Do you have any baseball hats in "good" condition?

I'm collecting hats to donate and send over to the children at the nursery and primary schools we (Threads of Hope) partner with in Rwanda, as well as the 36 children we sponsor every year. It will be a great encouragement to the children and remind them that we are thinking of them and will be back soon!

Collect up your hats and I'll pick them up from you or you can mail them to me. As I've been packing to move, I found 34 baseball hats, I'm keeping 6 to actually use. I bet you can find the same! 

 

Post or message me, please!

 

Day 3 Monday July 18

In the morning we visited the tailor shop micro-enterprise. This is where the girls (and guys apparently) graduate and may get jobs there or elsewhere. The shop is on a typical dusty Rwandan street and is very small. Bahati (short, light guy) and John (tall dark guy) run the place with a variety of other women who share equally in the profits (about $120 a month, which is quite good). This is after they pay the rent, utilities and other bills, all left over is split evenly. Regardless of your status, expertise, or managerial responsibility, everyone shares equal profit, something very foreign for westerners. No one seems to feel slighted in any way.

In the afternoon we procured 4 sewing machines for the graduates of Hope’s sewing program. They will each be able to start a career as a seamstress working at the shop or perhaps starting their own. Buying the machines was extremely stressful. We went to the main shopping center in town, absolute chaos, typical for Africa. Crazy traffic, loads of people going here and there, music blasting, dust everywhere. We had Hope and Charles negotiate the price before we went in (vendors see white people and the price doubles) but when we went in the store to get our hands on the items, they tried to hit us with a 19% VAT. So we walked.

Next vendor was down a dingy alley, men moving mattresses as we tried to squeeze our way through the crowded entrance. There’s something always going in Rwanda, it seems. We negotiated a decent price and finally bought the machines cash for $800. Total time expended, 3 hours. Nothing takes 30 minutes in Rwanda. We left feeling a bit crappy not knowing how good the machines are and spent more than we wanted, but the tailors from the shop assured us they were good machines so all was ok.

Got back to the hotel a bit early around 5 and just relaxed at the restaurant, drank lots of beer and chatted about the trip and the trials and tribulations of Emma’s man hunt. This chick should totally write a book.

Day 2: Sunday July 17

Today we visited the Genocide Memorial Center in Kilgali, one of many genocide memorials throughout the country. It was, by far, one of the most moving experiences in my life. Genocide is a familiar story with the Holocaust, and god knows other examples through history, but there are a few things that really are unique here. One is the sheer brutality of the genocide. 800,000 people killed in less than 3 months. Even the Nazi’s couldn’t kill people that quick, and they made it a science. Infants, women, children, anyone. Family killing family, neighbor killing neighbor. The stories and testimonials of horror beyond anyone’s imagination. The movie Hotel Rwanda doesn’t do it justice. Two was the utter incompetence of the international community to do anything at all. We knew about it, we saw it happening, yet we did nothing, and even worse we just left for the killing to get even worse. Finally is the amazing transformation that’s happening here. The victims and perpetrators living in peace. This is a people that completely redefines what forgiveness is all about.

One of the most moving exhibits was the display of children and infant skulls, innocent souls killed during the genocide. Bashed in skulls, bullet holes, etc, the most brutal evidence of violence. Also, family photos of infants, some several months old, displayed in 4 foot murals with descriptions of how they died. One infant of 6 months was machete in her mother’s arms. It goes on and on…

The purpose of memorial is to keep the memory of the genocide alive, so the Rwandan people, and quite honestly the West, do not forgot what happened here. But not for revenge, for forgiveness and healing.

I arrived here with skepticism. I still am. Are these people for real? Can you really forgive such horror? Are the people that are part of the national healing just in it for the money, a sort of moral way of making a living?

There was a prayer for Emma and I at the end of the day. The pastor thanked God for bringing us to Rwanda and allowing us the opportunity to help others, but what struck me the most was she thanked Him for maybe opening our eyes, giving us an opportunity to learn and grow. I came here thinking I was the one that could help, but quite honestly, it is I that needed the help.

