, cabbage, beans, rice and some other things I can't pronounce...at least these are the main food items you can see...although in small doses.
Once the meal was finished we sang songs and prayed then departed for our hostel. We went to bed quickly because it was late and we had been up for several hours already! ONLY TO BE AWOKEN IN THE EARLY MORNING BY A HOWLING CAT! It was so loud...it sounded like someone was killing it! It was not a pleasant noise to wake up to at all! That night though...I heard things running around the halls of the outdoor hostel...not altogether settling cause we did not know what lived in the area.
It was a pleasant church service and about 3 and 1/2 hours long again! Once again I had 20-30 kids sitting around me at all times! It was amazing, my heart was so very happy by all the kids!
Our ride back was difficult because the man next to me was actually sweating on me! I moved my arm away at one time and there were droplets of sweat on my arm! It was not a good feeling! The buses here are packed full to the hilt and then some! So it was a pretty tough ride back! I got sick on the bus and could not wait to get back to our compound!
This update does not give our experiences any justice but it is nice to at least let all of you know what is going on in Rwanda! Can't wait until I can tell you stories in person...hope all of you are well!
This week we began teaching English for a class of students. Every morning we begin teaching at 10:30 and have a varied lesson from day to day. The class lasts for about 2 hours. Every student has a varying range of English knowledge and so it proves difficult to make a lesson plan for all of the students but it is a lot of fun. Something of a challenge. I do enjoy it though. Seems like I am the lead teacher. Thanks to my mom's ability to teach ESL for her ministry in New Jersey.
in the afternoons our team has the opportunity to travel to orphanages and play with all the little kiddos or visit different NGO's within the city. There is such a need here for people to just love other people and it is always a joy to hold/hug a child. these visits can sometimes we a little frustrating because people do not always receive us well but God is working in mighty ways here in Rwanda.
On the weekends we have the opportunity to travel to a rural church out side of the city and visit the people/kids. The past weekend we went to Gagatara church, which is a brand new little church starting in a small little village about 2 hours outside of Kigali! When we arrived, we had to walk to the church. People here love to walk and so we walk A LOT! As we got closer to the church we saw a massive rush of children running toward us....not even gonna lie...about 200 kids ran down this hill straight for us...it was the most heart warming sight you have ever seen. God knows exactly what we all needed after a tough week of things not working out.
African are not the best at telling you what you will doing before you actually need to do it. so when we arrived at the church they told us we were in charge of all of the kids and to put on a VBS. Our first thought was WOW...that is a lot of kids to handle. So we busted out bubbles and cameras to keep the kids entertained for like an hour. Then we had a lesson and taught them "Jesus, Loves Me". It was an awesome time. That night we were supposed to be showing the Jesus Film, so we took our stuff and went to drop it off at the hostel we were staying at before returning to watch the film.
At the film, I had about 20-30 kids around me at all times. They were all so adorable and I wanted to take each and every one of them home with me but obviously I could not. A little boy climbed into my lap and fell asleep within minutes. Many of these children just need someone to love them! So I am here to love all of them that I can! I just wish I could do more for them at times! God is going to take care of them when I can't!
After the film we headed to the Pastor's house for a home cooked meal! Mind you it was like 10 at night, we hadn't eaten in about 12 hours! Although, we get into the house and sit down...right across from me is a HUGE spider and it freaked me out! First of all there was no electricity in the town, which meant that I had to view it by candle light. It was HUGE and we were in the house for about 2 hours! They really like taking a long time to prepare the food! Once the food came, it was in a bowl heaped FULL of food. Let's just say the food won that night and I could not finish my meal! The meals here consist of a small piece of meat, potatos, cabbage, beans, rice and some other things I can't pronounce...at least these are the main food items you can see...although in small doses.
Once the meal was finished we sang songs and prayed then departed for our hostel. We went to bed quickly because it was late and we had been up for several hours already! ONLY TO BE AWOKEN IN THE EARLY MORNING BY A HOWLING CAT! It was so loud...it sounded like someone was killing it! It was not a pleasant noise to wake up to at all! That night though...I heard things running around the halls of the outdoor hostel...not altogether settling cause we did not know what lived in the area.
