What's Been Going On in Rwanda...

I have not given an update on what has been going on in Rwanda in a while. So here we go...

There is much to be said. Since returning from the U.S. almost three months ago, things have begun to pick back up. At first when I returned, I tried to ease my way back into life here in Rwanda after spending one month at home. The slow, easing process was good both for me physically and emotionally. It was really hard to return after spending great quality time at home with many people I love. It was hard on me emotionally because I was missing home, even though I was and am confident of my call and where I am suppose to be, here in Rwanda. Yet, calling or not, moving away from friends and family is never easy... Now that I am back in the swing of things and past the transition, everything has picked up.

IS KIGALI WOMEN' TEAM....
First, a huge prayer was answered. About a month and half ago, I ran into the assistant coach to the women's national team, Grace. Her and her professional women's team were practicing. I went over and talked with her and through that conversation I was invited to join the team. For over a year, the soccer federation along with the German football federation have been trying to get women's football up and running.
It has honestly taken this entire last year for something to be organized. When I ran into Grace they were just starting the league and had their first game of the season. Coincidence? Or answered prayer? I think I choose answered prayer. Since the day I arrived in Rwanda I was told that I would be able to play, but since then ever opportunity has fallen through or doors have been closed until now. I have played in four games since running into Grace and been able to meet/ play along side some of the most serving, loving girls. I really enjoy the girls on the team so much and I think for them they love having a white girl on their team. This past weekend we had an away game in a district called Ruhengeri. We always get to play in different stadiums around and so this past weekend we got to play in the Ruhengeri stadium, which one of the best in Kigali. (Ruhengeri Stadium)
We unfortunately lost the game 2-1, but still it was fun to travel all the way out there just to play and get the experience of what football is like in Rwanda.

SEWING PROJECT...
There has also been a lot of preparing and preparation for what is to come. I am greatly looking forward to May when my mom and seven others from her church come to Rwanda for a sewing and construction project. For the construction project, the team of four men will be traveling three hours west to Lake Kivu where they will help build shelters, work on plumbing, and carpentry tasks at a retreat center. The sewing project on the other hand will take place in Kigali at a sewing co-op called Amahorro, which means peace.
This place is one of my favorites. The women make amazing products and have really built a life for themselves in a country that is not easy to make a living. So, the four American women and the four Amahorro women will be partnering up to work with eight Rwandan street girls to teach them how to sew.
All of them will also be spending time in prayer and worship together encouraging one another and sharing what it means to have a relationship with Christ. Our hope is that the street girls are able to walk away not only with a relationship with Christ, but renewed in hope that they can as they pursue the task of sewing make it just like the older women at Amahorro have. Just two weeks ago another big step was taken towards organizing the project. Through the help of some generous friends back home we were able to raise money to buy five sewing machines, which will all be used for the project!

KIDS ACROSS AMERICA CAMPS...
Just last week, I had a meeting with a man named Gregg Bettis who is the President of an organization called Kids Across America. This organization reaches out to youth for Christ through sports. Their main focus in America is on inner city kids. To help get these kids out of their environment for a week they bring their leaders and the kids to a camp in mountains where kids are free to be kids and enjoy sports. They also use this time to share about the hope and freedom found in Christ. Kids Across America's first international effort will be called Kids Across Africa and will happen in Rwanda. Just recently Gregg and his team have been working to buy a 100 acre lake front property in Ruhengeri to build their first ever African camp. The camp will not be build for another year. Even with the camp not being built, KAA wants to start reaching out to Rwanda and this July will hold it's first soccer camp. During my meeting with Gregg, he asked me to help organize the camp on this side in Rwanda while working with some of his team back in the U.S. It should be a HUGE event with one of the U.S. national coaches, some professional, college, and high school players attending. These coaches will be partnered up with Rwandan coaches from all over Rwanda and together they will reach out to a group of boys to help them grow both in their soccer skills and knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is and his sacrifice for us. The camp will also be held in Ruhengeri in the stadium!