Day 1: Saturday July 16

After a long trip and a less than restful sleep, up to our hotel for the rest of the trip. Lots of people busying about, more quiet than I thought it would be. We are in the peek travel season so we expected more traffic.

Hotel Iris is a rather modest place. Small rooms in a garden setting. That's once you get past the big medevil metal gate and dude with the machine gun (note: there are a lot of people with machine guns. Guns are illegal in Rwanda except for police, military and private security. After the initial oh shit, it's actually a bit comforting that there's so much security considering the past).

Luckily there’s a great restaurant on premise so we hand a quick bite, my first taste of African food in many years. Very simple meals, mostly starch (Atkins would not do well here) and good flavor. The local beer is fantastic, which is a very very good thing. And the coffee blows away anything at Starbucks (note: Costco brand Kirkland coffee is from Rwanda). So far so good.

We met Hope and Charles today. Hope runs a micro enterprise we will be visiting and sponsoring; she's a lovely lady, very quiet and doesn't look me in the eye much. She also complains that I speak too fast. Charles is a young fella, right out of college and will be our translator for the week (note, most people we met speak some or very good English but the local language is very prevalent, especially among the regular population. More on that later I'm sure, it's an interesting language). Charles is also quite the businessman. He has run a few construction projects in Rwanda, notably two residential projects. (note: Everything is under construction here, the economy is doing well do to a lot of foreign investment.) Charles is extremely well spoken and should prove to be a great guide.

We ventured around town by car checking out the market and the local transportation center. There are no trains in Rwanda so everything is by bus for most people. A lot if people driving like crazy people. Tons of motorcycle taxis. It's amazing people don’t get killed every day.

All in all Kilgali reminds me of a few other sizable African cities I've been too. Lots of hustle bustle, dusty but this one is very clean. You don't see a stitch of garbage anywhere. I wonder why.

Not on mission yet. Things move very slow here. Someone said "you Americans live by time (pointing where a watch would be on their wrist) but here in Rwanda we have all the time in the world." I can see how that would frustrate westerners but no one here looks like they need a vacation.

We spoke to Charles and Hope about Rwanda and the transformation it is undergoing. Both expressed immense hope and optimization. They spoke of reconciliation and forgiveness and how, unlike South Africa (it came up that I had been there) there’s love in people's heart and everyone wants to move on. I'm sure when you scratch past this surface there’s more to the story, but it's a romantic notion and both seemed to genuinely believe what they were saying.

We tried to visit the national memorial today but it was closed due to a funeral. Even today, when remains are found from the genocide, the remains are honored by family and buried in the national genocide memorial. We visit it tomorrow 1st thing.

Arrive: Early morning Saturday July 16

Arrived Kilgali at 1am. No driver so chilled in the airport for a bit. Pastor gets a call from Emma, he crawls out of bed at 2am to pick us up. Nice guy. Weird place at night. Defiantly feels foreign, very quiet with the exception of the distant sound of cars and random music. Couldn’t help but think of a scene in my book “We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories From Rwanda” about the screams at night during the Genocide. I hate I went there so soon but that's the point of the trip. Hope it will be successful.

Hotel didn’t have a room so holed up in another hotel for a few hours till we can check into the Iris. $150 for just a few hours. Oh well, doing our bit to help the economy.

Emma is super chill and easy to travel with.

A wrinkle in time

Preparing to leave for Rwanda was a whirlwind as usual, but when things finally slowed down on Thursday, the day of departure, I started to feel anxious wondering that if after so long things would be the same, I would be the same and it would all be as close to my heart as it has been for so many years.  The gap of 3.5 years from my last trip, felt as if it was 5 years or more – I’m not sure why.  Maybe because so much in my life has happened in the past 3-4 years or maybe because I have allowed life to often keep me so busy that I am not as focused as I once was on the special place that from the first visit when Rwanda stole my heart for its permanent home.