It was a pleasant church service and about 3 and 1/2 hours long again! Once again I had 20-30 kids sitting around me at all times! It was amazing, my heart was so very happy by all the kids!
Our ride back was difficult because the man next to me was actually sweating on me! I moved my arm away at one time and there were droplets of sweat on my arm! It was not a good feeling! The buses here are packed full to the hilt and then some! So it was a pretty tough ride back! I got sick on the bus and could not wait to get back to our compound!
This update does not give our experiences any justice but it is nice to at least let all of you know what is going on in Rwanda! Can't wait until I can tell you stories in person...hope all of you are well!
Singleness
so here everyone is obsessed with singleness...it is the most commonly asked question i have received almost anywhere I go. at first we were hanging out with individuals who were from the church and they were youth, so i thought it was just common for the youth to talk about it but no not true.
since we have been here i have been asked by 4 guys to marry them on separate occasions and they are all serious too...this freaks me out a little bit cause they all know i have a boyfriend.
the most recent story actually happened at a studio recording we went to. a gentleman singled me out of all the girls on the team and asked my name. I thought this was the end of the conversation because there is an extreme language barrier, but not the convo did continue with him asking me if i was single. i said no that i had a boyfriend and he said well i am single. mind you at this time there was probably 30 people standing around us...here is how the convo went...
Guy: "Are you married?"
Me: "No."
Guy: "WELL, I am single and you are single...SO....."
Girl in the background: "SO....question mark...?"
Guy: "So what do you say?"
Me: "I have a boyfriend!"
Girl: "A boyfriend or a boy lover?"
Me: "Ummm...boyfriend...?"
Sarah: "What do you mean boy lover?"
Girl: "Someone more than a friend cause Brian could be your boyfriend!"
Me: "Then I have a boy lover!"
These are always really awkward conversations and people seem to want to get us married here! It is a common theme and not one I enjoy at all! So I am content to say that I am glad to have an American BOY FRIEND!
since we have been here i have been asked by 4 guys to marry them on separate occasions and they are all serious too...this freaks me out a little bit cause they all know i have a boyfriend.
the most recent story actually happened at a studio recording we went to. a gentleman singled me out of all the girls on the team and asked my name. I thought this was the end of the conversation because there is an extreme language barrier, but not the convo did continue with him asking me if i was single. i said no that i had a boyfriend and he said well i am single. mind you at this time there was probably 30 people standing around us...here is how the convo went...
Guy: "Are you married?"
Me: "No."
Guy: "WELL, I am single and you are single...SO....."
Girl in the background: "SO....question mark...?"
Guy: "So what do you say?"
Me: "I have a boyfriend!"
Girl: "A boyfriend or a boy lover?"
Me: "Ummm...boyfriend...?"
Sarah: "What do you mean boy lover?"
Girl: "Someone more than a friend cause Brian could be your boyfriend!"
Me: "Then I have a boy lover!"
These are always really awkward conversations and people seem to want to get us married here! It is a common theme and not one I enjoy at all! So I am content to say that I am glad to have an American BOY FRIEND!
Monday, June 9, 2008
Church/Rural Jesus film
What a church service we had yesterday!
We woke up extremely early in the morning...aka 5am to leave at 6am to go to a bus stop to travel for about 2(+) hours to a church. Once the bus dropped us off we had a 30(+) minute hike to go to the church. It was a long morning.
One we got there I had to go to the bathroom SO BAD! So I asked Agnus where the bathroom was and she pointed to a fence of grass about 4 feet wide and 6 feet long in the middle of this very flat...very open field not too far away from the church. I thought FUN! When I got over there it was sticks over a square hole in the ground. Let me tell you...Going number 2 in an African bathroom is a little difficult AND in a skirt! But I made it!
The service had just started when we got there and it lasted for 4 and 1/2 hours! It was amazing to see all of these people worshiping our God! They truly blessed me in ways I can't even imagine yet cause God is still showing me all of what he has for me here!
I spoke at the service and used Romans 12, which is one of my favorite chapters in Romans. We also tried to sing for them but we FAILED in comparison to their amazing voices!
After the service we had lunch in a prayer hut, which was really fun because it was small and cozy! The food was really good! It is pretty simple but good nonetheless.
