RWANDA!

Muraho! That is "how are you?" in Kinyarwandan, and pretty much one of the only words I know in the language. Hopefully I will be learning more soon... but it is not coming easily!

So, for those of you who don't know, I am teaching English as a Second Language at an international school (www.isk-rwanda.org). I'll be working with elementary and middle school students, and they are literally from all over the world... South Korea, Italy, Tanzania, Oman, etc. It's located in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali. It's so much different being in the city. There are way more options for food (which I am quite happy about... there's even pizza!), there are a lot more "mzungus" (white people) around, people don't normally say hi on the streets, and there are even stop lights!

first Rwandan sunset... mmm, so beautiful!

Here is what I love so far about Rwanda:

• I wake up to perfect weather every day. Of course, there's the occasional thunderstorm a few times a week, but who doesn't love a good thunderstorm?!
• I live in the mountains, and it's beautiful. I'm hoping for some good hiking opportunities throughout the year!
• When I go on a run through the village, I have at least 10 kids join me, giving me high-fives, running along side me, and shouting "mzungu! How are you? I am fine!" It's just like in the movies.
• The city is SUPER clean. They even have a national "holiday" once a month called "Umuganda". All the stores close, and everyone goes out to the streets to clean!
• The city is super safe. At dusk, all the police line the streets and stay through the night... so there's a very low crime rate.
• I walk EVERYWHERE. Well, let's be honest, sometimes I hate this. But for the most part, I love it.
• speaking of walking everywhere... so many times when I'm walking, a couple kids will come up to me and ask to practice their English... which then proceeds to an improptu English lesson. Gotta love it.   
• People are SO welcoming. All you have to do is go to church, and you'll get invited to someone's house. Not to mention get 10 new phone numbers. If only church was like this in America!  
• I joined a "cell group" (Bible study) at the church, and it has been SO wonderful to have such sweet fellowship with people from all over the world. When we spent time in prayer together, I just started crying. It was so powerful to hear their reverant voices lavishing praises before the King of Kings.
• My neighbors have PET MONKEYS in a cage in their backyard! I have yet to meet these neighbors, but one of my goals this year is to hold one!
• I have my own bathroom and hot water... sooo blessed by this! Given, my bathroom is about 3X5, and I even succeeded in flooding my entire bathroom and bedroom the first time I showered. But, it still is a luxury I'm so grateful for.  

Our nice house that is right across from the school!

the bathroom that I am SO thankful for!

my bedroom

and once again, my bedroom

I wish you could see it better because it is so pretty, but this is the view of the city outside our house!  

 

So far, teaching has been fun! I've enjoyed all my students a lot... they're really good kids. It is easy to feel like you're in a western bubble at the school though. So I'm hoping to get plugged into some Rwandan ministries while I'm here... whether it's an orphanage, IJM, Living Water International, or some other organization. I'll keep you updated! I will be working with Educate Rwanda (http://www.mgefc.org/Educate_Rwanda.ihtml?id=444395), which is an organization started by some people from my home church in Minnesota! Once a week, I'll be teaching English to a group of teachers from Rwanda. Recently, the government has mandated that all schools must teach in English. The problem is, most of the teachers don't know English themselves. So hopefully, I will be able to teach them some English once a week.  

This is my classroom! A lot of work left to be done... but we'll get there :)


"You keep him in perfect pease whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." -Isaiah 26:3-4