Its Real.

I have been here exactly one week. Hard to believe. It is definitely real for me because these last two days I have been feeling quite fluish from what I think is the food and the water. I am not drinking the water, but I am sure certain bacterias are definitely getting into my system. It is kind of hard to avoid. I am hoping in a day or so it will pass, but for now could you just pray for my body? It hurts and my stomach is not my friend right now. Getting sick while being in a foreign, developing country is just one of the prices to pay. It happens. Its not a big deal, it just takes time to pass and is a small price to pay.

Children of Rwanda.

The children of Rwanda. One of the highlights of my day today happened while waiting for a cab. Amy, another teacher from KICS, and I were waiting outside our gate when we saw a few children running down the road towards us. Before we knew it the few turned into about 13 children who all were dirty, did not smell good at all, and one child specifically had open sores all over his head, which I was told comes from either malnutrition or lice. Yet, they all had big smiles on their faces and were full of life. They came running up to us shacking our hands, some were a bit shy, and telling us their names. Knowing children often love having their picture taken I asked them if they would mind. They were ecstatic and immediately began posing. Since there was so many of them they would push and climb on each other to make sure they made it into the photo. After I would take it they of course, immediately, wanted to see the picture and would surround me often grabbing at the camera to get even a glimpse at their own faces. As soon as they all got a glimpse, the process began again with them posing and yelling "hey muzungu, muzungu" to which I joked, "excuse me I have a name." They often quickly fixed themselves and would say "Jenny, take picture?" It was fun to joke and play with them. They loved every minute of it and so did I.

Muzungu.

It is amazing the stereotypes we have just from a color or a shade of skin. Living in Rwanda has really opened my eyes up to this. Where ever we go around town we are referred to as muzungu, which simply means white people. It is not a demeaning word at all and is not said to insult. It is simply a statement. Because of the color of my skin the people automatically assume many things and are very curious about me. Specifically when they see muzungus they assume that we have lots of money. That is what they hear, is all they know, and is from their experience of muzungus. For instance today, I think I experienced the most overwhelming situation of my life. Today, five teachers (Lauren, Amanda, Kyla, Amy, and myself) from KICS went to the city market. There are several markets around town, but this one in particular sells all kinds of good, clothes, fruits, veggies, meats, etc. As we were pulling up to the market, the rest of the teachers, encouraged me to prepare myself for what was about to occur. Literally as we were pulling up they said "oh by the way do not be surprised if people start swarming our car and yelling things at you." I did not have much time to prepare myself. No joke, as we pulled up twenty to thirty people just surrounded our car. They started running alongside the car, yelling in the windows, and asking us for jobs. I could not believe what I was seeing. As we got out of the car it was absolute mayhem. We had to push our way into the market, while still having children, young boys, and adults begging us for jobs. Even while we were in the market this occurred, but was a little less intense. Every time you touched something they would ask you if you want to buy it or would put their goods in your face. Every time you turned they were shoving something at us and begging us to buy it with a please. Then once you bought something young boys would try to carry it for you so that you would pay them for their assistance. It takes a lot to overwhelm me and for the most part I can remain pretty calm, which I felt like I did, but this was definitely an experience I will never forget. I admit I was overwhelmed by all of this to the point where I said nothing and touched nothing knowing they would start begging if I did. It is interesting to me how a color of skin can change the dynamics of how people treat you. Even to the point where they raise prices and expect that you can pay it. One teacher Amanda had to say to a merchant... "you expect me to pay that all because of the color of my skin." In Africa, that statement is no offensive at all, but it is true.

Ways you can be PRAYING...

Me: 1) Cling to and grow closer to Christ. 2) Would love well. Patient. (Gal. 5:22)
3) Perceive the needs of the people, KICS, and the community around me. 4) Build solid relationships with other teachers, women, and others in the community. 5) Would stay connected to and love my friends and family from afar.