The long trip ahead all felt a bit surreal, but it was a great experience to have with my friend, Fred, who had never been to Rwanda but has had a great interest and heart for helping the needs of the people.  We struggled through 27 hours of cramped flights, bad airplane food and laughed all along the way. Thank goodness for great travel partners! We arrived in Kigali at 1:30 AM and it was familiar and comfortable. Like my friend says … going through the wardrobe into Narnia. So my return to Narnia began …

If at first you don't succeed ... try, try again

Last year, my plans to return to Rwanda for Threads of Hope were dashed at the very last minute.  Long time friend and incredible supporter of the programs was set to be traveling with me to Rwanda for the first time in August 2010.  Just days before our trip he became terribly ill with a rare reaction to an immunization. After a few agonizing conversations and great concern for my friend's well being we cancelled the trip mere days before we were supposed to fly.

The GREAT news is ... he healed well, months later welcomed in the arrival of his new baby boy and has gotten even more excited and passionate about experiecing the great things that are happening in Rwanda first hand.  So ... we set off again ... another try in a few short weeks. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during mid-July and check back regularly for updates, right here!

This trip will be a little different as our goal is to capture the incredible stories of courage and joy of the people of Rwanda and share their stories with you.  There is hope in a broken world, there is hope for a country, a people, a village and for one person and the evidence is all around us.  Stay tuned for these incredible stories and help support these incredible people who I have come to view as family.

Ishimwe Niryawe Yesu (Praise & Glory Be To You Jesus)

This song was sung many days when we were in Rwanda.  It was created after the Genocide. The words in Kinyarwandan and English are powerful.  Be blessed and enjoy!

Mwami Mana yacu
Waratuvinze, uturinda
Umujinya wa Satani
Uturindira muriyisi ishaje
Uraturinda ntitwapfa
Nubwo twahuye nibigeragaezo
Ninzitanye zibibazo
Byomiwisi
Wagaragaje ukunkesha kwawe
Uraturinda ntitwapfa, Uraturinda ntitwapfa

Our Lord God
You kept us and protected us
from the wrath of the devil
you kept us in this aging world
Lord you kept us and we did not die
Though we met many trials and tribulations
and many world troubles
You showed your victory by protecting us from death, You showed your victory by protecting us from death

CHORUS:
Ishimwe niryawe, Ishimwe niryawe, Ishimwe niryawe

Praise and glory be to you Jesus, Praise and glory be to you Jesus, Praise and glory be to you Jesus,

Mwami tukweretse ababkozi bawe
Tukweretse itorero wironkeye
Tukweretse nabasubiye inyuma
Garura izo ntama zawe
Mukiza dufite agahinda kenshi
Ku bwabayoba bava mu byizerwa
Muriyi minsi kora ibitangaza
Bamenye ku dahinduka, Bamenye ku dahinduka

Lord we show you - you're servants
We show you the charge that you redeemed
But also we show you those who have fallen/retreated
Lord return your ship
Savior we are so heart broken
For those that are leaving the faith
How we pray, that in thesedays you will perform miracles, so that the world may see that you are the God that never changes, you are the God that never changes

CHORUS

Indura zunvikaye mururu Rwanda
Amarira nokuboroga kwinshi
Ntakiza twakoze Mukiza Wacu
Kyaturmye uturinda akaga
Benshi waraba cyuye baratashye
Bararuhutse baranezerewe
Nta kabuza tuzabonana nabo
Mu birori byomwijuru, Mu birori byomwijuru


Many crys and yellings were hear in this Rwanda
A lot of tears and desperate pleading
There is nothing good we did, Our Savior
to deserve being protected from this horror
But we know, that you have taken many to Glory
They are rested and happy
And there is no doubt, that we shall see them someday
During the celebration in heaven, during the celebration in heaven

CHORUS

Imyaka ishyise ya saha wajenye
Ubwo tuzakubona uri mu bicu
Uzahamagara amazina yacu
Tuzagusanganira ubwo
Niwerckanwa ko tuzasa nawe
Uri kumwe nabo twatandukanye
Tuziruhutsa tugeze mwijuru
Halleluia iteka ryose, Halleluia iteka ryose

