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!

2 Days on the move!

The past 2 days have been busy to say the least so I have been remiss in blogging in the evening. I've just been plain tired. But tired from many great visits spending time with people and really understanding them better, helping more effectively one on one - and all that good stuff.

Friday was a program day with Pastor Hope and her group Seed of Hope. We spent much time speaking about the progress of the past year, ongoing needs and many blessings. We had some great quiet time to pray together and just chat - since we have often spent much time together but not enough to really get to know about one another's lives well. I was happy to meet the newest class in the vocational training program to empower women - learning hairdressing and tailoring. Last year I had the priveledge of meeting the first class and presenting them with their graduation certificates. We also spent time updating about the children in the school program, the construction process on the community center and much more.

Saturday was another day with Pastor Norman and CFN (Christ for the Nations)as I spent the morning and greater part of the early afternoon speaking to them about funding and business management training for their micro-enterprise, teaching them new techniques and crochet stitches. Then we headed up to Kabuga to visit with the 25 children in their sponsorship progra, who are now being helped to go to school, have medical care,uniforms, books, and food. It was an amazing evening with them as one paret shared that because of the gifts and opportunities these children have been given, it has given their parets hope and drawn them together as a community which they were not before.

As I sart and listened to the words of these genuine, faithful, joyful and desperately poor children, adults and pastors I thought how encouraged many of you would be who have graciously donated financially, prayed for them and/or who have a compassionate heart for them. Its these things that see, so small that are really changing the lives of these people. For those of you who have met them, know that they remember you and pray for you, for those who have given to them I could only imagine your tears of joy and compassion that would fall if you were here with me seeing what beautiful things you have helped accomplish. For me - I am thankful for each of you who are friends, who encourage me because you give me strength and hope to make a difference in whatever way I can.

OK ... so its Sunday today and I have returned from church and am going to relax a bit, head into town before heading back again to Kabuga to spend some more time with the children. Have a great day.

Through the Wardrobe to Narnia

My good friend Ray always says that coming to Rwanda is like walking into the wardrobe - a la` Chronicles of Narnia/The Lion the Witch & the Wardrobe. And upon my arrival last night I must admit,it is true. Coming to Rwanda is like walking into a peaceful, gentle wonderland where I am instantly surrounded by friends who are more like family, who know my heart and spirit more often than not better than I am - so accutely in tune. They are always genuinely overjoyed, in the truest sense of the word, by your arrival and from that moment you are sure to be transformed once again. Now I get that it is quite beyond comprehension in some ways but I am so lucky to be blessed by this special special Rwanda. Nathan said to me last night, "We have been excited for your arrival. Yes my princess we are overjoyed you have retunred home to us once again, your family and your Rwanda." It the perfect description of the indescribable.

Anyway...I am here. LOL. So last night I slept better than I can ever remember and met Nathan early for coffee (its the best in the world, try it). Then I had an opportunity to meet with Pastors Norman & Hope about their respective projects and headed out to Kyabura to visit with the Agape group. This is the group I worked with last year, with 4 great women from the US, to begin to teach them to crochet. Well they have taken off!!! They have found products that sell well for a good profit and are working, praying, and hoping to make a real self sustaining business from it. So we discussed micro-enterprise, accountability and more and will be creating a structured plan for them. It is truly something that has empowered these women and even a few men to hope for a future. So I will update you more on that as it becomes clear.

I was priveledged to spend time with both Hope & Norman to learn more about their ministires, plans, dreams and their lives throughout the day. And so my day ends quietly - as I had dinner alone and tried desperately to not be self conscious although no one was concerned with me being alone but me, of course. Off to spend some time to relax and rest as tomorrow will be a big day.

Farewell to Cape Town

My last day in Cape Town was great. I spent time around the shops with Liesl in the morning and then went on a tour of the townships on my own. Our bus quickly filled with 10 or so passengers nearly all from the UK. So as you might imagine we all chatted up a storm throughout the day. I learned in detail about the history of the apartheid, how the townships came about, what has changed and what is still very much the same. It's really remarkable that I honestly didn't know the history very well at all. I can tell you all about it when I return, but the poverty and township living was astonishing in a city that could easily rival most Western cities with growth, infrastructure, wealth and so much more.

