Woo…I have been running around like my hair is on fire since I got here!  After our Fanta celebration on Saturday for my arrival, Becca and I went to Amani Aju to pick up some things we had ordered for the Vineyard Marketplace.  It’s always so great going there and seeing how excited they are to have the financial support from TVM! I was very happy, as always, to see the things that they make for us!

Sunday we went to the local Anglican Church in Kigali for their English service… a bit of disappointment compared to a true African service that can go on 5 or more hours.  Those of you that were on this summer’s teams know what I am talking about! Phil had been asked to do the prayer for the church so it was where we were supposed to be that morning.  As prayer concerns were read, they reminded me of just how real the history of conflict is in this region of Africa.  There had been a memorial service for the remains of 10 people- a family of one of the members whose family had been murdered during the 1004 Rwandan Genocide.  Their remains had been found just last week.

Becca did her usual great cooking (Chinese food) while Phil, Thomas and I met for a few hours on Sunday afternoon. Sammy Mah, the CEO of World Relief Organization is in town and he requested the Chinese food…complete with chopsticks.  I have to admit it was fun watching Thomas struggle with how to use them.  Who would have ever thought I would be sitting in Kigali, Rwanda while the CEO of WRO taught a Rwandan national to use chopsticks….go figure. 

Sammy and Phil will be leaving to the DR Congo shortly.  The situation there is obviously very tense.  When you ask Phil he says “It’s tenuous but stable”.  Becca is terrified for them to go and I can totally understand her concerns… especially as news from across the border is streaming in here.  I also understand Phil’s calling to be there.

Although I can never imagine what it was like here in 1994…you definitely can feel mounting tension.

Becca and I did some additional errands this morning.  Rafiki, my favorite WRO driver came and picked me up and brought me to Ruhengeri tonight. When we arrived at the TVM office, Ernest and Fabrice were there waiting for us along with Virginee, Alivera and Faina. The ladies were busy working in the back room bagging bread. Velonica and Alphosina were out selling bread and arrived shortly afterwards. Wow – these ladies give the BEST hugs ever…and they don’t let go for a really long time! They were so anxious to show me their progress – and there has been major progress! They have quite the major set up in the back yard. There is a very large pan that they fry bread in every afternoon…they are like donuts without a whole. They are concentrating on this during the rainy season.  A huge tarp that covers the giant pan that is set on 3 gigantic volcanic rocks.  They are using fire to heat the oil – but here is the really cool thing… they are buying wood from someone at the market who “recycles” wood from old buildings and houses. I cannot believe the yarn they have made – looks like they have been spinning for years!  It is consistent and each widow’s yarn looks amazing! They each have several balls made that are dated.  You can actually see their progression of improvement!  Alphosina has begun to teach them how to make baskets and I believe this is the same concept that we will be able to use for making wool rugs. It is so exciting to see how proud they are of their work and the self-confidence they now exude.

Adera arrived a little later and then we were shown our rooms. My room has a new bed with a hot pink, lacy mosquito net anchored above. Ernest had prepared my room with the women.  There are new sheets and a blanket, soap and toilet paper!  In the room next to me is another new bed- for Adera.  I brought sheets and a blanket from home and we placed them on Adera’s bed.  As Adera smiled and walked around the bed, I could tell at 56 years old she had never slept on a traditional bed. 

All of the other widows went home and the rest of us went to the Catholic guest house to eat dinner.  More firsts for Adera.  She had never used a fork or eaten a piece of chicken… although it was the absolutely worst, over-cooked chicken I have ever had in my life…no kidding…practically all the meat was burnt off…I had a gapping whole in my leg quarter.  I wasn’t about to complain because I knew it was probably one of the best meals Adera had ever had… Ernest asked for a spoon for her and she ate every last speck.

The electrical power at the house is not good.  In fact, when I plug in my computer, the power completely shuts down in the rest of the house!  There is not enough power to even consider installing a hot water heater so the guard is bringing me hot water from the fire in the morning….ahh the ever familiar bucket bath.  It is no problem.  I am thrilled to finally be here and spend time with these women.

I am looking forward to working beside the women tomorrow!  God has once again blessed me with being a part of their lives and for seeing the hope that is found only through Christ.

Thank you for your continued prayers for my trip, God’s ministry and for peace in the region.

Blessings,

Diana