When the years come
At the very moment that you planned
When we see you in the skies, you will call our names
We shall come and meet you in the air
And when you are revealed, we know we shall be like you
At that time you will be with those that left us to be with you
When at last we get heaven born
And we will sing Halleluia, forever and ever
we will sing Halleluia, forever and ever

CHORUS

2004 Journal Excerpts: January 11th - DAY 2

An early rise this morning, we get started preparing to leave Kigali and drive to Rhungheri. We arrived at Shyra Diocese with Bishop John and attended the church service. We listened as the service and message focused on offerings.  Not only the words were powerful, but as the congregation who had very little were moved they came to the front of the church giving their offerings; an ear of corn, a piece of cloth, a few pennies, potatoes. A true picture of giving and a powerful message for me - seeing these poor people who have experienced so much tragedy and daily hardship, but they give their one ear of corn to God and listen to his calling.  Truly remarkable and amazing.

After the service, children's voices rang out continuously with "muzungo" (white people) and they flurried around to see, touch and take us,these new visitors, in. Surrounded by little ones wanting to touch my hand or take a photo with me - I melted when the children who came up just wanted to hug and feel the love of friendly arms.

We made our way to the Sonrise School and Youth Center nearby. It was there I experienced for the first time the powerful experience of Rwandan song and dance.  The youth danced and sang for us for almost an hour and the melody of their voices raised in joy and excitement was like electricity running through every inch of my body - and unable to control or manage my body's reaction I wept and wept; so overwhelmed by the beauty and purity of their voices and movements.  I kept wondering ... what in the heck is going on with me - I'm a wacky emotional mess, and I realized I just needed to go with it.

I met a girl Jeanette there who wanted to desperately speak with me.  I'm not sure why or for what, but she spoke French and I could not. So instead, she did not leave my side for the rest of the day and just held my hand and kept hugging me.  One of the pastors came up to me and said to me, "she is so happy you are here, she knows that God has sent you here to her." I don't really know what that means, but that seems to be the norm for everything so far.

It was a powerful day for everyone and God was definitely present working in everyone's hearts and experiences in unique ways. I had the privilege of spending some one on one time with one of our hosts and another one of the pastors, both who encouraged me to dig deep into my heart and listen intently for God's message to me.  They spoke to may things on my heart, that I never shared and seemed to have some direct connect to my thoughts and heart.  It was encouraging, confusing and overwhelming all at once.

2004 Journal Excerpts: January 10th - DAY 1

11:23 PM we arrived in Kiglai, tonight.  Exhausted, I have been delivered to this place where God has called me for the past two years. I am trying to soak in every moment and I'm not sure I even comprehend what is really happening just yet.  We drove along the dusty roads, through the hills and I gazed upon the lights of the city as they revealed the faces of people along the road and throughout the hills. From the front of the car, precious words startle me out of my gaze. "Emma, you are home now. Rwanda has been waiting for you, this is your heart's home," Nathan said. Truth, spoken plainly.

I have been called here, to this place, not only for this time - but for much more I feel. I am literally awash with love, emotion, tears - completely overwhelmed at every moment and I don't know why. I pray that I will be open, broken, compassionate, understanding and I will know why I am here in this place.

2004 My First Trip to Rwanda - Journal Excerpt

One of my most memorable experiences was on the last day of our trip, Friday, as we left.

Once again, early in the morning we boarded the bus to head to one of our final stops in Kigali.  We headed outside of the city towards a church where 10,000 people were slaughtered in only 2 days.  The church has been made into a Genocide Memorial and had an effect on me that I will never forget.  Aphrodice, a WorldVision staff member, accompanied us on the site visit – and shared the story of this particular genocide occurrence with us.  As we entered the church the caretaker began to tell us the story.  People from the outlining areas and villages fled to this area for safety – in particular the church.  For 2 days they hid in this tiny church and the priests home next door hoping to avoid the atrocity that would soon befall them.  After 2 days the military and militia came to the church and barricaded them inside, then murdered them with grenades, gunfire and machetes.  In these 2 days 10,000 people were mercilessly tortured and murdered – and their bones, skulls and even still clothing now lie to rest inside this church.  Additionally, over time another 10,000 bodies were found and collected from the countryside and now rest in the catacombs of this tiny little church.  Below in the basements cases and holding rooms had been created to hold the remains of these poor souls.  While in a room on our left, upon entering the church, laid a pile of bones, skills and clothing from 250 people.