We then had a 45 minute walk and a 15 minute bus ride to where we would be showing the Jesus Film that night. It was another amazing worship service and then film.
It was such a blessing because a little girl named Naomi sat on my lap the whole entire time. She would not leave my side the whole entire time we were at the church. Naomi actually hit a girl who came uup and tired to take her away to leave. God knew exactly what I needed! There was a call to accept Jesus and our group went up to pray with about 30 individuals who accepted the Lord. It was such a great night!
We then went to our hostel, where we were staying at had dinner at 11pm. It was so good though!
A lot happened yesterday and this is a poor discription of it but hopefully you know God is doing great things here in the lives of the people of Rwanda!
We woke up extremely early in the morning...aka 5am to leave at 6am to go to a bus stop to travel for about 2(+) hours to a church. Once the bus dropped us off we had a 30(+) minute hike to go to the church. It was a long morning.
One we got there I had to go to the bathroom SO BAD! So I asked Agnus where the bathroom was and she pointed to a fence of grass about 4 feet wide and 6 feet long in the middle of this very flat...very open field not too far away from the church. I thought FUN! When I got over there it was sticks over a square hole in the ground. Let me tell you...Going number 2 in an African bathroom is a little difficult AND in a skirt! But I made it!
The service had just started when we got there and it lasted for 4 and 1/2 hours! It was amazing to see all of these people worshiping our God! They truly blessed me in ways I can't even imagine yet cause God is still showing me all of what he has for me here!
I spoke at the service and used Romans 12, which is one of my favorite chapters in Romans. We also tried to sing for them but we FAILED in comparison to their amazing voices!
After the service we had lunch in a prayer hut, which was really fun because it was small and cozy! The food was really good! It is pretty simple but good nonetheless.
We then had a 45 minute walk and a 15 minute bus ride to where we would be showing the Jesus Film that night. It was another amazing worship service and then film.
It was such a blessing because a little girl named Naomi sat on my lap the whole entire time. She would not leave my side the whole entire time we were at the church. Naomi actually hit a girl who came uup and tired to take her away to leave. God knew exactly what I needed! There was a call to accept Jesus and our group went up to pray with about 30 individuals who accepted the Lord. It was such a great night!
We then went to our hostel, where we were staying at had dinner at 11pm. It was so good though!
A lot happened yesterday and this is a poor discription of it but hopefully you know God is doing great things here in the lives of the people of Rwanda!
Caribou! (Welcome in Swahili!)
So this marks week one day and five more to go for Rwanda team! It has been an amazing week here in the city of Kigali! This was our first true experience with African culture because we did a lot of things the African way.
Firsts....
- washing clothes by hand in Africa with a little bucket
- going WITHOUT a shower for 4 days because we did not have water :)
- power went off for several hours
- POOP in 5 days!
- AFRICAN BATHROOM...we would probably call it a deep ditch with a long drop with a couple of stitchs around it! In the middle of everything!
- SARAH MARIE PENCE peeded in the bush! I was so proud of her!
- motion sickness on the bus
- church service, which lasted 4 and 1/2 hours (AMAZING)
- hostel stay with spiders
so those are a few firsts for me but it was all worth it!
The week has been amazing and gone by quickly looking back on it now but it went a little slow to begin with!
Firsts....
- washing clothes by hand in Africa with a little bucket
- going WITHOUT a shower for 4 days because we did not have water :)
- power went off for several hours
- POOP in 5 days!
- AFRICAN BATHROOM...we would probably call it a deep ditch with a long drop with a couple of stitchs around it! In the middle of everything!
- SARAH MARIE PENCE peeded in the bush! I was so proud of her!
- motion sickness on the bus
- church service, which lasted 4 and 1/2 hours (AMAZING)
- hostel stay with spiders
so those are a few firsts for me but it was all worth it!
The week has been amazing and gone by quickly looking back on it now but it went a little slow to begin with!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Muraja
We made it safe and sound to RWANDA! The flight into the city was so beautiful! They call Rwanda the "Land of Many Hills" and they are not lying!
Our team had a long 2 and a 1/2 days of travel to get to our final destination of Kigali, Rwanda but it was so worth it!
Here is a small break down of our flights to Rwanda...