After quite the day of history, experience and eye-opening I headed back to Liesl's for a lovely farewell dinner with her friends, for me. Dinner was delightful, the company exceptional and my tea, had a fast lead in the beginning of our Cranium challenge. Despite our fateful defeat, we had an awesome time and closed out my South African tour with a bang!

Then the next day I traveled all day and arrived in Kigali at 10:30 pm and promptly got settled into my favorite Guest House in Kigali - the Iris.

Divine Wine & Leopard Envy

Hi Chaps! (hmmm it sounds better when they say it here with that fab SA accent) Well today was a stellar day. After some dodgy weather of rain, sun, hail, rain and some rain ... today was spectacular. Sun gleaming all around, spraying the mountain tops with beautiful rays that exposed their every exquisite bump. Well admist the beautiful weather and stunning scenery we made our way on a wine tour. Yep that's right ... the best way to spend a Monday bar-none is to trot from vineyard to vineyard all day experiencing wonderful tastings, nibblies, great company and convo. Liesl, Sharon and I headed off late in the AM to embark on this decadent day out in the country despite my inability to get any sleep the past 3 days. :)

The drive out to wine country was about an hour give or take and we first stopped at Boschendal Vineyard which was a beautiful old winery and estate from some time back in the 1800's. We walked the grounds that were perfectly manicured and had a stunning wash of color between the flowers, the grapes and the white traditional southern cape style buildings washed with lime and bright white. Our first tasting was 5 wines all quite different from one another and lovely blends, etc. topped off with a full glass of champagne compliments of the manager - as certainly our laughter conversation and such was sheer entertainment for all, as per usual. LOL.

But our last visit to a fairly new winery in the area was astounding. A true SA winery GEM in my humble opinion is Glenwood (http://www.glenwoodvineyards.co.za). First no pictures, I am sure can do it justice as it is nestled between the blended valleys of at least 5 mountains along a quite clay road with a stretch of land and grapes as far as the eye can see. The tranquil breath taking landscape is embellished with a slightly modern estate with beautiful wood framings, etched glass and a delightfully welcoming entrance that makes you anxious to know more. We entered a quite room with glass tables edged with finished railway runners and heavy wooden chairs that surprisingly were inviting and so comfortable. Our lively spirits knocked a bit of fun into an originally austire crowd and soon we were all fast friends comparing tastes and opinions on the wine. Our vineyard owner was lovely and engaging - while she informed us about all the decadent tastes we were to experience. And .... it was so! For a wine novice, but someone who always knows what she likes and doesn't and one with a bit of a taste for the best - it was flawless as many of the tasters agreed. A true GEM ... now the question is ... is it exported anywhere?

Lastly, I was slightly ... no ... hugely dissapointed that by the time we embibed and enjoyed all our visits throughout the day - it was in fact slightly to late to see the leopards. Yep that's right ... we drove by this cute little winery that also had some connection to leapords and whatnot ... not 100% on the story. But in truth you could go see the leapords and for a economical fee of something absurd like $10 you can go in and pet the leopards. Hearing this of course ... this was HIGH on my to do list, but it was closed. DASHED! So still yet to pet a big cat ... but one of these days ... oh yes - one of these days! ;)

Well all... after a dop at the pub we are back home and whipping up some dinner before heading out to quiz night. I'll be sure to let you know how I stand up ... on general knowledge (surely not 1/2 as good as Mr. General Knowledge himself - Dad).

XOXO

Ocean & whales & mountains ... oh my!

We've had a lovely day here so far. The weather is surprisingly a bit chilly but we headed out none-the-lessinthe Kombi to the ocean front. We hit the warm side (Indian Ocean, I think) and the cold side (Atlantic Ocean) and a lovely spot where they come together right here on the tip of the continent. Amazing ... amazing scenery with every blue in creation speckling the sea with the captivating backdrop of Table Mountain and the Twelve Aposltles (mountain ranges). You can easily imagine the land and mountains erupting from the sea and zillion and half years ago - really lovely.