As we walked around the church, the grounds and listened to the stories of what these people endured – I couldn’t help but be in total disbelief.  How could this happen – and moreover I lifted my eyes to God and asked – how could you let this happen, here, to these people, in your house.  The knowledge that God was not to blame for this rang in my head and heart, but I was overcome with complete and utter emotion.  I stood outside and peered through the metal gates into the sanctuary where the sun shone through a stained glass window onto the blood soaked fabric that still lay upon the alter.  How fragile and out of control we can become as humans.  As I walked back to the bus I had a difficult time gaining composure – and unfathomably, Aphrodice reached out his hand to my shoulder to comfort me.  All I could think is that I should be comforting him – as he feels the pain of this everyday and even brought us here to tell the story.  That moment as poignant for me – summing up so much of how I felt throughout the trip.  That these wonderful, amazing, spirit-filled and faithful people reached out to me everyday that I was there.  After all their pain, the freshness of their memories and the torment of their life experience – God has literally touched me with each reach of their hands, each smile and every ounce of compassion and acceptance that they have offered up to me.  How amazing.  Truly amazing – Our God can, does, has and continues to OVERCOME.  He is victorious – and we could never survive without Him. 

Threads of Hope

Well, thanks to my incredible friend and amazingly talented designer Jorge F. the Threads of Hope program in Rwanda now has a great logo! Check it out (soon!). Props to Jorge who is a truely gifted designer and the guy you want brainstorming just about anything for you. For those of you in the design world ... if you don't already know of him, he's on his way to the BIG TIME!

Home again ...

So I arrived back in the US on Saturday morning after many delays in addition to the 25 hours of flying time. So as the wheels hit the pavement screeching along the runway for one last time into JFK ... I am home again.

After a bit of a baggage debaukle I am ready to roll and walk out greeted by my great friend Ray - who graciously offered to relinquish his sleep in order to pick me up early on Sat AM. So ... wow ... I'm spinning and exhausted. But ... I'm home. :)

So I got back to my apartment and promptly found my pillow and slept with my sweet Finnegan curled up beside me ... purring away. Ahhh home. So it's Sunday now and its full of unpacking, laundry that is needed to be done, etc - but instead I am just trying to adjust to being home. Its a great feeling, but its also been a long time and I am torn with the peace of being home and missing my precious Rwanda. So reentry begins, the day is a comfort and ... ohhhh andddddddd

Happy Birthday DAD! I'm thrilled to be back home for my Dad's birthday. Happy Birthday Daddy, I love you!

So ... until ... well a few days from now, I guess. Keep an eye on the blog. The adventure continues!

Drawing to a close

As Thursday arrives, my trip draws to a close. Final day to spend time with both Pastor Norman and Pastor Hope - as well as my dear friend Innocent and my family The Gasatura's (Nathan, Florence, David, Darius, Deborah, Daniel - is away at school). So its a close to a wonderful time together, often feeling too short and also knowing that its time to return home.

I've had a wonderful time, a great exploration of my heart and so much more that it would take too long to describe. With a special day with friends the last day to share thoughts, hearts, love and friendship - I cannot be more thankful.

So ... Friday is fly day ... or at least the beginning of the trek. LOL. First off to Joburg, then Dakar, then NY. Soooooooo the long hours bring me home.

Wednesday: Special Day in Nyaratovu

Wednesday began early on the road at 7 AM heading north to Nyaratovu, Rhuhengheri to see my sponsor children with WorldVision and visit the ADP. WorldVision was my first introduction to how one person can really touch the lives of a child, family and community - and for that I will be eternally grateful. My sponsor child Olive is in this ADP and my parents sponsor child Gilbert. Since, I this first experience 4 years ago - I am also blessed with other sponsor children in the Kigali area giving me a little family of 3. Each of which are unique and wonderful treasures.