El Paso to Dallas (1 hour and 40 minutes) with a 4 and 1/2 hour lay over
Dallas to Atlanta (3 hours and 25 minutes) with a 2 and 1/2 hour lay over
Atlanta to Amsterdam (8 hours and 55 minutes) with a 2 and 1/2 hour lay over
Amsterdam to Nairobi (8 hours ish) with an over night stay of 10 hours
Nairobi to Kigali (3 hours and 45 minutes)
When we were in Kenya we stayed at ANU, which is Africa Nazarene University for a night! It was a new and first experience for me in Africa. At night the campus uses 43 dogs and 20 male security guards to protect the campus! It is really frigthening being awoken in the night by dogs barking right next to your window at something foreign! The night proved less restful than we had hoped!
It was a long couple of days but the trip was so worth it! I got stopped twice at security check points to have my bag searched and questioned. It took me over a half hour to get through security for our Nairobi to Kigali flight! It was all due to a pair of eyelash curlers that they thougth looked like scissors!
Then once we arrived in Kigali I had to be taken behind the closed doors to have my checked baggage searched by a security guard. It was a little scary because I did not know all of what they were saying and they kept asking me a lot of questions! So it got a little freaky! BUT they finally let me go through and just smiled at me!
We got to the home we would be staying at and it had cement walls with a guard and there is a British couple staying next door to us! Our site cordinator and his family are amazing! Although, they do like to talk A LOT!
Our team has been really tired trying to recover from jetlag and a new time zone! The plans for this summer are not final but we will be doing A LOT of traveling and church visits. The travel will not only be in Rwanda but also other countries as well! It will be so worth it! The time seems to be going a little more slow but we have not started our ministry yet and once things pick up we will be really really really busy! Hopefully we will have email at least once a week!
Right now we are preparing for a church on Sunday and I am trying to learn Swahili which is proving to be a little difficult! ALRIGHT...A LOT difficult!
Our team had a long 2 and a 1/2 days of travel to get to our final destination of Kigali, Rwanda but it was so worth it!
Here is a small break down of our flights to Rwanda...
El Paso to Dallas (1 hour and 40 minutes) with a 4 and 1/2 hour lay over
Dallas to Atlanta (3 hours and 25 minutes) with a 2 and 1/2 hour lay over
Atlanta to Amsterdam (8 hours and 55 minutes) with a 2 and 1/2 hour lay over
Amsterdam to Nairobi (8 hours ish) with an over night stay of 10 hours
Nairobi to Kigali (3 hours and 45 minutes)
When we were in Kenya we stayed at ANU, which is Africa Nazarene University for a night! It was a new and first experience for me in Africa. At night the campus uses 43 dogs and 20 male security guards to protect the campus! It is really frigthening being awoken in the night by dogs barking right next to your window at something foreign! The night proved less restful than we had hoped!
It was a long couple of days but the trip was so worth it! I got stopped twice at security check points to have my bag searched and questioned. It took me over a half hour to get through security for our Nairobi to Kigali flight! It was all due to a pair of eyelash curlers that they thougth looked like scissors!
Then once we arrived in Kigali I had to be taken behind the closed doors to have my checked baggage searched by a security guard. It was a little scary because I did not know all of what they were saying and they kept asking me a lot of questions! So it got a little freaky! BUT they finally let me go through and just smiled at me!
We got to the home we would be staying at and it had cement walls with a guard and there is a British couple staying next door to us! Our site cordinator and his family are amazing! Although, they do like to talk A LOT!
Our team has been really tired trying to recover from jetlag and a new time zone! The plans for this summer are not final but we will be doing A LOT of traveling and church visits. The travel will not only be in Rwanda but also other countries as well! It will be so worth it! The time seems to be going a little more slow but we have not started our ministry yet and once things pick up we will be really really really busy! Hopefully we will have email at least once a week!
Right now we are preparing for a church on Sunday and I am trying to learn Swahili which is proving to be a little difficult! ALRIGHT...A LOT difficult!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Leaving in a few minutes
Please pray for our team as we travel today and for the next few days....
El Paso to Dallas
Dallas to Atlanta
Atlanta to Amsterdam
Amsterdam to Nairobi, Kenya (over night stay)
Nairobi, Kenya to Kigali, Rwanda
All the people will depart today and at various times!
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