We walked along the beach and did get chased and caught by the aggresive ocean waters and thus crumbled into laughter amidst trying to salvage our sandy and soaked jeans that got cold terribly quickly. LOL. Then we decided to venture up Table Mountain but the road was closed half way ... so we stopeed on a lovely peak overlooking an ocean town the vast expanse that one way leads to Antarctica and the other to South America and POP ... out came a nice spray ... and soon one after the other and we did our best to keep spotting the whales as they relaxed close to the bay - and we hazarded a guess it is about mating season. So ... as all smart whales know the hot chicks are in South Africa. :)

Fresh air, the beach, the mountain and the view of Lion's Head ... lots of snaps and our touring day has wound down. Now back at the house we are all relaxing a bit and awaiting the FUN evening ahead as Liesl is hosting a Brai (?) Dop and Chop get together and BBQ type night with all her friends. So stay posted and I'll be sure to share the stories of the night as they unfold! :) Hope you are all well. You're in my thoughts wishing each of you could be here to enjoy this lovely adventure!

Kickin' in Cape Town

Well my first leg and longest of the journey has successfully come to an end. After 18 hours of flying and 24 hours total journey door-to-door ... I'm here in Cape Town, South Africa - my first STOP! I arrived here in Cape Town late last night to the lovely smiling face of my friend Liesl and her boyfriend Logan. Always a delight to be greeted by friends. It's of course been ages since we've seen each other, as Liesl moved back to SA almost 2 years ago now from CT, but we've picked up right away and filled many hours already with great stories and roaring laughter.

But most importantly ... I am here safe and sound and will be enjoying the great hospitality here in SA until Wednesday. The weather is lovely, a tad chilly but great for Day 1. After sleeping in a bit (shocking, I know - but after all that travel I have a good excuse, eh?) we did quite a bit of catching up over tea and toast, then headed off into town.

Liesl drove me about town, pointing out the ever salient and important places like the Post Office, good Indian restaraunt, shops, etc. :) I got a GREAT view of Table Mountain and at every turn the vast and AMAZING view of a turquoise blue sea. We were right on the tip of Africa where the two seas come together and WOWZA ... now that's REAL scenery folks! We stopped for coffee at a friend's shop, put the world to rights and are now relaxing a bit at home as delete SPAM from my email and catch up with you all, Liesl paints and Logan jams on his guitar. So soon we'll have a quiet evening and some drinks to properly prepare for the busy week ahead! :)

So for now, I'll leave you withy my less than scintilating report, but rest assured I am already having a GREAT time, delighted to be here, don't know what will reveal itself to me in the next 5 days and onward as I head off to my beloved Rwanda.

Toodles! XOXO - Emma ;)

Flurry of activity!

Well, it's been a whirlwind in the land-o-Emma lately. As expected, the heightened packing anxiety for my upcoming 3 week trip struck this weekend. Making lists, throwing out lists, emptying my closet and my medicine cabinet ... and VOILA I am ready to go. LOL. Almost packed and ready to go just making plans for my time in South Africa and my project in Rwanda. YEAH. I'll post updates to the trip and whatnot here so you can follow along with me on this year's Africa adventure. I am so blessed! Can't wait to share all with you.

MIT Smarties!

Well I spent the last 3 days up in Boston at MIT. And ... well lets be honest, I feel smarter for just being there! LOL. It was a GREAT conference full of fantastic ideas and innovations on the web, in technology and in biomedics. Apart from the very "cool factor" of meeting some awesome innovators including:
Kevin Rose - Digg.com
Sky Dayton - Helio
Ivan Krstic - OLPC ($100 laptops for 3rd world children)
Tariq Krim - Netvibes

and many more coool innovators. The guy that created Google Earth ... and so many more. The smartest and most innovative minds in the world. Anyway it was so inspiring, informative and encouraging.

A great highlight was the entire pre-conference devoted to Women in Technology and the impact over the years and focus on how to continue to encourage young girls and women to enter the science and technology field. A innovative and wonderful conference put on, EmTech 2007, by Technology Review in conjunction with MIT. Check it out for yourself if your a technophyle like me!