So, as usual the first stop is to the ADP office and then off the market. Each year I go to the market to buy 1+ weeks worth of food for the sponsor families - as one of the best gifts I can provide in addition to any little gifts I have brought along. Additionally, at the end of last year my parents and I purchased cows for each of our sponsor child families - so there is lots happening.

We then headed over and up and up and up to the area where my child Olive lives. She lives at the top of one of Rwanda's thousand hills, that always feels more like a mountain to climb. The road ends at the base of the hill and we begin to climb up the muddy 45 degree angle hill. :) I remember saying last year that I was going to go to the gym and train for the climb .... hmmm I wish I had done that. LOL. As usual I struggled up the hill resting here and there to catch some breath and made it up to the top in about 45 minutes. As usual the entire town of children surrounded us and we climbed the hill and were full of smiles and giggles as we became great friends with each step.

Greeting me at the top with the biggest smiles I've ever seen was my sponsor family. They are so wonderfully full of joy despite their troubled circumstances. We exchanged excited hugs and greetings spinning around and around so happy to see each other! :) Invited into their tiny 2 room home I was honored, once again, to sit amongst Olive's family that has also become a part of my own. Olive, who is 12, is doing GREAT in school, her sister Valentine (8) is also and the two little ones Marie Chantal (5) and Jean de dieu (2.5) are doing well. Everyone is healthy and they began farming a small amount of land for beans for their own consumption and are thrilled with their cow - and have a great feeling of hope overall.

Later we visited my parents child, Gilbert who is 11. He's this amazingly affectionate kid - each time I have met him he is full of smiles and hugs. So this visit was no different except that he held on to me sooooooo tight the entire time not wanting to let me go - it brought me to tears. I spend time with the family learning more about each of the children, mom and dad, etc. They too were delighted to have recieved their cow and have name it Ineza in kinyarwanda, which means Goodness. :) Great, huh! So Gilbert has 3 siblings; Jeffrin (10), Theophile (7, named after his father), Jermaine (4, youngest and only girl). Spending time with them was truly cherished - they are thankful and joyful despite the hard times ahead for them as they have just found that mom, Pelagie (30) is HIV+. I was devasted to learn this news - so please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers.

A long and emotional day came to a close as we sat watching the rain pour down from the sky in terential amounts, pounnding the round for about 2 hours. They we got on our way back to Kigali. My mind reeling with thoughts of the day - and the sadness knowing I will not see them again for sometime, but I am sure I will return again soon if I am forturnate.

Monday & Tuesday Recap

Monday and Tuesday were great work days! I was with Pastor Hope working on the Seed of Hope initiatives - namely the start to building their community center building to be used for all association activities including the children's primary school program. Last year we began setting the foundation and building a few block levels of the outer walls to get started.

When we arrived at the building site I saw that it had been left just as we left it one year ago. Knowing that this is an important and expensive endevour for the program we spend time with a builder getting the pertinent info on what is needed to get this finished. Soooooooooooooo in a matter of a day and half of building we completed making bricks and building all four outer walls, iron & wood supports and purchased iron sheeting for the roof! Such AWESOME progress and use of the gifts that we had been given. We were able to secure a machine to make blocks/bricks rather than buy them, got all the members of the association involved in building, making bricks, etc. and best of all ... seeing the excitement and joy on each of their faces, made it all worthwhile. Last year when we began they were encouraged and excited at the prospects of being able to have their own place ... but after a year they were discouraged and frustrated.

These two days were magical all around. For me to see the rapid progress in building come to fruition to work on creative ways to use the funds to speed the building and put them to best use. For each member of the association and especially Pastor Hope to see the amazing providence that had been given to them, the ecouragement they each felt and the renewed hope to know that all things shall come in God's time - and NOW is the time. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO cool! This is the great stuff that makes you know that you are being used right then and there. Whoo hoo! Praise!