KICS: 1) Patience/ flexibility for all of us as we grow and change. 2) We would be bound together as a school and team. 3) For more resources, supplies, books, etc. 4) KICS would be able to take on more Rwandan students in the upcoming year. 5) KICS would be a safe place and healthy community that reflects the love of Christ. 6) As teachers we would be the hands and feet of Christ to the kids at the school and to each other.

Rwanda: 1) Healing. 2) Psychological healing. 3) Unity amongst people and groups. 4) Economic growth and stability. 5) Rwanda would in time become a light to the rest of Africa.

Vision 20/20

RWANDA IS BEAUTIFUL. So many people would tell you to just COME AND SEE. I was talking with a young college student today who is currently living in the Food for the Hungry guest house with me. I will be living at the guest house only for a couple more weeks before moving into my real house with Amy and Linda, two other teachers from KICS. The college student, who is on a four month internship rotating between Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, and I were talking about Rwanda and how different it is from other African countries. We both were agreeing that we were surprised by how clean it is and how Rwanda is really making efforts to raise above other countries and rebuild. She was saying, in Rwanda, there is a program called Vision 20/20, which i am going to learn more about and look into. It has several components to rebuilding, one being community development and focusing on community clean-up. They believe in order to rebuild they must focus on taking care of the things they have, the country as a whole, and working together towards this purpose and goal. I just think it is such a beautiful mentality and a very important component, if not one of the most important components to rebuilding and wholeness. It raises an awareness of the blessing of people, property, possessions, community.... and helps people to WORK TOGETHER FOR ONE PURPOSE. I think it is definitely a component to wholeness and definitely something we do not focus a ton on in America. I will share more about Vision 20/20 as I learn.

This is the day.

After a twenty or so long plane ride from Washington, D.C. to Rome to Ethiopia to Kenya and finally to Kigali, Rwanda both Lauren and I and all of our luggage have made it!
I can hardly believe it. When I finally got off that plane, my heart just filled with joy. My heart felt most alive today when I stepped down off those stairs and started walking towards the airport terminal. It is so good to finally be here, to see it with my own eyes, and to know that this place will soon become a home for me. Lauren and I were picked up by most, if not all, of those who work at KICS (Kigali International Community School). There were so many people and so many names, but thankfully I was able to place some people's faces with their names since I had been in contact with most of them over the course of the last few months. I will not lie, I was definitely tired upon arrival, but I held out so that I could tour around the city and see the new school for the first time. There were several things that stood out to me today....

1. Kigali is more beautiful, clean, and lively then I first expected.
2. I have never felt what it was like to be in the minority until today. I never knew what it was like to be stared at no matter where you go because of the color of your skin. Now I know what it feels like...
3. After we went into town for some lunch, we ran into some children who were begging for money. We did not give them much of a response since were driving. In order to get our attention they decided it would be best to jump onto the side of the slow moving van. These are children who are no older then seven.
4. I have bed bugs in my bed.

"jesus christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." ~hebrews 12:8

Thank you Kelly

Kelly Matten speaks truth and breaths encouragement to myself and others...

"The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, TO COMFORT ALL WHO MOURN, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of BEAUTY INSTEAD OF ASHES, THE OIL OF GLADNESS INSTEAD OF MOURNING, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called OAKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, A PLANTING OF THE LORD FOR THE DISPLAY OF HIS SPLENDOR." ~Isaiah 61:1-3

First Thoughts...

In less then two weeks I am headed to Rwanda, Africa. Hard to believe, but true. I am so thankful specifically for the last year of my life and all that has come from it. If it wasn't for the confusion, processing, and the many decisions that came from it I am not sure I would be heading to Rwanda. Thankfully most of the time great good comes from great process, even if it is not what we expect. I am so thankful for the many people in my life and all of your support. I feel a bit of mixed emotions right now as I begin this journey and prepare to leave. Thank you for coming behind me, for loving me despite, and for believing in me. This could turn out to be an adventure for all of us...