SATURDAY SOCCER CAMP...
Saturday Soccer Camp continues to run. It is amazing to see how how far we have come. At the beginning Kent and I ran most things, but that was not our goal. We wanted in time for us to take a step back and for the Rwandan coaches to be able to run the camp themselves and take ownership. This past week, I just sat and watched and felt like God had heard our prayer and answered. I just sat there and watched as all the Rwandan coaches ran the drills, stretched and warmed-up the players. They ran everything! It was truly encouraging to see! Also this past week I was encouraged by a conversation I had with one of the Rwandan leaders Charles. Charles is a great Rwandan man who works with us at the camp. He was talking about how he loved coming to camp to work with the kids and at first it was not "his" camp, but not him and the other Rwandan coaches are able to call it "their" camp. He was saying that when they can't come they miss it and for those like our friend Calixte who go to school in Butare (two hours west of Kigali) will often drive two hours just so they can be there on Saturday. I think that is pretty phenomenal and such a testimony to God's doing. Kent and I can only encourage ownership and a love for the kids and camp, but in my opinion, it is only by God that those things actually become a reality. Thank you Lord. Also, just this past week the goalies started to receive training. My friend Paul who has been in Rwanda for a little over a month, played soccer in college. He has been coming to the camp and just this week started to work with the goalies on footwork, ball control, and composure.
Most of the goalies here have never had anyone work with them, so they were really thankful to receive any training Paul could provide them. (Using our free time to take pictures with our friends) Definitely a blessing, because it is not always easy to find someone who knows how to train goalies and can really provide them the training and encouragement they need to get better. Hopefully, in the next few weeks Paul will also have the chance to work with the goalies from the IS Kigali women's team.

KICS SOCCER...
Last, KICS soccer will be starting up next week. From the first day of the semester in January the students at KICS having been begging for soccer to start. They really do enjoy it. Next week is our tryout and we will have our spring season go from April until June. This season we are trying to play other schools in the city such as Eco Belge and Greenhills. Both very competitive teams. Just last week, some of the soccer players from KICS came to Saturday Camp. They are involved in a Community Development class here at school. They decided one way for them to reach out to kids in the community would be to go and play soccer with them. So, they came to Saturday Camp and played against out 14-16 year olds. The camp kids beat the KICS students 4-2, but I think most people really enjoyed themselves and it was a great opportunity for the KICS kids to get out in the community and play.

KIGALI INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL...
At school, I am still teaching K-12 Physical Education, 6th grade History, and 4th-5th Science. Definitely a fun variety. In science, we just began learning about the plant and animal cell. (4th and 5th Science Class)
In history we just finished the long interesting unit of Roman & Byzantine history and will be starting a fun new unit of African civilizations. This will be really interesting teaching about African civilizations while living and working in Africa.... and in P.E. we are just finishing up the unit of stations and circuits and will be beginning American Flag Football, which is one of their favorites.
(Middle School Physical Education Class)
(Caleb Jenkins and other Middle School students)
(High School Physical Education Class)

VISITORS...
Actually, there is a few more things to tell you. I have many things to celebrate and to get excited for. Just this week, one of my very best friends, Liz, booked her flight to come to Rwanda!!! She will be in Rwanda for about two and half months working and living with me from April until June. It will be such a joy to have her. I am confident her time here will not only bless her, but grow her as well. It will be nice to have a little piece of home here with me in Rwanda. Also, as I mentioned my mom is coming from April 28th until May 8th with a group of people from her local church. Along with her will be one of my favorite mentors and role models, Mrs. Mazie Bell. She is always so encouraging and always seems to have a word of encouragement or scripture. Along with those visitors one of my best friends and long time friend from high school Drew will be coming to visit in July. He has never been to Africa and therefore jumped on the opportunity. I am really looking forward to the next several months. It will be such a joy to have best friends and family here. It will be even more a great joy to see how Rwanda impacts them and hopefully changes their perspectives on Africa and the world.